Has NBA 2K forgotten about its core Online Sim Head to Head gamers? - DaBoyBk's Blog

DaBoyBk's Blog

Has NBA 2K forgotten about its core Online Sim Head to Head gamers?

Posted on October 3, 2014 at 08:09 PM.

(13)

Let me begin by introducing myself, I'm OVzBaCK a veteran in Online Sim leagues and an avid Sim Gamer. I represent an Online Community committed to Online Gaming and competitive Simulation (SimNation) basketball to the fullest. Many guys here at Operation Sports, 2K Sports, The Editors Corner, etc. are sim gamers as myself, so when speaking I do so for them. We appreciate the new game features implemented year after year but we've felt left out lately in regards to Online play. Many of us are strictly Online gamers who just like to play head to head and compete in Ranked Matches for the top spot on the Leaderboards. There's a few features we've been stripped of or things that can be included to make for a better overall experience. Some of those are the ability to save Playbooks Online, Online Lobbies, V.I.P. System and New Ranking System/Leaderboards.

The ability to save Playbooks Online is something the Sim Community has requested for years. Games are delayed due to users having to set plays up each game. In addition, most of the 3:00 minute Pause timer given is utilized during this period, leaving little time to make strategic adjustments mid game if need be. While, some adjustments could be made on the fly, most aren't accessible until you Pause the game to alter most settings. This hinders users trying to use the actual playbooks (Sim Basketball) instead of just going with a free flow offense for the majority of the game. Extending the 3:00 minute Pause timer would delay games, but this feature allows users to use their time reasonably. Potentially it can move things along faster, while allowing users more time to make strategic adjustments for end of quarter or end of game situations and other options.

Online Lobbies has been missing and it's been the most requested feature. The lobbies are a community in itself for some gamers, as some only play ranked/unranked head to head games. There users could communicate and face off for an opportunity to climb the Leaderboards against those who are similar in skill. With advanced technology reinserting an upgraded version of The V.I.P. System (Virtual Identity Profile) would be an incredible feature. It primarily tracked opponents strategies, style of play and tendencies. Furthermore, it was a great way to preview/prepare for your online opponents, friends or other top players as you can download their V.I.P. profiles and compete against them offline. In addition, there was a Feedback Rating System which allowed users to rate their opponents after a match and included the ability to leave a comment. These essential features may be used to decide on accepting or declining a match with a specific opponent which makes for a better gaming experience. The Online lobbies should include Ranked, Unranked/Custom and Tournaments.

The Ranking System/Leaderboards has been removed, its' most recent iteration was seen in the last generation of NBA 2K14. In reference to Online Ranked Matches it showed only the Top 100 and featured those who played the most games instead of those with a great winning percentage against quality opponents or skill points. This has taken the desire out of competing in the Ranked matches due to the non-existence in apparent Ranking increase after numerous wins, regardless if you are Ranked 101 or 50000. A possible solution is an Elo Ranking System which is based on skill instead of games played using a formula that measures your wins and quality opponents played. Each player has a numerical rating and a higher number indicates a better player, which is based on results against other rated players. The winner of a contest between two players gains a certain number of points in his or her rating and the losing player loses the same amount. To discourage players from sitting on their rankings the inclusion of an activity bonus (The Nunn Plan) would erase the thought of doing so.

These issues have pushed many of us away from the Online aspect of the game due to our competitive nature and into other modes or games. The new modes added throughout the years have been great, but since their addition we feel as if we've been forgotten. We still love to play old school 5 vs 5 Sim-style basketball with original rosters and mimic what we see on TV from our favorite teams. Having those features reinserted will give us something that proved to make for a great Online gaming experience and satisfy all NBA 2K gamers across the board. Our hands are tied because the plans or direction of Online Play is ultimately up to those in control at 2K. It comes down to us just missing the thrill of trash talking in the lobby in preparation to a game and with services such as Twitch, streaming those matchups would be memorable!!

Comments

# 1 NYCDaFutureisBack @ Oct 3

Yes sir, hopefully 2k will listen to us. If not then us as a Nation will come together and make it happen. Very well written bro!! #OnlineNation n #SimNation All Day

# 2 Future 23 @ Oct 3

Like agree with my fellow Future says. 2k knows what #SimNation #OnlineNation wants.. we are consistent and a lot of these modes/settings were actually taken away. We all know that 2k has a great great team of devs (you guys did big things this year) but it seems like we never get a piece of the pie when it comes to new modes. I just hope that with more community feedback we can get some love.. well written piece bro!

#OnlineNationStandup

# 3 DaBoyBk @ Oct 3

Thanks fellas, I appreciate the support and glad you liked the read. Just sharing how many gamers really feel and after numerous conversations throughtout the years decided to share those thoughts to help the cause.

#OnlineNation

# 4 smuhead @ Oct 4

Excellent right up my man. I've talking about this for years on how offline player get all the glory and full presentation if the game. As if we didn't cough up 70+ dollars on this game too. I just want to be able to experience the same game they do. In full. I can't understand for the life of me why we need to even bring it to their attention. And this goes for Madden as well.

# 5 ffaacc03 @ Oct 4

I agree that online nation has taken the smallest piece of the pie the last few years, then again, even when this year things seem to have gotten worse (no online association and some deminished version of 2k11 online leagues), I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

I mean, it is clearly evident that this iteration was focused on implementing users feedback. It is also evident that the recent inclussion of comunity members is aimed to improve the sim aspects of the game. I believe that these are signs of things to come, good things to us all, offline and online sim nation.

I am hopefull of the future reintegration of Online Association, am also hopefull of the changes that they claimed to be doing in order to improve the functionality and stability of online (I was one of those that many times suffered from not being able to play at all due to their restrictive servers and my also restrictive nat, no other game affected me this way).

While I dont personally agree with the reintegration of lobbies (as they used to serve for the contrary of what is propposed: they were primary used to inflate records vs newbies and unskilled users, also were used as a way of discrimination), thus I would be all in with the idea of having the ability to search games by difficulty, casual or sim, quarter length, etc.

I would love to see the leaderboards be approached as you stated, were Ws against skilled users are worth more, specially if played vs underdog teams (teams in bottom third, ratings wise) than just the mere notion of playing X amount of games. As stated, this approach severely affects the motivation and fun factors.

Finally I also agree with having back the feedback rating approach and the VIP feature that allowed you to play vs a friend (or yourself). Anyways, lets see what 2k15 brings and lets focus on what we need and want for 16.

# 6 DaBoyBk @ Oct 4

I hope many who read understand, I'm not trying to bash 2K and if they think so I apologize because that wasn't my intent. I just want to inform them of what the Online Community has been asking for and hopefully we can make it possible real soon.

I definitely agree with you 100%, 2k is definitely working right now and 2K15 is looking great!!! They've expanded their team of developers and have added things we've never seen before.

I see your stance on lobbies, that's sort of why I came up with a solution of inserting an ELO system with the Nunn System. This would help prevent those who are highly skilled from taking advantage of those beneath their level and risking a loss. A win would gain little skill points but a loss would affect their rank tremendously. The V.I.P. System would give you a scouting report on how your opponent plays and if needed you may even matchup to test yourself against it. If that solution isn't viable then the installment of different rooms for the skill levels could be solution.

# 7 BMDinTDOT @ Oct 5

OMG they removed online leaderboards past 100?

# 8 alabamarob @ Oct 5

Good write up. Just give online all the offline options and I would be content.

# 9 ffaacc03 @ Oct 5

My brother, I know you werent bashing them and hope you didnt think I implied it, I agree with all your proppositions with the exception of lobbies ... and even then, if they implement the ranking system you propposed, I may as well agree with having them back.

I would love to have something like a community from Madden, but much more expanded ... were your friends and my friends and their friends could all be a part of the community and played against or with, in a much easier manner than currently ... were the actions of us all would even impact our experiences, should we decided to.

I mean, could you imagine a trade rumor mill driven by rumors that come from what are the actual moves that happen on our friends leagues ? ... or that the players overalls (not the individual attributes) could vary reflecting the different edits of our community custom rosters ? ... or the stat tracking of games of our community guys vs other users ... the possibility of running tournaments, leagues, vs games, teammup games, JRC games and even park games with community members and even vs other communities ... anyways, a man can dream and hopefully this dream can come true further on.

# 10 Fakename22 @ Oct 6

As a guy who plays 90% online the fact they killed the charge cheese and 131 is more than enough for me.

# 11 clipperfan811 @ Oct 6

I like the ELO style system idea, that definitely self corrects a lot of the cheap tactics that lobbies would surely introduce. I also like the activity bonus. Overall solid ideas, well thought out and they seem feasable to implement properly.

# 12 DaBoyBk @ Oct 6

@ffaacc03 I didn't think think you were implying that at all my brother. I just wanted to be clear in case some others read it and view it that way. I also appreciate everyone's take on these topics.

@Fakename22 If you are a online gamer 90% of the time then these issues should affect you more so than others on here. The fact that Online play has taken some steps backwards in regards to these modes affect everyone who plays NBA simulation matchups. But, if you are basing your response on the ability of you playing park online and other modes that would warrant you being satisfied.

In all essence I am not 100% satisfied with gameplay, I do see some things that need tweaking still. But, I also see the improvements in gameplay from NBA 2K14, solely from that aspect I see their efforts and I shall support them by paying $195 to buy the game across all platforms (PS4, XBOX ONE and PC).