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Reference Games
Reference material for contributors who want to match the look, feel and pacing of the game NtBA is inspired by. This page holds links, our own notes and a small set of reference screenshots. The screenshots are copyrighted by EA and kept for reference only; nothing here may be copied into the game (the project's rule is own everything). Prefer linking to further screenshots over adding more, and put your own measurements and observations in notes.
- TV Sports: Basketball (Cinemaware, 1990) — the graphics-fidelity target and the source of the multi-camera idea (side view for backcourt/transition, end-on view for half-court and free throws). Also has create-a-player, a desk presenter and mock commercials (wishlist, far future). Notes: Visual Notes.
- Bulls versus Blazers and the NBA Playoffs (Electronic Arts, 1992) — the later EA game, as identified by the project owner (not independently verified): floor/sprite/HUD look; screenshot in Reference Screenshots.
- images — reference-only screenshots of the DOS and Genesis versions (copyrighted by EA, not GPL, not for use as assets — see the README in that folder).
- Visual Notes — what the original looks like and how NtBA compares.
- Genesis Manual Notes — controls, rules and options from the manual.
- Wikipedia — overview, releases, reception: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakers_versus_Celtics_and_the_NBA_Playoffs
- MobyGames — DOS and Genesis releases, with a screenshots tab: https://www.mobygames.com/game/614 (DOS: https://mobygames.com/game/dos/lakers-versus-celtics-and-the-nba-playoffs)
- Compute! magazine review (issue 117) — rules, controls, sound criticism: https://atarimagazines.com/compute/issue117/pp104_reviews_LAKERS_VERSUS_CELTICS_AND_THE_NBA_PLAYOFFS.php
- Genesis US manual (controls, rules, options): https://segaretro.org/images/1/1d/Lakers_Vs_Celtics_MD_US_Manual.pdf — our summary is in Genesis Manual Notes
- Lilura1 — blog post on the 1989 IBM PC / MS-DOS version (screenshot collage: title, stats screens, gameplay): https://lilura1.blogspot.com/2022/04/Lakers-versus-Celtics-NBA-Playoffs-IBM-PC-MS-DOS-1989-Electronic-Arts.html (not yet summarised here — the page could not be fetched from the build environment)
- Giant Bomb — game page: https://giantbomb.com/wiki/Games/Lakers_vs_Celtics_and_the_NBA_Playoffs
- Sega Retro (Genesis version): https://segaretro.org/700401
- SEGADoes — Genesis write-up: https://segadoes.com/2017/12/06/lakers-versus-celtics-and-the-nba-playoffs/
- Electronic Arts, MS-DOS in 1989, Sega Genesis in 1990 (Genesis uses 1990 playoff rosters).
- First NBA-endorsed game and one of the first to feature multiple real stars and teams.
- Eight playoff teams plus two All-Star teams.
- TV-style starting-lineup introduction before the opening tip; playoff mode with an in-studio halftime show of other playoff results.
- Official rules: 24-second shot clock, 10-second backcourt, 5-second inbound, overtime, travelling, offensive/defensive fouls, out of bounds.
- Offence: dribble in any direction, pass, pump-fake, shoot. The 1989 review criticised weak sound and the lack of crowd noise — NtBA can do better.
Add observations as new wiki pages, e.g. Palette Notes (colour counts, court-line colours), Camera Notes (perspective, sprite heights relative to court) or Pacing Notes (how long a possession takes). Always cite where a fact comes from.