Watching the evolution of sports games has been like watching a retarded child grow up to become a handsome and brilliant Master of the Universe. Now I'm not saying ESPN's NBA 2K5 is the pinnacle of sports gaming, but I will tell you why it comes pretty damn close - especially for all of us basketball fanatics. Before I go on, let us talk a little bit about the "Corky" Thatcher friendly games of the past.
In 1958, Bill Higinbotham and Bob Dvorak developed Tennis-For-Two, the world's first virtual sports game. The game itself worked on an oscilloscope and basically demonstrated the magic of Pong in green wave form. Electronic signals bouncing back and forth in an electronic . Over the next two years, Bill and Bob demonstrated Tennis-For-Two to astounded audiences across New York, but it would take another quarter century before the next electronic sports game would work its way into the public eye.
It was 1978 - our parents were high on coke, Carter was jerking off the Chinese and Atari released its arcade sports classic, Football. And if a title is any indication of the creativity behind this electronic ball of shit, it fit like a glove. Sitting on a whopping M6502 cpu with less than 1 Mhz of processing power, the only glimmer of hope for this inept beast was the unique roller-ball controls.
By the late 80's, the NES vs. Sega gaming war was in high gear leaving Atari's Football and most other first generation arcade titles collecting dust in dive bars across America. The fierceness of said battle brought us some of the most memorable sports games to date. With the likes of Tecmo Bowl, Punch Out, and All-Star Baseball, things were indeed looking up for the aspiring couch potato youth of the world.
The 90's brought a new era of 64 bit systems and remarkable graphics in the sports game arena. Even the game play for football, hockey and baseball titles were impressing the masses, but developers still hadn't given much attention to basketball titles. Just another example of whitey trying to keep the black man down.
In comes Sega's ESPN NBA 2K5.
As fans of the real life game, we know the way players are supposed to move and interact with one another on the wood. We know that players don't stop to catch a pass (so eat shit, EA) or change dribble direction in a split second. This is why Sega's geeky team of developers can self high-five their asses straight to the bank.
This year's release offers numerous adjustments and new features made to create the series' most realistic basketball simulation to date, powered by a physics engine that can truly handle the quick paced, high scoring, stop-and-go game play with lubricated ease.
Sega also introduces a "Next Movement" system designed to display skills and talents from specific NBA players. A player's particular physical makeup now helps determine how well he performs in everything from running up court on a fast break, rolling a pick, or cutting off an open lane on defense.
The key feature that ties all this goodness together is the "IsoMotion" control. Using one of the thumb sticks to control your player, you can glide him across the floor and execute hop-step jukes as smooth as Iverson on his best day. Playing online, however, I've learned that this method of controlling can be exploited to create impenetrable defense when you throw in network lag and a stick happy adversary. Once the glitches are worked out, I imagine the 24/7 mode of online play to be the biggest hit of this fall and winter season.
Speaking of which, the 24/7 mode is a definite step in the right direction for bringing gamers online. 24/7 allows you to create a player and run him through training levels to collect points which unlock new courts and increase your skill level. It's like an RPG, but fun!
I'll close with this: The fucking game costs $20 bucks. Go buy it.
| PHP Error Message |
 Los Angeles Times | Grading the game Seattle Times "That's a game that we definitely had a chance to win and we've just got to get it done,'' said defensive coordinator Nick Holt. That they couldn't means ... After losing five straight games, UCLA is hungry for a win UW in the Rose Bowl (ok, regular season, but still) |
AREA ROUNDUP Villanova stops Richmond's winning streak at 17 games Washington Post RICHMOND -- For all the spectacular plays on offense and defense in this game between two of the top four teams in division I-AA, ... |
 TSN.ca | Collier: Steelers-Broncos game takes on a special meaning Pittsburgh Post Gazette For a couple of teams who've won all but three of their 14 combined games, the Steelers and Broncos are lugging ... Trailing at half in last 4 games, Broncos looking to rev up their offence |
 Gulf Times | Justice: Texans getting established as contenders Houston Chronicle But with two games against the Colts and games against the Dolphins and Patriots still ahead, nothing is certain. “If you just look at the attitude around ... The Red Zone: NFC East Showdown Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts Odds That's a Wrap | A look back and a look ahead at the Indianapolis Colts | Week ... |
 Times LIVE | Seattle team wins $900000 in Space Elevator Games The Associated Press The fourth Space Elevator Games addressed a baby step in the engineering challenging of the concept, not the larger debates of whether physics, ... Seattle team wins $900000 in Space Elevator Games 2009 Space Elevator Games Has a Winner $900000 winner in Space Elevator Games |
 New York Daily News | QBs take spotlight in Giants-Chargers tilt Seattle Post Intelligencer Rivers has tossed eight touchdown passes against just one interception over his last four games, and his 249-yard effort in last Sunday's 24-16 victory over ... NFL Week Nine: Gut Check Time For Three Teams, Plus Picks |
Sene to miss 1st 3 games Charlottesville Daily Progress On Saturday, Bennett announced that he has suspended sophomore center Assane Sene for the first three games of the season. The 7-footer from Senegal is ... Sene suspended for three games Assane Sene Suspended For Three Games |
With A-Rod's new approach, new hardware MLB.com And that makes sense, because his numbers in the World Series -- a .417 average, one home run, six RBIs and five runs scored in Games 3 through 6 -- were ... |
 Tampabay.com | Rodgers, Packers, seek positive momentum at Tampa Bay Seattle Post Intelligencer Rodgers, who passed for 287 yards with three touchdown strikes and no interceptions, has been sacked 14 times in the two games against the Vikings this ... Antonio Bryant questionable, says Bucs still fighting |
 National Post | NHL Capsules SI.com Toronto moved out of the NHL basement by winning two in a row and earning points in seven straight games (3-0-4). Wayne Primeau, Jeff Finger, John Mitchell ... NJ Devils keep perfect road record going, rally for 3-2 victory over Ottawa ... Game 15 Preview: New Jersey Devils at Ottawa Senators - 11/7/2009 New Jersey Devils red-hot as they reach Ottawa to face Senators |
|
home | site map
©2008 - All Rights Reserved by
|
