NBA 2K8 demo news

God is Real

Just played a few games, they finally have the group on the fly subbing, better animations, they reward you for actually finding the open man. Demo starts right off. no main menu or anything you just go right into the game after 2 loading screens telling you how to play. 2 4 minute quarters and restarting is easy unlike lives demo where you have to exit the demo and come back in.

Forgot to mention the lockdown and hot spot systems. They seemed OK to me, but no big deal. Just small details.

EA sux every year same shyt
2k is better

I’ve been playing both demo’s back and forth and from what i’ve seen both games a worth buying this year.

My take on the two demos:

1) 60 fps?: the so called 60 fps didn’t seem anywhere near as smooth as LIVE. I think it was very apparent right off but i played LIVE right after just to confirm it. Did anyone else notice LIVE just seemed a bit smoother and faster (way more fluid)?

2) Player Models: i found myself very pleased with the player models this year in 2K8. Sure they aren’t as polished as LIVE but i wouldn’t call them horrible. One very noticeable thing was the players were thinner and the body types seemed more varied. All in all I would have to say EA gets my vote on this one.

3) in the middle: I’m sorta in the middle as far as the stick control, 2k still just has that not so defined feel to it. With lIVE the quick strike is mush more responsive and I had a very clear idea of what direction i moved the analog stick did what move, there was no guessing.

4) AI : this one goes to 2K8 hands down. I was blown away from some of the subtle things and real hoops fan should pick up on.

The big thing I noticed was that you really have to earn your dunks. the in air collision is actually affective and the players weights seem to be accurate this year (drew gooden aint backing down Tim Duncan). One thing that impressed me was the AI help when I was playing against the cpu. I was abusing Bowen with James, backing him down when finally the spurs had enough and I found myself stuck between 3 defenders forced to pass. On another possession Bowen just simply fouled me in the process of a turn around jumper. what was impressive was the animation had Bowen wrapping James up by the arms, there was finally a sense of intelligence to a foul.

5) Rebounding: Goes to 2K, rebounding is great and it works, you’ll even notice you can really jostle for possession pushing players out of the way. 2K’s got EA beat on this one in a big way.

6) Blocking: this one goes to 2K. The blocks aren’t as easy as last year so you feel that they have more of an impact in the game when they happen (kid of like the dunks).

7) D-lock: This one was tuff but i found myself liking lives better. EA made it a tab bit easier to strip the player while on lock down but you still had to be careful. With that said 2K’s is nice.

Dunks: this was an easy one, 2K8 all the way. you really get a sense that something big just happened by the give in the basket.

Oh and not to mention 2K had the sense to give use reasonable playing time at two 4 minute quarters.

We finally get two solid games to choose from this year so i’m happy.

2k8s features are sub par, I basically felt like I was playing 2k7. Other than a couple new animations.

Ummm… Ok, so I know everyone’s entitled to their own opinion… But it’s just amazing to me that anyone would say that Live is better…

Graphics wise, I concede that Live is bit more polished. But outside of that? No where close. Playing Live felt so awkward (and I play both), while 2K was seemless. Gameplay, mechanics, AI, control- all were incredibly better than Live’s. Heck, even atmosphere was better in 2K.

Live has great potential every year, but they just never seem to be able to get over that last bar. On the other hand 2K has a great infrastructure that it’s been able to build on. Now while this year may not be the great change we were all hoping for from 2K, it’s still a better game than Live imho…

Also the hotspots are way better in 2K- not to mention that lock on D is much smoother than I would have thought and works quite well.

Honestly- I really hoped for a return to true form for Live. Yet at the end of the day, I’ll be buying 2K only- again. But hey, thats just me…

CMDeep,

why is it so amazing that some people prefer live and you prefer 2K8. What’s amazing to me is 2k8 actually did feel as smooth as LIVE and that surprised me considering they are both supposed to be 60 fps.

Maybe it’s just me but has anyone else notice?

Before I place my comment, know that I was a highly dissapointed Live fan last year, and began playing 2K7. To me, 2K7 was a better game but it was still average. It was the lesser of 2 evils in my opinion.

*** The Positives ***

+ The A.I. offense shines in the sense that if you leave an opposing openent open, they will simply burn you.

+ Rebounding. Very smooth, probably the best in any NBA title to date.

+ Crowd Interaction. They seem to react accordingly to the game situation. Even though the demo was short, I’d like to see if they react any differently in the 4th quarter in a close game

+ Cut Scene Animations. I think this is what is biggest deal maker for 2K8 fans and what makes the game feel like “real nba basketball”. Yes these animations do draw you in. Little things like players getting daps at the free throw line, or after a free throw was made, Big Z going up to Lebron and offering him some strategy. 2K8 is probably the best at creating emotion in the game of basketball.

+ Menu looks a lot better, more readable, shaper. Hopefully the navigation menu takes a more traditional and conservative approach in the released version of the game compared to last year.

+ Bonus points for scuff marks on the floor.

+ Layup animations very fluid, but many times are too slow. I understand this is a give and take. You make it too quick, you sacrifice the fluidness of it.

+ Dunk animations (see above)

*** The Negatives ***

- Why is Bruce Bowen the most dominate player on the demo? He hits 3’s way too easily and his basic cross overs leave Lebron in the dust. I hope this is fixed, otherwise he’ll become the most exploited player in the game. (I played this demo many times, and it was sad watching Drew Gooden go double team on Bruce Bowen while leaving Tim Duncan open on the post)

- Sliding. I don’t like seeing Lebron (AI) crossing the ball over 3 or 4 times 10 feet away from the basket and sliding. This to me makes the game feel arcadish

- Players steppin over the line with inbrounds plays. Little stuff like that kills me. 2K8 pays so much attention to little non-interactive details yet allows this to happen? In the NBA this would be a violation.

- The graphics. Some people say they are great, some people say they are ugly. Depends on what you’re comparing it to. A 2K8 will say they are great, but they are comparing it to last years version. If you compare it to Live, yeah it’s going to lose. I’m comparing it to Live’s graphics, simply because I know the technology is there to make players look like their real life counter parts.

********* Summary *********

2K8 appears to be a very solid basketball game. Definately a pickup and go title for any player, while at the same time catering to 2K veterans. The game engine is very similiar to all the previous titles, for some this could be a good thing, for others it could be a bad thing. Compared to Live 08…I belive both games are even. Where NBA Live is weak, 2K8 is strong and vice versa.

I am happy that both titles are bringing their A game. Good competition from these two competitors = better games for its fan base. 2K8 and Live 08 both have great games, after last year both games being about average and one being the lesser of two evils. Just my two abe lincolns.

I’ve been playing the demo non-stop. I’m enjoying the game even more now. I’ll get both 2k and Live as always, but now I’m looking foward for this one as well. I just wish 2k had a better feel for the art direction implemented in the game. The menus, replay lay-outs, etc…all of them are ugly as hell. I’m not saying it’s something that will kill the game but EA’s production values are so much higher. Even the music is being recycled in 2K…the intro music in the stadium is the same that was used when you scored a TD in the NFL 2K series. I’m disapointed with the player faces as well, LeBron looks terrible. But that’s just me bringing minor gripes to the table. The game is gonna be awesome!!! The dunk animations are incredible. October the 2nd I’ll be getting both.

I down loaded both, Live is good looking but I guess years of 2k sim has spoiled me… if live was 30 bucks new? I might cop… 60? NO! 2K is ill and I hate demos, but I love it and the tiger woods joint…

I dont know what cats see in Live… I cannot pumpfake for shit… just run and gun…

btw:can i dl the demo ,and play it on my comp?

@shoe print, ummm…in order to shot fake just tap the shoot button.