NBA 2K8 demo impressions

[seanmac31]

Just downloaded this and had a chance to get a few games in. My first thought was that I think more highly of the Live demo. 2K8 doesn't look very good next to Live, at least as far as the level of detail on the player models. That said, they move fine, and it looks like there have been quite a few tweaks to the animations. What's immediately noticeable is the improvement to the rebounding game. There is a lot of aggressive boxing out and players really go up to get the ball when it comes off the rim. (Speaking of, the ball physics feel a little different, slightly floatier.) It also looks like VC has tried to cut down on the dunks, and I've been able to pull off very few of them. I freed up Bruce Bowens for an open dunk and he laid the ball in off the glass. Another nice tweak is that you no longer have to hit the jump button to contest a shot- as long as you are in position, you'll go up automatically when the offensive player shoots.

The new icons are a little busy for my tastes.

[dbdynsty25]

The fact that the rebounding game is even better than last year's version makes this the game to get over Live. I just cannot believe that EA keeps allowing balls to hit the floor on a regular basis when a shot is missed. There just needed to be a few little tweaks to the 2k engine and it would be ideal. Hopefully they got there this year. We'll see. I'm definitely picking up both games because Live actually has potential outside of the rebounding issue.

[MizzouRah]

Funny how 2k seems to be able to release a demo of their flagship series NBA 2k, but couldn't with hockey.

I honestly think if a company does not think highly of their upcoming release product, they release a demo AFTER the game comes out. Maybe I'm crazy.?.

[WillHunting]

Oh man I can't wait to try this.

[seanmac31]

I went ahead and played a few games of the Live demo and then the 2K8 demo back to back. Live's player models look much better, and I kind of enjoy the ambient court lighting. I also appreciate the fact that you autoswtich on defense to rotate along with the passes. Beyond that, 2K8 looks to be better in almost every regard.

Some observations:

-The animations on the drive and dish have been tightened up and look really nice now. There's a lot of zip on the ball when a point guard kicks it out to the wing.

-Lebron's signature shot is done perfectly.

-VC has gotten rid of the old tip-off bit. They've also changed their free throw shooting camera angle.

-There's an interesting new defensive addition. For good defenders like Bruce Bowens, you can lock down the man you're guarding. When you've got him locked down, an icon comes on and you end up automatically shifting back and forth to stay in position on the player. It should be very helpful for online games.

-Tim Duncan is a beast in the post.

[JackB1]

Just downloaded this and had a chance to get a few games in. My first thought was that I think more highly of the Live demo.

How could that be? The 2K series was so far ahead of the Live series in hoops, it was like Secretariat at the Belmont. The Live demo seemed so cluncky to me (the controls) and laggy. It seems like you are playing online on a dialup modem.

[Rodster]

The fact that the rebounding game is even better than last year's version makes this the game to get over Live. I just cannot believe that EA keeps allowing balls to hit the floor on a regular basis when a shot is missed. There just needed to be a few little tweaks to the 2k engine and it would be ideal. Hopefully they got there this year. We'll see. I'm definitely picking up both games because Live actually has potential outside of the rebounding issue.

Amen brother. I can't put my finger on it but there is something I like about Live this year. If the PC version is identical to the 360 version i'll go with the PC instead. NBA2K8 is a no brainer for me.

[dbdynsty25]

How could that be? The 2K series was so far ahead of the Live series in hoops, it was like Secretariat at the Belmont. The Live demo seemed so cluncky to me (the controls) and laggy. It seems like you are playing online on a dialup modem.

Holy crap, stop reading one line and then feeling the need to post without reading the rest. In the next post he says that 2k8 is better in almost every regard.

[Rodster]

Well I tried the demo and must say the game plays tight no questions. I do see some carry over problems from last year and the year before.

1) Players shorts still disappear. Come on VC this is year three on the Xbox 360.

2) Player animation after the ball appears robotic as if they are being reset. Watching players wobble about on the court after a shot looks weird as if their post shot animations are either being reset. It was a problem and looked distracting last year when coaches would stop turn and start back to the bench before the players went back to the court. This year I see the players suffer from that as well and it looks quite unpolished.

3) As was mentioned before player models look way better on Live.

4) I've seen some players skate on the court.

What the game has going for it is it plays a great game on BB. LBJ is deadly as he is in real life. The only problem I see with NBA2k8 is it looks unpolished. NBA Live has made huge strides in only one year. I think i'll still get both this year.

[FatPitcher]

1) Players shorts still disappear. Come on VC this is year three on the Xbox 360.

Shirts too!

[dbdynsty25]

I'm actually not all that impressed with 2k. Maybe it's the speed which is ultra-twitchy on default. I know I turned down the speed in 2k7 so maybe it'll be fine when it's toned down a bit. I prefer the speed of Live without a doubt.

The graphics seem to have taken a step back this year. What is with companies and that depth of field crap? I hate it...and it is just lazy programming. It's an easy way to fix frame rates, by blurring the background, they don't need to render them, resulting in lower frame rates. I don't get the fascination with it. Live looks ridiculously good...even though they don't have the little pubic patch on the back of Gooden's head when 2k does.

I'm still getting both games because it's definitely my favorite genre of sports games...but I'm very very slightly leaning towards Live. It has probably taken the biggest step forward in the history of sports gaming because 07 was such a turd. It actually would probably have been worth more had someone really defecated on the thing.

[WillHunting]

This game plays so much better than Live. Live still has very little defense (at least with the default difficulty, I can drive to the basket very easily). 2K8 is very tight, I do wish some of the transition from dribbling to the driving animation is smoother. But aside from the game, the player looks more life like and the signature moves are great. LeBron is unreal.

[dbdynsty25]

But aside from the game, the player looks more life like and the signature moves are great. LeBron is unreal.

Toll Free: 1-800-EYE-CHEK

The player models are so much better in Live it isn't even in the same league. Lebron, for example, loooks like the little kid alter ego in the commercials he does for Nike. The players just are BLAH and the faces are horribly reproduced in comparison. It leads me to believe you haven't played Live because I can't see how anyone would contend that 2k8 looks better. Hell, half of the game is a damn blurr effect...which is annoying on a basketball court. I suppose Madden can KINDA get away with it since a football field is so big, but a 90+ foot basketball court shouldn't be that blurry in the background. Overkill of artistic license.

And if you think you can just blow by defenders in Live, bump up the difficulty...it gets very tough.

[WillHunting]

But aside from the game, the player looks more life like and the signature moves are great. LeBron is unreal.

Toll Free: 1-800-EYE-CHEK

The player models are so much better in Live it isn't even in the same league. Lebron, for example, loooks like the little kid alter ego in the commercials he does for Nike. The players just are BLAH and the faces are horribly reproduced in comparison. It leads me to believe you haven't played Live because I can't see how anyone would contend that 2k8 looks better. Hell, half of the game is a damn blurr effect...which is annoying on a basketball court. I suppose Madden can KINDA get away with it since a football field is so big, but a 90+ foot basketball court shouldn't be that blurry in the background. Overkill of artistic license.

And if you think you can just blow by defenders in Live, bump up the difficulty...it gets very tough.

I hate the plastic look of the Live 08. Plus, it plays like dog poo. Don't care for it at all.

Nowhere did I say 2K8 looks better. Live does look better but I prefer 2K's animation/feel so much more.

[JackB1]

How could that be? The 2K series was so far ahead of the Live series in hoops, it was like Secretariat at the Belmont. The Live demo seemed so cluncky to me (the controls) and laggy. It seems like you are playing online on a dialup modem.

Holy crap, stop reading one line and then feeling the need to post without reading the rest. In the next post he says that 2k8 is better in almost every regard.

I don't know what the heck you are talking about. I read his whole first posting and he never says 2K8 is "better in almost every regard". He doesn't even compare any part of 2K to Live in the rest of his statement. He just goes on talking about some of the things in this year's game that were improved or changed. YOU are the one that needs to read before posting. Stop telling me and everyone else here what to do and what not do. YOU ARE NOT IN CHARGE HERE! Got it?

[dbdynsty25]

Live used to look like plastic...they have improved that considerably this year. The last two years were like watching plastic dolls run up and down the court. The player models are significantly more advanced in Live though. The animations in 2k are definitely better, but the speed at which the game is set now, turns me off. I wish we could adjust that in the demo.

[dbdynsty25]

I don't know what the heck you are talking about. I read his whole first posting and he never says 2K8 is "better in almost every regard". He doesn't even compare any part of 2K to Live in the rest of his statement. He just goes on talking about some of the things in this year's game that were improved or changed. YOU are the one that needs to read before posting. Stop telling me and everyone else here what to do and what not do. YOU ARE NOT IN CHARGE HERE! Got it?

When and where did you learn how to read? I need to be sure NOT to send my kids there.

Beyond that, 2K8 looks to be better in almost every regard.

[JackB1]

Live used to look like plastic...they have improved that considerably this year. The last two years were like watching plastic dolls run up and down the court. The player models are significantly more advanced in Live though. The animations in 2k are definitely better, but the speed at which the game is set now, turns me off. I wish we could adjust that in the demo.

Who cares about how the player models look if the controls are sluggish?
Gameplay is the most important thing and I can't imagine Live's is better than 2K's.

[JackB1]

I don't know what the heck you are talking about. I read his whole first posting and he never says 2K8 is "better in almost every regard". He doesn't even compare any part of 2K to Live in the rest of his statement. He just goes on talking about some of the things in this year's game that were improved or changed. YOU are the one that needs to read before posting. Stop telling me and everyone else here what to do and what not do. YOU ARE NOT IN CHARGE HERE! Got it?

When and where did you learn how to read? I need to be sure NOT to send my kids there.

Beyond that, 2K8 looks to be better in almost every regard.

That was in the 5th posting in this thread. If you read carefully, you would have seen I was responding to Seanmac's 1st post, but you were so consumed with pointing out my mistake, that you didn't stop to notice that. What don't you stop worrying about what everyone is doing here constantly and just post about the games? What a concept!

[dbdynsty25]

Lets see if I can explain this to you and why it makes zero sense whatsoever.

Person 1: I don't like Jack.

A few posts down.

Person 1: Wait, I've changed my mind, I do like Jack. That kid is great.

Now responding after Person 1 has changed their mind.

Jack: Why don't you like me...you're an asshole.

Yeah, makes a hellova lot of sense to me.

[AJColossal]

I've gone back and forth between both demos and I don't see a very noticeable difference in graphics between the two. Live might have modeled the faces better, but I prefer the way the players look in motion in 2K.

My impression is that Live plays a competent game, but the gameplay in 2K just seems so much more alive and varied. The level of animations and detail is really impressive in 2K.

[dbdynsty25]

My impression is that Live plays a competent game, but the gameplay in 2K just seems so much more alive and varied. The level of animations and detail is really impressive in 2K.

They definitely have added a ton of animations (especially around the basket). I'm excited to see the full version, assuming you can turn the game speed down a bit.

[JackB1]

Lets see if I can explain this to you and why it makes zero sense whatsoever.

Let me see if I can explain something to you......

I was replying to an earlier post and hadn't yet read his post later on where he changed his mind. Big deal. Funny how noboby else felt the need to point that out. But then again, you are one of a kind.

[JackB1]

deleted - double post

[Waddupcouzin]

2K's has an excellent engine and the demo just is more fine-tuning than anything. The new additions are very welcomed, toned down dunking, better rebounding, A.I. that cycles the ball effectively is done really well. Plus this year's signatures style is amazing, play against Lebron to see what I mean. On a different note, LIVE '08 is a helluva lot better than last year, but truth be told that really wouldn't be that hard