NBA 2K13 Preview: New features to look out for

I will readily admit that I am not much of a video game aficionado. But I do have an insatiable desire for basketball and thus will likely break my two year video game hiatus to shell out the cash to indulge in NBA 2K13 induced pleasure. I know it is an awesome game as I have logged a lot of time playing with my family but I just haven’t committed enough to buy it for my own console.

So, with this in mind, I can’t tell you with any specificity on the merits (and flaws) of last years game, aside from the My Career mode which I enjoyed.

Perhaps the best feature, and one I will be excited to play out, is the option to play as the 1992 Dream Team in a (completely hypothetical and still completely annoying) virtual setting. I won’t hesitate to pit them against this years Team USA squad just to laugh hysterically at my decision to insert Christian Laetnner in the starting lineup.

Aside from that, however, there are some minor alterations that presumably improve the NBA 2K13 product.

— My Career mode has been modified and split into three different modes — My Career, My Player (which is simply the method in which we create the player we use for My Career) and My Team, which utilizes trading cards in a fantasy basketball type format as it incorporates real time statistics. Shoe Creator is also apart of My Player to make the experience authentic and allow anyone to create the perfect shoe for their player.

But a modification I am looking forward to will be the improved CPU that will be actually competent and make realistic trades in My Career. At least, we can only hope. (This is pretty important to me because I was angry that the Spurs traded Manu Ginobili to the Utah Jazz in my second season.)

— If you love Justin Bieber and basketball, you will get to live your odd fantasy as Bieber will join Meek Mill, Wale, JB Smoove, Jersey Shore‘s Vinny and Pauly D, Bow Wow, Sean Kingston, Mac Miller and Brian Baumgartner on the celebrity team.

— The ability to use the left and right control sticks to control ball handling gives the user a lot more creative leeway to score off the dribble. (Anything to glorify the player who consistently goes one-on-five right?)

These new features and more can be found in depth on SLAM Online.