NBA 2K10 is ready to tip off another Championship season. NBA 2K9, the #1 selling & #1 rated NBA videogame, set the standard for all basketball videogames, and NBA 2K10 aims to surpass that that by delivering an even better basketball experience this year with all-new gameplay components, out-of-this-world graphics, even more realistic Signature Style animations, all-new presentation elements and an unrivalled online system -- this season you won’t just play the NBA, you’ll live it. NBA 2K10 will be THE choice for any sports fan who wants to play the most fun basketball videogame on the market. From the kid on the neighborhood court to the most elite NBA athletes, everyone will be playing NBA 2K10 this season.

Create A Player is an important feature for many people, whether it's creating those who didn't make the final cut, or reliving years past by putting together old school rosters from the 80's and 90's. 2K's system has improved overall from year to year, but there are still glaring issues and room for improvement with each new installment.

2K9 brought us the most realistic looking created players to date. They actually looked like they belonged on the court, without sticking out like a sore thumb. It didn't come without a price though, as certain options were limited and everyone came out looking closely related.

So lets get down to some specifics.

Body Types
For years now we've been given 3 choices - Thin, Normal, Thick. And for years now, Thin has been too small, Normal has been too big, and I don't think Thick has been realistically used... ever. At the very least, we are in desperate need for extra body types in between those 3. While the best solution would be switching it over to a slider based system, where with a few flicks left or right, the user can get it exactly the way they want.

Skin Color
Much like body types, the skin color option could use some more variety. 2K8 used sliders, while 2K9 switched to 6 presets. One things for sure, I don't want to go back to the days of the glowing red faces in 2K8. So I would gladly accept just expanding the presets to 12.

Facial Textures
A big reason CAPs have looked relatively the same in 2K9 is that there is only 1 texture, and all we do is move around the features. Take a page out of Top Spin's book by creating several different skin/facial textures to choose from.

Hair
We've become accustomed to the same hair options every year, and it's time to add some new styles. Noticeably absent for those of us who create legend rosters, are fades; of the high and low top variety. More in between color options are needed here as well, because in some situations brown is too dark and blond is too light. But the biggest addition I would like to see to the hair and facial hair options is transparency (0%-100%). Anything short enough to be painted on, like buzz cuts and natural waves, should be accompanied by a transparency slider to either strengthen or fade the hair. And that brings us to...

Facial Hair
Transparency sliders would help in creating stubble, and light beards; instead of being stuck with the strong thick options of 2K9. This is one area 2K8 had right, you could give the player a lightly shaded beard PLUS the regular beard and mustache options. I would like to see that brought back for 2K10. Facial Hair should also have it's own color option, independent from the hair color.

Eyebrows
Eyebrows were seriously overlooked in 2K9, and that's putting it lightly. A total of ZERO options for eyebrow customization, which left anyone with darker skin looking eyebrow-less. Take another page from Top Spin and add numerous different, unique eyebrow styles. This should also have it's own color option, as well as a transparency slider.
 

Accessories
Two words, HOME and AWAY. Let us give a player a completely different set of accessories for home than away if we want. Give us the same color options for headbands that we get for armbands. Throw in some goggles, protective masks, compression shorts, and finger tape. Bring back the option to have the old school shorter shorts; to compliment 2K's line of Legends. 1 for today, 1 for the 90's, 1 for the 80's, and 1 for the 70's (this would also effect the jersey's bagginess.)

Tattoos
Tattoos have gone rather unchanged over the years, much like the hair options. The addition of some fresh designs and a "full sleeve" tattoo would be nice. Yet another section that would benefit from a transparency slider.

Sliders
2K8 had the most frustrating sliders ever, when you moved one, a dozen others moved with it. This was thankfully remedied in 2K9, but I would still like to see the sliders numbered. So if your critiquing someone's CAP, you could simply suggest moving the brow height to 59, or the chin width down to 25. Seems like a simple thing to implement, and would help save some time.


So there you have it, a couple improvements that could help 2K10 have the deepest Create A Player seen in a basketball game. Hopefully someone is listening. Did I leave anything out that you would like to see added or changed?