NBA 2K2 Feature Preview
We get an exclusive look at NBA 2K2 on the PlayStation 2.
As Sega begins to spread its wings on other platforms, it's nice to see that the internal development teams are doing more than just porting Dreamcast code over to other platforms. Case in point, NBA 2K2 from developer Visual Concepts. Rather than port the DC game over to the PlayStation 2 as is, VC has opted to revisit the game and build on it to best take advantage of what the PS2 has to offer. While early showings of the game were a bit rough, we were able to sit down with a more complete build of the game that gave us a better idea of what VC is aiming to accomplish on the PS2.
Gamers familiar with Visual Concepts' excellent Dreamcast version of NBA 2K2 should have no problem diving into the PlayStation 2 version, because one of Visual Concepts' priorities was to make sure all the functionality of the DC version was brought over. Development on the game began in May once VC received its development kits. The past six months have been challenging, according to Producer Rob Jones, due to the different strengths and weaknesses of each platform. As a result, while NBA 2K2 is preserving the look and feel of the DC version, the way it does so is very different. Graphically the game features a higher polygon count overall than the DC version and additional sideline characters such as cheerleaders and cameramen. Lighting is being tweaked to recreate the specific lighting found in each of the various locations you'll be able to play in- a detail not included in the Dreamcast game. Animation in the game will also be smoothed out, and VC is adding more than 500 new moves of animation. New moves such as a player specific crossovers will add a good deal of freedom to the game. In addition, the developers are revisiting the motion capture from the DC version and are reshooting bits they felt could be better. Further, the team is focusing on finer bits of animation to make the game more immersive: Players will now have facial animations that reflect the action in the game much more closely than before. Players will scowl at rivals and smile at their team members during the game. You will also be pleased to see that VC intends to offer all of the above at the standard frame rate for the series: a constant 60fps.
The game's audio will be beefed up thanks to music from Jermaine Dupri and expanded in-game sound. NBA 2K2 on the PS2 will feature improved audio above and beyond all the ambient sound and intelligent commentary found in previous versions of the game. VC intends to make the commentary more intelligent, providing useful information and stat tracking during the game.
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