Great points! The funny thing.... A lot of gamers who've sworn by 2k are opting to play 2k9 and holding off on purchasing 2k10. I haven't purchased a sim basketball game since bulls vs blazers and was looking to get 2k10. But after purchasing the draft combine- I could stand to wait until a christmas price drop. It'll be hilarious if EA shocks the world and release live for 19.99.

Most of those aren't even reasons. "NHL 2K10." What about it? "MLB 2K8." What about it? In fact, even if you're suggesting that those games are generally bad, it says nothing about WHY you believe 2K Sports is a failing company.

If you put any thought into this blog, you'd see that NBA 2K team has about 80 people to EA's 300, they have a much smaller space, and they lack a lot of capital resources that EA has just on the virtue of being around longer (industry ties, absorbed companies, developing new technologies instead of getting it "second-hand"). It's like how NBA 2K got Image Metrics to do the player emotions, but that was only possible from having them work on Rockstar's GTA IV (same parent company).

So yeah, it's a small company with few releases. But your blog doesn't say how you know they're failing or why they are, if they are.

EA would never, and I mean never release any title as high profile as NBA for 20 bucks.... Decent points made in this blog, but I would refrain from calling them a failure. Well, at least I would not call them an absolute. Their are lots of developers of all sorts of games out there and EA is the giant. That is all it is. They have the resources, the revenue and the financial ability to excel in all of the areas you mention. You can look on any of the forums here on OS and see the disdain many have for EA. The anger is there for EA due to the quality, not the quantity. I would ask the question, what would you prefer, better marketing or better gameplay? 2k has to pool it resources somewhere IMO, and they are doing what they can with what they have got. None of us here have the inside insight as to what goes on over there, or at EA for that matter that would translate in to us understanding some of the things that may go on behind the scenes that the devs may not have final say on.....

This is his reasoning for 2K failing, Shinyhubcaps and I agree. By the time 2KSports started marketing NHL2K10, EA was practically done and ready to release the demo for NHL10. 2K fans or anyone else for that matter had little to nothing to go on, while EA had a demo out that was impressing more and more people. To top that off, there was no demo for NHL2K10, which only hurt the already floundering series even more. Now I can appreciate VC wanting to use those resources for putting as much effort into the game as possible, but it is disappointing when the game is still average really at best. I give VC props though, as they have done some very promising things with the NHL series in only a year and a half of total development time for two games.

However, I strongly believe if 2K Hockey and it's other sports games are gonna survive, they are gonna have to step up the marketing. Look at how EA marketed their NHL game this year. Blogs and man made videos showing off the improvements and features. That kind of marketing didn't not cost EA really at all and was very effective. 2K needs to follow suit and try it's best to match EA blow for blow. It doesn't take, but two people to make such a video. One if you have a tripod and a camcorder. Also, at all costs they have to release a demo, with default settings that make the game as "sim" as possible or at least close to.

One more reason 2K is failing is lack of post release support and developer interaction with the customers. Ea has really stepped it in this department over the last few years and they are winning the customer trust as a result.

2k may have a smaller team and less money than EA but 2k makes the best sports games and are beating EA in everything except NHL so how are they failing they could sell 2k7 with a 2k10 sticker on it and it would still be better than live 10.....EA sucks except for hockey and why are people bashing mlb 2k9 has anyone ever played mlb 09 damn that is the worst game ever

Are we sure they are failing? I know their sales are much less than EA...but so are the costs. Are they making a profit? If so, aren't they succeeding?

# 5 savoie2006 @ Sep 30 (12 Hours Ago) One more reason 2K is failing is lack of post release support and developer interaction with the customers. Ea has really stepped it in this department over the last few years and they are winning the customer trust as a result.

Have you even seen any of the EA message boards? I agree with you about them being ahead in the community interaction department. Unfortunately all the momentum gained pre-release to games like Madden has worn off.

Pre-release you could've sent a post to anyone on the development team and best believe that you would have a answer in 2 to 3 days. Now, they are quiet as church mice. They don't want to be accountable for their crappy video game or answer questions about why there are numerous glitches and buggy gameplay. The support that snow balled by having community interaction has turned to disdain because it seems like they are content either because they got our money or aren't man enough to man up and explain the things wrong with their product.

I believe that the giant wildcard in EAs pocket is the Madden series and the NFL liscense, its an absolute cash cow and without it EA would still be a Giant but it wouldn't put such a stranglehold on smaller companies like 2K because they could also profit off the NFL liscense and the huge amount of money it would generate for them.

EA would be in serious trouble if 2k could make games using the NFL liscense. EA realized this in 05 hence the buyout of the NFL liscense. Imagine the insane buzz for a game like Backbreaker if they could use the NFL liscense...it would be crazy. All we ask is that you respect the game and give us a product thats at least good as a game on ps2 5 years ago.

2ks failing dude where did you get your stats from? I here you talk about marketing , well put it like this lets say madden is Terrell Owens and lets say 2k is Andre Johnson. Early in his career T.O. was a beast, now along comes Andre ,while T.O. brags about what he can or use to do Andre just plays silently put up better stats and has a better all around game . Now you got T.O. dropping passing and being disruptive like the previous years when everyone thought this is the year when T.O. gets it right.

oronde2k4 you just fail in so many ways.

This is a thread/blog, whatever, but it's obvious stuff. 2K has more than sports games OP, but I would assume yes they are in trouble, you can't survive on a strong bball title alone, and I'm not hearing much about the few that have the game already the only buzz is among diehards liek me that need that new fix. Personally I bought the PC version and might get LIVE when it drops because LIVE's package is much more attractive although I give the gameplay once again to 2K.

2k was almost bought out a a year or so ago. Even EA is being looed into by microsoft, that would be bad, as a Ps3 user, but would make ea even stronger.

All games have flaws. it doesnt matter which company makes what.

The folks that say that 2k is failing are folks who are growing to familiar with their products. It's like going to Mcdonalds everyday and ignoring the Burger King across the street. At some point youll get tired of MCdonalds and cross the street and eat at Burger King.

thats the same thing happening here with these comments.
NBA 2k series has dominated for soo long without taking chances on a product that work. meanwhile the Live series has improved on their product the last 2 years. The mentality may just be "hmmm maybe its time to try something new.

Like any other great rivalry , there will always be constant back and forth struggle, with one company being slightly more financially dominate. years of gain and market share usually follows with a leveling off and decline. its back and forth.

Its like that in everything, gaming included.

All games have flaws. it doesnt matter which company makes what.

The folks that say that 2k is failing are folks who are growing to familiar with their products. It's like going to Mcdonalds everyday and ignoring the Burger King across the street. At some point youll get tired of MCdonalds and cross the street and eat at Burger King.

thats the same thing happening here with these comments.
NBA 2k series has dominated for soo long without taking any huge chances on a product that works. meanwhile the Live series has improved on their product the last 2 years. The mentality may just be "hmmm maybe its time to try something new.

Like any other great rivalry , there will always be constant back and forth struggle, with one company being slightly more financially dominate. years of gain and market share usually follows with a leveling off and decline. its back and forth.

Its like that in everything, gaming included.

^^^^ :nano: You have been around too long for that double post... But anyway.. This Blog is based totally on what you think failing is with no stats or proof to back it up...smh

2k did enough marketing bringing in kobe bryant as the conver guy enough said

man i really dont buy into this mike wang stuff whose to tell hes the one who didnt make 2k a sitting duck? the lead gameplay person or whatever he is didnt add much to the table

yeah live 2010 improved a lot it had too tho it was a freaking horrible game last year i mean me personally i liked the live demo but man those players looked like they had a lot of glossy oil on them or something.Good for 2k to get competition theres no way 2k is going anywhere