It wasn't long ago when NBA Live was the go-to game for your basketball gaming experience on the Playstation platform. Just under a decade ago, 2K Sports rose to prominence by embracing a few simple but effective strategies.

First it was the incredibly cheap price; fans that were enjoying the usual top annual games were starting to shift to 2K Sports because of its budget-friendy cost and its subsequent rise in popularity.

But 2K Sports also emerged as an arcade-like series, whether it was the football, basketball, or baseball game. But that proved to be less effective with time and the series has since undergone a serious identity shift in recent years, especially in regards to the NBA 2K games. Players are pre-customized specifically to match skills, ability, and habits on the court. This has helped the game series become more credible, realistic, dominant, and competitive all at once. Although it is seen as just a video game, many gamers probably subconsciously consider it to be more of a simulator of what they watch live on television throughout the season. The reviews that have emerged since the NBA 2K14 was released have been overwhelmingly positive when discussing the gameplay and realism.

The game series has also built its brand by focusing heavily on some of the most popular and significant icons out there; this year that happens to be LeBron James. Already a household name in the United States and even other countries around the globe, LeBron is plastered on the cover of the video game and has a number of features within the game dedicated to his name.

2K Sports has not only focused heavily on certain brands and themes, but it also simply discards what doesn't work. The 2K football game, which rose to relevance in the mid 2000s, was hot for a period of time, but it was clear that no game would be challenging the dominant Madden series anytime soon. Here we are in 2013 and things have not changed in the slightest; Madden still dominates the football gaming experience.

2K Sports is no longer that cheap, arcade-like inferior option; instead it has become the go-to game series for hardcore and casual sports fans alike.