2K Sports has announced that the cover athlete for NBA 2K9 will be revealed through a 30 second TV spot scheduled to air during the NBA Countdown pre-game show for Game One of the 2008 NBA Finals, June 5 on ABC.

As part of the event, the publisher has set up a community website where registered participants can register and predict the cover athlete for the game from a roster of 16 NBA candidates. Those who predict correctly will be entered into a special drawing for the opportunity to win exclusive prizes.

“We’re extremely excited to offer this online promotion to our loyal community of 2K Sports fans, as we think it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to interact more closely with them through a refreshingly fun and rewarding experience,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “The NBA 2K franchise is king among basketball players and passionate fans who know and understand basketball. Revealing our cover athlete prior to Game One affords us a unique opportunity to capitalize on the anticipation surrounding the NBA Finals while simultaneously generating excitement for the release of NBA 2K9.”

The game, in development at Visual Concepts, will be released for the PS2, PS3 and Xbox 360 this Fall.

A free downloadable feature for NBA LIVE 08 has been pushed out, adding online team play to the basketball game. This update enables 10 people on 10 different consoles anywhere in the world to connect online to play a single match. The new feature is automatically available to all PS3 users and will be released for the Xbox 360 later this month.

Removing the need to use artificial intelligence in online matches, the update allows the players to control the athletes on-screen. This mode can be enjoyed using fewer friends from one to five in which case the CPU takes control of any players not controlled by the users.

2K Sports has announced that College Hoops 2K8 will contain 90 classic teams for gamers to play. The game will offer historically famed college teams as well as current favorite ones; out of the 90 classic teams, 69 will consist of teams from years past including the 1982 North Carolina Tarheels to the 1990 Loyola Marymount Lions. Additionally, gamers can choose to play from six all-time conference teams or 15 all-time school teams.

The game will be out later this month on PS2, PS3 and Xbox 360.

EA Sports, in conjunction with NBA, have launched an online contest to design a new jersey to be featured in NBA LIVE 09. Users can create their own NBA team jerseys using various assets from all 30 NBA teams as well as custom shapes, numbers and text with the “Jersey Creator” tool. The winning entry will featured in the upcoming game.

Winners will be determined based on creativity, talent and originality; last date for entries is November 16. Other contest prizes for two runners-up include an autographed Gilbert Arenas jersey and video game “library” packages.

2K Sports has announced new features for College Hoops 2K8, its upcoming entry in the annual college basketball series. Here’s the deal:

In the All-American Training Challenge, players will be able to improve their game skills by competing in passing, shooting, and defensive tests against former college basketball standouts like Mike Conley Jr. of Ohio State, Julian Wright of Kansas, Glen “Big Baby” Davis of LSU, Alando Tucker of Wisconsin, Al Thornton of Florida State, J.J. Redick of Duke, and College Hoops 2K8 cover athlete, Greg Oden of Ohio State. Gamers can progress through the challenge drills against these great players while tracking their best times and highest scores in the game. With multiplayer support for up to four players, gamers can compete against their friends to see who has the best College Hoops skills.

College basketball fans will truly feel the benefit of playing in front of a frenzied crowd-be it at home or in a neutral tournament venue-with the 6th Man Advantage where the energy of a team’s fans can motivate a team to play harder and with more confidence. During a game, the 6th Man Meter measures the current energy and excitement level of the crowd. By scoring often, playing good defense, and raising the excitement level of the crowd, the 6th Man Meter will rise. Once the meter is full, the home team will gain the advantage of playing with less fatigue for a brief period while the opposing team will start to lose confidence in their playing ability. The 6th Man Advantage delivers a realistic element with how a great crowd can inspire their team to victory.

The game will be out this Fall on PS2, PS3 and Xbox 360.

2K Games has announced that Chris Paul, starting point guard for the New Orleans Hornets, has been named as the cover athlete and official spokesman for NBA 2K8, the upcoming entry in the basketball franchise.

“It’s a great honor to be a part of the best NBA video game title, let alone the guy on the cover,” said Chris Paul. “I’m a big time video gamer and it’s a dream come true to be on the cover and represent the next NBA 2K game, NBA 2K8.”

Here’s the deal on the man:

Chris Paul has made an immediate impact in the NBA. Following two All-American seasons at Wake Forest University, the Winston-Salem, NC native was the fourth overall selection by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 NBA Draft. During his rookie season, Paul led all rookies in points, assists, steals, and minutes en route to earning Rookie of the Year honors, receiving the most votes (124 of 125) since David Robinson in 1990. The only unanimous selection for the 2005-2006 NBA All-Rookie First Team, Paul continues to evolve as one of the most exciting players on the USA Basketball Senior National Team that represented the United States in the 2006 World Championship of Basketball, playing in all nine of the USA’s games, and averaging 7.0 points and 4.9 assists per game. The 2007-08 season looks bright for Paul as he will lead the Hornets’ return to New Orleans and continue to prepare for his expected participation on Team USA at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

One of the top-rated NBA simulation games in the market, the next entry in the series will see the studio building and expanding on the Signature Style feature, as well as adding new moves, animations and more. NBA 2K8 will be available for the PS2, PS3 and Xbox 360 this Fall.

Ever heard of a “left-of-the-dial” soundtrack? Well, now you can tell your grandchildren that you have: 2K Sports has compiled such a soundtrack for College Hoops 2K7, according to a press release by the company. The soundtrack features a diverse roster of underground hip-hop artists ranging from 3rd Degree to Traxamillion, as well as rock acts like Cities in Dust and Tokyo Police Club; P.O.D. also makes an appearance. As an added bonus, the game features original songs from 3rd Degree, Deux Process and Traxamillion.

2K Sports also mentioned 2K Beats, its internet radio station for fans of the publisher’s games. The site streams the music from all of the company’s best games, with access to artist bios, photos, discographies and more.

College Hoops 2K7 is now available for the PS2, Xbox and Xbox 360; a PS3 version will be available this winter.

To promote the release of NBA 2K7, Chali 2na (Jurassic 5), Casual (Hieroglyphics) and A.G. (D.I.T.C.) will tour and perform with Dan the Automator across the States as part of the 2nd Annual 2K Sports Bounce Tour. This event will see the above artists performing in 13 West Coast cities, with additional shows pending.

Dan the Automator has produced the soundtrack to NBA 2K7, which “involved sculpting the beats to mirror the tempo of a basketball game and enlisting rappers from across the nation for a diverse sound.”

The 2nd Annual 2K Bounce Tour is a series of live events that bridge hip-hop, sports and videogame culture by featuring renowned musicians, sports, gaming kiosks and more. Below are the dates:

Nov 29 - San Luis Obispo, CA - SLO Brewing Company
Nov 30 - San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine
Dec 1 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst
Dec 2 - Chico, CA - Senator Theatre
Dec 4 - Portland, OR - Berbatti’s Pan
Dec 5 - Bellingham, WA - The Nightlight
Dec 6 - Seattle, WA - Neumo’s
Dec 8 - Park City, UT - Suede
Dec 9 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up
Dec 10 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre & Cafe
Dec 12 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
Dec 14 - San Diego, CA - Canes Bar & Grill
Dec 15 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre

In addition to the above, 2K Sports has also announced the release of the Official 2K7 Mixtape, mixed by world famous DJ Clinton Sparks. The mixtape is a free download of non-stop 40 minutes of hip-hop, including tracks by Fabolous, Ghostface, Lupe Fiasco, A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, Dilated Peoples and more.

NBA 2K7 is now available for PS3, Xbox 360 and Xbox.

Up until now, team sports games on consoles have only been about “you”. But we all know that there is no “u” in team, and that’s why 2K Sports will implement a “Team Unity” system in College Hoops 2K7, emphasizing the importance of team chemistry in sports games.

“A positively-focused, cohesive team makes all the difference when it comes to competing in any sport,” said Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. “Team chemistry is crucial in college ball as it can make or break a team and make the impossible seem possible for underdog teams. George Mason’s entrance into the Final Four last year is an excellent example of how great team unity will often lead to great success. Team Unity in College Hoops 2K7 allows gamers to focus on the important factors of fundamental team basketball to maximize winning potential.”

Team Unity in the upcoming game will help gamers gauge and predict their team’s performance. Four key factors will be taken into consideration when calculating Team Unity: individual player confidence, overall team awareness, rating lineup consistency and a strong team leader. If the level of Unity is low, it will result in bad rotational defense, sloppy screen setting, missed passes, and a myriad of other consequences. This feature will also play an important role in Legacy Mode, as it impacts a team’s performance over the course of one or several seasons.

College Hoops 2K7 Is now available for Xbox and Xbox 360; December will see the release of the PS2 version, and a PS3 version is expected later this Winter.

EA sent out word that Carmelo Anthony will grace the cover of NBA STREET Homecourt, the fourth game in the 3-on-3 basketball series. This will be Anthony’s third time, as he has appeared on the covers of NCAA March Madness 2004 and NBA Live 2005.

“I credit a lot of who I am today as a player to my days playing on the streets in Baltimore,” said Anthony. “My homecourt in Baltimore will always be a part of who I am, because that’s where I gained the skill and desire that has made me successful in basketball. NBA STREET Homecourt represents real street basketball and the place where it all started for me.”

NBA STREET Homecourt will be available for the PS3 and Xbox 360 sometime next year.

EA has announced NBA STREET Homecourt, the newest iteration of its streetball franchise. The fourth entry in the series expands on the fast-paced 3-on-3 basketball gameplay with a new animation engine and control system; players will also be able to create gravity-defying tricks on the fly.

“NBA STREET Homecourt gives fans the opportunity to play where legends were made, and will be made,” said Dan Ayoub, lead producer on the product. “Every legendary player got his start somewhere and most of those roots are set in homecourts across the United States. The vision for the game’s concept, visuals and gameplay all give a nod to those hometown courts, and will provide fans with an incredibly addictive and rewarding experience.”

NBA STREET Homecourt merges legendary proving grounds with the homecourts of your favorite NBA stars, featuring 360 degrees of view. The NBA’s best are rendered with the same level of meticulous detail, making true athlete likeness a reality and putting you up close and personal with every move and moment. Earn a name for yourself and garner respect as you progress along your hometown journey and become a legend.

The game is in development at the publisher’s Vancouver studio for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Offering the chance to gamers to upload their (fantabulous?) replays is 2K Sports through their “2K Reelmaker” feature for NBA 2K7. Available only to Xbox 360 players, the feature will let players create their own unique video highlight reels from saved replays in the game and share them on Xbxo Live; 2K Reelmaker is now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 400 points.

The Reelmaker will let gamers adjust the speed of replays, add special effects, insert sound samples from the commentary team and much more.

2K Sports has announced that Dan the Automator presents 2K7, the soundtrack for NBA 2K7, is now available for purchase throughout North America. This collection of 12 tracks includes songs from Mos Def, Fabulous, E-40, along with Dan the Automator himself.

Select tracks from the album includes: Dan the Automator - Intro, A Tribe Called Quest - Lyrics to Go (Dan the Automator Remix), Fabolous - Ball Til You Fall, Mos Def & Anwar Superstar - Here Comes The Champ and many others.

NBA 2K7 is available on the PS2 and Xbox 360; a PS3 version will be available this Holiday season.

With next-gen already here, 2K Sports announced new “standard-setting” features for NBA 2K7. The game will feature high-level visual player details with Signature Style animations; it will also include hyper-detailed arenas, enhanced arena lighting and numerous new camera angles.

Signature Style elevates next generation animation and adds new level of gameplay strategies as gamers adjust to the different shooting styles of each NBA player. Whether it’s Shaquille O’Neal’s two-handed drop step dunk, Steve Nash’s dribble, Gilbert Arenas’ wrap around the waist free throw routine, Richard Hamilton adjusting his face mask, Allen Iverson’s crossover move, or Shawn Marion’s fadeaway jumpshot, Signature Style comprises over 300 unique animations in shooting, dribbling, and dunking in NBA 2K7.

The level of detail has also been dramatically enhanced around the players, as NBA 2K7 features hyper-detail to every NBA arena. New lighting effects have been authentically replicated to give each court its own look and character. New crowd reactions and animations deliver more life to each of the games, as well as new arena specific elements of mascot animations, dance team performances, and much more. Lastly, users can experience the game with over 30 new camera angles ranging from the birds-eye view from the upper-level seats, to the eye level view from the coach’s cam. All of these cameras are further customizable to any gamer preference, giving gamers hundreds of new ways to watch the best NBA simulation video game for the next generation.

NBA 2K7 will be available for the PS2 and Xbox 360 later this month, with a PS3 version released in time for the Holiday season.

Nintendo has announced Mario’s first basketball appearance on the DS - Mario Slam Basketball. Developed by Square Enix, the game will feature Mario & co. in 3D out on the courts, dunking balls and whatnot.

Mario Slam Basketball is the first game of its type to give players total control of the ball. Players really will be able to dribble and Slam-Dunk with the tip of their finger! The fast paced action features classic Nintendo and Final Fantasy characters and is perfectly suited to the Nintendo DS using a combination of the touch screen and D-pad to dribble, pass and take shots, all with strokes and taps of the stylus. The slightly more flash players can also show off several special moves; by tapping a unique sequence of dots that mark the first initial of the character’s name, players can unleash awe inspiring new skills, with the potential of doubling their score.

Create your own three player, all-star team by selecting from popular Nintendo characters such as Mario, Luigi and even Princess Peach herself! What’s more developer Square Enix has included a whole host of famous Final Fantasy characters to choose from. Collecting coins during matches is especially important as they can affect the score. So, before going for a slam-dunk players will need to collect as many coins as they can in order to bag the highest possible score.

The basketball court isn’t the place for the faint hearted. Magic Johnson and Dennis Rodman may be stars on the real court, but faced with players holding red shells it takes an all new-type of player to really show their skill on the DS court! The referee seems to be asleep so anything goes on this basketball court! Players can use Red and Green shells, Bo-bombs, Bananas and Stars to turn the tide of the game, obstruct other players and even chase down coins.

Mario Slam Basketball features three single player modes that allow players to participate in major basketball tournaments, exhibition matches and hone their vital skills. In Practice Mode, players can focus on their weak points and strive to become superstars. Exhibition Mode allows players to select their own customised team to play against the CPU in a quick match. Finally Tourney mode lets players try out their skills in a choice of four tournaments- Mushroom, Flower, Star and Rainbow. When a Tourney has been completed, ‘Hard mode’ is activated where the really hardcore players can battle it out against even fiercer opponents.

Desperate to wipe the court with your friends? Now you can with three exciting wireless multi-player modes to select: Exhibition, Dribble Race, and Coin Hunter, plus two single download play modes. Test who can hold on to the most coins until the end of the game, or take part in a Dribble Race. If you’re desperate to show off who’s the winner, players can even store results and rankings. Mario Slam Basketball also has the ability to let friends cut in. While playing, a message will pop up and alert players that a new opponent has been found so players can compete in some serious on court action.

Mario Slam Basketball will be released across Europe on November 10; it will retail for £30.