2K Sports to Publish NBA 2K Playgrounds 2

[cdj]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqazPunfjmY

When NBA Playgrounds launched last May, the team here at Saber was incredibly excited – but also full of nervous energy. When developing an arcade NBA-licensed game, you’re taking part in a rich history of gaming that brings with it certain expectations.

On release day – and the weeks and months that followed – we were delighted to find out NBA Playgrounds was a hit for our indie game company. High-flying basketball arcade action was back in a big way! So how do you follow that up? You have to get that much better and you need to be responsive to what fan requests. NBA Playgrounds 2 is coming this summer, and it’s essentially everything you asked for. And more.

One of the first things we wanted to do with the sequel was to expand online play. We witnessed some epic online games on YouTube and knew that we wanted to bring an even richer experience. We looked at our tournaments that filled the blackboard in our office pitting one developer against another and very soon it became clear that we want to bring this competitive experience and spirit to you.

That’s why we created Playgrounds Championship for NBA Playgrounds 2. It’s a worldwide online league with several divisions where you can climb the ladder to the top. You’ll always know exactly where you stack up against other Playgrounds 2 players online and see yourself progress as you acquire skills. We made sure to include co-op leagues to climb the ranks with a friend as well, or go it alone in the solo league.

Of course, what good is an online league without solid online play? That’s why we’re also adding dedicated servers to NBA Playgrounds 2 for fast online matchmaking and responsive gameplay. We know lag was a problem in the first game for some and this should address the concern. We also listened to community feedback and have added four-player online games where you can have each player be a human player online or any combination of human and AI opponents.

Single-player was also a big focus, which is why we developed the new Season Mode. You’ll now be able to take your team through a season, the playoffs, and win the NBA Championship, with special players to collect depending on the team you choose to take all the way. For all you collection fans, we’ll have more than 200 current and retired NBA players to unlock in card packs.

The Saber team also kept pushing forward on a ton of other aspects of the original game. The player modelers and artists added a variety of new player models for a more representative variety. New animations and facial animations have been added. The AI is improved and smarter. There are dozens of tracks of new original music recorded. New gameplay mechanics like double alley-oops bring even more high-flying action.

We have some more surprises up our sleeves, so keep a look out for more news as summer quickly approaches. Get ready to prove yourself on the Playgrounds!

[CLW]

I think I also saw 20% off if you preorder on psn

[cdj]

I had fun with the first one. While it wasn't the deepest, it accomplished what it set out to do. One could argue it was the second best basketball game of 2017, behind 2K.

[CLW]

I had fun with the first one. While it wasn't the deepest, it accomplished what it set out to do. One could argue it was the second best basketball game of 2017, behind 2K.

Meh 3on3 freestyle is a deeper and better game than playgrounds. It's less over the top silly and requires some actual basketball IQ + skill to be good at.

[cdj]

Meh 3on3 freestyle is a deeper and better game than playgrounds. It's less over the top silly and requires some actual basketball IQ + skill to be good at.

I didn't give that game a fair shake, but have caught you on it a decent amount. Maybe I need to redownload and play again.

I do think NBA Playgrounds was a better basketball game over NBA LIVE 18 though. It's tough comparing arcade versus sim, but I think Playgrounds hit the mark of what they were aiming for more than LIVE did.

[CLW]

I didn't give that game a fair shake, but have caught you on it a decent amount. Maybe I need to redownload and play again.

I do think NBA Playgrounds was a better basketball game over NBA LIVE 18 though. It's tough comparing arcade versus sim, but I think Playgrounds hit the mark of what they were aiming for more than LIVE did.

I really enjoy 3 on 3. I got the Plat a long time ago (which is not hard but a long grind unless you pay for coins to level up your players) and still play quite a bit.

I like the game because it has some arcade elements (each person has a unique set of special skills/abilities) but each can be countered for the most part (unless you just run into someone who is insanely good with their stick work) with fundamentals and good sim basketball.


You cannot really appreciate the game's depth though unless you play with people you know or at least know are decent at the game. Allot of randoms just ball hog Jack up contested 3s and play no defense.

I never played playgrounds. It looked like a solid over the top modern nba jam. For me I just prefer a little more sim mixed in with some arcade stuff.

[cdj]

PSN has the game available for pre-order ($19.99, PS+ $15.99) with a release date of May 22, 2018. (https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP2746-CUSA10672_00-NBAPLAYGROUNDS2X?emcid=pa-st-111690)

[cdj]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W9aRiSIdA8

[cdj]

The game has been delayed.

We’ve got some news to share, but we want to start by saying ‘good things come to those who wait.’ There are exciting things brewing with the NBA Playgrounds franchise that we think will take arcade basketball to new levels.

We can’t tell you everything now, but we can tell you that this means our launch date of May 22nd will be moved out. Please be patient with us, we promise that NBA Playgrounds 2 will be better than ever. We’ll have more details to share soon.

[CLW]

More loot boxes gamble to win coming soon .....

[cdj]

PS4 pre-orders have now been cancelled and refunded. Something is definitely up with this one.

[cdj]

NBA Playgrounds 2 has a new publisher — 2K Sports.

The arcade-style basketball game will thus be rebranded as NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 when the game launches this fall. 2K Sports and Saber Interactive announced the deal in a statement this morning.

“The original NBA Playgrounds was a fantastic throwback to the glory days of arcade-action sports,” Greg Thomas, the president of Visual Concepts (2K Sports’ studio) said in a statement. He added that the sequel will have “a bit of added NBA 2K flair.”

“We can’t wait to share more on how we’re teaming up to make NBA 2K Playgrounds 2’s incredible arcade action bigger and better than ever for players,” Matt Karch, Saber’s chief executive, said in the statement.

Karch told Polygon the decision to go with 2K wasn’t because of any problems with Mad Dog. “Everyone feels that 2K gives the NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 the best chance for success and future growth,” he said.

For 2K’s part, Jason Argent, the senior vice president for basketball operations, said the partnership was a natural fit. “We couldn’t ignore the fact [the first NBA Playgrounds] sold about a million units, all digital,” he said. “With a solid foundation already built for the Playgrounds franchise, combined with 2K’s product development and marketing strengths, 2K and Saber agreed that a collaboration could lead to even greater success. Plus we’ve been pretty open about 2K’s desire to expand our footprint in the basketball games.”

Courtesy: Polygon (https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/24/17588572/nba-playgrounds-2-2k-sports-publisher-launch-date)

[cdj]

After being delayed earlier this spring, today 2K Sports and Saber Interactive have announced that the rebranded NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 will be available this fall and published by 2K Sports.

Per the game's community group on Facebook, Saber's Matthew Karch said it "would be a good guess" to expect Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to be added to the game due to their agreements with 2K Sports. In addition, the title will now receive '2K flair' and increased polish and gameplay modes per 2K Sports' Jason Argent, Senior VP for Basketball Operations.

Continue on to read an excerpt from Polygon.

NBA Playgrounds 2 has a new publisher — 2K Sports.

The arcade-style basketball game will thus be rebranded as NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 when the game launches this fall. 2K Sports and Saber Interactive announced the deal in a statement this morning.

“The original NBA Playgrounds was a fantastic throwback to the glory days of arcade-action sports,” Greg Thomas, the president of Visual Concepts (2K Sports’ studio) said in a statement. He added that the sequel will have “a bit of added NBA 2K flair.”

“We can’t wait to share more on how we’re teaming up to make NBA 2K Playgrounds 2’s incredible arcade action bigger and better than ever for players,” Matt Karch, Saber’s chief executive, said in the statement.

Karch told Polygon the decision to go with 2K wasn’t because of any problems with Mad Dog. “Everyone feels that 2K gives the NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 the best chance for success and future growth,” he said.

For 2K’s part, Jason Argent, the senior vice president for basketball operations, said the partnership was a natural fit. “We couldn’t ignore the fact [the first NBA Playgrounds] sold about a million units, all digital,” he said. “With a solid foundation already built for the Playgrounds franchise, combined with 2K’s product development and marketing strengths, 2K and Saber agreed that a collaboration could lead to even greater success. Plus we’ve been pretty open about 2K’s desire to expand our footprint in the basketball games.”


***

You can view the page at http://www.thegamingtailgate.com/forums/content.php?1479-2K-Sports-to-Publish-NBA-Playgrounds-2-Coming-This-Fall

[Rudy]

Interesting.

[bdoughty]

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2: Micro-Transactions Boogaloo

[JBHuskers]

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2: Micro-Transactions Boogaloo

:D (I get it)

[cdj]

It will be interesting to see what the release date for this one ends up being. If they add Jordan and Kobe, the 2K marketing machine, plus a low price point and competitive release date, could it be a deterrent towards people who may get NBA LIVE? As of right now, I think it very well could be. EA may end up regretting not sticking with arcade basketball and NBA JAM if this ends up undercutting them.

[bdoughty]

EA should have made a remake of NBA Street V2. That would print more money than all the NBA Lives they have tried this gen combined.

[cdj]

An excerpt from OS' hands-on with the game (https://www.operationsports.com/hands-on-with-nba-2k-playgrounds-2/):

Speaking of overwhelming, I was surprised to see the vast amount of NBA players in the game. I was mainly using the Rockets, and essentially, Playgrounds has all the same players that are on the Rockets 2K All-Time team. So I can now say, from experience, that doing a triple somersault dunk with Yao Ming is just as fun as it sounds.

It would certainly seem the initial talk of Playgrounds 2 having Jordan and Kobe could be true.


There's also some rumors that Playgrounds 2 will come out in October, so there likely will be no marketing or news of the game until after NBA 2K19 has been out a couple weeks.

[cdj]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3qYh5MjqbU&feature=youtu.be

Game coming October 16 and includes legends such as Michael Jordan.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1846/44760305891_82552282ca.jpg

[bdoughty]

There is just something about this game. Nothing makes me want to buy it.

Fifteen years ago this was released.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86m4wyDhsUI

[CLW]

lol how much $ will it take to get the entire roster

[bdoughty]

In Belgium, there is no cost. Only by the sweat of their brow. ;)

[cdj]

Anyone else get into the beta?

Only played one game, but enjoyed it. Won a co-op online game. The big thing that stood out is that the game speed is just too slow.

[Rudy]

Was it an open beta?

[cdj]

No, but I think everyone who signed up got in and they were still encouraging sign-ups through the weekend.

[CLW]

Not interested as they are all but assuredly waiting to drop the oh its gonna cost you hundreds of $ or hundreds of hours to get the players most people would actually want to play with.

[cdj]

Ronnie2K

[cdj]

Update 1.02 increases game speed, adds Kareem, a Halloween court, and more.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1909/44643407135_27196975cb_o.jpg