Official NBA 2k10 Thread

[Poe]

I'm thinking about picking this up tomorrow during the usual Boxing Day Sale that they have at places like Future Shop (depending on how much it costs, don't have much money right now with car payments and Christmas and all) and I had a couple of questions. I am sure that they have already been answered earlier in this thread, but I really don't feel like reading through 17 pages of posts, lol.

 

1. What is the Assoociation mode, or whatever it is called, like? What kind of changes were made to it that makes it better and/or worse than last years version of the game?

 

2. What kind of improvements did they make to the gameplay? Give me some of the positives and negatives, if you have the time.

 

3. Does My Player get boringly repetitive or does it have good replay value to it? I find that some of the modes like these get too repetitive and/or easy which takes away some of the replay value and fun in them.

 

4. How difficult is this game on the hardest difficulty? I recently stopped playing NHL 10 (reason why I am finally thinking of picking this up, lol) because it got to the point where I was beating the computer 8-2 on the hardest difficulty with AI boosts and everything. Does 2K10 get to that point as well, or is it pretty good for always giving you a challenge when playing the AI (don't really play online much)?

 

I don't expect anybody to take the time to answer all of these questions, but I would appreciate the info on the game any way that I can get it.

 

The game didn't turn out as great as I expected it to be, though it's still good for what it is. There are a lot of minor things they should have fixed, but it's still easily the best basketball video game ever made so far. 8/10 for me, though it could have actually been closer to 10/10 if they had fixed all of the minor issues.

 

1. Association mode isn't drastically different from 2k9, actually, but there are some additions and adjustments.

 

You can play D league games now. Stats are more realistic. Player ratings range from 25-99 now instead of 50-99 in 2k9, plus a lot more depth all of the player's individual attributes. Other than that, not too much differences. There is a live practice thing where you can practice plays, post moves, and whatnot. That's honestly about it.

 

There's more to the mode than that, but those are the only actual differences in 2k10 from 2k9 association.

 

 

2. I won't be able to name every single positive and negative off the top of my head, but I'll give you a few at least.

 

- New fatigue bar keeps your fingers from being glued to the right trigger.

- Players are pretty much customized individually. Kobe will play like Kobe.

- Small things, like players will fumble passes at appropriate times.

- Artificial intelligence is very, very solid. Move around the court, and watch as the players move and respond around you.

- Defensive rotations can be iffy depending on the team you use, but the defensive AI is also solid overall.

- Opponents will regularly run plays and isolations, and of course you can do them yourself, or set it to where the plays are called for you.

- There is a better sense of physical presence. It's not perfected, but it's at least there.

 

- There are some negatives with some of the gameplay, but I suppose they can be opinionated. IMO, I think the game makers need to drop on-ball steal animations completely, or at least make it a deal of timing rather than a deal of percentages based on player ratings. Also, lead passes to the basket are too difficult to defend, stealing and deflecting passes need work. Those are two issues off the top of my head.

 

 

3. It's a fun mode that really separates this game from live. Some people say it's repetitive, but it hasn't been that way for me, although it isn't perfect.

 

I'm not going to explain it so much as to just give you a couple pointers. Play realistically and you'll get a good grade (grading system is actually done well overall, though it's too easy, IMO). Your grade doesn't determine whether you'll make or break a cut, by the way, I think a lot of people make this mistake. You have to outplay your specific matchup. This will save you from playing too many D-League games, or any at all. Playing in the d-league too much is normally where most people complain of repetitiveness.

 

There are two negative factors that still haven't been fixed in an online patch, and they are pretty big. One is that even though you can adjust the quarter time, you can't change the difficulty. I believe it's default set to "all star" (which is like medium), and it makes the game too easy for low rated players to score 20 or get a triple double. Also, substitutions are very iffy, especially late in games. The "insider" can get glitchy, also. Just a warning.

 

Overall, despite these few setbacks, it will probably be the mode you will enjoy the most. Don't try to make it to the NBA all in one day, or it will get repetitive.

 

 

4. It's good you don't play online much, cause that's where the biggest problems with 2K are. Offline play is by far the best. The hardest difficulty should always give you a good challenge.

 

 

So there's a damn review for yea, haha. I didn't mean to write so much. I guess I got carried away after I started.

[Poe]

I had about 15 straight games with A+ and I'm still in D-League. Real.

That's because you have to outdo your matchup. Pause the game next time you play, and go to performance. You have to win the position battle.

 

 

I made an SG recently, won the position battle in every summer league and training camp game, and I never had to play a single D league game.

Edited December 26, 2009 by Poe

[Built Ford Tough]

Thanks Poe. I really appreciate it. I have read reviews online and all of that, but I always like to get normal (for lack of a better word, lol) peoples opinions on the games as I tend to agree with them more.

 

So you would say that it is worth the upgrade from to 2K9 and the money then, I imagine, right?

 

PS: Don't worry about the length. I am the last person that would complain about the length of a post considering how long most of mine are, haha.

[La Bomba]

I stopped playing My player because it took forever and nothing ever happened. I'm starting to hate this game. No matter what difficulty I play on there are 15 alley hoops a game. Good thing I got Fifa and MW2.

[Poe]

So you would say that it is worth the upgrade from to 2K9 and the money then, I imagine, right?

Yea, I think I'd say so. Not if you are expecting anything completely different in association, and especially not for the online play (seriously, 2K online servers are total horse [expletive]), but the overall gameplay improvements, plus the addition of My Player is probably enough.

 

I wouldn't call it any sort of must-have, either, and it wouldn't actually hurt to wait a bit. When the game was first released, it was very buggy, like the creators didn't even test the game. There's been a patch since then, which has improved some things, yet there is still a much needed second patch awaiting (especially to fix the most featured mode in the game - my player). I don't know when that one is coming out.

 

 

Edit: So obviously not everyone liked the way it turned out. RD said it was one of the best sports games he's played, and I say it's a good game that could have been great. You'll have to figure out if it's really worth it yourself, I guess.

Edited December 26, 2009 by Poe

[Poe]

I stopped playing My player because it took forever and nothing ever happened. I'm starting to hate this game. No matter what difficulty I play on there are 15 alley hoops a game. Good thing I got Fifa and MW2.

Really? Do you have XBL, cause they already put a patch up to fix the alleys.

 

Also, I explained about 20 times in this thread already, but making it out of the D-League is all simply about outdoing your matchup.

Edited December 26, 2009 by Poe

[La Bomba]

Really? Do you have XBL, cause they already put a patch up to fix the alleys.

 

Also, I explained about 20 times in this thread already, but making it out of the D-League is all simply about outdoing your matchup.

Yeah, I haven't gotten that patch yet. I've heard about it.

[Lkr]

ok, im having a problem with local play. whenever i play with 2 gamertags signed in, the game freezes. its fine with only one gamertag signed in. wtf?

[JWaLL]

ok, im having a problem with local play. whenever i play with 2 gamertags signed in, the game freezes. its fine with only one gamertag signed in. wtf?

Try signing in your friend as a guest instead of another gamer profile. 2k has a strong tendency to freeze at the stupidest things.

[Paul]

Any of you guys want to sell your copy of the game for 360?

[Lkr]

Try signing in your friend as a guest instead of another gamer profile. 2k has a strong tendency to freeze at the stupidest things.

we were both trying to get achievements, so guest wouldn't have helped. i just signed out and it worked though. pretty annoying

[JWaLL]

we were both trying to get achievements, so guest wouldn't have helped. i just signed out and it worked though. pretty annoying

2k is full of bizarre glitches, and so many things that one would think would work easily, don't work. Really the only thing I like about this game is the gameplay and Association mode. I don't even play this game online because of the horrible lag and [expletive]ty 2k servers.

[Cleveland's Finest]

I reloaded the game to my ystem for the Xth time, and the game actually plays smooth for the first time.....now that it does, I don't want to play as the Cavs because Shaq's morale always lowers and I've tried playing their first week in Association 20 times or so due to the fact that I kept retrying the game so I'm tired of them.

 

Because of this, I need a team to play with Association....suggestions? I want to play as a team that may make the playoffs...not an elite team and not the Wolves/Nets.

[Flash]

I just started one with the Bobcats and put SJax on the trade block. So far my best offers are Jeff Green and Greg Oden..I'm considering Green.

[Flash]

I ended up trading him to Portland for Ron Artest, not sure how Ron got there but w.e. I put Artest on the block as well but got nothing worth too much to I held on to him. I'm putting him back on the block this off season to see what I get. Hopefully a first round pick.

[OSUBucksfan09]

Idk for some reason I just can't get very good at 2k10. When I had 2k8 I raped, and I mean raped online and such and some reason I cant get my offense or defense going right in this game. Some reason my post game is always to crap, can never get consistent points to spread the floor and draw double teams and if I cant play in and out then I am screwed. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Poe]

Well, everyone has their own style. If you care about your record, you should spend time playing against the computer in HoF mode and figure out what works and what teams you play best with. If you can beat the computer on the hardest difficult, then you should have a much easier time beating people online in the default superstar difficulty.

 

 

I'll run you through my personal style if it helps at all.

 

Offensively, I personally like to put a slasher at the point, 3 point shooters on the wing, and good finishing bigs that can also score from midrange. I like to use the Heat, so I completely leave Arroyo and Chalmers on the bench, and have Wade and Wright play point, since they are my best slashers. Basically I'll dominate the ball with my point and look to slash every time until either a big or a wing stops the ball, then I'll either find a shooter for 3 or a big for a dunk or a midrange J. I'll usual run pick and rolls with Wade/Wright and Beasley/Haslem/O'Neal.

 

Defensively, I start off games playing man-D then the rest of the game depends on my opponent. I always play man D early in quarters because when players are at top energy they tend to make more shots. The rest depends on the opponent. If he takes a lot of jumpers, then stick with man D. If he attacks the paint and knows nothing else, play zone. 2-3 or 1-3-1, whatever seems to work better, until they start taking and making jumpers. Then switch back to man.

 

Also, I refrain from full court pressing the entire time. Smart players will beat you on the break every time. It's best to catch your opponent off guard with it, especially when the game is on the line. That should create a turnover or two if they aren't expecting it.

 

 

So that's my game plan. It's pretty simple, really. Since connections are never good with 2k, I don't play online much, but when I do it feels like two thirds of the time people quit on me by the 2nd quarter. So this style and this team works for me.

Edited December 31, 2009 by Poe

[Cleveland's Finest]

Can someone help me: How do you carry over living rosters when starting an Association so guys like Yao are out for the season.

[JWaLL]

Can someone help me: How do you carry over living rosters when starting an Association so guys like Yao are out for the season.

Only roster updates are synced into Association mode I believe. If a player is injured, they're usually just put as an inactive reserve. If you do fantasy draft though, the injuries don't matter, they'll just play in their usual role. Injured players like Yao are only unusable online.

Edited January 16, 2010 by Bulletproof

[bigdog17k]

Apparently I have good internet now, I've already played some games online with people and it's been smooth. If anybody is up for a game, let me know.

[Jenneral]

I finally got on a pro team. Memphis Grizzlies.

[Poe]

I finally got on a pro team. Memphis Grizzlies.

Nice

[reno]

Anyone know if you can use a custom created team online without using association mode? Seems w/e i send a custom game invite, it loads the online roster automatically.

[Dash]

My guy's overall is just 48 and I got a triple double with him the other game. After that game, Phil benched Ron Artest and placed my guy in the starting lineup next to Kobe.

[JWaLL]

Anyone know if you can use a custom created team online without using association mode? Seems w/e i send a custom game invite, it loads the online roster automatically.

You can't. Otherwise people would be using stacked rosters and whooping [expletive] online all day.