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 12:51 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

# 31 Csmooove32 @ Oct 10

thank you! thank you! thank you! thank you! the truth has been spoken on operation sports finally

# 32 foofighter2455 @ Oct 10

The lack of a working online will be preventing me from buying the game. Aside from myself, the majority of the 30 people in my league community will not do so either.

# 33 dal_hawk @ Oct 10

You know what is funny? I doubt you'd ever see an obvious shot at a publisher if this was EA SPORTS who made the game. (From someone on the OS team) But thats probably because EA treats its media pretty good, nbd. I like that this was written cause the whole point is to gets 2k attention from a large/credible audience.

But there is no way you could say association and my player fall flat on their faces then go and say EA's Madden franchise (and.. hmm online franchise) is the bee's knees.

But 2k does need to wake up. They put huge priority in their budget for gameplay and presentation which is great. But I think they need to expand the budget in the sake for long term success.

Main places for huge improvement:

Online stability/ Adding new servers maybe for the first time since 2007 it seems.

Serious and professional game testing to rid the game from being release with obvious flaws such as trading logic or last year with My player end of the seasons game freezes.

Lastly nothing to do with the games but TV advertising.
If they had EA sports marketing team coming up with stuff for NBA 2k and legends and then bought the ad space with the same frequency, I'd gotta say they increase their sales at least 10 percent in one year, but that would have to have impact for future game sales as well.

# 34 RaychelSnr @ Oct 10

Dal_hawk....you are either a 2K fanboy, a troll, or not very bright. Regardless....here's a short sampling of just MY articles that are critical of EA. You can check out my Twitter account and do extensive searching to find how wrong you are.

Also, you basically say something which I never said in my article. Quit misrepresenting words.

Anywho for your reading pleasure:

http://www.operationsports.com/MMChr...e-on-saturday/

http://www.operationsports.com/MMChr...nt-on-sort-of/

http://www.operationsports.com/MMChr...-you-enjoy-it/

http://www.operationsports.com/MMChr...es-on-day-one/

http://www.operationsports.com/MMChr...-its-achilles/

http://www.operationsports.com/MMChr...addens-future/

# 35 Kingofthecouch @ Oct 10

2K wont get another red penny from me until they fix their online issues. Thank you Chris for telling it like it is. BTW I hope EA delivers a good game with good gameplay. We know the servers will work.

# 36 khaliib @ Oct 10

As I said before, "No" Sports game will ever come close to the numbers and constant play of "1st person shooters.

This is were the logic is derived from.

They look at the online numbers for 1st person shooters, and some suite gets the "Big Eye" for $$$ and directs game design towards obtaining a large piece of that pie.

Most Online players turn sports games into "who can score the most" games, which takes away any type of simulation of the sport.

No matter how in-depth a developer tries to make Online, there is a time factor that there is no fix for games beyond Righ Now/Quick Play type of games.

When I want to play, other guys in an Online Franchise can't, and vice-versa.
This forces alot simulating/advancing, which defeats the whole purpose of doing an Online Franchise etc...

2k is fine.
I hope they don't buy into this "We have to improve our Online experience" so an competitor doesn't take our customers.

It's a great game because the "Focus" is OFFLINE, period.

NBA Live is an example of trying to do both.

Now Madden and NCAA are following along the same path.

1st person shooters have the same issue, but reversed.
Awsome Online, but problematic Offline.

Your either going to have the best Offline video game or the best Online video game.

But you can't do both.

# 37 2kjunkie @ Oct 10

I have to be frank here and say that this is absolute rubbish. 2K12 is the best sports simulation ever.

# 38 amedawg00 @ Oct 10

As a 2K vet since the dreamcast era, my patience has finally been taxed with their annual online instability issues. At this point complaining will not really accomplish anything because I have already paid for this most highly anticipated game. The horrific input delay that makes playing defense online akin to playing on the slip and slide is even more infuriating that the random and unpredictable disconnects. For once, OS, traditionally a site that caters to offline gamers are bearing witness to this **** fail of 2k's online game modes. For users such as myself that ONLY play online in private leagues in the past and now online associations in this current iteration, I can only hope that a subsequent patch will reaffirm my love for this game, especially since 2K11 was the pinnacle of basketball gaming.

# 39 cgalligan @ Oct 10

If you think EA can EVER approach the level of AUTHENTICITY that NBA 2K is at RIGHT NOW, then, I feel sorry for you... Everything about NBA 2k11 was better than ANY NBA Game that EA Ever released... Just because Online wasn't top notch doesn't mean it wasn't a GREAT Game... Online play isn't everything...

It will take EA 2 or 3 years to even approach the following that this game has...

If EA really wanted to COMPETE with 2K, they wouldn't have pussied out a few years back (NFL Licence) and they would have MADE A BETTER GAME... They took the high road then, and they are taking the high road again (dropped Elite before launch) because they know they can't compete...

Madden sells, because its the ONLY NFL FOOTBALL GAME... If you give people THE CHOICE, whether it be, NFL 2k, NFL Fever, NFL Gameday, or whatever, THE PEOPLE will let you know WHO makes the "better" sports game... Just like They've done with the NBA Series...

I honestly can't believe you think people would not purchase NBA 2k simply because the Online Play is lacking... NBA 2K11 was the deepest game I've ever played (association / my player) and I expect 2k12 to follow up on 2k11's success...

EA Needs to stick to NHL and FIFA, because those are the two Sports Games they do best... Although, depending on who you ask, many will say that PES Soccer is even better "gameplay" wise, than Fifa... I digress...

# 40 EarvGotti @ Oct 10

I don't know what you guys are talking about but ONLINE DOES MATTER. Our league has a full group of 30 members and many many more on the waiting list trying to get in. But look what 2K did with online association??

Come on 2K, it's time you get your online together. You have to understand that kids these days are growing up playing games online. Of course most of the guys on OS are older so they don't care about online. Just go look at the 2K sports forum and you will see what I mean. The younger folks are posting over there and they are going crazy because online isn't working properly. And I don't blame them.

How can you launch the game without launching the nba2k.com website? Do you realize Online Associations are not fully functional without the website? We cannot reset games or customize anything. I recall reading in the developer insight that the commissioner would have FULL control over EVERYTHING in the association. What is going on man?

I'm extremely frustrated that the nba2k.com website did not launch on release date and has yet to be launched. We could be waiting months for this to launch and it really hampers leagues. What are you guys thinking?

# 41 AMYO @ Oct 10

E's gameplay sucks so much in basketball and football...I personally would still be buying 2k

# 42 johhnywave @ Oct 10

2k made a huge - HUGE - jump from 2k10 to 2k11 with the game. This year they refined it, but didn't really improve much elsewhere. It was basically refining everything from controls, gameplay, graphics, and My Player.

I mean, they changed the controls a bit, but nothing revolutionary from what I can tell thus far.

Typically that's what games do. Big step, little step, then big step again. They are good with the offline play. Nay, they are great with the offline play. However, if 2k13 is an incompetent online game, yet again, there's no point in my purchasing this game every year other than for a roster update. Which I can get in the older versions from users. That's the truth for any sports game. Which 2k is the only sports game I buy every year.

# 43 D Apocalypse @ Oct 10

Good blog and I agree that 2K needs to figure out how to do online properly. But I don't think EA will ever catch up with the level of quality of 2K's gameplay and presentation and that truly is where it matters the most imo. True there are thousands that play online but I think a good % of 2K ballers are offline players like myself. Like someone commented, there's a big enough market for both games if people want to play Elite online and 2K offline. I remember having both games in 2009 when 2K10 and Live 10 were both excellent games in their own right.

With that said, it was unnecessary for you Chris to call someone a troll or not very bright. You're an executive editor for the best sports gaming website that I know of, you write great blogs, reviews, etc. Leave the trolling to the community. Stay classy : )

# 44 qnzballa5 @ Oct 10

If Elite wants to compete its not with the legends i'll tell u that right now. Its their gameplay.. Of course elite will have online right. Also elite get spectator mode, and leaderboard right. But their main priority needs to be the gameplay. None of this superstar button ish. No arcade ish. Have good gameplay n stop with the gimmicks..

But let me say i want 2k to win.. But only if they can get their online right this year b4 november.. If they cant n say wait till 2k13?? Lol then forget them. Fix your servers thats first 2k. 2nd bring all of your features back to online. Bring crew, bring unrank lobbies for halloffame with randoms, bring the online option to save playbooks, camera angles, coach profiles. Bring the showing jumpshot feedback online, make rank games halloffame or even superstar sim.. Come on 2k most of this stuff yall can fix now.. N plz fix all of this 3pt/ steal bs down lower it dam 2k

# 45 eye guy @ Oct 10

Quote:


	...every1 is jacking up 3pointers like nothing, stealin the ball at a high rate is this nba jam???

You should ask the people you play. Also, didn't 2K say the ball was going to be 'live' this year?

To be honest, I really can't see EA making any significant changes to appeal to the masses. It would be amazing if they did, but it'll be too late for this generation of consoles.

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