- To play the game, you need to proper platform to play it on. These two games have slightly different availabilities. "NBA Live 09" is available on the PlayStation 2, the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 and on various mobile devices (though the game play of this game lacks the features of the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions). "NBA 2K9" is playable on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and on PC. To play "NBA 2K9" on a PC, you need a video card with at least 128MB of memory.
- The big draw in both of these games is their online compatibilities. Throughout the NBA season, they will update via an Internet connection, making the game constantly change. In "NBA 2K9," there's the Living Roster feature, which automatically updates rosters throughout the season, reflecting any personnel changes, such as a trade. "NBA Live 09" has the Dynamic DNA system (unavailable on the PSP), which updates every player daily using complex and specific stats such as hot and cold spots and success percentage of certain types of plays from Synergy Sports, making digital players just like their real-life counterparts, right down to tendencies to dribble left and right.
- Each game brings its own selection of special game play features that help recreate the intricacies of basketball. "NBA Live 09" focuses its offensive efforts on the pick-and-roll play, allowing one person to control players as they run this classic play. Along with that, there's a button to run a player's signature play, based on his Dynamic DNA. On defense, there's the lockdown defense system, where the right controller stick is used to guess where an offensive player goes and keep them from scoring. Also, players have a chance to compete as their favorite country and earn the gold medal in the FIBA Tournament, with a selection of 24 countries to choose from.
- "NBA 2K9" also has its version of lockdown defense. Here, you lock onto a player you're defending by holding down a button, and then use the right stick to block the direction the offensive player will go. In "NBA 2K9," a player has an option to change a shot in the air, using the right stick to change, say, a dunk that will get blocked into a soft layup off the backboard. On the court, play is generally regarded to be more true-to-life and less buggy in "NBA 2K9" than it is in "NBA Live 09."
- In "NBA Live 09," the game is presented with announcers Marv Albert and Steve Kerr. Albert handles the play-by-play, and Kerr does color duty. The in-game soundtrack has hip-hop from the likes of Damian Marley, Kid Cudi and Flipsyde. In "2K9," your broadcast team is Kevin Harlan, Clark Kellogg and Cheryl Miller. Beyond that, "2K9" is integrated with ESPN and NBA.com, which makes it look like a game you would watch on television. After the game, there are even highlight reels for each player who played. The in-game music for "2K9" has a mix of indie rock and hip hop, with acts such as Santogold, the Beastie Boys and the Cool Kids.
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