NBA2K11's PC version and shadows from the past - Toaster's Blog

Toaster's Blog

NBA2K11's PC version and shadows from the past

Posted on October 5, 2010 at 06:25 PM.

(19)

Greetings

I am a PC Gamer and have been one as far as I can remember.
Also a member ( although a pretty quiet one ) of the OS since 2002.

It was stated in insights and on twitter that the PC version of NBA 2k11 will be an exact port of the XBOX 360 one.

Now, after the release date, reports and photo proof is coming in alluding to the possibility that this is not exactly the case.

I am not referring to the costume tracks feature (I can see why it isn't in) but to more substantial differences like a 2K10 style menu system, or reports that the player models are not the same ones as the XBOX360 version, but the same as last year.

This to me is alarming - if these basic core features have not been updated, what else is unchanged? what other disparities are there between the PC version and it's console brethren?

It is a very uncomfortable feeling of uncertainty and subterfuge, and even worse, it is a feeling I can recall all too well:
It brings to mind marketing moves and costumer relations habits last seen in full display from the NBA Live team between 1999-2005. Practices that left many users such as myself with very deep feelings of distrust and suspicion towards game companies and developers, and a real dislike of the EA Sports brand. No one likes to feel duped or ignored.

These last few years, with guys like Beluba, Simballer, stepsix and rEanimator on the boards as well as the high profile presence on twitter those feelings have alleviated and made place for a reborn feeling of both trust and respect as well of admiration for the extra time you take to communicate with this community.

Let us not re-lapse into patters of old.
If the PC version indeed is different - then let us know of the differences, all of them.
That way there are no wild rumors and speculations flying around, and more importantly - no bad surprises after purchasing the game.

Let the customer make a full, well informed choice. this is the right way to operate.

With Respect, Toaster

This mail has been sent to the 2Kdevs I know and some prominent members of the community, in hopes of remedying these "communications breakdown" and keeping dev-customer relations on the right path

!!! UPDATE!!!

It seems the models have to do with the settings in the games config file:

"
Quote:
Originally Posted by mstrkrft

On a different forum I read the following:
"Open the -bleep- config.cfg and make the changes.By default player LOD is set to 0.Set it to 3.By default sideline characters is set to 0.Set it to 2.Make the file read-only.OMG!Now it has better player models than consoles!o rly??Also for quad cores set the logical threads to 1,2,3,4."

Maybe you guys could try that. "

Also - Good fast response from 2k:

2K Admin Ron :

" Guys, the look of the PC menu is just that... the look. Erick Boenisch, who wrote many of the Insights and worked heavily on the PC version, told me that all the options are there. The reason the menu is still that toggle system from last year is because the one from this year didn't fit. But everything is there... It's the same exact game as console besides this one design thing.

The player models thing is ridiculous, they're completely new.

I am trying to confirm whether or not there are custom soundtracks. Regardless of whether there are or not, the PC has features that the other two don't (I am sure you can figure it out). We are not trying to jilt PC users. I play on PC myself quite often and love the experience."

[http://www.2ksports.com/forums/showp...postcount=345]

So a nice quick response from the 2K team. Exactly what I had hoped for.

Good, my mind is now pretty much at ease, phew !

8 October UPDATE:

Well it seems like this won't die, latest issue - subpar shader:

http://forums.nba-live.com/viewtopic.php?f=132&t=75511

Just like the menus-not a deal-breaker, but a damn shame.

I Sure hope there is a simple fix for this

Comments

# 1 Cripterion @ Oct 5

We didn't get any footage whatsoever of the pc version prior to release, no demo, questions regarding the pc version were getting ignored (except from the control scheme) and now that a few people are getting their hands on the pc version seems the truth is coming out.

Same practice as EA with Fifa 11 on pc except they can clean before the game was released. I expected better from 2K...

Is it safe to assume no 2K12 for pc next year?

# 2 DayZ @ Oct 5

I would gladly pay the same amount as the console versions if the PC version was the exact same as the PS3 and XB360 versions.

# 3 madmax17 @ Oct 5

+1000

2k we need some answers please.

# 4 Toaster @ Oct 5

Nah Cripterion I wouldn't rush to such conclusions so fast.
This is actually a lot of what this blog is about- nipping this in the bud so it does not escalate into such bad blood for no reason.

# 5 raidersbball20 @ Oct 5

I was going to get this, I hope this isn't true and that it is the same

# 6 Cripterion @ Oct 5

No doubt!

If this is what we get for having the cheaper version than for the love of god bump up the price and put some real work on the pc version, it's unnaceptable that the game comes out at the same time, and yet we're left out with less features and 2K10 assets.

Even ps3 users got an upgrade this year with custom audio in (albeit it doesn't seem to properly function atm)

# 7 poilbrun @ Oct 5

As you say, there's a trust issue here. They come to the forums, interact with the fan, and then obfuscate the truth. To say that they had an extra two weeks for pc and then give use a lower quality game is just unacceptable. Just say it upfront, I would have ordered the Xbox 360 version instead of the pc version. Now I won't play the game probably for another two weeks: the time for my pc version to be delivered (with a release date on the 8, I probably won't get it until the 12 or 13), arrange a return, get the voucher for the value of the game, then have the Xbox version delivered.

# 8 Cripterion @ Oct 5

@ Toaster

I know, I'm just anxious to get the game to try it out myself, I guess I'm just venting. I'm glad we get 2K games on pc, 2K10 was good last year and except for the custom audio we were on par with the consoles version.

I just wanna know what happened this year, if it was intentional or they ran out of time??

# 9 ConfigSys @ Oct 5

+1

last year i bought 2 copies of nba2K10 1 fron steam and 1 from GG
just 4 supporting 2Ksports

this year unfortunately
Until this moment i have no place 4 Digital Download - what a shame.
no information about PC ver until rls date That's ridiculous.
and finally we got nba2K10 Ver2...:|

# 10 Toaster @ Oct 5

@Cripterion:

I feel the same way.

By the end of the day - I'm definitely buying this one.
Actually, were it not for the steam delay I would probably be playing right now.

Still, this it is not a proper way of conduct for a respectable company.

as far as sharing information and being up front regarding the state and the features of the PC version they can do much better, and they know it!

# 11 theprocess @ Oct 5

I purchased a copy of the game on PC, The graphics look better than on the PS3 but the menu system threw me off. I would like to hear an answer from the DEVS about this issue.

# 12 Toaster @ Oct 5

@ theprocess

I think we have our answer - see update in the blog

Good job coming through from Ronnie and the 2K team!

# 13 Cripterion @ Oct 5

Now waiting for the steam version. You guys know if it's possible to get it off amazon US? It's not listed on amazon JP ( where I have an account)

# 14 domidomdomz @ Oct 5

Nice piece, Toaster.

Way to get our voice heard.

Toaster, please also update your post and tell every PC players to PERFORM THE IN-GAME BENCHMARK so no one with a monster graphics offline doesn't have to complain about the lesser graphics quality in online (unless his opponent has inferior graphics quality).

# 15 theprocess @ Oct 5

- toaster

thanks, I read that over at the 2k forums then came back here.

I maxed out my video settings in the game and it's a huge improvement. FPS are running at 46 through the benchmark. Running this on my MacBook pro dual core 2.4, geoforce 320, in case there are other MacBook users out there wondering.

The player models look much better than last year, I think people are making a fuss over nothing as far as graphics go.

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