All aboard the hype train for NBA 2K13.  2K Sports' latest basketball simulation is just over three months from release, set to arrive on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 4th (and on the Wii U when it arrives at retail), and promises a bunch of changes that will certainly make it the most realistic one that the company's released. And to help push the hype further, 2K has chosen a trifecta of current NBA superstars to grace the cover, a step forward from the solo cover stars that graced it previously.  Surprisingly enough, currently crowned NBA champ LeBron James nor series favorite Kobe Bryant are amongst the three stars.

For the past couple of years, 2K Sports has been dominating the paint with its NBA 2K franchise, as 2K12 managed to sell well over five million copies, thanks to the help of a talented development team and, of course, a virtual Michael Jordan.  But the pressure is on this year, as EA Sports is bringing back NBA Live in a big way.  2K, however, isn’t breaking a sweat.  Live didn’t even make it to E3 this year, and the team had its own plans with NBA 2K13, which it showed to us behind closed doors.

After a fiscal report that questioned the future of the Major League Baseball 2K franchise, we were wondering if 2K Sports had gotten a little soft, concerned about how they could compete with their main rival, EA Sports.  Well, we got our answer today with a nice tomahawk jam to the face, in the form of an announcement for NBA 2K13.

Carmelo who?  A year or so ago, the New York Knicks thought that Carmelo Anthony would be the answer to their problems, making a big blockbuster trade to the Denver Nuggets in order to get him.  But since that time, they haven't really been able to really succeed, despite Melo trying to hustle to the hoop.  However, it's not that guy who's shining for the team right now, as he's currently out on injury (and possibly set to return this weekend).  No, the real star is a guy that was once cut by the Warriors and the Rockets, Justlin Lin.  Ever since he was added to the Knicks roster a little while back, he's been on fire.

2K Sports is ready to play ball with Justin Verlander, ace pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He’s the cover athlete for the upcoming Major League Baseball 2K12. Verlander was selected yesterd by his peers as the Players Choice Award winner for Player of the Year and American League Outstanding Pitcher. With baseball just around the corner, gamers can get a first look at Verlander in the new game in the video below.

It’s a little annoying to see sports games get downloadable content added on a couple of months after their release, mainly because folks already spent so much money for the main product and now have to plunk down a few extra bucks for some more good stuff.  But that’s how business rolls for other games these days, so it’s not a big deal.  Plus, when it’s as good as NBA 2K12’s new Legends Showcase, you really see where the value adds up.

It’s a little annoying to see sports games get downloadable content added on a couple of months after their release, mainly because folks already spent so much money for the main product and now have to plunk down a few extra bucks for some more good stuff.  But that’s how business rolls for other games these days, so it’s not a big deal.  Plus, when it’s as good as NBA 2K12’s new Legends Showcase, you really see where the value adds up.

It’s a little annoying to see sports games get downloadable content added on a couple of months after their release, mainly because folks already spent so much money for the main product and now have to plunk down a few extra bucks for some more good stuff.  But that’s how business rolls for other games these days, so it’s not a big deal.  Plus, when it’s as good as NBA 2K12’s new Legends Showcase, you really see where the value adds up.

It’s a little annoying to see sports games get downloadable content added on a couple of months after their release, mainly because folks already spent so much money for the main product and now have to plunk down a few extra bucks for some more good stuff.  But that’s how business rolls for other games these days, so it’s not a big deal.  Plus, when it’s as good as NBA 2K12’s new Legends Showcase, you really see where the value adds up.

It’s a little annoying to see sports games get downloadable content added on a couple of months after their release, mainly because folks already spent so much money for the main product and now have to plunk down a few extra bucks for some more good stuff.  But that’s how business rolls for other games these days, so it’s not a big deal.  Plus, when it’s as good as NBA 2K12’s new Legends Showcase, you really see where the value adds up.

When developers put some effort into making an iPad game, some try to pull out all the stops and replicate the same kind of experience you’d get from a game console.  The Apple tablet is a respectable game machine, after all, especially if you’re playing something along the lines of Dead Space or the awesome Infinity Blade.  But sometimes you can try to pile on too much, and as a result, it mars the experience.  That’s exactly what happens with 2K Sports’ NBA 2K12.  The company shoots for a quality simulation, right up there with the console versions, but it comes up short in key areas.  It’s like the thrill of seeing someone go for a fast break and then miff the dunk at the end.