NBA 2K9 Team-Up Mode Not Fixed By Patch

by pastapadre
Posted December 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 pm

One of the supposed fixes in the patch for NBA 2K9 was to make the 5 on 5 Team-Up mode playable. The mode has never worked properly having been inflicted with crippling lag (the worst I’ve ever experienced), disconnects, and frustration. I was concerned with the wording in the patch details and wanted to see how much it improved the performance. Two months after release would Team-Up mode actually function properly and deliver what was advertised?

The short answer to that is no. I spent a considerable amount of time trying to play it with very little success. The only games I was able to load into and play involved only a couple other users. There was no success with 7 or more users involved. Here are a couple of the instances I experienced and a few thoughts on it.

Clippers-Rockets: Things were going pretty well in my first attempt and I was encouraged. Controlling Yao with a full 10 player game and no lag. After the first possession the game ended. I was returned to the main loading screen.

Bucks-Bobcats: Game filled up and was ready to go. Got a “Waiting for opponent” message and after a few seconds the users were dispersed back to the main loading screen. “Network conditions too poor to continue” was the reasoning given.

TimberWolves-Bobcats: Same situations as the previous one only I was returned to the online menu of the game.

Was able to get into games with 2 other users and 3 other users involved and it played smoothly. That is pretty much how it was before. Regardless that isn’t what the mode is supposed to be limited to.

I made multiple other attempts. Most either disconnected with the poor network conditions message or left me sitting in the shoot-around area with no other users being filtered in.

No change was made to how the game selects the team and player for the user, and while new match-ups have been added they are pre-determined. Essentially the user has no control over the teams used, what team they play on, and what player they control. Needless to say it is pretty obvious that there needs to be a clan type system in place for 2K10.

On a positive note the default Team-Up camera (which was addressed in the patch) is much better. It is more along the lines of the broadcast camera. Much easier to keep up with the action and there are no blind spots or confusion with the camera flipping around.

I still really like the shoot-around while the game is filling up. In the future it would be great to have the whole team there and be able to practice together.

I spent way too much time just attempting to play the mode. That is incredibly frustrating and very disappointing that an advertised mode is not functioning and now looks likely that it won’t this year. Granted I didn’t experience the lag that I did prior to the patch, but it appears that the fix for that was to just not have the game run. For those who don’t mind playing 2 vs 2 or 3 vs 3 type arrangements Team-Up can provide enjoyment from that. It just doesn’t deliver on the 5 vs 5 as promised.

Tags:

aitheanswer45

being a fanboy is corny fanboys are pretty much losers who advertise games they love to much over forums pretty much doing EA and 2k dirtywork.
aitheanswer45

being a fanboy is corny fanboys are pretty much losers who advertise games they love to much over forums pretty much doing EA and 2k dirtywork.
swizzy

dis man no wut he TALKIN bout

HOLLA HOLLA HOLLA

da CHAMP iz HERRRRE
swizzy

dis man no wut he TALKIN bout

HOLLA HOLLA HOLLA

da CHAMP iz HERRRRE
JR (cabrillo24)

Josh, the problem with your statement is that Live does have a solid engine. Not up to par in terms of animations with 2K, but it's engine is a solid one and has been enjoyable, especially after the patch. Yes features and smooth online is important, and it does have a solid engine. Online multi-player has gained popularity over the years on these next gen consoles, so yes it is important to a lot of gamers, and the shortfall of 2K is disheartening since 2K has been known to get what matters most to gamers right. If you personally don't like NBA Live, that's fine, but the game is a solid one, got reviewed well by many different organizations and many would agree that it's their best game in years. DNA has been a hit, same with 365, FIBA is fun, online 5 on 5, and team practice modes. As I said, it doesn't have all the animations that 2K has, but overall it is a good game and better now since the patch.

Take this from someone who owns both games. There's a lot to like about both games, and there are frustrations with both games, but when a mode is completely unplayable after it has been listed as one of your main features for the last 2 months is simply a lack of due delligence.
JR (cabrillo24)

Josh, the problem with your statement is that Live does have a solid engine. Not up to par in terms of animations with 2K, but it's engine is a solid one and has been enjoyable, especially after the patch. Yes features and smooth online is important, and it does have a solid engine. Online multi-player has gained popularity over the years on these next gen consoles, so yes it is important to a lot of gamers, and the shortfall of 2K is disheartening since 2K has been known to get what matters most to gamers right. If you personally don't like NBA Live, that's fine, but the game is a solid one, got reviewed well by many different organizations and many would agree that it's their best game in years. DNA has been a hit, same with 365, FIBA is fun, online 5 on 5, and team practice modes. As I said, it doesn't have all the animations that 2K has, but overall it is a good game and better now since the patch.

Take this from someone who owns both games. There's a lot to like about both games, and there are frustrations with both games, but when a mode is completely unplayable after it has been listed as one of your main features for the last 2 months is simply a lack of due delligence.
Its Britney B!tch

Yo E you gotta see this

http://forums.projectcovo.com/showthread.php?t=13…
Its Britney B!tch

Yo E you gotta see this

http://forums.projectcovo.com/showthread.php?t=13…
ReignMan

-Last week nba 2k9 could sell 3x times more copies, than nba live 09.
-Last week even live08 strongly oversell live09.
-If the offline play and the gameplay is not fun, a perfect online mode alone can not change a game and save the world. Is that a flawless victory for You?
ReignMan

-Last week nba 2k9 could sell 3x times more copies, than nba live 09.
-Last week even live08 strongly oversell live09.
-If the offline play and the gameplay is not fun, a perfect online mode alone can not change a game and save the world. Is that a flawless victory for You?
Josh

I hear what you're saying JR & I'm not disagreeing with you but my point is that it seems like EA has their priorities messed up. It seems likes EA focuses on more features & online play whereas 2K seems to understand that gameplay is most important. Yes Live has a "good engine" but the gameplay still isn't solid enough. Can Live be fun? Absolutely. I just wish EA would put more of an emphasis on gameplay before adding all these features. Is 2K perfect? No. It would be nice if both companies could take a page from each other because Live does have certain things that I like better than 2K. That being said, I think Live will probably be back on top next year if 2K doesn't change their engine.
Josh

I hear what you're saying JR & I'm not disagreeing with you but my point is that it seems like EA has their priorities messed up. It seems likes EA focuses on more features & online play whereas 2K seems to understand that gameplay is most important. Yes Live has a "good engine" but the gameplay still isn't solid enough. Can Live be fun? Absolutely. I just wish EA would put more of an emphasis on gameplay before adding all these features. Is 2K perfect? No. It would be nice if both companies could take a page from each other because Live does have certain things that I like better than 2K. That being said, I think Live will probably be back on top next year if 2K doesn't change their engine.
http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I think that's a fair way to look at it. At least we do have the choices this year and people can go to the game that suits how they most want to enjoy an NBA game the best.
http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I think that's a fair way to look at it. At least we do have the choices this year and people can go to the game that suits how they most want to enjoy an NBA game the best.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I think that's a fair way to look at it. At least we do have the choices this year and people can go to the the one that suits how they most want to enjoy an NBA game the best.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I think that's a fair way to look at it. At least we do have the choices this year and people can go to the the one that suits how they most want to enjoy an NBA game the best.
http://intensedebate.com/people/DrLogic DrLogic

The back and forth commentary on this site are hilarious.

As JR mentioned, Live 09 has stepped their game up tremendously, kind of like the Miami Heat this season, they picked up a talented Michael Beasley(live 365), have effective but awkward looking animations(Shawn Marion) and have Dwayne Wade back to full health(live 09 actually doesnt completely suck this year, and is moving in the right direction after years of severly injured gameplay.)

(By the way JR its easy to see the improvements LIVE has made because the first few itenerations were god awful.) if i score a 10 on a test and then score a 65 a year later, I would be stoked, definitley not the smartest kid in the class, but content none the less, and of course the improvement would be blatent and obvious to anyone who cared to look.

NBA 2k9 is more like the Los Angeles Lakers. A whole lot of talent, showtime, and quality rolled up into a quality unit. (I would consider the online team play lamar odom.) the online team play has defintley been pushed back into the sixth man role this year.) But having said that, the Lakers are still quite a force with Odoms ass on the bench, perhaps even better as a whole.
http://intensedebate.com/people/DrLogic DrLogic

Now for the casual gamer, you may put online team play up on a pedestal (PASTAPADRE) but i hate to tell you, Lamar Odom does not win championships as a starter.

So know that when you speak of NBA Live 09 and NBA 2k9, you are talking about two different levels of gaming. The nice redemption story and turnaround that is NBA Live09 (Miami Heat). And the consistent juggernaut and CHAMPIONSHIP bound NBA 2k9 (LAKERS) with the exception of Lamars unfullfilled potential.

BTW: Pasta has clarified for us that he is not a serious sports gamer, but a casual fan, and for those reasons I think he will always favor live, which is fine.

I mean its not like he has a website where he constantly posts about sports gaming, which in turn might force him to go against his casual gamer ways and actually spend some time learning a different button configuration that might take more then an hour so he could actually enjoy and have something in depth to say about the undisputed best selling basketball game for the last 3 years.

Where were those post release 2k9 impressions?????
Can you send me a link?
http://intensedebate.com/people/DrLogic DrLogic

The back and forth commentary on this site are hilarious.

As JR mentioned, Live 09 has stepped their game up tremendously, kind of like the Miami Heat this season, they picked up a talented Michael Beasley(live 365), have effective but awkward looking animations(Shawn Marion) and have Dwayne Wade back to full health(live 09 actually doesnt completely suck this year, and is moving in the right direction after years of severly injured gameplay.)

(By the way JR its easy to see the improvements LIVE has made because the first few itenerations were god awful.) if i score a 10 on a test and then score a 65 a year later, I would be stoked, definitley not the smartest kid in the class, but content none the less, and of course the improvement would be blatent and obvious to anyone who cared to look.

NBA 2k9 is more like the Los Angeles Lakers. A whole lot of talent, showtime, and quality rolled up into a quality unit. (I would consider the online team play lamar odom.) the online team play has defintley been pushed back into the sixth man role this year.) But having said that, the Lakers are still quite a force with Odoms ass on the bench, perhaps even better as a whole.
http://intensedebate.com/people/DrLogic DrLogic

Now for the casual gamer, you may put online team play up on a pedestal (PASTAPADRE) but i hate to tell you, Lamar Odom does not win championships as a starter.

So know that when you speak of NBA Live 09 and NBA 2k9, you are talking about two different levels of gaming. The nice redemption story and turnaround that is NBA Live09 (Miami Heat). And the consistent juggernaut and CHAMPIONSHIP bound NBA 2k9 (LAKERS) with the exception of Lamars unfullfilled potential.

BTW: Pasta has clarified for us that he is not a serious sports gamer, but a casual fan, and for those reasons I think he will always favor live, which is fine.

I mean its not like he has a website where he constantly posts about sports gaming, which in turn might force him to go against his casual gamer ways and actually spend some time learning a different button configuration that might take more then an hour so he could actually enjoy and have something in depth to say about the undisputed best selling basketball game for the last 3 years.

Where were those post release 2k9 impressions?????
Can you send me a link?
Josh

Lol.
Josh

Lol.
Ross

Awaits Pasta's I love NBA Live 09 thread coming out tomorrow….
Ross

Awaits Pasta's I love NBA Live 09 thread coming out tomorrow….
Josh

I have to admit that was hilarious! No offense Pasta! At the end of the day we can all agree that these are just video games & we all tend to take them way too serious at times myself included, but the back & forth is funny though.
Josh

I have to admit that was hilarious! No offense Pasta! At the end of the day we can all agree that these are just video games & we all tend to take them way too serious at times myself included, but the back & forth is funny though.
Badluck

wow…all the 2k hate is amazing… just a couple of moths ago everyone was saying that 2k8 was better because 2k cared about their fans and EA just spewed out the same garbage year after year and now people think its the complete opposite.
Badluck

wow…all the 2k hate is amazing… just a couple of moths ago everyone was saying that 2k8 was better because 2k cared about their fans and EA just spewed out the same garbage year after year and now people think its the complete opposite.
Badluck

i was talking about the comments not the article
Badluck

i was talking about the comments not the article
http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I don't take offense, no matter how hard some of you guys may rip me
http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I don't take offense, no matter how hard some of you guys may rip me
http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I think the main reasons for a swing in perception are

1) A string of disappointing games from 2K. At this point it seems like consumers just have the NBA franchise they can feel confident in relying on from them.
2) EA has provided better post-release support with their games and has the interaction with the community.
http://intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

I think the main reasons for a swing in perception are

1) A string of disappointing games from 2K. At this point it seems like consumers just have the NBA franchise they can feel confident in relying on from them.
2) EA has provided better post-release support with their games and has the interaction with the community.
Smokez4Dayz

How come his last two threads for a 2k Sports Game has been negative. Hey EAPastaPadre, you at it again. Live is trash. do you see how we at NBA2K9 get more than just updated arrows, we get new moves, new skill sets added, as well as tendencies (your arrows) and ratings boost/drops. So keep digging on team play. I'll just keep playing the BEST SPORTS GAME OF THE YEAR, says me.
Smokez4Dayz

How come his last two threads for a 2k Sports Game has been negative. Hey EAPastaPadre, you at it again. Live is trash. do you see how we at NBA2K9 get more than just updated arrows, we get new moves, new skill sets added, as well as tendencies (your arrows) and ratings boost/drops. So keep digging on team play. I'll just keep playing the BEST SPORTS GAME OF THE YEAR, says me.
rondoman

You will NEVER, and I repeat NEVER, see EAPasta go this much into detail on EA's failed promises and shortcomings. Is there any doubt he is an EA schill? Hey Pasta, where's the 2k9 Impressions? Or will u dodge the question for the hundredth time?
rondoman

You will NEVER, and I repeat NEVER, see EAPasta go this much into detail on EA's failed promises and shortcomings. Is there any doubt he is an EA schill? Hey Pasta, where's the 2k9 Impressions? Or will u dodge the question for the hundredth time?
Ribbz

Maybe the Live crew should help 2k with the online part of their game and 2k could help live on the gameplay part. Although that would mean 2k would have to put in 500000000 times the effort since Live blows…
Ribbz

Maybe the Live crew should help 2k with the online part of their game and 2k could help live on the gameplay part. Although that would mean 2k would have to put in 500000000 times the effort since Live blows…
Basic

you ever think your connection is basic like high school basic?
Basic

you ever think your connection is basic like high school basic?
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

Right, so you put the blame on my powerboosted cable connection. The same connection that can play FIFA with 20 users without lag and Live with 10 users without lag. And also ignoring that everyone else has a problem playing Team-Up. Sorry, the blame for the poor performance falls on 2K here.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/pastapadre pastapadre

Right, so you put the blame on my powerboosted cable connection. The same connection that can play FIFA with 20 users without lag and Live with 10 users without lag. And also ignoring that everyone else has a problem playing Team-Up. Sorry, the blame for the poor performance falls on 2K here.
johnshaft23

All the guys who complain about pasta should just chill out. It's not your damn site and if you don;t like it then don't log on.
Every manhas a preference and that is okay. Personally i play live this year and didn;t get 2k cause i liked the improvements on live. It's not as advanced as 2k but its very good and at least i can pla online lagfree even if i play guys from overseas. I'm in Europe.
Now all pasta did was report on what was not working and if it's not true then say it isn;t, but it seems everywhere i go i read about 2ks online problems so it's not a biased review.

to me the most biased review of the year was Gametrailers review of 2k9 and live 09. They didnt mention 2k online at all or barely……while they basically said live was trash, which it isn;t if you just play the right way and play it more and more.

I loved 2k8 last year but the controls just annoyed me and i rather be in control of my moves more, but that may be my problem sonce i don;t master the controls.
johnshaft23

All the guys who complain about pasta should just chill out. It's not your damn site and if you don;t like it then don't log on.
Every manhas a preference and that is okay. Personally i play live this year and didn;t get 2k cause i liked the improvements on live. It's not as advanced as 2k but its very good and at least i can pla online lagfree even if i play guys from overseas. I'm in Europe.
Now all pasta did was report on what was not working and if it's not true then say it isn;t, but it seems everywhere i go i read about 2ks online problems so it's not a biased review.

to me the most biased review of the year was Gametrailers review of 2k9 and live 09. They didnt mention 2k online at all or barely……while they basically said live was trash, which it isn;t if you just play the right way and play it more and more.

I loved 2k8 last year but the controls just annoyed me and i rather be in control of my moves more, but that may be my problem sonce i don;t master the controls.
marc

Live is 1,000,000 more times fun to play than 2k9. 2K9 is a pretty Porsche with a lawnmower engine under the hood!!
marc

Live is 1,000,000 more times fun to play than 2k9. 2K9 is a pretty Porsche with a lawnmower engine under the hood!!
Moye2010

If people love Live's online features and performance, really it comes down to what gameplay is like offline also. I mean you cant really change gameplay between offline and online can you? (rhetorical question)
Moye2010

If people love Live's online features and performance, really it comes down to what gameplay is like offline also. I mean you cant really change gameplay between offline and online can you? (rhetorical question)