What is the current state of the online game "Street Basketball," which has been running for 21 years?

For the '80s and '90s generation, after going through the times of CS, PopKart, Red Alert, Empire, Audition, QQ Dance, MapleStory, QQ Three Kingdoms, Warcraft, Dota, and Fantasy, there were also sports competition games filling the gaps. Some liked playing single-player games like 2K and FIFA, others preferred PvP fighting styles! This inevitably brings to mind a game from back then called "Street Basketball," which has quietly lasted 21 years and still remains robust in operation! Although servers have merged over time, maintaining operations for so many years provides basketball game fans a place to gather, which is a beautiful legacy! Nowadays, with countless mobile games everywhere, even though Street Basketball has a mobile version, it seems the original PC version still holds the authentic feel and nostalgia of the early days!

I still remember playing Street Basketball back then, usually after getting tired of watching movies or playing other games, we would switch to it for a "relaxing moment"! Some enjoyed playing Center (C), controlling the rebounds with a sense of dominance; some loved shooting three-pointers, feeling the power behind those shots; others played Power Forward (PF) for the adrenaline rush of dunking wildly in the air; and some preferred Small Forward (SF) or Shooting Guard (SW) for the endless smooth moves! Besides the high-level matches, we often encountered all kinds of quirky moments we called RC — PF players would frequently attempt dunks only to get blocked or miss shots! The Guards (G) liked to go for assists but often got stopped! The "driver" players, usually PFs, always had dunking on their minds, loving the feeling of soaring even if blocked! Though it looks competitive, the game also involves some microtransactions — the more you spend, the stronger your abilities and skills get!

Returning to the game today, what is this 20-plus-year-old game like inside? The events are still happening as usual, with more and more activities, indicating that daily active users remain steady and that players are still willing to invest in these events! However, from the gameplay experience, it seems fewer people play now, frequently encountering AFK teams or AFK teammates! When teammates quit, they are replaced by AI, and sometimes it feels like playing against AI is better than playing with some teammates. Over time, what was once called "cheating" has now turned into official AI! Currently, the players left are probably mostly high-level gamers or groups of friends teaming up, making matches smoother and more enjoyable!

No matter what, this game is a nostalgic memory of youth. Revisiting it now with an old account feels truly amazing! Especially with that unique music, the dynamic sound effects and background tunes that instantly ignite passion! Even playing in free matches or against the computer offers a special experience! Particularly the longing for PF to F dunks — equipping Kobe for free dunks and soaring past opponents brings everything rushing back!