The internet-enabled console age has been very, very good to sports gamers. Take 2K Sports’ upcoming basketball title, NBA 2K9. They’ve just announced a Living Rosters feature for the title that will enable the game to download up-to-date statistics, player ratings, and player behaviours as the NBA season progresses. Nothing new, sure, but when you take into account the fact that they’ll be releasing special animations for key players who breakout during the season you get something extremely close to awesome.

Just imagine your favourite 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.