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NLSC Podcast #350: What’s My Age Again?

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Episode #350 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

We’re celebrating our 50th episode as a duo, which leads us to reflect on some famous number 50s in NBA history. After that, it’s down to business with a discussion of the latest news surrounding NBA 2K21 Next Gen. From server issues to a widespread ban, there’s a lot to catch up on, and we have a lot to say. We also talk about stat padding in online games, and how it’s led to what we feel is an unappealing style of play. Recent events also prompt us to discuss ageism in basketball gaming, and troubling practices in the modding community. This week’s mailbag topics cover recycled faces in NBA 2K, and the idea of petitioning 2K to make certain changes.

What’s your take on this week’s conversation? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Wayback Wednesday: Stints Spanning Two Generations

Wayback Wednesday: Stints Spanning Two Generations

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! In this feature, we dig into the archives, look back at the history of basketball gaming, and indulge in some nostalgia. Check in every Wednesday for retrospectives and other features on older versions of NBA Live, NBA 2K, and old school basketball video games in general. You’ll also find old NLSC editorials re-published with added commentary, and other flashback content. This week, I’m taking a look back at the players whose stints with their current team runs through the past two generations of consoles.

It seems almost inevitable that the stars of the NBA will play for more than one team these days. While player movement is nothing new, and some of the biggest names in NBA history had stints with more than one team, we’re seeing more and more future Hall of Famers jump ship in their prime. With the retirement of Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, and the late Kobe Bryant, we may have seen the last players to spend their entire career with one franchise, or at least retire where they had their most success. It’s certainly becoming more of a rarity, as the culture of the league continues to shift.

At the same time, there are a few players who are in the midst of lengthy tenures with their current teams. With the launch of a new generation of consoles, there’s a group of players who are still with the same teams they played for at the beginning of the previous generation. How many do they number, and how does that compare to older eras and console generations? Let’s take a look back…way back…

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Monday Tip-Off: A Ticking Clock on Current Gen

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Start your week here at the NLSC with a feature that’s dedicated to opinions, commentary, and other fun stuff related to NBA Live, NBA 2K, and other basketball video games. This week, I’m tipping things off with my thoughts on how there’s a ticking clock on the relevance of NBA 2K21 Current Gen, and indeed, the generation as a whole.

Last Thursday, I managed to secure a pre-order for a PlayStation 5, specifically the run that will be released in Australia circa December 8th. This means although I’ve missed out on the launch, it won’t be nearly as long a wait as I’d anticipated. It also means that I’m starting to get more excited about and interested in NBA 2K21 Next Gen. When it appeared as though I might not be able to actually play it until 2021, it was naturally difficult to get hyped. Now I can actually look forward to checking it out – and producing content for it – in the not too distant future.

Of course, this places the Current Gen version in limbo, a situation that most gamers predicted would happen. The PC version has the benefit of the modding community, but generally speaking, any excitement that surrounded the Current Gen release has given way to hype for Next Gen. Now that I’ll be able to play that version as well, I’m left wondering what to do with NBA 2K21 Current Gen for the next few weeks. I’ve also been wondering about the future of basketball gaming on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. I’m optimistic that the PC will receive a Next Gen port as early as NBA 2K22, but the clock has to be ticking on the current generation of consoles.

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NLSC Podcast #349: The Quest for a Next Gen Console

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Episode #349 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are out, and so is NBA 2K21 Next Gen! Unfortunately neither of us are able to play the game yet, but one of us has had some luck in our quest for a Next Gen console. In the meantime, we discuss the gameplay videos we’ve seen, impressions from the community, and an aspect of the new MyNBA mode that isn’t quite what we were expecting. Circling back to last week’s show, we answer a question about there still being room for improvement on this generation. We’re also intrigued by EA Sports expanding their portfolio, and what it might mean for college basketball games. In this week’s mailbag, we discuss the style of play in the NBA 2K League and its impact on online play, as well as the issue of various historical players being underutilised outside of MyTEAM.

What’s your take on this week’s conversation? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

NBA 2K21 Next Gen Patch 1.01 Updates Likenesses, Fixes Issues

NBA 2K21 Next Gen Patch 1.01

NBA 2K21 Next Gen is out now, and has just received Patch 1.01. The update is live for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and should come through automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or checking for the update manually.

Patch 1.01 for NBA 2K21 Next Gen is essentially the Day 1 patch, and includes several likeness updates for players and coaches. It also improves face scans using the mobile app, fixes and tunes gameplay, and resolves technical issues in MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA, The W, and The City.

See below for the full patch notes. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum. I’ve also created an article in our Wiki to document the update history for NBA 2K21 Next Gen, which you can find here.

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File Additions for NBA 2K21

NBA 2K21 Cover Art (Current Gen)

Today’s file additions for NBA 2K21 PC include the latest face updates, as well as a couple of custom/fictional courts and updated modding tools. Download all of the latest NBA 2K21 file additions at the links below! Thanks to nba2kiraq for helping out with some of the uploads.

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

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NLSC Podcast #348: Growing Older All The Time

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Episode #348 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

Patch 1.05 is the fourth update for NBA 2K21 Current Gen since it was released, leading us to reflect on the game’s post-release support, and a major issue that still hasn’t been fixed. In NBA 2K21 Next Gen news, this week we learned about The City in MyCAREER, and the revamped franchise experience in MyNBA. The City brings to mind certain lyrics from Goldfinger’s “Superman” as far as our reactions to it, but we like what we hear when it comes to the replacement for MyLEAGUE, MyGM, and MyLEAGUE Online. That leads us to touch upon the impact of former community members now working at Visual Concepts, and some of the troubling attitudes towards them. Finally, the mailbag is back! We answer a couple of questions about the state of NBA Live, and the need for dedicated Community Managers.

What’s your take on this week’s conversation? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

MyNBA is the New Franchise Mode in NBA 2K21 Next Gen

NBA 2K21 MyNBA Developer Blog

I’m a little late in posting this, but the latest developer blog has given us an insight into MyNBA. MyNBA is the new franchise mode in NBA 2K21 Next Gen, combining and replacing MyLEAGUE, MyLEAGUE Online, and MyGM.

Although the new mode is a combination of the previous three, fans of each experience will be able to find what they’re looking for thanks to its deep customisation. The RPG elements of MyGM can be toggled on or off as desired, and the sandbox experience of MyLEAGUE remains. The new Play With Friends option takes the mode online, while Ranked play limits the amount of customisation. Tattoos for generated players have returned, and the number of teams can also be reduced to as few as 12.

I’ve posted a breakdown of the blog below, but be sure to check out the original post for the full scoop. Got any thoughts? Share them in the comments below, and join in the discussion here in the Forum! Dee4Three and I will also be sharing our thoughts on the MyNBA blog in this week’s episode of the NLSC Podcast, so stay tuned.

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NBA 2K21 Patch 1.05 Released; Fall Update

NBA 2K21 Patch 1.05

Patch 1.05 has come through for the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One versions of NBA 2K21. As with previous updates, it should come through automatically as long as you have an active Internet connection. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client.

The patch adds Fall decorations to The Neighborhood, and includes likeness updates for around 80 current NBA players, WNBA players, and historical players. It also adds Statement uniforms and a new Nuggets court, fixes some technical issues across MyCAREER, MyTEAM, and MyLEAGUE/MyGM, and updated the record books with 2020 season results.

Please see below for the full patch notes. You can also find a complete update history for NBA 2K21 here in our Wiki. Add your thoughts on Patch 1.05 for NBA 2K21 Current Gen in the comments below, or join in the discussion here in our Forum.

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The City Revealed for MyCAREER in NBA 2K21 Next Gen

The City Announced for NBA 2K21 Next Gen

Following on from previous hints that The Neighborhood would be done away with in NBA 2K21 Next Gen, the latest developer blog has revealed that The City will be the new hub in MyCAREER. Suffice to say, it expands upon the previous concept in a big way, with a significantly larger map.

Park Affiliations are back, with the North Side Knights, South City Vipers, Beasts of the East, and Western Wildcats representing the four boroughs of The City. Each borough has a Mayor, which will be an influencer from the community. New stores have been added, along with a Black Mamba Court, expanded Gatorade Gym, and the brand new Event Center. All gamers will get a free skateboard, and there will be plenty to interact with, including NPCs that give out “quests”.

I’ve summarised the blog below, but for the full scoop, be sure to give it a read. A trailer has been released, which you can also watch below. Got any thoughts? Add them in the comments, or join in the discussion here in the Forum!

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NLSC Podcast #347: Next Gen Gets The W

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Episode #347 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

As the release of NBA 2K21 Next Gen rapidly approaches, we’ve had our first glimpse of raw gameplay, accompanied by developer commentary. We give our thoughts on what we saw and what we hope to see, and note that there are some things that only hands-on experience will tell us. Full details on the expanded WNBA content have also been revealed, and it sounds like NBA 2K21 Next Gen will be making good use of the WNBA license. We also talk about the Next Gen Kobe Bryant screenshot that was released, as well as the worst basketball games of the 8-bit and 16-bit era.

What’s your take on this week’s conversation? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you’d like to hear us discuss in future episodes. For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

File Additions for NBA 2K21

NBA 2K21 Cover Art (Current Gen)

The latest file additions for NBA 2K21 PC include a new Blacktop court, custom Wilson basketball, and this year’s Fantasy Star trainer. Check them out at the links below!

2KGod x Simonn Lee
New Blacktop Court

Aleczou
NBA 2K21 Fantasy Star [English Version]

A-KING JAMES 23
Wilson Gucci Ball

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

WNBA Expanded Upon in NBA 2K21 Next Gen

NBA 2K21 Next Gen WNBA Developer Blog

During the preview season for NBA 2K21 Current Gen, it was mentioned that the WNBA would have a much larger presence in the Next Gen version. The latest developer blog has revealed that the league will be represented by three modes in NBA 2K21.

The first mode is MyWNBA, which is a fully-featured franchise mode for the WNBA. It includes similar customisation to MyLEAGUE as far as teams, rules, and finances, and also comprises online leagues and a leaderboard. There’s also a standalone Playoffs mode, and role-playing elements from the GM’s perspective.

A career mode has also been added in the form of The W. Interestingly, there are no microtransactions, with progression determined solely by playing games. Gamers start by choosing a player type, and then customising their player’s physical attributes and Takeover, similar to a MyPLAYER on the NBA side of things. There are also on-court and off-court tasks that contribute towards increasing your popularity, the overall popularity of the league, and personal wealth.

Finally, The W Online is a 3v3 online multiplayer mode, with games played to 21 under street rules. As with the connected experiences in MyCAREER, MyPOINTS earned in The W Online will count towards the overall progression of your player. Games take place in their own special arena, and progressing through the mode unlocks animations and clothing.

Be sure to check out the blog for the full scoop on how the WNBA’s presence has been increased in NBA 2K21 Next Gen! 2K has also released a trailer for The W, which you can watch below. Add your thoughts in the comments, and join in the discussion here in the Forum.

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NBA 2K21 Next Gen Gameplay & Developer Commentary

NBA 2K21 Next Gen Gameplay & Developer Commentary

Last week we received the third and final gameplay blog for NBA 2K21 Next Gen, but this week has delivered our first real look at the game in action. The official NBA 2K YouTube channel has posted a video featuring just under four minutes of raw gameplay between the New Orleans Pelicans and Golden State Warriors.

Executive Producer Erick Boenisch and Gameplay Director Mike Wang also provide commentary on what’s being spotlighted. In addition to showing off the usual gameplay mechanics including the Next Gen version of the Shot Meter, the video also reveals that there will be more than one commentary team, so it won’t always be Kevin Harlan on the call. The action is also shown from a new angle that’s been added in Next Gen.

You can check out the video below, or watch it here over on YouTube. What do you make of our first real look at NBA 2K21 Next Gen gameplay? Have your say in the comments below, and join in the discussion here in the Forum! The game is just a couple of weeks away from release, so we can likely expect more developer blogs and gameplay videos to follow.

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NLSC Podcast #346: And Now, A Word From Our Sponsors

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Episode #346 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

Controversy strikes as an unskippable ad has made its way into NBA 2K21 Current Gen. It isn’t the first time this generation, but the backlash has prompted a statement from 2K, one that we find questionable. This prompts us to recall other controversies, and the tendency for some gamers to make excuses for them time after time. We also talk about the logistics of an indie developer making a fully 3D 5v5 basketball title. With the release of the third gameplay blog for NBA 2K21 Next Gen, we have our first look at MyPLAYER builds and AI improvements. Once again, the included clips seem to tell a different story to what’s been written in the blog. The changes to builds, Badges, and the Takeover system leads to a discussion of stories and RPG mechanics in MyCAREER. After summing up our thoughts on the gameplay blogs, we dive into a fun topic: the amazing fictional NBA team names in Super Dunk Shot!

What’s your take on this week’s conversation? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you’d like to hear us discuss in future episodes. For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.