2K’s Team-Up Mode
by 
With the move of the NHL franchise to Visual Concepts it provides the opportunity to look at some aspects of NHL 2K9 that will be similar in the upcoming NBA 2K9. One of those things is the new Team-Up online mode where you control a single player as opposed to the team along with other users controlling their own player.
I tested out the mode in NHL in order to find out what to expect when NBA comes out. 2K is in a position where they are attempting to catch up in the co-op area of online play (they unquestionably have the superior leagues) following the success that Live 08 had with OTP and the advances made there for 09. While they have taken a step in the right direction by providing Team-Up it doesn’t look as though it will reach the level of what EA is offering for this year.
One of the problems encountered with NHL 2K9 is simply that there aren’t enough people online playing the mode. That is unlikely to be the case with NBA 2K9 though. There is also a timer countdown of two minutes before the game automatically starts which right now is resulting in either the timer restarting because you’re the only person waiting or the game firing up with 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 type match-ups which pretty much defeats the purpose of the mode.
In ranked games you don’t get to choose the team you are on or the position you play. You can however choose those things in unranked games. I wonder whether this will encourage people to play through or whether some will drop if they don’t like the team they’re on or the position they are in control of. It’s one thing to lock users into positions to prevent fighting over particular players. But I don’t understand not being able to choose what team you’re on. If I got into a game and was placed on the Oklahoma City Thunder I would probably turn my system off. You do see the two teams when going into the lobby area but then I wonder if people will just go in and out of the lobby until they are happy with the two teams.
Something I liked was there being no traditional lobby room but rather putting you out on the ice while the users pile in. I hope that is the case with NBA as well essentially allowing you to warm up before the game begins. However they need to rethink the auto-start and timer length as mentioned earlier.
There is no Be a Pro type camera so you’re still working with the standard camera angle. I think that took me out of the experience a bit. When it comes to the NBA games though I feel as though the standard camera works well enough. A more first person perspective probably wouldn’t work that will in a basketball game. Live’s camera is only slightly altered to concentrate on the player being controlled (still relatively similar to the broadcast camera).
Actually you can’t even pause the game while playing. When you attempt to pause all that comes up is the list of gamertags involved. In some ways this is good because pausing the game interrupts the flow but at the same time there can be legit reason to pause it. I’m not sure whether unranked games can be paused.
The games played smoothly with no lag but with the lack of online activity I’m not sure that is a barometer of what to expect come NBA time when there will be a lot more people playing and involved in each Team-Up game. If it holds up well than the mode will certainly be enjoyable despite the areas it is lacking in.
There are still some important questions left to be answered. How are substitutions handled? Can you set picks? Will you be able to pause the game or change any options?
I’m still looking forward to getting time in with this mode in NBA 2K9. I think it is well suited for how the game plays. I can’t help but think though that it will feel a little empty after the EASHL experience and what Live 09 has in store this year with the Clubs. Regardless it should provide a unique experience that will be a lot of fun.
September 21, 2008 at 8:18 am
yeah doesnt sound nearly as good as otp but i think itll still be fun in nba 2k9
September 21, 2008 at 8:20 am
Team-up wasnt very good in NHL 2K9. Agree with what you had to say about it. I rented the game to try it out. But NHL 09 Online Team Play and hockey league is awesome.
September 21, 2008 at 8:34 am
The fact that you can’t pause the game means you can’t choose the camera angle, so you have to go down for at least a period, which I prefer to go up like in Be A Pro. If there’s a way to change the camera angle in Team Up, I haven’t figured it out.
September 21, 2008 at 8:52 am
new news on 2k9 at OS.. get with the program pasta
September 21, 2008 at 8:56 am
I believe NBA Live will be a great game this year with the OTP and 365 thing. OXM gave NBA Live 09 an 8/10. Thats a huge improvement. As of right now, I want NBA Live. Its been since 05 since I bought on. I bought NBA Live 06 but it was only $13. NBA Live really seems worth it over 2K9. 2K9 seems to be the same old stuff(Its great but its time for change) and from what Pasta is saying about 2K’s Team Play, it wont be as good as Live. Also, Live have clubs and a whole lot more for online. I can’t Wait!!!
September 21, 2008 at 9:47 am
“Its great but its time for a change”
Listen to yourself deluding yourself into thinking Live 09 will trump 2K9. Keep on dreaming; better yet keep up with the delusion considering the ample gameplay vids availabe on OS that really capture the essence of this sim franchise. Live 09 is not even on the gameplay level of 2K7. What are you smoking talking that nonsense of “its time for a change”, even in the face of the overwhelming evidence that Live 09 is the inferior product by far. Go play the Live 09 demo just to regain your sanity. The sliding that people complain about with 2K pales in comparison to the atrocious sliding and clipping issues that Live has failed to address, even with their so called next gen engine.
2K9….We Reaaddy We Reaady!
2K9….We Reaaddy We Reaady!
September 21, 2008 at 9:50 am
And for the record, can we acknowledge that although NHL 2K9 does not have all the bells and whistles of online gameplay that NHL 09 has, it still has superior gameplay on the ice bar none. The puck physics and unpredictability of types of goals scored blows away the bland repetitive one time fest in NHL 09. For the record, I am a 2K fanboy, whatever the hell those internet labels mean. I just think they make more quality games the lazy behemoth of the industry, EA.
September 21, 2008 at 9:59 am
Are you serious NBA Live is a terrible excuse for a basketball game. Your just a faithful EA supporter that just is brain washed by them. Live can’t even compare to 2k9. You say 2k9 seems to be the same thing what a joke. Live has garbage player models, arcade like game play, and poor physics. I can’t believe you with this Live 365 lol do you have Madden another EA game who says they’re going to put an update out every week can’t even do that. You expect them to update Live daily. 2k9 will absolutely be far better then Live. I love you EA supporters omg Live 09 Live 09 I can’t wait. Go watch a basketball game and you compare it to your Live the movements every aspect of the game compare it please and you tell me that Live is a good game. Until then please please stop supporting EA go get a realistic basketball game that is actually a sim basketball game. I’ve played the Live 09 demo it sucks you have a meter to tell you when to shoot what…..When your looking at a real game do they have a meter to tell you when your shot is good or bad NO. I’ve seen every trailer for Live compared to 2k9 graphics, game play, overall comparison to an actual NBA game.
September 21, 2008 at 11:48 am
Opinions are opinions. Why do some of you get so worked up over other peoples opinions? I’ve played both 2K and Live last year, and I thought Live was better. Its just a better game for me and I had more fun playing Live over 2K. Also about the meter thing, thats only in the practice gym hence the name practice lmao. Sometimes sim doesnt equal fun. I’ll use racing games as an example. Forza isnt the most fun racing game out there but it is a very good solid sim racer. While racers like Project Gotham(Arcade racing) is more fun to play.
I understand that sim is key for some of you diehards, but the fact is that there are more casual gamers and fans of sports than diehards. An example is the Nintendo Wii. Alot of Wii games are casual and look who has more sales?
As in 2K being the same, I should have explain for some of you simple minded people. 2k being the same as I meant it was 2K being a very boring game to play. I used to buy both Madden, NFL 2K, and Live and NBA 2K and every year when friends are over, Madden and Live are picked over the other two. Why? Because of a learning curve that exists with sim games. Why do you think Madden ALWAYS outsold NFL 2K? The main reason being that Madden was more of a pick up and play football game while 2k was the opposite. And no one can sit here and tell me otherwise because the facts are out there. Believe what you want to believe. Casual gamers out number us hardcore guys. Its sad and some of our games suffer from that fact but it is the truth! PROVE ME WRONG PLEASE I BEG YOU!
September 21, 2008 at 11:52 am
Dang Pasta Why u dont like my OKC Thunder Ilol be at every game this year got my season tickets.
September 21, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Because Pasta is a Seattle fan and hated the team moving to OK.
September 21, 2008 at 12:15 pm
[quote comment="37484"]Because Pasta is a Seattle fan and hated the team moving to OK.[/quote]
Oh ok.. I bet it sucks even worse that our college teams Oklahoma State and Oklahoma came up there and whooped up on Washington and Washington State too lol..
September 21, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I rented NHL 2K9, and there are about 20 people online and 2 of them are actually playing so it is very hard to get a Team-Up game started up.
September 21, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Wow, why does it sound like a cannon goes off everytime the puck hits the boards
September 21, 2008 at 7:18 pm
well LEGEND i’ll PROVE U WRONG IF LIVE was BETTA why does it always get LOWER REVIEWS
Y DOES IT SELL LESS than 2K EVERY YEAR answer dat ??
I mean Live is COO 4 kidz but the thing bout kidz is dey grow up eventually & den dey get 2K
like we say in TEAM GWAP (UTUBE US)
dudes is LIVE until the 2K’s come out
U might NOT be able 2 catch dat 1 hopefully sum1 can explain it 2 YOU
September 21, 2008 at 8:33 pm
[quote comment="37471"]Are you serious NBA Live is a terrible excuse for a basketball game. Your just a faithful EA supporter that just is brain washed by them. Live can’t even compare to 2k9. You say 2k9 seems to be the same thing what a joke. Live has garbage player models, arcade like game play, and poor physics. I can’t believe you with this Live 365 lol do you have Madden another EA game who says they’re going to put an update out every week can’t even do that. You expect them to update Live daily. 2k9 will absolutely be far better then Live. I love you EA supporters omg Live 09 Live 09 I can’t wait. Go watch a basketball game and you compare it to your Live the movements every aspect of the game compare it please and you tell me that Live is a good game. Until then please please stop supporting EA go get a realistic basketball game that is actually a sim basketball game. I’ve played the Live 09 demo it sucks you have a meter to tell you when to shoot what…..When your looking at a real game do they have a meter to tell you when your shot is good or bad NO. I’ve seen every trailer for Live compared to 2k9 graphics, game play, overall comparison to an actual NBA game.[/quote]
YOU NEED TO STFU PEOPLE BUY WHAT THEY WANT NO WHAT YOU SAY DUMBASS AND IF YOU DONT LIKE LIVE GTFO. OKAY
September 21, 2008 at 9:00 pm
personally I think ur goin about this da WRONG way infamous
i’m NOT gonna say 2 sum1 go play 2K if dey DON’T want why even BOTHER 2 argue dat
I just stick 2 arguing which is BETTA which 1 dey play is irrelevant 2 me
itz like KOBE evey1 doesn’t hav 2 like him but as long as dey respect him as the best in the league or @ least 1 of the best I DON’T care if they like him
September 22, 2008 at 6:36 am
Live got lower reviews because it sucked the last few years. I even said I havent bought one since 2005. Now I think is good to buy. I just think that Live is more fun to play than 2K for me. I have changed my focus in gaming as I am no longer competitive. I use my games as a stress reliever. I get mad sometimes just playing madden as it brings out my competitive side that just wants the win. I all about having fun now. Maybe someday you’ll understand. Someone will have to explain it to you. And too me, as a casual basketball fan, 2K cramps my style, thats why I dont like it. I own 2K7 and I hated it. That game made me hate Basketball. End of story, no one can stop me from buying whatever games I want to buy. Reviews don’t mean a thing. A lot of times, people have more fun on the low rated games. The high rated ones are over hyped and over rated(GTA IV(is boring), Halo 3(glitch fest)).
September 22, 2008 at 10:44 am
@ LEGEND who U talkin 2 is dat ISH directed @ me?
cuz I already sed in my post I DON’T CARE wut game ya’ll cop as long as ya’ll kno which 1 is BETTA
I ain’t NO 2K sales clerk so wut U spend ur $$$ on DON’T mean ISH 2 me
September 22, 2008 at 10:48 am
SN I foung GTA4 to B HOT it’s just like all the GTA’s once I beat the WHOLE game
their really ain’t NO reason 2 play especially if U got 100% completion but dash is wuz CRACK when I wuz beatin it
September 22, 2008 at 11:59 am
2K’s games have taken a hit. They are no longer the innovative leaders in sports games. NHL 2K9 is zero fun. Hopefully NBA 2K9 will take a step up and avoid being another roster update.
September 22, 2008 at 12:52 pm
WTF is dis dude talkin bout
the whole adding new ANIMATIONS based on real life playa performances sounds innovatibe 2 me along wit NBA.com set up page in Franchise Not 2 mention
the WELCOMED back addition of shot stick which has undergone improvements &
the improved ISO-MOTION that offers WAY more moves than Live 09 has
where’s the diff in playing wit AI, D WADE & Crawford in Live?????
September 22, 2008 at 10:18 pm
They aren’t adding animations, they are unlocking them meaning they are already in the game and its up to 2K to update peoples stats to use the animations. And come on now, why are you getting worked up over a feature Live has also and does it better with the rewind stuff. The whole unlocking animations thing is crazy. It could be innovative in a sense. It takes away from the game. So anyone without internet will never be able to use certain animations because their players stats aren’t good enough to use the animations. (go ahead and argue on this one obviously you cant read).
I just dont see how Living Roster or Live 365 will benefit anyone without internet which is the majority of people that buy basketball games. Living Rosters will hinder the game due to the locked out animations. People would have to manually edit the players if possible to get these animations. And no you can not add animations through a roster update. The game will need to be patched. Therefore the animations are locked.
And how many people actually use the shot stick? Its all good to use it for free throws but not many will or have used it during regular shots. A lot of B ball bluffs I know hated the shot stick.
And I wish everyone will stop the comparisons. NOBODY has played either FULL game. I’m not here to argue but this is what I have found through research and such. I know my facts are straight.
Deus Legend
TheXBLN.com
September 23, 2008 at 10:37 am
R U STUPID everbody datz GOOD @ @K kno’s da SHOT STICK is da way 2 go b/c using a button is RANDOM like HELL
SSTICK U kno wuit ur gonna get I can TELL U DON’T play 2K like dat cuz datz just IGNANT yea I sed IGNANT
fam fact is if U got 4 -6$$$ to BUY a PS3 U probably hav CPU DTAZ a FACT
ur NOT Listenin fam sed & I QUOTE if sum1 as a NEW MOVE 2 their game it will be reflected in da game
so datz MORE dan UNLOCKIN pre set moves LIL HOMIE
September 23, 2008 at 10:41 am
U r REALLY Wildn @ SportsGamer.com dey Already had ALL 3 NBA games & sed & I QUOTE
“LIVE still kinda sux after playing 2K”
so WTF mean NObody has had hands wit all 3 see how IGN ANT U sound cuz YOU claim U read but U ain’t read dat
ur NOT using FACTS I am U can go 2 SGAMER & read da QUOTES 4 urself
ur like D12 now da ISH U say is SHADY cuz U ain’t got NO PROOF
September 23, 2008 at 11:30 am
I’m really not sure what you are trying to say in both of your comments.
September 23, 2008 at 11:36 am
wuteva now YOU DON’T undastand wut i’m sayin
all of da sudden
dat excuse is just LAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMEEEEEE
so be it
September 23, 2008 at 9:02 pm
well whatever you typed wasn’t very clear and it didn’t make much sense. not trying to be funny.