NBA 2K Is the Champ

[scottyp180]

gotta add that this article is exactly why I love the 2k franchise. most of the yearly updates are to please the fans and not the "just because" changes Chase talks about. 2k actually listens to the fans on the 2k and OS forums. They take advice from people like DaCzar who knows basketball and knows what the game needs to become better. gameplay is refined to make a better game not to add a gimmick to say "hey look what we changed/added this year. Buy our game!" The Legends is the closest thing to a gimmick since the Shot Stick (which I think was a great innovation) and even the Legends is something that die hard basketball fans have wanted for years. After reading this I honestly feel like going and paying off my reserve for the game right now lol.

[Steven123]

I miss NFL 2k

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pared

People just don't realize that you would lose quality in those games. The major players would be stretched thin. Maybe not by much, but you're getting the "holy grail" because those games aren't around.

It's something worth considering. I know Mr. SimBaller was the lead tester on NFL 2K5 way back when. I can't remember when he moved over to NBA 2K, but it's an interesting nugget that I still remember reading in my NFL 2K5 game manual.

[JayMizzle]

Great article...now bring back football!!!

[Kanobi]

This is why I can not wait until the NFL License is back on the free market to all devs and publishers. NFL2k will make a huge return

[Money99]

Great article Chase.
Like you stated, this game oozes so much authenticity that it has me, a completely non-basketball fan, dying to get his hands on it.

[btrapp]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pared

People just don't realize that you would lose quality in those games. The major players would be stretched thin. Maybe not by much, but you're getting the "holy grail" because those games aren't around.

while this may have some truth to it, 2k sports has already proven they can make multiple great games when they have the opportunity. Honestly, when you look at the size of the nba live team, it's not like 2k has some sort of advantage in terms of personnel. They simply make better basketball games.
I think your assuming that other sports game teams (like the elite/live team) don't have the pleasure of working on their game exclusively when they do. The truth is, they had just as much opportunity to work on their game as 2k did. I seriously don't think that the nba live/elite team was hampered by working on other games because they don't. They just aren't that good.

[Pared]

I don't think you understood my point.

The important individuals aren't being asked to double dip. They are focused solely on basketball.

This wasn't the case in the past. How EA or other companies handled their teams has nothing to do with my point.

[EmmittSmithx22x]

I can't believe how naive I was back then... EA Got my money every year for Madden and NBA Live like clock work. But because you could do online leagues in NBA 2K7 and couldn't do it for NBA Live....at that point I decided to "take a chance" on a sports game/developer I didn't know much about besides word of mouth.

From that day forward... 2K opened my eyes. Not to the fact that you can get a quality gaming experience that improves year after year (at this point Live was on the decline in my opinion). But How competition is a beautiful thing. After playing NBA 2k7... I decided right then and there...no company shall ever have my money year after year unless they prove to me they can earn it. But 2k has continued to prove they can not only earn it...but get me naturally excited for a game way in advance of its release. The stuff they have released about my player this year before it drops.... simply amazing. I am a sports fan big time. I love RPGs as well as a gamer....and they basically come out and tell me not only is My player 1000x better than 2k11's (which was pretty great in my opinion) but they made it like a basketball RPG?!?!?! They combined my 2 most favorite things to do on a console....

I love Online leagues still... i participate in them regularly... but I can honestly say. The main reason I am getting 2K this year day one is because of My Player. I would love for the online leagues to kick *** (which to 2k's credit it could very well be improved over last year...and if they fixed the server issues that's all they would have to do to make m happy...)...but if the servers are still a problem... I can shrug off online game play all together... play my player for 15 years... retire.... and have my retirement speech at the end of that career.

What I have noticed is even if 2k has problems from year to year in certain areas, they still find a way to make something stand out every year to make the game worth my time. Last year I was introduced to a very detailed and rich my player mode. The year before that Online play seemed balanced very well and certain cheesy things could now be stopped, making online more enjoyable.

After saying all this...I still can't help but wonder... What if 2K was able to make an NFL football game? And this is why I say I love competition because in a perfect world.. Where 2k could "compete" with Madden... Everyone would win! Both games would challenge each other to be greater than they are. Who knows where football gaming would be right now!? But then... I come back to reality where EA is still EA...their only focus is not to please their fans. Its to find the cheapest, and quickest way to make a buck.

Sorry for the long winded tirade of mine... lol

[GoGo13]

Been on the 2K bandwagon since 2K1 on the Dreamcast, which during its time, like now, OWNED Live. 2K has always felt like it was a year or two ahead of Live. Truthfully, Live was only good during the SNES days. Now all we need is for NFL 2K to get back in the game after EA's deal with the NFL expires so I can relive those Dreamcast days as well.

So when does EA's deal with the NFL expire??

The devs for Live/Elite are too busy playing 2K to make a new game