NBA 2K9 Living Rosters and 2K Insider
by 
The highly touted announcement for NBA 2K9 turns out in part to be Living Rosters which has been known for a few weeks now. The difference though is that it will not be predicated on changes to NBA.com as previously believed, but instead will be done manually whenever it is warranted. In essence it appears as though 2K has assigned the task of roster updates to an individual who will remain active throughout the season in providing them.
As with the competition, you can expect to see roster and attribute changes when you download a new 2K roster in NBA 2K9, all based around what’s happening in the real world. However, rather than update things on a daily basis, 2K devs told us that the plan was to change a roster when it was warranted. Naturally big-time injuries or huge trades will be reflected in the game on a timely basis. What seems to set 2K9 apart, however, is how those changes are made and how much they can add to the gameplay experience.
Given that quality frequent roster updates have been lacking from 2K titles in the past the dedication to doing them is certainly a welcome change. It will remain to be seen though how well this method will meet the desires of the community. The Living Rosters may not be revolutionary. However the ability for 2K to add in new animations may be a more exciting aspect to look forward to.
If Deron Williams continues his success of last season or O.J. Mayo begins to dominate during his maiden campaign in the NBA, you can expect to see not just attribute bonuses but actual new animations available to that player as the season progresses. These new animation packages will be mo-capped, produced, and added during the course of the season by 2K devs and added to deserving players who have excelled during the season (or perhaps even developed a new signature move). In other words, this is new content developed during and relevant to the 2008/09 NBA season, not merely unlockable animation packages that are already in the game.
You can check out the full hands-on preview at Gamespot here as well as some new screenshots including ones taken from Association mode here.
September 17, 2008 at 3:44 pm
not sure if i should get this or live
December 21, 2008 at 2:15 am
GET 2K9 NBA LIVE ISNT AS GOOD AND ISNT AS REALISTIC
September 8, 2009 at 12:24 am
yeah, what convinced me was a youtube video showing Shaq hitting three 3-pointers in a row, back to back as some kid was playing. 2K9 has it's crap too, but not even close to what I saw with Live. For me the choice was easy.
September 17, 2008 at 3:44 pm
hmm well thats good to have roster updates more often but i dont like that once again we are relying on someone to do it. I like with Live 365 that it adjusts things like the starting lineups every day and it is all auto. Doesnt sound like 2K will be making changes that often.
September 17, 2008 at 3:44 pm
im thinking live cuz of the dna thing they have that updates hot and cold streaks, etc.
September 17, 2008 at 3:47 pm
ok id rather have the data reflected in the game the way live is doing it than some random guy deciding whos ratings should go up and down. this announcment=disappointing. at least its not that reverse league thing tho lol
September 17, 2008 at 3:49 pm
i’m THINKING 2K b/c like Last yr how J CRAWFORD unveiled his NEW SIG dey will ACTUALLY ADD it 2 da game
as dey sed if playaz add new moves 2 deer game dey will add it to 2K9
nice
September 17, 2008 at 3:50 pm
itz NOT 1 guy decidin whether or NOT a PLAYA goes UP or DOWN
itz da ENTIIRE 2K DEV TEAM
U kno da same guys dat DECIDE da rating from when U 1st PLAY da GAME
September 17, 2008 at 3:52 pm
[quote comment="36681"]itz NOT 1 guy decidin whether or NOT a PLAYA goes UP or DOWN
itz da ENTIIRE 2K DEV TEAM
U kno da same guys dat DECIDE da rating from when U 1st PLAY da GAME[/quote]
which worrys me just as much. 2ks player ratings and roster updates are usually horrible. so now we’ll just have those more often? better i guess but not exciting.
September 17, 2008 at 3:53 pm
@ PASTA lookin 4 CLARIFICATION cuz in that preview they SPECIFICALLY state that
NBA 2K9 will have the OKC THUNDER wit their RIGHT JERSEY & COURT
so what’s the DEAL
September 17, 2008 at 3:56 pm
@ DUBLE A
itz NOT like U CAN’T change RATINGS how YOU see fit so I DON’T REALLY see da problem I edit playa ratings myself if I don’t agree wit dem N every SPORTS game
ie MADDEN 2K NCAA
September 17, 2008 at 3:57 pm
[quote comment="36684"]@ DUBLE A
itz NOT like U CAN’T change RATINGS how YOU see fit so I DON’T REALLY see da problem I edit playa ratings myself if I don’t agree wit dem N every SPORTS game
ie MADDEN 2K NCAA[/quote]
for online play you cant change ratings tho so they do matter
September 17, 2008 at 4:01 pm
How is this a big announcement? Show us gameplay…this online stuff is so overrated….
September 17, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Adding animations as the year goes on sounds pretty cool.
September 17, 2008 at 4:08 pm
[quote comment="36683"]@ PASTA lookin 4 CLARIFICATION cuz in that preview they SPECIFICALLY state that
NBA 2K9 will have the OKC THUNDER wit their RIGHT JERSEY & COURT
so what’s the DEAL[/quote]
Yes OKC Thunder will be represented in NBA 2k9 not NBA Live.
September 17, 2008 at 4:10 pm
i’m sayin U make it sound as if sum1 who should be 68 is gonna be rated an 84 or
sumthin like dey WON’T be dat FAR OFF 2 make a HUGE DIFF ON or OFF line
September 17, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Damn 2k keeps getn better, i might have 2 update my live subscription. Yesssss
September 17, 2008 at 4:12 pm
adding animations is amazing!!! im hoping they get the rookies animations in there after the first couple weeks
September 17, 2008 at 4:15 pm
2k comin 2 hard this year, they arent holdin ne thing back! i like that. The more the competition steps up, the more they step their game up. EA dnt like that lol
DDDDDDD
September 17, 2008 at 4:22 pm
[quote comment="36692"]adding animations is amazing!!! im hoping they get the rookies animations in there after the first couple weeks[/quote]
Im really hoping for there shot animations to be in the game after they see them shot for a month.
September 17, 2008 at 4:33 pm
[quote comment="36695"][quote comment="36692"]adding animations is amazing!!! im hoping they get the rookies animations in there after the first couple weeks[/quote]
Im really hoping for there shot animations to be in the game after they see them shot for a month.[/quote]
yea im lovin this news… if 2k can keep the new animations comin and consistent this game is going to feel fresh everytime you play it, all they have to do is keep it consistent throughout the year
September 17, 2008 at 4:35 pm
New animations is cool, but is this all?
September 17, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Did you even ready about the additions? Animations isn’t only what they said.
September 17, 2008 at 5:19 pm
OK PASTA SERIOUS QUESTION HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM NBA LIVE 365 IM CONFUSED??????? (SERIOUS)
September 17, 2008 at 5:23 pm
[quote comment="36699"]OK PASTA SERIOUS QUESTION HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM NBA LIVE 365 IM CONFUSED??????? (SERIOUS)[/quote]
Well you’ve got daily updates with Live 365 which will affect rosters, depth charts, hot streaks, tendencies, and even add in new players the day after they first appear. This all comes from a company named Synergy Sports that provides the data and streams it to the game the next morning.
Here you’ve got updates at an undetermined rate from an individual with outside input from the dev team and possibly commentors on their blog. There still isn’t the whole DNA tendencies at play here. But they’ll be adding in animations which has the potential to be pretty cool IMO (depending on how often and what they add).
September 17, 2008 at 5:25 pm
it seems like an attempt to copy with changes i like the cold and hot streaks a little better though i do like animations in the game it will be a tough choice this year!
September 17, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Adding animations throughout the year will be cool & will keep the game feeling new but other than that I don’t really care about all the other stuff. I love 2K basketball & it is the most detailed sports game out but I’ll be the 1st to say that they need to worry about other aspects of the game before trying to match what Live is doing. How about fixing players accessories & shoes? How about players accessories & socks not disappearing when sitting on the bench? How about players hands touching the rim when dunking? I know that sounds petty but my point is I wish company’s wouldn’t focus so much on the “secret features” until the perfect basic aspects of the game.
September 17, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Wow..I like 2K just as much as the next guy, but that’s a pretty lame announcement. With 2K’s history of roster updates this “when they are warranted” actually translates to “approximately three…if we feel like it.”
September 17, 2008 at 6:09 pm
im just gonna get both they are both gona be good
September 17, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I guarantee their B more dan 3 also 2K has improved accessories ie dey got rid of those thin AZZ arm bands
as far as dem NOT havin socks on bench dudes it MUST be a compromise dey make 2 ADD/HAV all da other STUFF dat makes da ATMOSPHERE so GOOD
mayB it wud take up 2 MUCH memory / space 2 hav da game MEMORIES all da accessories added 2 playaz on da 360
cuz we kno PS3 wit dat BLU -RAY has da SPACE
September 17, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Thats it new animations and one dude doing the roster updates wow lol
September 17, 2008 at 6:22 pm
BOTTOM LINE is DESPITE all da FEATURES end of da DAY it all comes back 2 GPLAY
a TRICKED OUT WHIP wit a SHOT ENGINE is only GOOD 4 SHOW
September 17, 2008 at 6:24 pm
This is W-E-A-K. Seems like 2K into “2-Copy” as in copying what EA plans to offer. How the mighty 2K has fallen.
September 17, 2008 at 6:26 pm
[quote comment="36711"]This is W-E-A-K.
Seems like 2K into “2-Copy” as in copying what EA plans to offer. How the mighty 2K has fallen.[/quote]
wow you must not know the gaming industry… they were both working on it at the same time but EA aka hype machine just announced it earlier so they can do what they do best “talk talk talk”
and if anyone should be able to add animations to make there game better it should be live cause they have signature shots but there not as deep as 2k
September 17, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I don’t kno I could B DEAD WRONG
but if I had 2 make a BET
I wud venture 2 say dat LIVE copied 2K idea
Y you ask didn’t a couple of 2K guys go 2 EA & now BOTH games hav SIMILAR FEATURES
but A i’m just sayin
September 17, 2008 at 6:44 pm
[quote comment="36713"]I don’t kno I could B DEAD WRONG
but if I had 2 make a BET
I wud venture 2 say dat LIVE copied 2K idea
Y you ask didn’t a couple of 2K guys go 2 EA & now BOTH games hav SIMILAR FEATURES
but A i’m just sayin[/quote]
very true…. i bet EA released there features as early as they could to beat 2k to the punch to make it seem like 2k copied them
September 17, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Because is the truth that 2k copied live .
NBA LIVE THE KING OF BASKETBALL
September 17, 2008 at 7:14 pm
[quote comment="36717"]Because is the truth that 2k copied live .
NBA LIVE THE KING OF BASKETBALL[/quote]
haha ur completely clueless on the game making process….
2k basketball, if it’s in the game ITS ACTUALLY IN THE GAME!!!
September 17, 2008 at 7:15 pm
[quote comment="36717"]Because is the truth that 2k copied live .
NBA LIVE THE KING OF BASKETBALL[/quote]
U dont know that ur just sayin that bcuz ur a nba live fan boy and u hope thats the case.
September 17, 2008 at 7:17 pm
[quote comment="36711"]This is W-E-A-K.
Seems like 2K into “2-Copy” as in copying what EA plans to offer. How the mighty 2K has fallen.[/quote]
Ur sayin its weak but Live and 2k has similar features. Live fans keep saying 2k copied but it isnt the truth. I cant remember wht Pasta said about it but it was very accurate of either game copying off the other. So stop with the ignorant comments.
September 17, 2008 at 7:19 pm
[quote comment="36717"]Because is the truth that 2k copied live .
NBA LIVE THE KING OF BASKETBALL[/quote]
U do remember someone from 2k went over to EA this year right? I wonder why the game actually looks decent.
September 17, 2008 at 7:20 pm
In all honesty no one copied anyone unless 2k or EA communicated with eachother early in production then both agreed to make similar features which is very VERY doubtful
September 17, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Something I find interesting is the dynamic we see in comments regarding these two games. I’ll probably do a story about it someday but it fascinates me that people push the whole competition is good thing but usually we just get arguments when a 2K game goes up against an EA game. I think for the people who believe (and most do) that competition forces quality and advancement we have a great example of that here. Personally I think that is great that depending on whatever preference you have you’ll probably be enjoying a basketball game this year.
September 17, 2008 at 7:31 pm
This pretty much seals it Im getting live.
Content on a daily basis is important to me.
September 17, 2008 at 7:33 pm
[quote comment="36728"]This pretty much seals it Im getting live.
Content on a daily basis is important to me.[/quote]
Both do that. Ur ignorant.
September 17, 2008 at 7:34 pm
[quote comment="36725"]Something I find interesting is the dynamic we see in comments regarding these two games. I’ll probably do a story about it someday but it fascinates me that people push the whole competition is good thing but usually we just get arguments when a 2K game goes up against an EA game. I think for the people who believe (and most do) that competition forces quality and advancement we have a great example of that here. Personally I think that is great that depending on whatever preference you have you’ll probably be enjoying a basketball game this year.[/quote]
This is exactly the reason why I wish 2k was able to make an NFL game… maddens best games was when it had competition, now its the “its on our list but we couldnt get it in this year”… when 2k was around they jammed whatever they could in the game to make it a quality game, now its all these features and “next year” promises to get people to buy it every year it comes out in hopes that it will be in.
September 17, 2008 at 7:36 pm
[quote comment="36731"][quote comment="36725"]Something I find interesting is the dynamic we see in comments regarding these two games. I’ll probably do a story about it someday but it fascinates me that people push the whole competition is good thing but usually we just get arguments when a 2K game goes up against an EA game. I think for the people who believe (and most do) that competition forces quality and advancement we have a great example of that here. Personally I think that is great that depending on whatever preference you have you’ll probably be enjoying a basketball game this year.[/quote]
This is exactly the reason why I wish 2k was able to make an NFL game… maddens best games was when it had competition, now its the “its on our list but we couldnt get it in this year”… when 2k was around they jammed whatever they could in the game to make it a quality game, now its all these features and “next year” promises to get people to buy it every year it comes out in hopes that it will be in.[/quote]
So damn true.. Both comments.
September 17, 2008 at 7:46 pm
@PASTA yea it leads 2 arguments but itz COOL cuz I don’t think any1 takes it 2 a level where dey DON’T actually like da person b/c he or she likes 1 game more dan another so 2 me itz more like a” friendly” debate
September 17, 2008 at 8:08 pm
i’m willing to bet that one guy will out do the whole EA development team on roster and attribute changes. C’mon, it’s EA we’re talking about. When is the last time EA had a feature that worked right. Just look at Madden 09, it’s even on the box “the game that adapts to you” all they did was make your receivers drop balls when ur good at passing, they make you fumble alot when ur good at running etc….. u get my point.
September 17, 2008 at 8:12 pm
[quote comment="36743"]i’m willing to bet that one guy will out do the whole EA development team on roster and attribute changes. C’mon, it’s EA we’re talking about. When is the last time EA had a feature that worked right. Just look at Madden 09, it’s even on the box “the game that adapts to you” all they did was make your receivers drop balls when ur good at passing, they make you fumble alot when ur good at running etc….. u get my point.[/quote]
Lol yeah I use custom with NJpapi`s sliders works better than that IQ CRAP.
September 17, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Lol yea EA’s features never live up 2 what they are supposed 2 b. I wonder why people never notice that? Seriously Look at Campus Legend/Superstar Mode it never reached the potential it was supposed 2 b. They jus put out a feature and dnt add 2 it. Like The All Star Weekend, when was the last time they added new dunks 2 it? Its been in the game since 2005 and nothin changed. Same button combos for the same dunks.
September 17, 2008 at 9:22 pm
[quote comment="36747"]Lol yea EA’s features never live up 2 what they are supposed 2 b. I wonder why people never notice that? Seriously Look at Campus Legend/Superstar Mode it never reached the potential it was supposed 2 b. They jus put out a feature and dnt add 2 it. Like The All Star Weekend, when was the last time they added new dunks 2 it? Its been in the game since 2005 and nothin changed. Same button combos for the same dunks.[/quote]
Yes this is true but they get us coming back atleast when it comes to Madden bcuz its the only football game.