NBA 2K17
NBA 2K17 is an upcoming basketball simulation video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports. It is the 18th installment in the NBA 2K franchise and the successor to NBA 2K16. It is scheduled to be released in September 2016 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.[2] Paul George is the cover athlete for the regular edition of the game,[3][4] while Kobe Bryant is the cover athlete for the 'Legend Edition'.[5] In Italy, the cover athlete is Danilo Gallinari.[6]
NBA 2K17, like the previous games in the series, is based on the sport of basketball; more specifically, it simulates the experience of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Several game modes are included, such as MyGM and MyLeague. Along with current NBA teams, other teams are included, such as national teams.
Gameplay
NBA 2K17 is a basketball simulation game which, like the previous games in the series, strives to realistically depict the experience of the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as present improvements over the previous instalments. The player mainly plays NBA basketball games with real-life or customized players and teams. As such, games follow the rules and objectives of NBA basketball games. Several game modes are available for the player and many settings can be customized. The game contains many presentation qualities that are modelled on real-life presentation, such as crowd animations, commentary, pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows, camera angles, and player animations. The menus have also been modified.
One of the touted improvements is concerning the game's returning MyGM and MyLeague game modes. Both modes have the player acting as the ruling force of all basketball operations for a specific team and allow the player to customize many aspects of the team. MyGM is more focused on maintaining a realistic, functioning team and impressing the owner, whereas MyLeague offers far more customization options. In both modes, the player simulates through seasons, changing personnel, playing in games themselves, and participating in off-season activities, such as the draft. The introduced features focus on league expansion. As well as happening dynamically, the player can start either mode with up to 36 teams and may modify many aspects of every team. The player will go through the process of creating an expansion team in a model very similar to real-life occurrences of expansion teams. As well as creating the logos and jerseys of the teams, an expansion draft is held and other teams must protect a select amount of players. The league will automatically adjust the schedule, draft, draft lottery, etc. if expansion teams are created. The player can also download other players' creations.[7]
Along with playing games with current NBA teams, such as the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors, other teams are featured, such as the 2016 United States men's Olympic basketball team, the Australia men's national basketball team, and the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team.[8][9][10]
Development and release
NBA 2K17 was officially announced on April 13, 2016; the first trailer was revealed.[11] It is scheduled to be released worldwide on September 20, 2016 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. Players who pre-order the game receive it on September 16, 2016.[2][12] It is the 18th installment in the NBA 2K series and the successor to NBA 2K16. Aside from the regular edition, a 'Legend Edition' of the game will be available for players to purchase; it features Kobe Bryant as the cover athlete and contains several physical and digital bonuses, such as a poster and Virtual Currency. (Additionally, a 'Gold' version of the 'Legend Edition' is also available, featuring further bonuses.) The 2015–16 NBA season was Bryant's final season in the NBA so a special edition featuring Bryant was developed as a way of paying tribute to what many consider to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time.[13][14][15] As such, NBA 2K17 and its 'Legend Edition' were announced on the day Bryant played his final NBA game in April 2016.[5][16] Bryant was also the cover athlete of NBA 2K10.[16][17] The standard edition cover art for the game, featuring Paul George of the Indiana Pacers, was unveiled in June 2016. George was chosen to be cover athlete because he is an avid player of NBA 2K games. Visual Concepts also wanted a player who grew up idolizing Bryant.[3][4] In Italy, the cover athlete is Danilo Gallinari of the Denver Nuggets.[6]
One focus Visual Concepts has for NBA 2K17 is the balancing of NBA players who "break the rules" with their unique styles of play. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in particular is a player that gameplay director Mike Wang said was problematic to balance in NBA 2K16. In real life, Curry frequently takes, and makes, shots that are historically viewed as bad shots. Examples include half-court or three-quarter-court shots, contested off-the-dribble three-pointers, and heavily contested layups. Wang says that over the course of the NBA 2K series, taking these sorts of shots has been penalized because this makes sense for "99.9% of the league". In an attempt to allow for some exceptions, Wang says Visual Concepts has had to come up with a system that allows certain players to not be penalized for taking historically bad shots. However, this creates further balancing complications as there is the potential to effectively "break the game". Experimentations with such a system were made in May 2016 via an update for NBA 2K16, which modified Curry's shooting ability for a thirty-hour period.[18][19][20][21]
References
- ^ Players who pre-order the game receive it on September 16, 2016.
- ^ a b c Carpenter, Nicole (June 2, 2016). "NBA 2K17 Cover Star, Release Date Announced". IGN. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ a b SI Wire (June 1, 2016). "Pacers' Paul George revealed as cover athlete for NBA 2K17". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ a b Conway, Tyler (June 1, 2016). "Paul George Named NBA 2K17 Standard-Cover Athlete". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ a b Makuch, Eddie (April 13, 2016). "NBA 2K17 Getting Special Kobe Bryant "Legend Edition"". GameSpot. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
- ^ a b Mojica, Nicholas (July 25, 2016). "Danilo Gallinari Featured On 'NBA 2K17' Italian Cover". Design&Trend. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ^ S. Good, Owen (July 19, 2016). "NBA 2K17 will let you expand the league to 36 teams". Polygon. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- ^ "NBA 2K17 Features Australian Boomers For The First Time". IGN (July 21, 2016). Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ^ S. Good, Owen (July 27, 2016). "2016 USA Olympic men's basketball team stars in NBA 2K17". Polygon. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ^ Devine, Dan (July 28, 2016). "2016 Team USA, 1992 'Dream Team' will be featured in NBA 2K17". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
- ^ "NBA 2K17 Official Kobe Players Vs. Haters Trailer" (April 13, 2016). IGN. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- ^ Makuch, Eddie (June 2, 2016). "How to Play NBA 2K17 Four Days Early". GameSpot. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
- ^ Keh, Andrew (November 29, 2015). "Kobe Bryant Announces Retirement". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Roundtable: Is Kobe Bryant one of the NBA's top 10 players of all time?" (April 14, 2016). Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
- ^ Devine, Dan (March 14, 2014). "Kevin Durant: Kobe Bryant is 'the greatest of all time,' Kobe and Michael Jordan '1 and 1A'". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
- ^ a b Good, Owen S. (April 13, 2016). "NBA 2K17 honors Kobe Bryant with 'Legend Edition' this fall". Polygon. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
- ^ IGN staff (June 5, 2009). "Kobe Bryant Named NBA 2K10 Cover Athlete". IGN. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
- ^ Owen S. Good (March 12, 2016). "NBA 2K16 has a plan to keep Steph Curry from breaking the game — and we could all be the winner". Polygon. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- ^ Carpenter, Nicole (February 24, 2016). "NBA 2K16 Can't Accurately Depict Stephen Curry". IGN. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- ^ Paget, Mat (February 24, 2016). "NBA 2K16 Can't Handle Stephen Curry's Awesomeness". GameSpot. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- ^ Pereira, Chris (May 11, 2016). "Steph Curry Is So Good, NBA 2K16 Will Max Out His Rating for a Limited Time". GameSpot. Retrieved May 12, 2016.