2K Has Solidified Itself in the PC Sports Market.
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1:30 minutes to go, I'm playing the Spurs in the opening week for the Minnesota Timberwolves. We're a team rebuilding, but have the foundation to work around, Al Jefferson. All teams are tired, I struggled in the 1st quarter to even stay within 10, but slowly worked my way back from this Championship team.
Down by 6 points, I am putting out my ranged team and hoping for the best, upping my fast break and board crashing in my coach settings, and upping plays going to my shooters. I start my drive...Sebastian Telfair takes it up, gets a double team from Tony Parker and Robert Horry. I have no trust in him, so I pass to Al Jefferson up the middle, Kurt Thomas covering...I roll around and get above him for a score.
Spurs drive, Ginobili takes it. Passes off to Parker which catches our defense off guard and goes down the lane. Jefferson turns from covering Tim Duncan and crashes with him, a little contact but the play goes, ball rolls off the rim; Foye rebound, timeout.
I reset up court, I stack up, finding Jefferson to get Duncan busy, I pass out to Foye and try for three, bucket. Spurs call time and reset, Horry passes in to Duncan, who swings to Minobili who drives, goes up with Foye, drawing the foul but the ball rolls off, misses his FG, I rebound and timeout. 10 seconds.
I reset after the 60. I pass in and get squeezed. I pass in and out, nothing. I find one open man, Jason Collins on the three point line, and C/F of all people. I pass to him, I hit my analog stick and release the shot at two seconds. Ball goes up, hits the flat back of the rim, bounces to the front of the rim, rattles in. We win by one.
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This game is wonderful. When I first heard the rumor mill about this game coming to PC, I thought someone was just being stupid and getting everyone's hopes up. Dreams come true. This game has carried over perfectly from the consoles. Graphics are up to par and then some. My aging 8800GT runs this game smoothly with player models and environment looking perfect. Animations are smooth. I love the sounds of the game. Little sound bits from players as they go up the lane and challenged by opponents, surround sound makes you feel like you are there. Announcers are sometimes repetitive, but call the game great.
Biggest thing for me is content. EA Sports seems to always release every other year with a stripped down baseline game. I was worried that 2K9 might be a stripped down game with just franchise mode and maybe some mini games, but BOY was I wrong. The Association mode has me hooked. Everything from the console versions has been kept. So many options and control over your franchise. Trades, scouting, training, practice...and so many other things. All game modes look to be transferred over with no flaws.
I play this game on a wired 360 controller, and I couldn't be happier. I can't even tell if I am using my PC or not. controls are smooth and responsive. I can't wait to see the modding community base to form, there is so much more potential for this game on PC.
There are some flaws, sometimes sounds play a bit distorted, or in slow-mo, but will only be for a short second. Also during timeouts, Al Jefferson would aimlessly wander the court as if speedwalking, but doesn't do anything to the game but make you laugh a bit.
I am sure there are some things that are flawed which some have experienced and I haven't, but I have no big gripes about this game. The debut of the PC version has been done well, I actually wish they would have hyped it a bit more, because I can't recall seeing any 2k9 adverts or big announcements that it was coming to PC other than some dedicated forums and 2K forums itself. I hope this game is seen as a success for 2K Sports, and that they even expand on the PC versions of 2K Sports.