ISSUE #001 - MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS
BADGES, DEFENSE & GAME REVAMP THEORY
The defense in NBA 2K runs the offense meaning, you are locked into animations in real time based on the defenders place on the floor. This of course is in correlation to the defensive badges in the game that stack. A player with a wingspan and a bronze blocking badge can swat anything you do with gold level slashing badges. Not to say this applies to every one build in the game but, it is undeniable that bronze badges can be stacked on taller players and cause this separation. If someone works harder than you did, to obtain a higher level badge, why do they have to second guess themselves? This creates a very unique argument that we haven't seen in the earlier years. 2K has accepted the role of not having it's own lane; it could excel, but chooses to be a hub versus one or the other, is it arcade or simulation? The game suffers from identity crisis causing it to switch from year to year.
What is seen by some as diverse and open ended seems very nip tuck and forced to me. It claims to be a simulation title and an rpg
but as you dig deeper, you realize you are to follow the meta that is the character creator: in order to do well when it comes to the online portion of their game. This eliminates freedom of choice, because if you don't have at least a few stats in defense, passing, etc, you end up in games where you commit 20-30 turnovers by the time the fourth quarter finally ends. You have this gap, where creating certain builds no matter how high their stats or badges are they can still be completely in-effective. There are badges in each category that stack to the point of completely disabling the ability of certain builds, even on the lowest level: Bronze. The meta was formed because low level badges have more effect on a player's ability than they probably should. What if the lower badges were obviously, less effective, and the higher ones held more value because of that? If only the elite players had the elite abilities? These badges add brand new animations and make your player do things that are insane. That's awesome but not on a beginner's level. Does it make sense for a character who has no stats in a category being able to do things they shouldn't be able to? A 70-75 rating is not high or consistent so when you add a few bronze badges and they start to do well in all fields of their game, there is no reason to be a pure build or create something fun or somehow unique. So the more 2K seems to branch out, the more it seems to become an issue. They need an identity and I've said that for years. Simulation, or Arcade; With that choice, inevitably will come consistency. 2K isn't NBA JAM, or NBA STREET, so them being undecided here has always confused me. I am not sour about my experience with the game as much as I am just concerned for people in similar situations and speaking for those that don't. I know that I cannot speak for all, just my point of view. I create a build and stick with it every year and watch the meta of the character creator form around me. A majority of this observation ends up with me being extremely unusable some days. This makes me not want to play as much and I love basketball. Not being able to make a simple pass with 90+ ratings will break any team focused person's spirit. I'm not dismissing these issues because they did in fact return this year. Pass interceptions were upscaled again or somehow ignored. They claim this is to follow the league closely but it went completely under people's nose's when they realized they could make a player who can do it all this year. The 3-4 way player came out and everyone missed the finer details. Issues that everyone complained about are back, but because the player creator shifted, the natural biased opinion is dominate once again. Hey, that's cool, you're entitled to your opinions, but I have also had my own experience. There is a longgg list of issues returning, even the REC center's matchmaking feels like a previous year, where you're forced in there with 3 guards while the other team is space jam heights and it's miserable sometimes. As I really dissect it, I'm starting to believe that old versions of 2K being reskinned is in fact our reality.
What is seen by some as diverse and open ended seems very nip tuck and forced to me. It claims to be a simulation title and an rpg
but as you dig deeper, you realize you are to follow the meta that is the character creator: in order to do well when it comes to the online portion of their game. This eliminates freedom of choice, because if you don't have at least a few stats in defense, passing, etc, you end up in games where you commit 20-30 turnovers by the time the fourth quarter finally ends. You have this gap, where creating certain builds no matter how high their stats or badges are they can still be completely in-effective. There are badges in each category that stack to the point of completely disabling the ability of certain builds, even on the lowest level: Bronze. The meta was formed because low level badges have more effect on a player's ability than they probably should. What if the lower badges were obviously, less effective, and the higher ones held more value because of that? If only the elite players had the elite abilities? These badges add brand new animations and make your player do things that are insane. That's awesome but not on a beginner's level. Does it make sense for a character who has no stats in a category being able to do things they shouldn't be able to? A 70-75 rating is not high or consistent so when you add a few bronze badges and they start to do well in all fields of their game, there is no reason to be a pure build or create something fun or somehow unique. So the more 2K seems to branch out, the more it seems to become an issue. They need an identity and I've said that for years. Simulation, or Arcade; With that choice, inevitably will come consistency. 2K isn't NBA JAM, or NBA STREET, so them being undecided here has always confused me. I am not sour about my experience with the game as much as I am just concerned for people in similar situations and speaking for those that don't. I know that I cannot speak for all, just my point of view. I create a build and stick with it every year and watch the meta of the character creator form around me. A majority of this observation ends up with me being extremely unusable some days. This makes me not want to play as much and I love basketball. Not being able to make a simple pass with 90+ ratings will break any team focused person's spirit. I'm not dismissing these issues because they did in fact return this year. Pass interceptions were upscaled again or somehow ignored. They claim this is to follow the league closely but it went completely under people's nose's when they realized they could make a player who can do it all this year. The 3-4 way player came out and everyone missed the finer details. Issues that everyone complained about are back, but because the player creator shifted, the natural biased opinion is dominate once again. Hey, that's cool, you're entitled to your opinions, but I have also had my own experience. There is a longgg list of issues returning, even the REC center's matchmaking feels like a previous year, where you're forced in there with 3 guards while the other team is space jam heights and it's miserable sometimes. As I really dissect it, I'm starting to believe that old versions of 2K being reskinned is in fact our reality.
THE REC, PLAYGROUND & WALLETS
Now when it comes to Triple A Sports Titles, Advertisements and Sponsors are expected. Not since NBA 2K however, have I seen it
stagger gameplay to a noticable level. These sales started off small, hardly even noticed as you walked through the newly developed neighborhood. The town was great! At first. The In-Game Economy has slowy gone up over the years. Virtual Currency hardly holds any weight. Items in the clothing store sell for 10,000 VC now! On top of this, you are encouraged to purchase Gatorade Boosts to "Keep Your Stamina Up" and General Boosts to make your stats efficient. Well hold on now, didn't we just talk about how certain builds fail to keep up? Yeah, we actually did mention that before. I've tried to be on 2K's side and vouch for the positive efforts they put up but lately, I can't even afford to play the game! These things go hand in hand so well, it almost seems planned doesn't it? MyPlayer struggles, they are conveniently selling Boosts for all the things that are wrong if I don't make a certain build? In the years before there was actually an argument that 2K had ground to stand on. Yeah, but it's not huge hit, you don't have to spend that money if you don't want to, was basically what they said. This year however, before I got the insanely hard to obtain Gym Rat Badge, My 95 Overall and rising Shooting Guard was completely winded. All the time! I still notice the impact of Gatorde to the MyPlayer even with the help. You can see the Gatorade added to the front of your Stamina meter added in blue. It is there from the start of the game though! Not in the second quarter or halftime, you're always in trouble. I can't shake the feeling that something is up with the business practices in this company. As much as I love their cause, and what they do for communities in need, come on man. I tried to hop into MyTeam this year only to be greeted by a feature called Contracts where you have to re-up, and of course there's an option to buy more contracts? Major Sad Face.
stagger gameplay to a noticable level. These sales started off small, hardly even noticed as you walked through the newly developed neighborhood. The town was great! At first. The In-Game Economy has slowy gone up over the years. Virtual Currency hardly holds any weight. Items in the clothing store sell for 10,000 VC now! On top of this, you are encouraged to purchase Gatorade Boosts to "Keep Your Stamina Up" and General Boosts to make your stats efficient. Well hold on now, didn't we just talk about how certain builds fail to keep up? Yeah, we actually did mention that before. I've tried to be on 2K's side and vouch for the positive efforts they put up but lately, I can't even afford to play the game! These things go hand in hand so well, it almost seems planned doesn't it? MyPlayer struggles, they are conveniently selling Boosts for all the things that are wrong if I don't make a certain build? In the years before there was actually an argument that 2K had ground to stand on. Yeah, but it's not huge hit, you don't have to spend that money if you don't want to, was basically what they said. This year however, before I got the insanely hard to obtain Gym Rat Badge, My 95 Overall and rising Shooting Guard was completely winded. All the time! I still notice the impact of Gatorde to the MyPlayer even with the help. You can see the Gatorade added to the front of your Stamina meter added in blue. It is there from the start of the game though! Not in the second quarter or halftime, you're always in trouble. I can't shake the feeling that something is up with the business practices in this company. As much as I love their cause, and what they do for communities in need, come on man. I tried to hop into MyTeam this year only to be greeted by a feature called Contracts where you have to re-up, and of course there's an option to buy more contracts? Major Sad Face.
IN CLOSING
I love the Training Facility,
That's always been a good feature. The community events and days are pretty fun, but it would be nice to see some more matchmaking in certain places. Sitting on spots is tired this year. The Playground Caters to Groups of friends and one court for people playing alone isn't enough. I don't think I can even argue about the issues that were fixed constantly returning anymore, the team seems to have their focuses elsewhere. So, Yeah, NBA 2K20 is good on paper and honestly, it's a pleasure to look at, but it fell short with just about everything else for me this year. With the numerous changes in the In-Game Economy and the Rise in the initial Price for the game itself, also adding the need for buying In-Game Boosts.. I'm just not as excited about this franchise as I used to be. I don't know if I can pick this up knowing what I know. I hope they make some changes and I can get back on board but if I ever do end up picking up 2K21 it will be to play with friends and I will only buy the game used and cheap because I fully expect to be paying out of wallet from now on.
Thanks for reading, CrashTones.
That's always been a good feature. The community events and days are pretty fun, but it would be nice to see some more matchmaking in certain places. Sitting on spots is tired this year. The Playground Caters to Groups of friends and one court for people playing alone isn't enough. I don't think I can even argue about the issues that were fixed constantly returning anymore, the team seems to have their focuses elsewhere. So, Yeah, NBA 2K20 is good on paper and honestly, it's a pleasure to look at, but it fell short with just about everything else for me this year. With the numerous changes in the In-Game Economy and the Rise in the initial Price for the game itself, also adding the need for buying In-Game Boosts.. I'm just not as excited about this franchise as I used to be. I don't know if I can pick this up knowing what I know. I hope they make some changes and I can get back on board but if I ever do end up picking up 2K21 it will be to play with friends and I will only buy the game used and cheap because I fully expect to be paying out of wallet from now on.
Thanks for reading, CrashTones.