Software:NBA 2K (video game)

From HandWiki
Short description: 1999 basketball video game
NBA 2K
North American cover art featuring Allen Iverson
Developer(s)Visual Concepts
Publisher(s)Sega
SeriesNBA 2K
Platform(s)Dreamcast
Release
  • NA: November 11, 1999[1]
  • EU: August 2, 2000
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

NBA 2K is a 1999 sports video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by Sega. It was initially released for Dreamcast in 1999. Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers is featured as the cover athlete. The game is based on the National Basketball Association and, as such, allows the player to compete in basketball games with the current NBA season's players and teams. Several game modes are present, including one in which the player can create customizable players. NBA 2K was well-received by critics, who praised it for setting the standard for basketball video games.

Gameplay

NBA 2K, along with the series as a whole, strives to emulate the sport of basketball, more specifically, the National Basketball Association. It features the current players and teams from the 1999–2000 NBA season, and players may use them in several modes. Additionally, the player can create their own players and compile their own teams. The game features commentary from fictional announcers Bob Steele and Rod West (a play on Bob Barker and Rod Roddy, who were then the host and announcer, respectively, on the American game show The Price is Right), who are portrayed by Bob Fitzgerald and Rod Brooks respectively.[2][3][4][5]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings88%[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarStarHalf star[2]
EGM8.5/10[8][lower-alpha 1]
Famitsu33/40[9]
Game Informer9/10[3]
GameFan94%[10][11][lower-alpha 2]
GameRevolutionB+[12]
GameSpot8.8/10[4]
GameSpy7.5/10[13]
IGN9.2/10[5]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[14]
The Cincinnati EnquirerStarStarStarStar[15]

NBA 2K received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[6] Praise was directed towards the visuals and controls in particular, while criticism was aimed at the lack of all-around polish.

Scott Alan Marriott for AllGame particularly praised the overall visuals and presentation. He called NBA 2K "a sports title that offers the graphics, playability, and artificial intelligence (AI) to convert nearly anyone who remotely enjoys the game of basketball into a hardcore fanatic".[2] Game Informer's review, which is credited to Andrew Reiner, Andy McNamara, and Paul Anderson, mostly praised the realistic visuals and presentation. Reiner summarized his thoughts with, "The only complaint I have is the lame free-throw system. The rest of the game is oh so sweet." McNamara stated, "NBA 2K is a solid game with some great play mechanics. I like the play of NBA Live 2000 [...] better, but for graphics alone, I'll probably put more time in on NBA 2K." Lastly, Anderson wrote, "Even though you may initially find a few quirks in the game, the entire package is rock solid."[3] Ryan MacDonald of GameSpot wrote: "In the end, NBA 2K's dazzling graphics, superb control, and strong AI make it the most dynamic basketball video game ever. However, Visual Concepts fell just short of delivering the same seamless gameplay of NFL 2K. The game's visuals and control, while both outstanding, just don't have the same cohesion that made NFL 2K so flawless. But even with these few problems, playing NBA 2K will just about ruin you for all other basketball games."[4] Brandon Justice of IGN wrote: "[W]hile the game has issues, it is easily worlds beyond anything else on the market, and truly raises the bar for video game basketball. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that it has done so in such a manner that even the high-jumping designers at Visual Concepts have difficulty clearing their own newfound level of excellence. Many aspects of this game are unbelievable, but it is the type of game that does just as much to open your eyes to the possibilities as it does to blow you away. In the end, we've got one hell of a basketball game, but a game that is far from perfect. While not quite as polished as NFL2K, NBA2K is most certainly a must have title for any sport fan, and is one of the most compelling reasons to own a Dreamcast to date."[5] The Enforcer of GamePro wrote in one review: "If you're crazy into sports, you gotta have NBA 2K. Not only is it the most outstanding-looking sports game of all time, it also plays like a champ. This is where the real showtime is."[16][lower-alpha 3] In another review, Uncle Dust said: "After the massive success of the Dreamcast launch title NFL 2K, Sega Sports is back with a vengeance with NBA 2K. The game features the same ultra-realistic graphics of the pigskin game, but it also throws in some of the most realistic hoops skills ever seen on a console, featuring over 1,300 motion-captured moves. The game also includes playbooks by the actual NBA coaches to make sure each team acts exactly as they do in the real NBA."[17][lower-alpha 4] Chris Slate of NextGen wrote that the game was "easy to pick up and get into, and looks flat-out gorgeous. If you're an NBA fan, this game alone is worth the price of a Dreamcast."[14] In Japan, where the game was ported for release on March 23, 2000, Famitsu gave it a score of 33 out of 40.[9]

NBA 2K was a finalist for "Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering" at the AIAS' 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, which was ultimately given to Unreal Tournament.[18]

Notes

  1. ↑ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 8/10, one gave it 8.5/10, and the other gave it 9.5/10.
  2. ↑ In GameFan's viewpoint of the game, two critics gave it each a score of 94.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the game two 5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 4.5/5 for sound, and 4/5 for control in one review.
  4. ↑ GamePro gave the game all 5/5 scores for graphics, sound, control, and fun factor in another review.

References

  1. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (November 11, 1999). "NBA2K Now In Stores". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/12/nba2k-now-in-stores. Retrieved September 23, 2022. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Marriott, Scott Alan. "NBA 2K - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141114234301/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18926&tab=review. Retrieved May 8, 2015. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 McNamara, Andy; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (January 2000). "NBA 2K". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (81). Archived from the original on July 11, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000711103114/http://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4360. Retrieved May 8, 2015. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 MacDonald, Ryan (November 8, 1999). "NBA 2K Review". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nba-2k-review/1900-2540432/. Retrieved May 8, 2015. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Justice, Brandon (November 24, 1999). "NBA2K". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/25/nba2k. Retrieved May 8, 2015. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "NBA 2K for Dreamcast". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190505063608/https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198053-nba-2k/index.html. Retrieved May 8, 2015. 
  7. ↑ Marrin, John (November 15, 1999). "NBA 2K". CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000816031534/http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Dreamcast/Nba2k/. Retrieved September 23, 2022. 
  8. ↑ Leahy, Dan; Ricciardi, John; Hager, Dean; Zuniga, Todd (January 2000). "NBA 2K". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (126): 222. https://archive.org/details/electronicgamingmonthlyvol126january2000600dpi/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Vol.%20126%20%5BJanuary%202000%5D%20%28Searchable%29/. Retrieved September 22, 2022. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "ドリームキャスト - NBA 2K" (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain) 915: 40. June 30, 2006. https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12747&redirect=no. Retrieved May 11, 2020. 
  10. ↑ Mosquera, Fernando "Lagi" (November 5, 1999). "REVIEW for Sega Sports NBA 2K". Shinno Media. Archived from the original on November 28, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19991128013247/http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=1458&t=r. Retrieved September 23, 2022. 
  11. ↑ Higgins, Geoff "El Nino"; Mylonas, Eric "ECM" (January 2000). "NBA 2K". GameFan (Shinno Media) 8 (1): 88. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_01. Retrieved September 23, 2022. 
  12. ↑ Dr. Moo (November 1999). "NBA 2K Review". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518073731/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/nba-2k. Retrieved September 23, 2022. 
  13. ↑ Subskin (November 12, 1999). "Sega Sports NBA 2000 [sic"]. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090131132657/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/nba2000/. Retrieved September 23, 2022. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Slate, Chris (January 2000). "NBA 2K". NextGen (Imagine Media) (61): 90-91. https://archive.org/details/NextGen61Jan2000. Retrieved May 11, 2020. 
  15. ↑ Bottorff, James (1999). "Sega slam dunks NBA game for Dreamcast". The Cincinnati Enquirer (Gannett Company). Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000816071534/http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/nba2k.html. Retrieved September 23, 2022. 
  16. ↑ The Enforcer (January 2000). "NBA 2K". GamePro (IDG) (136): 116. https://retrocdn.net/images/8/81/GamePro_US_136.pdf. Retrieved September 22, 2022. 
  17. ↑ Uncle Dust (1999). "NBA 2K Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG). Archived from the original on October 29, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20041029060648/http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/2999.shtml. Retrieved September 23, 2022. 
  18. ↑ "Third Interactive Achievement Awards: Craft Award". Archived from the original on September 3, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000903024524/http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_craft.html. Retrieved September 22, 2022. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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