Beyond updated rosters and slightly better looking character models, 2K Sports seems to have more in store for this year's installment to the hardcourt action in NBA 2K8. Here's 2K Sports vice president of sports development Jeff Thomas giving us a skinny on what NBA 2K8 (PS3, Xbox 360) will be coming with.

A feature which used to be available through download now comes packed with the game, allowing players to customize what they want to see during post-game. This time 'round, you don't just get to play as your NBA star - you also get to make stars out of them with NBA 2K8's Reel Maker.

Online play received some nifty tweaks, like the inclusion of real-time ticker which tells you real world time, and the ability to jump from one game to another or send challenges while racking some points.

Thomas says all that plus more, along with sweet gameplay footage in the NBA 2K8 video below.

Buy: [NBA 2K8 (PS3)]
Buy: [NBA 2K8 (Xbox 360)]

The NBA 2K series created by 2K Sports is today's most critically acclaimed hoop simulation franchise by virtue of its good looks,  true-to-life gameplay, and funky beats. Its latest iteration, NBA 2K8 (Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360) continues that tradition of infectious tunes, but this time around it carries a more poignant spirit.

The soundtrack features tunes where fallen producer J Dilla collaborates with some of today's bright young talents. Common, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, and Madlib all share their trademark vocals to keep J Dilla's musical spirit alive and well in the game's cacophony.

"J Dilla was one of the industry's greatest talents," said Q-Tip. "This recording is reflective of his legacy and of the wonderful body of work that he left behind."

Other stars also took the time to take part in the musical extravaganza, making way for a nice mix of old and new-school tunes that will set the perfect mood for basketball fun. Run DMC is in the house, so feel free to go crazy.

This is the complete track list of NBA 2K8:

• J Dilla feat. Q-Tip & Talib Kweli "Lightworks"
  
• J Dilla feat. Common "E=MC2
• Run-DMC "Sucka MC's"
  
• Stone Roses "Fool's Gold"
  
• Breakestra "Getcho Soul Together Pt. 2"
  
• Fishbone "Skankin to the Beat"
  
• Tommy Guerrero "Molotov Telegram"
  
• Percee P "Throwback Rap Attack"
  
• Quasimoto "Chrome Dreams"
  
• Devo "Through Being Cool"
  
• Quantic "When You're Through"
  
• J. Rocc "Cold Heat Megamix"
• Cut Chemist "Bunky's Pick"
  
• Billy Ball & The Upsetters "Tighten Up Tighter"
• The Highlighters Band "Funky 16 Corners"
  
• A Guy Called Gerald "Hurry to Go Easy"
  
• Sonic Trip "Energy Play"
  
• Baron Zen "Turn Around (Peanut Butter Wolf Instrumental Mix)"
  
• Finley Quaye "Ultra Stimulation"
  
• G-Love & Special Sauce "Shooting Hoops"
  
• Ernie & The Topnotes "Dap Walk"
• The Fabulous Jades "Cold Heat"
  

Buy: [NBA 2K8 (PS3)]
Buy: [NBA 2K8 (Xbox 360)]

Okay, sports fans, turn on your Xbox 360s and check out the demo for 2K Sports' NBA 2K8 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360). The 325.23 MB demo is available for free in all Xbox Live regions. The full version of the game is scheduled for release early next month.

Some of the new stuff that gamers can expect in this latest iteration are revamped graphics, a host of online options, customizable signature moves and better control. NBA 2K8 will also feature the addition of a Slam Dunk Contest hosted by DJ Robert "Bobbito" Garcia.

In other Xbox Live news, Geon: Emotions is also now available for 800 MS Points. It features a single player mode as well as Live and local multiplayer, both supporting up to four people. Geon: Emotions is not available in Japan and Korea.

Buy: [NBA 2K8 (PS3)]
Buy: [NBA 2K8 (Xbox 360)]

2K Sports just gave word to CVG that NBA 2K8 (Xbox 360, PS3) will run at 60 fps on both PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. Many would recall Electronic Arts' latest Madden very vividly, as this year's Madden NFL '08 on Sony's console was sluggish at 30 fps compared to the Xbox 360 that ran the game at twice the framerate.

EA Sports explained that developers are yet to familiarize themselves with the PS3, resulting in less quality of games for the console, as opposed to the 360 which developers have been working on for three and a half years. 2K Sports PR Manager Anthony Chau, however, confirmed that NBA 2K8 will run at 60 fps on both machines.

"It's pretty tough on PS3 but I think it's because most developers have had the Xbox 360 longer in terms of development than the PS3," the 2K representative said, recognizing EA's woes.

We're sure you've seen the dunk contest walkthrough video earlier. If you liked it, then we're sure you're going to like this NBA 2K8 update as well. We've got a batch of screenshots for the upcoming video game from 2K Sports.

Thanks to a tip from Geo, we found a bunch of eye candy over at Gamers-Creed. The screenshots - pretty much NBA 2K8, too - is still stamped with a "work in progress" watermark so it's quite unsafe to comment about it right now. We'll venture to say that it's looking good, though. Anyway, the screenshots showcase some scenes from the Dunk Contest, plus some stills of gameplay.

With cover boy Chris Paul leading the pack, how will NBA 2K8 (PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360) fare in the shelves? We'll find out soon enough come fall of this year so better watch out for that. In the meantime, check out the screenshots.

Thanks again to Geo for the tip!

More NBA 2K8 screenshots right after the jump!

In case you've been waiting up for more details to emerge for 2K Sport's upcoming NBA 2K8 game (PS3, Xbox 360, PS3), we've got something for you. We've just gotten our hands on what appears to be our first gameplay video here, and it should give the fans an idea of how game's looking. In a word: smooth.

This video will feature the new Dunk Contest mode, and will also feature a tutorial hosted by the game devs. Head on over to the video embedded below if you're up to listening in - the tips could prove handy when the game gets prepped for release this Fall.

2K Sports has announced that it will be conducting the first nighttime, outdoor motion capture event for their upcoming title NBA 2K8 (PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360) today in New York City at Harlem's well-known Rucker Park.

The event will be co-hosted by the Entertainers Basketball Classic (EBC) and NBA 2K8's cover athlete Chris Paul, as well as other NBA stars such as Andre Iguodala, Gerald Green, Gerald Wallace and Rudy Gay. These athletes' moves will be recorded for inclusion in NBA 2K7.

"Our talented motion capture team can adapt to almost any environment," said Greg Thomas, President of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. "With our advanced motion capture technology, we're delivering the next generation level of realism to our sports titles and to have a motion capture shoot conducted at a real basketball venue adds even more authenticity to our game."

NBA 2K8 is slated for release this fall.

We know next to nil about 2K Sports' next basketball video game, NBA 2K8, but we did get news as to who will grace its cover. It was just announced that 2006 Rookie of the Year, Chris Paul will be the upcoming video game's cover boy.

If you've been living under a rock, Chris Paul is a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and he's currently playing for the New Orleans Hornets. He got the most votes for the Rookie of the Year award, a whopping 124 out of 125 votes. Paul is expected to play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics with Team USA. Aside from being an exemplary baller, Paul is also a gamer.

He had this to say about being on the cover:

It's a great honor to be a part of the best NBA video game title, let alone the guy on the cover. 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.

NBA 2K8 will be featuring an improved Signature Style feature and a lot more animation than its predecessors. We'll keep you posted on more news and info regarding the title so keep checking back.