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

# 46 Foechuckle @ Oct 10

I never play sports games online unless its with friends or family and if i do decide to play anyone else they are un-ranked games one thing about NBA 2K series is that its so good that I find myself never playing online majority of my games are with CPU, and there are some things I see that could e fixed but 2K are pretty good when delivering patches for in gameplay but they never seem to get the servers right every year but never hinders my decision to buy every year!!!

# 47 Kaanyr Vhok @ Oct 11

I disagree. 2k4-2k10 was the open door. 2k11 and 12 have their flaws online but they get the most important thing right and that is that they are fun balanced and realistic. The gameplay is solid. I would much rather endure crap servers, and shoddy options in a great game than to have a lemon with crisp servers and all the features.

# 48 Rdub33 @ Oct 11

I'm so tired of hearing off line gamers come online to tell the world they don't play online! Makes zero sense. If u play offline then stay off of an online blog about online play. I don't like to ski so I don't go to message boards about skiing! Sheesh. Also not all online players are cheesers...most are but not all. Idc about ranked matches but playing competitive, strategy laden games with my friends is the reason I play all sports games. 2k is sitting on a gold mine with association online, but with weak servers and the lack of customization options, they are making their gold mine look more like a copper field!!! If they put simulation options in online association sim players everywhere will flock to the mode and genuinely hail this game as best sports game in history of video games. Then maybe the off line players will see that beating a sim human beats beating a computer any day.

# 49 BigDaneAyMane @ Oct 11

I don't understand the purpose of the people that come in and say they don't care about online on a blog that is meant for people that care about online. I really am happy for you that the portion of the game that you play suits you fine, but please don't justify 2k's incompetence online just because you don't play it. It's weak and the type of attitude that allows these companies to get away with putting out sub-par quality content.

The people that come in and say 99.9% of online is cheese make themselves look ignorant. Yes, there are cheesers, but there are many that play the right way and are part of leagues that play the right way.

One of the reasons that NBA 2K might be the best sports series in the past 5 seasons is because it's one of the few sims where great basketball knowledge and playing the right way more than often allow you to beat the cheeser that
only has 1 or 2 moves. I'll admit some of the hardcore cheesers are tough but even they can be beat. There's nothing
that feels better than taking my lowly Bullets against a lame *** Heat cheeser, then schooling him/her by playing sound efficient basketball.

I agree with this blog completely. NBA 2K has been my favorite series since I switched from Live with 2K6, but I'm getting that same bad taste in my mouth that made this the first year I haven't bought Madden in 10 years. I'm tired of feeling mislead and disappointed with 2K online.

We're firing the warning shots 2K. Online gamers are truly pissed this year. We want to see this series succeed, and many of us have an emotional attachment to your product, but if you keep taking away options and continue to ignore us, our eyes will wander when EA comes back.

# 50 truintellectplaya @ Oct 11

I don't think anyone is saying that online does not matter. I think what sensible people are saying is this article is reaching because EA has always been better than 2K when it comes to online and still more people purchased and enjoyed 2K. If you want online fixed fine but you are stretching it to say that online could be something that solely got EA back into gamers hearts. EA is a inferior game gameplay wise, kinda like the motor does not run well but it has a Beats by Dre radio system. I am not choosing a car with a bad motor just because it has a superior radio system to other options.

# 51 Acedeck @ Oct 11

The problem with playing games online is the cheesers, as it always has been. I'd prefer to play offline with great sliders any day of the week. Online is overrated.

# 52 tabulaRasa @ Oct 11

MMChriss is joining EAs workforce wasn�t he?

# 53 eye guy @ Oct 11

It's not that I don't care about online, but the blog is misleading.

When exactly will we see this "great" title? How long have fans of basketball been waiting for this "great" title? From EA...?

Here's a litlle twist...

How long have we been waiting for EA to deliver a Madden game that would rival, not only NFL 2K5, but the improvements we've seen from 2K with their basketball title and SCE San Diego with The Show?

To be honest, they had a real chance with the foundation that Live 10 was. Everything about that game worked well, and imo was slightly better than 2K10 as a complete package. The demo of Elite 11, which I still have, is a sign that they wanted change. Sadly, this change won't be happening this generation of consoles to surpass what 2K has achieved.

My point is, as frustrating as it is with 2K's online features, focusing on this let-down dampens even the moods of those that play off-line.

Lastly, don't forget, we're also affected because of 2K Share not working. It's an easy fix for us, but the game as a whole is good enough for everyone to play until these issues have been resolved.

# 54 TheDevilsCure @ Oct 11

This article is so on point! I have nothing against offline play but as a company if you are not willing to put the same amount of effort into online as you do into offline play then why offer online play?! Just sell the game w/o any online features!!! If 2K did that, I would not be upset at all because I knew upfront what I was purchasing. It seems that instead making some SERIOUS strides forward in regards to online play they simply took a million steps back. It is clear as day that 2K does not care about their online community consumers. Instead of improving on the online features we enjoyed they decide to take those away in 2K12 and create Online Association. But with Online Association you can't do a damn thing. Now instead of having your own league with a few of your friends and playing them all day, talking trash, having fun, you are forced to play the bloody computer! SMH. Sorry, but some people like to play living thinking opponents. I may not like playing the cheesers out there but I sure do have more fun playing them than the computer. The computer is just as glitchy. 2K dropped the ball and it does not seem like they give two [insert expletive here] about it. What we need to do is raise hell like Netflix costumers. They had to succumb to the pressure. No more Qwikster!!!! We can't let 2K get away with this bs. We need to full court press these dudes.

# 55 TheDevilsCure @ Oct 11

@ eye guy: I hear you. But at this point and time if we don't focus on the bad online features then they will continue to sell us half-*** products. Would you buy a suit from Macy's if they continued to sell you it w/o pants?! No you would not, so why would you condone 2K's actions of continuously selling us incomplete products. If you can't offer online features/play properly then don't offer it at all. Do you think Infinity Ward would be able to get away with selling CODMW3 with the online play jacked up like NBA 2k12? I think not. LOL

# 56 hoop xyience @ Oct 11

Its sad to read opinions that's biased against something..because if it was the other way around y'all would be in uproar..its 2011 and games are still being one-sided when it comes to online and offline...full games should be developed not half baked..

For anyone to let another gamer ruin there experience online and make you hate it is beyond weird..some people play the game for there entertainment not yours..I hear to many times "that's not similar ball" or "I play real ball"...if that's your entertainment you get out of the game it should make no difference how another player gets his. When people start buying my games for me, then maybe ill play it there way...

But 2k isn't dumb enough to not know over half of there supporters are online gamers and the minority is offline...I just hope 2k get there stuff together because this is the worst version since 2k10..just not enough to keep you coming back this year..and its very watered down to novice level

# 57 money111777 @ Oct 11

I dont ever play online anyway. I used to play online with My Player(the pick-up games from 2k10). But I play My Player more often, then head-to-head with friends. Sports games online is just ********

# 58 BlackRome @ Oct 11

NBA2k11 was not the pinnacle of the series. That would be 2k8. The last time online actually worked. The last time you actually had a lobby in which you get send a message.

The last time the dribbling system actually worked. Passing. No problem. Fast break. No problems.

Actually ti was the last time every thing worked on the game.

# 59 F3ardaBlu3Waffle @ Oct 11

Is NO one Concerned they took a whole mode out without compensation?
MY player pick up games are gone...including crews..even thought people cheated..was still fun to play when you were matched up against kool people...
this was a 29.99 game..uncalled for 2ksports..funny how 2kron gets sick all of a sudden and stops answering tweets...

# 60 gilla @ Oct 11

Thanks to all the cheesers I very rarely play online... the only sports games worth online play are those like NHL and FIFA where have a team of players, I think that basketball would still get cheesers who find a way to bring the ball and not pass, so I'm likely to lean towards a game that offers good gameplay and presentation... now if 2K would bring ball college hoops everything would be great, as the dynasty mode in that is still top notch to this day.

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