I don't even want to guess how long it took this guy to not only recreate the lineups of Jordan's hey-day, but also specific plays, right down to the camera angles.

Whatever the final tally in lost nights sleep/meals/friendships, though, as someone nostalgic for the "comic book" days of the NBA's Jordan era, it was totally worth it.

A number of people who bought copies of NBA 2K9 in stores were left frantically searching the packaging for Steam activation codes that had somehow not been shipped with the game. The PC version of the game is unplayable until it has been registered via Steam network.

After a somewhat heated debate on the 2K Games user forums (and after some users publicly recommended downloading a crack for the game) 2K issued the following statement via their website.

If you recently purchased the NBA 2K9 PC title in North America, 2K Sports is aware of the issues with the Product Keys and is working hard on a solution.

Check back here for answers by end of day today. We appreciate your patience.

(PC Version) Please respond to this, 2ksports —- What is with the Activation code!!! [2kSports Forums via Gamespot]

Indie Hip Hop chaps The Cool Kids are contributing an exclusive new track to the soundtrack of NBA 2K9, adding an exclusive cherry on to an already well-specced cake.

The track "2K Pennies" joins tracks by the Beastie Boys, Gnarls Barkley, Spank Rock and others. Tracks can be downloaded (in return for money, ya cheapskates) directly from 2K Sports.

Hit the jump for the full line-up...

(exclusives marked with **)

Blackwizard — Dem Nah Ready fe We

Blockhead — Duke Of Hazzard

Bloody Beetroots — Mac Mac

Dangerdoom — Sofa King

Dawn Penn — You Don’t Love Me (Extended Mix)

DJ Rasta Root — RootZilla Beez

DJ UNK — In Yo Face **

Gnarls Barkley — Going On

Jamalski — That Undaground (Remix) Blackwizard — Dem Nah Ready fe We

Blockhead — Duke Of Hazzard

Bloody Beetroots — Mac Mac

Dangerdoom — Sofa King

Dawn Penn — You Don’t Love Me (Extended Mix)

DJ Rasta Root — RootZilla Beez

DJ UNK — In Yo Face **

Gnarls Barkley — Going On

Jamalski — That Undaground (Remix)

Mochipet — Sharpdrest

Mommy and Daddy — Pretty Loser

Money Mark — Silly Putty

N.E.R.D. — Spaz

Nickodemus — Funky In The Middle

Santogold feat. Switch & Freq Nasty – Creator

Skeewiff — Light the Fuse

Spank Rock & Benny Blanco — Loose (inst.)

The Brand New Heavies — Jump ‘N’ Move

The Cool Kids — 2K Pennies **

The Heavy — Coleen

The Limp Twins — Moving Closer to The Sofa

The Meters — Cissy Strut

The Pharcyde — Passing Me By

Ursula 1000 — Step Back (Deekline & Ed Solo Remix)

Mochipet — Sharpdrest

Mommy and Daddy — Pretty Loser

Money Mark — Silly Putty Blackwizard — Dem Nah Ready fe We

Blockhead — Duke Of Hazzard

Bloody Beetroots — Mac Mac Blackwizard — Dem Nah Ready fe We

Blockhead — Duke Of Hazzard

Bloody Beetroots — Mac Mac

Dangerdoom — Sofa King

Dawn Penn — You Don’t Love Me (Extended Mix)

DJ Rasta Root — RootZilla Beez

DJ UNK — In Yo Face **

Gnarls Barkley — Going On

Jamalski — That Undaground (Remix)

Mochipet — Sharpdrest

Mommy and Daddy — Pretty Loser

Money Mark — Silly Putty

N.E.R.D. — Spaz

Nickodemus — Funky In The Middle

Santogold feat. Switch & Freq Nasty – Creator

Skeewiff — Light the Fuse

Spank Rock & Benny Blanco — Loose (inst.)

The Brand New Heavies — Jump ‘N’ Move

The Cool Kids — 2K Pennies **

The Heavy — Coleen

The Limp Twins — Moving Closer to The Sofa

The Meters — Cissy Strut

The Pharcyde — Passing Me By

Ursula 1000 — Step Back (Deekline & Ed Solo Remix)

Dangerdoom — Sofa King

Dawn Penn — You Don’t Love Me (Extended Mix)

DJ Rasta Root — RootZilla Beez

DJ UNK — In Yo Face **

Gnarls Barkley — Going On

Jamalski — That Undaground (Remix)

Mochipet — Sharpdrest

Mommy and Daddy — Pretty Loser

Money Mark — Silly Putty

N.E.R.D. — Spaz

Nickodemus — Funky In The Middle

Santogold feat. Switch & Freq Nasty – Creator

Skeewiff — Light the Fuse

Spank Rock & Benny Blanco — Loose (inst.) Blackwizard — Dem Nah Ready fe We

Blockhead — Duke Of Hazzard

Bloody Beetroots — Mac Mac

Dangerdoom — Sofa King

Dawn Penn — You Don’t Love Me (Extended Mix)

DJ Rasta Root — RootZilla Beez

DJ UNK — In Yo Face **

Gnarls Barkley — Going On

Jamalski — That Undaground (Remix)

Mochipet — Sharpdrest

Mommy and Daddy — Pretty Loser

Money Mark — Silly Putty

N.E.R.D. — Spaz

Nickodemus — Funky In The Middle

Santogold feat. Switch & Freq Nasty – Creator

Skeewiff — Light the Fuse

Spank Rock & Benny Blanco — Loose (inst.)

The Brand New Heavies — Jump ‘N’ Move

The Cool Kids — 2K Pennies **

The Heavy — Coleen

The Limp Twins — Moving Closer to The Sofa

The Meters — Cissy Strut

The Pharcyde — Passing Me By

Ursula 1000 — Step Back (Deekline & Ed Solo Remix)

The Brand New Heavies — Jump ‘N’ Move

The Cool Kids — 2K Pennies **

The Heavy — Coleen
Blackwizard — Dem Nah Ready fe We

Blockhead — Duke Of Hazzard

Bloody Beetroots — Mac Mac

Dangerdoom — Sofa King

Dawn Penn — You Don’t Love Me (Extended Mix)

DJ Rasta Root — RootZilla Beez

DJ UNK — In Yo Face **

Gnarls Barkley — Going On

Jamalski — That Undaground (Remix)

Mochipet — Sharpdrest

Mommy and Daddy — Pretty Loser

Money Mark — Silly Putty

N.E.R.D. — Spaz

Nickodemus — Funky In The Middle

Santogold feat. Switch & Freq Nasty – Creator

Skeewiff — Light the Fuse

Spank Rock & Benny Blanco — Loose (inst.)

The Brand New Heavies — Jump ‘N’ Move

The Cool Kids — 2K Pennies **

The Heavy — Coleen

The Limp Twins — Moving Closer to The Sofa

The Meters — Cissy Strut

The Pharcyde — Passing Me By

Ursula 1000 — Step Back (Deekline & Ed Solo Remix)
The Limp Twins — Moving Closer to The Sofa

The Meters — Cissy Strut

The Pharcyde — Passing Me By

Ursula 1000 — Step Back (Deekline & Ed Solo Remix)

N.E.R.D. — Spaz

Nickodemus — Funky In The Middle

Santogold feat. Switch & Freq Nasty – Creator

Skeewiff — Light the Fuse

Spank Rock & Benny Blanco — Loose (inst.)

The Brand New Heavies — Jump ‘N’ Move

The Cool Kids — 2K Pennies **

The Heavy — Coleen

The Limp Twins — Moving Closer to The Sofa

The Meters — Cissy Strut

The Pharcyde — Passing Me By

Ursula 1000 — Step Back (Deekline & Ed Solo Remix)

2K Sports Reveals New Soundtrack for NBA 2K9 [Game Info Wire]

NBA 2K9 will be hitting PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and PS2.

Just imagine your favorite player starts taking off, making a real name for themselves in the game. Kids on the playgrounds (they still have those, right?) start mimicking their moves, the team they're in becomes a showcase for their talents. The Living Roster system will allow 2K to deliver their moves into the game, changing as often as the whims of the hardcore basketball crowd. Of course some of us won't be satisfied until we get real-time facial hair growth, but it's a good start.

2K Sports Gets More Real with Living Rosters in NBA® 2K9

Fans will receive the most up-to-date player attributes, player tendencies, and unlockable animations

September 22, 2008 – 2K Sports today announced details on Living Rosters, an exciting new innovative online feature for this season’s highly anticipated basketball title, NBA 2K9. Living Rosters will ensure dedicated fans are playing with the most up-to-date and complete basketball experience ever available in the NBA 2K franchise. In addition to delivering constant updates to player ratings and player tendencies, Living Rosters will also offer exclusive access to unlockable animation packages for players in the game. When a player starts to heat up and takes his game to the next level on the real courts, new animation packages will unlock for that player in the video game. As the NBA season progresses, so will NBA 2K9, as players will have the ability to pull off new moves never seen before in the video game, adapt their offensive and defensive rotations, and shift starting lineups as they occur. If it happens during the regular NBA season, it will happen in NBA 2K9 thanks to Living Rosters.

When the Living Rosters feature is activated and a gamer signs in online, the game automatically checks for Living Roster updates in order to download the latest real-life player information in a seamless process behind the scenes. Gamers will have an option to either have Living Rosters automatically update their in-game roster information, or they can choose to download new roster data manually.

Once Living Rosters has successfully completed an update, NBA 2K9 fans can then review the different player and gameplay updates from the NBA 2K Insider – a real person working behind the scenes, pouring over the stats and spreadsheets, and who is ultimately responsible for the content and accuracy of the Living Rosters updates. However, the Insider’s job is much more than just crunching numbers - they will interact with the community and listen to roster update suggestions to determine what the fans really want in each update. The NBA 2K Insider’s analysis and commentary will be available in-game and on the 2K Sports website, www.2ksports.com.

“NBA 2K is where it’s AT! End of story,” said Garnett, who is currently playing in the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. “It’s the game I play, the game my friends play, and the game anyone in the league serious about videogames plays. NBA 2K is the real deal, and until 2K Sports find a way to plant an elbow in your chest, it’s the closest thing to actually being there on the court. I can’t tell you how pumped I am to be on the cover of NBA 2K9 – it’s a real honor. Now watch out! Because this fall 2K Sports and I are going to deliver the best basketball video game out there, period.“

OKAY! I get it. If I play any basketball game besides NBA 2K9 I am a total pussy.

Man, he's got some powerful advertising mojo right there. That's some old-school sports game hype. Hit the jump for the full press release, which Garnett completely carries...much like the Celtics.

2K Sports Announces Superstar Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics as Cover Athlete for NBA® 2K9

The most popular and top-rated basketball game seven years in a row* gets even better this year

New York, NY – June 6, 2008 – 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced that 11-time NBA All-Star and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics will be featured as the cover athlete and spokesman for this year’s most highly anticipated basketball video game, NBA 2K9. After leading the Boston Celtics to the greatest single-season turnaround in NBA franchise history, Garnett will lend his unmatched passion and on-court intensity to provide dedicated fans with the most fun and riveting basketball simulation experience available.

“NBA 2K is where it’s AT! End of story,” said Garnett, who is currently playing in the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. “It’s the game I play, the game my friends play, and the game anyone in the league serious about videogames plays. NBA 2K is the real deal, and until 2K Sports find a way to plant an elbow in your chest, it’s the closest thing to actually being there on the court. I can’t tell you how pumped I am to be on the cover of NBA 2K9 – it’s a real honor. Now watch out! Because this fall 2K Sports and I are going to deliver the best basketball video game out there, period.“

Garnett was drafted out of high school in 1995 from Farragut Academy (IL) and has redefined the forward position as one of the most talented and versatile players in NBA history. Known to fans by nicknames such as “The Kid”, “The Big Ticket”, or “KG”, Garnett is the only player in NBA history to average at least 20 points, ten rebounds, and five assists per game for six consecutive seasons. He has also been voted MVP (2003-04); named to 11 All-Star teams, nine All-NBA Teams and nine NBA All-Defensive Teams; and, this past season, named NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

“Kevin Garnett is one of the most popular and skilled players in the NBA today, and he represents everything we love about basketball. He’s a charismatic leader who is truly passionate about the game, and plays his heart out every time he steps on the court,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “With KG’s ongoing support and invaluable input during the development process of NBA 2K9, dedicated 2K Sports fans will be treated to a host of exciting new gameplay features and upgrades this year for an even deeper and more realistic basketball experience than ever before.”

Developed by 2K Sports’ Visual Concepts studio, NBA 2K9 is not yet rated by the ESRB and will be available this fall for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. For more information, please visit www.2ksports.com.

NBA 2K9 taps KG for cover [GameSpot]

The 30 second spot will air sometime after the start of the Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers 8:30 p.m. ET game on ABC.

There was a time when cover athletes for sports titles were a big deal, but they don't seem to get as much buzz as they used to. Maybe it's me, and I'm not a sports fan really, but do people who play sports video games really care who's on the cover of the title they're going to by? More importantly, if you buy sports games, has it ever effected your decision?

Either way, if you're into sports games you should probably hop over to the official 2K site and try to predict who the cover athlete will be. If you get it right you could win a copy of the game as well as the athlete's autographed NBA jersey.

Tune in Tomorrow for the Revealing of the Cover Athlete for 2K Sports’ NBA® 2K9 during the NBA Pre-Game Show at 8:30 pm ET on ABC

June 4, 2008 – Tomorrow, 2K Sports will reveal the cover athlete for the highly anticipated basketball video game, NBA 2K9, in a 30 second TV spot scheduled to air during the NBA Countdown pre-game show for Game One of the 2008 NBA Finals, Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers, June 5th at 8:30 pm ET on ABC.

As part of revealing the new cover athlete, 2K Sports has launched a new community web site, www.2ksports.com/nba2k9, where registered participants can predict the cover athlete for NBA 2K9 from a selection of 16 NBA players. Fans have until 11:59 p.m. ET tonight to make their predictions, and participants who select correctly will be entered into a special drawing for the opportunity to win exclusive prizes. One grand prize winner will receive the NBA 2K9 cover athlete’s authentic, autographed NBA jersey, along with a copy of NBA 2K9 on the platform of their choice. Ten other first prize winners will also receive a copy of NBA 2K9. All winners will receive their copy of NBA 2K9 upon release of the game.

NBA 2K9, which is being developed by Visual Concepts, is not yet rated by the ESRB and will be available this fall for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. For more information, please visit www.2ksports.com.