NBA 2K13 Preview: Post-E3 Highlights, Details and Impressions

2KSports is putting a ton of emphasis on improving gameplay in NBA2K13, and that may shock some casual gamers who love the series already, but the truth is: no game is ever perfect. 

The moment a developer starts to believe they have it nailed is the moment they fall behind, or they give inspiration to the competition. The developers of NBA2K13 know this, and that is why things like floor spacing, passing and overall fluidity have been mentioned as the main focuses of developers.  

NBA2K13 was on limited display at E3 this past week.

For those that don't know: E3 is the annual site for the latest information on the newest video games, similar electronics and a place for alternative personalities to dress up as childish characters. Think Best Buy marries a comic book store and there you have it. 

Now that E3 is over, we have our first solid collection of information about the game.

Release Date

The game is due to drop on October 2. That will be almost a month before the actual NBA season starts. That should give gamers ample time to be in postseason form by the time the first real NBA game is played.

MJ Is Back with Legends...but

Michael Jordan will be back, and the game will still feature other legends, but according to Da Czar, the creator of the Sim Citi Sports Network and NBA2K consultant, 2KSports wants to make sure they aren't caught living in the past.

He tweeted this after a conversation with Ronnie Singh, better known as @Ronnie2K to fans of the series, and followers on Twitter:

"

Ronnie just said they have Jordan for a few more years but this year they want to grow past legends and concentrate on the current players.

— Da_Czar (@Da_Czar) June 6, 2012"

I think this is a good idea and approach. The company did a great job sparking nostalgia with the inclusion of Jordan and other greats the past two years, but it's time to shift the focus back to the present.

That doesn't mean they should stop the legend-centric features (heavens no), but it means stop pushing that element as the calling card of every version.

NBA Slam Dunk Hero?

2K slightly raised some eyebrows when they announced they would release the NBA All-Star festivities (Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Shootout and Rising Stars) to people that pre-order the game.

I was a little skeptical at first, partly because all of these features have been in the game before, and quite honestly, I can't say I spent a ton of time with any of them. Previously, the Slam Dunk and Three-Point Shootout took place on an NBA blacktop, but now the scene will be the site of the 2013 All-Star Game in Houston, Texas.

That's nice, but I still wasn't impressed.

Then this video ran during E3 and debuted exclusively on Spike TV.

My first reaction was: "Slam Dunk Guitar Hero?" But as it began to sink in, I thought about how difficult the controls had been for the dunk contest before, and I started to warm up to this concept. 

This is not simulation gaming; it should have a gimmick-based control system, and it should be pick-up-and-play. I'm intrigued and I want to see what some of the other dunks will look like.

Per IGN, there will be between 125-150 dunks in this mode, and 2K is in negotiations with Kia to include Blake Griffin's very overrated car-hopping slam from 2011.

In case you've been under a rock, this is the slam I'm referring to:

Tweaks are Coming

Hardcore gamers may have noticed Manu Ginobili flying down the lane a little too easily. Not to worry. NBA2K senior game designer Mike Wang is quoted on Operation Sports, where he contributes to the sites forums, as follows:

"

Just a small update...I figured out why Manu blasted through the D in that vid. I fixed it this morning. Rest assured there will be PLENTY of contact in NBA2K13.

We've completely reworked the way we handle contact on drives and shots.

"

That's a good thing, because I did notice that. I wasn't sure if it was just bad user defense, or if Carlos Boozer was playing, but it's nice to know it's being handled.

There is still a lot of time between now and October 2, and most issues should be resolved.

Things I'd Love to See

Now that we talked about what is coming, let me get my two cents in about what I'd love to see.

Charles Barkley

As much as I loved making this version, and making the video, I'd much rather have 2K do it for me. I know there was a contract issue last year that prevented Sir Charles from being a part of the legends group. But I'm hoping to see him, Reggie Miller and Allen Iverson included this year.

More Player Customization

Technically, the WWE isn't a sport, but as far as player customization goes, THQ nails it with its WWE games. There are entire sites dedicated to what can be created in these games.

I would love to see some semblance of that depth in 2K.

They wet our whistles a bit last year with varying hair lengths on created players, but there is still much more to add. It would be nice if you could edit existing players as well.

This way, if Metta World Peace gets a crazy new hairstyle, or Kobe Bryant breaks his face, I can capture them in their current form on the game. That's not fanatical, that's hardcore gaming and that's what I love.

More Announce Teams

I know this isn't coming this year, but it would be awesome to see and hear different announcing teams during the game. Clark Kellogg, Steve Kerr and Kevin Harlan do a great job, but saving them for the NBA Game of the Week, so to speak, would be ideal.

The other games could be announced by generic announcers that are like complete homers, like Tom Heinsohn of the Boston Celtics.

It would make you hate the team you're playing against on the road, and love the audio when you're at home. This way the nationally televised games would have a special feel to them.

I think it would add something to the experience, and gamers that chose to play with teams like the Charlotte Bobcats would have something to shoot for. Obviously, the Bobcats aren't going to have a ton of nationally televised games early on, but maybe you could build the franchise to that point.

It could even become an achievement, just ask Michael Jordan how hard it is to build a winner in Charlotte.

Well, those are my suggestions for now, but I'm sure more will come to me as we count down the months until release. Be sure to answer the question in the poll and/or comment. I'll be forwarding this to the folks at 2K. You never know when your voice will be heard and recognized.

Your feedback could lead to an implementation in the game you love.

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