NBA 2K12 Accomplished One Thing: EA Has an Open Door to Online Gamers Hearts - RaychelSnr's Blog

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NBA 2K12 Accomplished One Thing: EA Has an Open Door to Online Gamers Hearts Stuck

Posted on October 10, 2011 at 01:51 PM.

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If you would have told me a year ago that EA Basketball would have an in-road to the most hardcore of the basketball gaming crowd without releasing an NBA game in roughly 24 months, I would've called you crazy.

But here we sit, 2K Sports' flagship (and really just about only) title still has proven it can't do online well. While fixes are abound, we all know the most important period for the game is in the first few weeks. After all, what happens to Battlefield 3 or Call of Duty if it's game servers continually crash the first week after the game is released?

Yeah, that wouldn't be pretty either.

I've written extensively about how 2K Sports is in a precarious position -- and I don't like to say that -- but they're one great NBA Title from EA away from being out of the game for good. 2K Sports has always set the sports simulation bar (and they're good for business here at OS), but I'm officially putting them on the endangered list after the events of the past week.

2K Sports flagship title promised huge updates to My Player (underwhelming), Online (non-functional at least half the time), and to the Legends mode (a second dip into novelty, can't last forever). A lot of the focus this year has gone by the wayside because a lot of the new additions have basically fallen flat on their face.

The lockout has something to do with a bit of a cold attitude among many about 2K12, but also creating such a good game last year is something else you can't discount as a reason for the discontent this year.

NBA 2K11 was the pinnacle of this series, and the follow-on attempt was going to be met with huge expectations. In many ways, 2K12 delivers but in many others, it disappoints heavily. Some gamers are saying the game is a huge disappointment -- it's not because the gameplay or presentation are lacking.

The gameplay and presentation this year are unmatched in our genre. Actually get into a game of basketball in 2K12 and you'll find an experience more enjoyable than most any other games out there. It's to the games credit that with some of it's game modes essentially broken, the game STILL got an 8.5 on our new scoring scale.

That's a HUGE accomplishment all things considered.

At the same time, gameplay and presentation are things which can always be improved but eventually -- especially if you have competition -- people are going to grow tired of it. It happens with real broadcasts much less in a video game where the rules are more static. Watch an NBA broadcast from 5 years ago and one from today, there are several subtle if not outright differences in how games are presented. Narrow the ability for variety and you'll see why video game presentations are always in constant danger of becoming stale.

While 2K12 offers a gameplay/presentation package pretty much unmatched, the rest of the game is completely vulnerable, especially the online modes. The folks at EA Tiburon have to keep that in mind. EA's new NBA Title set for release next year should focus on Online Play. Thus, a smooth and balanced gameplay experience with a solid presentation should be their primary focus. You don't have to beat NBA 2K13 in quality to be a success -- but you do have to offer an alternative to the marketplace people will find value in.

The door is wide open. If EA succeed where 2K fails time and time again -- with online -- then the NBA 2K series' fate will already be sealed.

If EA gets that in-road into the hardcore basketball gamers heart next year, NBA 2K will simply biding it's time until EA overtakes them in sales. 2K has to fix the servers this year ASAP to just get some goodwill back. And next year, they have to deliver from day one. Another year of failing at online, especially in the face of a competitor that is serious about winning the digital NBA arms race, will spell total disaster.

NBA 2K, you've been put on notice. You are basically the Lebron James led Cleveland Cavaliers, good enough to win and win big in the regular season -- but when the playoffs come around, you've got some serious flaws that your competition can take full advantage of.

If NBA 2K's vulnerabilities aren't solved and soon, the 2K Sports brand isn't long for this world.

Chris is the Executive Editor at Operation Sports and hosts the OS Radio show. He is a Jesus-Freak, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Stom Chaser, owner of the Tornado Titans Brand, and generally an incredibly busy man. You can follow Chris @ChrisSnr on Twitter.

Comments

# 16 Kurupt_XxX @ Oct 10

great article

the online association mode is ruined.

biggest downfall of it, is no complete flex. We are SO DAMN LIMITED in playing games and then getting simmed losses because we didn't have the time to play that specific game. Can't reset games? can't change sliders? And no crew? Can't save settings.

They keep taking out options every year. Let's hope live steps it up and gives us all these options next year and i could care less about their crappy graphics

# 17 Ryn Vintage1986 @ Oct 10

I'm right there with BlingBling. I play basketball, and 98.6 percent of all sports online gamers don't. That 'boring' a.i. actually plays basketball.
I think it's funny that cheesers get so upset that they can't go online just to see if their annual set of new exploits works — ditto Madden (Which I don't own because it's tailored specifically for online glitchers) and that set of games — when all we sim gamers want to do is replicate what we watch and do on the court.
As the song says: "We playin' basketball."
You're all just hitting buttons.

# 18 munie @ Oct 10

eh...I can do w/o online. Only thing this game is lacking is rookies which they can't control. It's still the best sports game of this generation

# 19 kjjnesb @ Oct 10

See I don't understand why they make online association a back of the box feature if they can't get online straight period and myplayer/offline assocation both have large CPU AI flaws with trades and resigning you think you would perfect that before taking your mode online smh.

# 20 shuttdown @ Oct 10

Yeah, 2k should be worried. The last EA product was so bad the demo got it pulled from the shelves. While I agree the online is something that needs to be improved the overall package is something that EA can't touch. I think it is funny that we champion average Madden games every year yet put the best sports game around on notice of being destroyed by an imaginary opponent. If I had to bet which will happen first, a better 2k online experience vs. a functional offline experience from EA, I would have to still side with 2k. After all Live/Elite wasn't that good to begin with.

# 21 madlaker @ Oct 10

Good read, but most online players are cheeser - so only online play I would care about, is vs a friend (thoug sitting right next to each other is much more fun)... So if EA's nba game would have excellent online, but couldn't compete with core gameplay - I wouldn't care and still 2k wins big....
this article is way to DRAMATIC!

# 22 dredogg90 @ Oct 10

I often feel like I'm dumbing myself down when I play online. There's no strategy involved and I often find myself looking for a way to counter cheese, rather than playing basketball. Which is why I don't play online. But if online play is your cup of tea, I can see why you're furious. I guess you'll have to just wait for EA to deliver that complete online experience next year...

# 23 truintellectplaya @ Oct 10

Well this is a nice little article if you just need or want some bad press for 2K or want to try and light a fire under them to get online correct. On the other hand, the article is also very suspect when it comes to facts. The facts are online has always been a weakness of 2K even when EA was going strong with Live and more people still chose 2K. Also, as some have stated online is not the hardcore gamers paradise. You can hardly even run a play online because of the way the average person plays. I like online but the last time I used it was 2K9 and quit playing online after about a month of plug pullers. Facts state that 2K will continue to dominate as long as they have the superior game in every other aspect other than the crowd and online because that has been proven true over and over again.

# 24 jyoung @ Oct 10

I preferred Live 10 over NBA 2K10 for this very reason.

Live 10 was a great online game.

# 25 BigBlue @ Oct 10

I just can't believe that 2k continues to take steps back in their online gaming service every year. Last year we had the ability to play unranked games with custom sliders and foul settings. It took some time to get it to play consistently well after release (so many dropped connections), but when it worked, it was great! I expected them to carry over the same options and add the ability to use classic teams for online play. But this has been a total embarrassment! I had to convince my friend to buy the game thinking we'd have the same playing options. Now? We're considering getting 2k11 back!

I am totally befuddled by this.

BigBlue

# 26 BigBlue @ Oct 10

Oh, and who could forget the service being down during one of the long holiday weekends? Totally embarrassing!

BigBlue

# 27 NightStalker3 @ Oct 10

I love to play online for a friend, we constantly fear the disconnect! 2k11 allowed for you to pick the home team and jerseys when picking teams but in 2k12 we found we could't do that? WTF? With jerseys its says LB/RB to change but doesn't let you. Do they even test or is online thrown in after the fact? It is like going 99 yards and either throwing a pick 6 and or fumbling and the other team gets to QB kneel and win the game. Fix IT!

# 28 Jamake1005 @ Oct 10

I dont play online much b/c its not sim to me. I only play friends online b/c i live in a diff state then most. But If you mostly play online I can understand why you are upset if its as bad as ppl are saying I honestly havent touched online yet b/c my friends dont have the game yet. But Im amazed at how much ppl are bashing this game just b/c of online. Overall this is the best sports game ever. Yes it has flaws and probs but gameplay wise, presentation etc this game is on point. I swear I feel like most ppl can care less about gameplay b/c all they wanna do is play online smh. Yes online is a part of the game and should be working correctly but I mean some ppl are just bashing this game b/c of that one component. And please Im not worried about an EA game havent bought an nba live/elite game since 2k hit the market on dreamcast.

# 29 cwash020 @ Oct 10

I think those people defending the lack of effort to fix online issues and who expect a higher score are missing the big picture. I am happy to see OS take a stand and dock points for lack of online functionality because to me that indicates that it's an unfinished product. Is it still a great game without online? Absolutely! But the fact of the matter is that there have been several consumers who have stuck with 2K for years who have asked for 2K to improve the online experience and they have not done so. I, for one, play 85% offline, however I do find that basketball games provide the best experience online in the sports genre in my opinion with team play. 5 on 5 is intimate enough to where everyone has an opportunity to contriubute if you play with a good group. So that fact that 4-5 years later we STILL are unable to consistently play online is ridiculous. I guarantee you if EA pulled this with Madden or NCAA people would be furious! Sometimes gamers have such an allegience to a company that they can be shortsighted. I applaud OS for their unbiased review!

# 30 jbthegreat @ Oct 10

I don't think people are giving 2k a pass they're just stating the facts they don't play online so they don't miss the feature but it isn't something that shouldn't be addressed seriously

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