$20 Buys a Lot of Game These Days
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.
Latest News
 Washington Post | Saturday's top college football games Arizona Republic, AZ - The winner will land in the BCS Championship Game; the loser, the Sugar Bowl. Six SEC title game winners have gone on to win the national championship, ... Bowls waiting for BCS games to fall in place Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series is an early-season show of force OU has Missouri QB Chase Daniel's number |
 Bleacher Report | Around the Nation: A look at the league championship games Kansas City Star, MO - Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (left) will square off against Alabama QB John Parker Wilson in the SEC title game. The Georgia Dome is where it started for ... It Comes Down to This: A Look at the Conference Championship Games College Football: Three Games (and one fight), Two Views Tide senior ties up career |
 The Free Lance-Star | Saturday's top TV games San Francisco Chronicle, USA - East Carolina (8-4) at Tulsa (10-2), 9 am, ESPN2: The Conference USA title game features a Tulsa team that leads the nation in total offense against the ... Virginia Tech knows Boston College all too well |
 Earthtimes (press release) | NAMCO BANDAI Games Announces New 'SURGE' Publishing Label MarketWatch - Afro Samurai(R), the high-style title that blends urban hip hop culture with traditional Japanese aesthetics, will be the first game to launch under the new ... Namco Plans Satiation, Envelope Pushing with New Surge Label Namco Commits To Western Front With Surge |
 bit-tech.net | BioShock Creator Says Games are the Convergence of Everything Washington Post, United States - To hear Ken Levine cite Ultima Underworld as the game that inspired him makes me smile. I miss the Ultima series, the Underworld games most of all. ... 'Games Are The Convergence Of Everything' |
 China Daily | CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS DON'T LOSE GAMES LIKE THE ONE LAST NIGHT!!!!!! Los Angeles Times, CA - What I did want to address, however, was the flurry of comments during and after the loss along the lines of this game providing irrefutable proof that the ... Cavaliers, Celtics looking better every day Rondo sets a hot pace Posted by Seth Landman, Special to ESPN.com |
Midway Games says it may default on $240 million in debt Chicago Tribune, United States - By Wailin Wong | Tribune reporter Video game-maker Midway Games is fighting for its survival after warning Thursday that it could default on $240 million in ... Midway Games hires Lazard to look at alternatves |
Research and Markets: The Latest Report Analysing the Mobile Games ... MarketWatch - This mobile games report looks at the current and future market for both one-off downloads and rental/subscription -based mobile games. ... |
 Monsters and Critics.com | Microsoft to Do Ads in Blizzard Games Tom's Hardware Guide, CA - Video game advertising company Massive, owned by Microsoft, just struck a deal of name-appropriate proportions with Blizzard Entertainment. ... Activision Announces New 'Call of Duty', 'Guitar Hero', and 'Tony ... Massive Cuts Ad Deals With Activision, Blizzard Activision Announces ‘Guitar Hero 5,’ New ‘Tony Hawk,’ ‘Call of ... |
 TrustedReviews | Music video games are big fun -- and big bucks Journal and Courier, IN - By DOUG ELFMAN • delfman@suntimes.com • December 4, 2008 All the new music video games make me so angry at myself. I can play the plastic guitar and drums ... PopStar Guitar for the Wii Are you a sitar hero? Wrap Up Some Fun |
Resources
-
PSP Downloads
PSP Games downloads for members download unlimited Games for your PSP with a one time fee
-
Learn to Play The Piano With A Top Piano Expert
From the makers of Jamorama, includes video lessons plus numerous Games. High conversions!
-
UnlimitedGameDownloads.com : Free Unlimited Game Downloads
Great website that converts, great Ppc sales 75% for you! By Platinumpartner.com.
-
PSP Games
PSP Games downloads for members download unlimited Games for your PSP with a one time fee
-
Dvd Wizard Pro Copy Dvd, Copy Games.
New products! www.i-z.com Webmasters* extremly high sign up ratio!
-
Free Flash Animations for Your website
Free Flash Animations, Customizable for YOUR Website - No Flash knowledge or authoring software required. Free Flash Games, Flash Banners, Flash Intros
-
Flash Animations - Website Designs - Flash Website Banners - Flash Games - WebSite Templates - Free
Custom Flash animations. Flash website banners, Flash entrance pages, Games, Splash pages and intro website designs. Free Flash downloads too. No Flash experience or any software required.
-
Baby Shower Games Package,Printable Baby Shower Games
Everything you need to host the most 'talked about' baby shower ever. The package includes Games, invites, and lots more.
-
PS2 Games Download Services
15DaysCash brings only the highest converting affiliate programs. Promote ps2 Games downloads here! *New On Cb!
-
MoviesDirectPro
Incredibly high converting Unlimited Downloads site. Unlimited Moves, Tv Shows, Documentaries, Music Albums, Software & Games.