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NBA 2K11 First Look

2K Sports shows off its upcoming hoops game on the show floor of E3 2010, and we've got the first look.

From a competition standpoint, basketball continues to be the most interesting area of the sports gaming world. Shifting personnel and sometimes public bickering between EA Sports and 2K Sports have made for a rivalry that continues to be fascinating to watch. It hasn't hurt that last year's hoops games were strong efforts from both companies. And while EA has its own vision for how basketball video games should be played, 2K continues to refine its own approach to a series that has stood as a benchmark in the sport for years. Today on the show floor of E3 2010, we got a look at the next game in the 2K franchise, NBA 2K11.

We didn't get hands-on time with 2K11 today, but we did see the game in action and listen to 2K Sports' Rob Jones explain some of the tweaks his team has made to the game--changes and improvements that look to cover nearly every aspect of the game. A new presentation style will incorporate even more broadcast elements to the look of 2K11. In fact, Jones said 2K has enlisted the help of a television producer to bring a more polished and professional sheen to the game's pregame intros, camera angles, and graphics. When you couple that with the returning NBA Today features, you've got an NBA 2K game that's slick and attractive from the tip-off to the final whistle. Graphical enhancements aren't just for the presentation--the actual players and arenas will see improvements in 2K11, thanks to improvements to player models, jerseys, and more.

Of course, graphics are only part of 2K's battle for hoops supremacy this year. The team is also working on giving 2K11 players more control over the action on the court than ever before. When talking about goals for 2K11's gameplay, Jones harks back to earlier entries in the NBA 2K series, like NBA 2K7 and NBA 2K8. These were games that, according to him, played more intuitively than perhaps the series has seen in recent years.

In fact, an intuitive control scheme seems to be one of the big aims for this year. Consider the half-spin move as an example. In NBA 2K10, executing a half-spin required the player to press both triggers and push back on the stick--inputs that seemingly have virtually nothing to do with a spin move. This year, spinning the stick in one direction and then reversing the direction of the spin will execute the half-spin move. Makes more sense, yeah?

In addition to control tweaks, Jones said that 2K11 will move away from the two-man animations that have defined the series for years now. Jones referenced the jostling system found in EA's FIFA series as a point of reference. From the sound of things, players will be able to make contact with one another and then make better individual choices of what to do after that contact is initiated. Finally, though he didn't go into detail, Jones said that online is another area of focus with NBA 2K11, including a reengineering of the online infrastructure to better handle the glut of players looking to get in some online hoops.

One last bit: As you've probably heard by now, Michael Jordan has been announced as the cover star of NBA 2K11. Asked whether His Airness would be a playable character in NBA 2K11, Jones wouldn't commit to a solid "yes" or "no." While we wouldn't bet the whole farm on MJ being playable, we'd at least consider putting up the barn and the horses. Look for much more coverage of NBA 2K11 in the coming months as we lead up to its release in the fall.

49 Comments

  • panalui86

    Posted Oct 5, 2010 9:31 am GMT

    I got my copy at midnight (first person in the ATX) and the game is the real deal. Jordan is smooth and incredible to use. My player Mode including the Draft Combine in the game Great Addition!!!

  • NbAlIvEr10000

    Posted Aug 6, 2010 3:55 pm GMT

    96' Bulls obviously the best C'Mon

  • j-force01

    Posted Aug 2, 2010 7:35 pm GMT

    2k should improve the dribbling controls and dribbling animation. im a 2k fan but see the nba live 10, live improve a lot and the dribbling is great and smooth as ever, but nba live players looks like plastic, more fluid in the game 2k!!!!

  • luxus99

    Posted Jul 18, 2010 7:48 pm GMT

    I hope they put in the game the team bulls of the 1990's. It was the best team ever period.

  • No_Better_Gamer

    Posted Jul 14, 2010 9:28 am GMT

    Jordan already announced he is playable. Check his quotes. http://www.2ksports.com/news/nba2k11/398

  • amaan4ever

    Posted Jul 10, 2010 3:20 am GMT

    if Jordan is playable then its the ultimate finisher to NBA elite 11(i never even played NBA live lol)

  • YouVandal3

    Posted Jul 6, 2010 8:22 am GMT

    "They really should model each player's actions to their real life counter part's styles. No more 0-99 scales."
    dear god this would be amazing.
    but then think of all the new people complaining about not being able to make players better

  • murray_mchs

    Posted Jul 5, 2010 2:42 pm GMT

    They really should model each player's actions to their real life counter part's styles. No more 0-99 scales. And for the record, in his day MJ could school any of today's half-ass players (including Kobe).

  • j-force01

    Posted Jun 30, 2010 7:54 pm GMT

    they should change lebron james shot style.

  • SYXXmaster

    Posted Jun 30, 2010 1:32 pm GMT

    one thing for sure are .... KOBE ISNT LOOK LIKE A MONKEY AGAIN !!!! the question is .... are texture larger than previous one??? if it is larger 2k11 will be a contender ... and editing will be much better ... im definitly gonna buy the PC version... this game is worth to buy, and please bring back old type of arms texture (not transparent type to make it black) like in 2k9 ... its better editable ....

  • shortyl

    Posted Jun 27, 2010 11:50 am GMT

    2k is the best basketball game ever!!!!!

  • Yunggdre posted Jun 25, 2010 6:53 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Yunggdre

    Posted Jun 25, 2010 6:53 pm GMT (hide)

    tech need to be added like more than anything in the whole game upgrade an an better a.i. paint defence no center not even jerome james would just stand an watch ua pg run full court an dunk without any not even a breeze on contact...an last but def not least i think it complete crap jordan on the cover WHY he doesnt play is bill russell or mark cuban on the cover for 2k12 ? maybe put dick vitale on there thats so lame hes been retired is he gone wear a suit on the cover cuz he aint on noobodys roster it sad i nhate it so much im just takin the paper out of my game box ween i get it

  • Jstation3

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 9:46 pm GMT

    they should fix the defense under the basket, it is just so easy to drive the lane for a nasty dunk with kobe or Lebron. You can see the AI players standing around doing nothing whatsoever to stop the ball. Other thing they should fix, is to make real the physical contact. Where in the real life can you see a player trying to give a foul to other one and go through the chest and see the player's hand in the back? Come on!!!! @ Blakarot I agree with you bring the technical fouls!!! Remove the horrible cheerleaders..haha. And put celebrities near the court. ex: Jack Nicholson in the Lakers games.

  • ikeman0777

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 7:46 pm GMT

    jordan on the cover, better gameplay, and they're working on the players and arenas looking realer?
    ea sports should just give up

  • newhighscore

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 10:26 am GMT

    FIX: Jump Shots, Ball Handling, Shot Blocking, Collision Detection, Bot AI, Offensive Rebounding

    Then dont give us just Jordan or 90's all stars or whatever. Give us full retro team rosters! Like some of the old Maddens did. Early 90's Bulls, 80's Lakers, etc. The game has potential. Gonna be a close race between this and Elite 11.

  • Blakarot

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 6:26 am GMT

    Wut ive been wanting to see for a long time is TECHNICAL FOULS. I wanna be able to hold down the dunk button and hang on the rim to avoid injury or just to show off. I wanna talk crap to the refs and other players. I want to get thrown out of the game for these reasons. And These games will never feel "real" until u put all the flopping into it. Dont we all just love the floppers in the NBA and the refs who reward them?

  • DirtyAl

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 5:54 am GMT

    I hope the fine tune the jump shots... They were a little off in 2k10... I was getting bad shot (late release) on certain jumpers that I have used for years. I hope they replace player pictures with in game shots of the players from the neck up like they used to. I hate the fact that I can draft players and have a D league and all of the players have blank player photos. I would also like to see some better character models and some new tattos. I also would like to create players and change their individual features, i.e., arms, legs, stomach, head, neck, hands, feet. When you create a team, how about giving us some audio options so the team names can be pronounced... Not Home team and such...

  • KingJduro

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 4:10 am GMT

    Fix the online!

  • batmanwarfare2

    Posted Jun 22, 2010 1:55 pm GMT

    i hope they fix the steals and they could add like a dna things for dunks kobe doesnt do crazy dunks now he just takes it to dunks it slowly,lebron does one handed james and d wade does his dunks

  • mrclutch87

    Posted Jun 21, 2010 6:02 pm GMT

    i hope they fix the steals and kobe's dunks i know hes the cover athlete but kobe isnt doing crazy ass dunks anymore just tone down his athletism hes not lebron or d wade