If you've ever wanted to play international hoops in a video game but couldn't find one that will offer such a thing, then worry no more. NBA Live 08 (also coming to the Xbox 360, Wii and PC) just sealed a licensing deal with world basketball governing body FIBA and international teams will be included in the mix.

The Play Now mode allows you to pit the world's best teams against any ballclub in the NBA, while the FIBA mode will have you battling it out in an 8-team tournament to determine which national squad has the right to be called world champions. This means you can take it to the rack using Manu Ginobili while Spurs teammate Tim Duncan tries to stop you. Can T-Mac shoot fadeaways over Yao Ming? We'll find out soon.

2006 World Championship winners Spain led by Memphis Grizzlies star Pau Gasal will be there as well as runners up Greece and USA, as well as France, Germany, Italy, Argentina and China.

The announcement adds to the already stellar list of new features such as the Go-To basketball gameplay, deep customization and management. Combine that with the trademark quality graphics and sound and the NBA Live dynasty just might go on well into the new age of digital sports.

  

More than a decade after its rookie season, NBA Live is still the most internationally recognizable franchise when you talk about digital hoops. It may have taken a seat on the bench with its last few iterations but EA Sports is hoping to transform the next-gen era into another dynasty for the series.

The developers have given the game its new and improved look but more than aesthetics, they're placing the premium on gameplay factors. In the thick of things is NBA Live 08's Go-To Basketball system which allows players to play as realistically as possible by knowing the strengths of their particular ballers. If you love shakin' and bakin' as you drive to the lane, you'll be interested in one of the four elements of Go-To: The Quick-Strike ball handling system.

Quick-Strike takes a page out of the NBA Street brand and incorporates it with the freestyle dribbling game of past NBA Live incarnations. Where the freestyle controls allowed you to break ankles by chaining insane maneuvers with the right analog stick, Quick-Strike makes it all intuitive by toning down the more unrealistic stuff and giving players the moves that you'll see them do in the actual game. That means you'll still get the Nash first step but you'll hardly see a Yao Ming cross-over to keep it all real.

Perhaps the best thing about Quick-Strike is the emphasis on hesitation which makes it easy for you to break out of dribble moves like a pro. This means passing can easily be incorporated into your dribbling repertoire without fumbling a lot. With this system, you can distract your defender with a flashy move while waiting for a forward to set a pick. After that, you can choose to either shoot, drive or pass. Textbook execution.

   

Those of you who love to gut it out on the defensive end need not worry. Offensive players may have all the playground moves, but you'll have a risk and reward system that pays off if you're good at anticipating plays. Like in real basketball, you may either play a man loose or aggressive depending on the degree of necessity. Be careful, however, as the decisions you make can either set your man loose or send him to the line.

Overall, the Quick-Strike system looks very promising as it brings you closer to an age in the league where point guards are dominating the sport. Sneaker-squeaking action is right around the corner.