OS Roundtable: Should Gamers Take a Second Look at NBA 2K12

Feature Article

Submitted on: 12/05/2011 by Jeremy Hartman, Matthew Coe, Dustin Toms, Mike Kilroy, Phil Varckette

Sales of NBA 2K12 look to be well below last year's record-breaking totals. By all accounts the NBA Lockout, plus a less than enticing effort, has given many gamers enough reason to not fork over $60 for the game this year. Given the end of the lockout and the reintroduction of accurate and up to date rosters, should gamers who passed up on the game initially take a look at the game one more time?

Jayson Young: Updated rosters and the new Legends Showcase do nothing to fix NBA 2K12's core gameplay issues.

When I buy a simulation basketball game, I want to run set plays and pass the ball to create shots. The NBA 2K series hasn't advanced enough to make that style of basketball viable.

NBA 2K12 added more plays per team, but the playcalling system remains dependent on standing inside small circles waiting for AI teammates to jog lazily into position. 2K's trademark slow, floaty passing makes moving the ball through the air incredibly frustrating, especially with manually controlled bounce passes having been removed from the game.

Only in the warped world of 2K basketball is it easier to dribble through a defense than pass around it. Offensive players routinely "animate" or "clip" right through defenders on their way to spectacular shots and dunks.

You'll enjoy NBA 2K12 if -- like most of the online community -- you just want to give the ball to LeBron or Kobe every play and go one-on-one repeatedly. But if you want to play team-oriented basketball, you're better off spending $60 on a local gym membership or signing up for a recreational league.

Phil Varckette: Absolutely, I know I will. I also believe there will be a significant increase in sales.

There is something about being able to use the NBA Today feature as it's intended that makes me salivate. I love to just pick up and play today's games, then compare the results to real life.

No offense to the roster editors, because they did a great job of creating rookies, but having the actual 2K version of the rookies just adds a layer of authenticity that can't be denied. This will attract gamers who may have soured on the series due to the lockout.

The truth is, this game is fantastic. Adding the rookies and having NBA Today work to its potential just makes it better. If you are still upset about the lockout, it's time to let it go. This game is too good to miss out on.

Mike Kilroy: The lockout actually made me more eager to play NBA 2K12.

I can understand why sports gamers and NBA fans steered away from 2K's NBA offering this year -- it was like releasing a basketball sim in July or a baseball game in December. The void left by the lockout and lack of NCAA basketball games left very little motivation for stick jockeys to put down Madden or NCAA. But now that it appears the NBA season will tip off Christmas Day, and with updated rosters and a patch on the way there really is no good reason to leave this game on the store shelf.

Sure, it has its bugs and wonky gameplay elements, but as far as hardwood action goes it still does a great job.

Matthew Coe: As long as 2K is dedicated to patching the sluggish passing and update the rosters regularly to reflect what we will see on the court this season, I'm willing to give 2K12 another chance. I certainly see Jayson's point, and I agree there is entirely too much standing around that the game makes the user do to initiate the offense. All that aside, I'm excited.

I had pretty much shelved NBA 2K12 with no real NBA and waiting for one of the various OS roster teams to put together an association ready file.

The addition of real rookies makes a huge difference. We'll finally get to hear the rookie specific commentary that was talked about before the lockout. Being able to play with the "official" Kemba Walker and Bismack Boyombo on the Bobcats may not seem like that big of a deal (and they'll probably need rating edits anyway), but I think their inclusion will help make the game feel new again.

Add those additions with the promise to update accessories and shoe/jersey/court colors, updated free agents and the mega patch (gameplay, association, My Player) that is due any time now, I'm interested to get back into the world of basketball, and back into the many modes of NBA 2K12.

Dustin Toms: I'm addicted to basketball. It really should be some sort of disease. And sadly, this lockout really kept me away from what NBA 2K12 has to offer.

I'm an association guy. For years I ran with my Sonics, leading them to countless NBA Championships after I turned Durant into the superstar he has become in OKlahoma City. But now that the Thunder exist I was left with a choice: Thunder Up or find a new team. To Chris Sanner's dismay, I opted to find a new team.

That new association team is a random garbage team with an intriguing rookie to rebuild around. Without those rookies, I couldn't enjoy Association the way I have in the past. So of course, with the additions of these young studs, NBA 2K12 will once again find a home in my console.

So to be blunt, yes this game deserves one more chance.

NBA 2K12 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 DJ @ 12/05/11 10:58 PM

I think the Lockout had a lot to do with it. Sure, guys like me that are in their 30's (or older) and have played basketball for more than 20 years were jazzed to learn that more classic teams were added to the game. I don't know if that was a big draw to the 14-22 demographic, as they are likely more interested in the current-day teams/rosters.

Also, the fact that 2K ramped up the difficulty and eliminated a lot of the cheap things we used to be able to get away with in previous 2K games left people frustrated.

I've certainly had my moments of anger with this game, but there's a lot of things that this game does really well, and I'd say overall it's a better product than 2K11.

Once we start getting consistent roster updates and the big gameplay patch, I have a feeling the game will pick up more momentum.

# 22 statum71 @ 12/05/11 11:30 PM

I have it. And don't regret buying it.

Personally I think its a good game.

# 23 Slava Medvadenko @ 12/06/11 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonWuan


	[b] I think this is the biggest problem with operation sports. Everyone on this board assumes negative comments come from new users/casuals. I would think majority of users on this site would be a little more than casual users. Sorry im not pared or Czar but I have issues with this game. To many to think about right now.

I never said new users were the only ones who don't like it. Believe me, I ain't one of those who think its perfect and anyone who has a problem with it sucks. I'm speaking from experience playing with some friends who only casually played 2k throughout the years, and they hate 2k12. All I'm saying I think new users would have a hard time getting into this game. A lot of 2k regulars get frustrated with some aspects of this game, including me. So imagine what it must be like for a noob.

# 24 Spanky @ 12/06/11 01:40 AM

I like this game a lot. I would recommend it. That is all.

# 25 truintellectplaya @ 12/06/11 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadcan


	I just want to be able to play my friends online, and this is just not possible. Online lag, inconsistent release times. Just a huge mess. This patch will do nothing to fix online play. I don't think online play will ever get fixed at all by 2k. Waiting to see how EA does NBA online sim.

Good way to sneak EA in a thread about 2K. I promise the return of that game will help 2K out by giving people some other game to complain about.

# 26 sead94 @ 12/06/11 09:12 AM

With all do respect to the folks from this post praising 2k12 (great game, better then 2k11, etc.): What are you smoking guys? Are you kidding us? This game is so bad on so many things I just don't no where to start (btw playing NBA 2k series since 2k7): basic physics, simulation elements, movement (sliding in radius of 5-6m), delayed passing, shooting (a bit improved recently), pick en roll, fast breaks, defense, contesting shots, etc, etc. all core issues for a game. Not to mention stripped features, unnecessary "inovations" and 2Kepic online issues every year.

Just look at this video: http://goo.gl/e08IL

In what universe is this even a decent simulation game? Patch will of course be disappointing to many people outthere because there are so many things wrong that it is impossible to fix them through a patch.

# 27 kolanji @ 12/06/11 10:17 AM

nba 2k12 is a swing and a miss...it just feels too deviated from basketball ...and more than often like its on rails.sure the game is pretty but at the sacrifice of fun factor.frustration is the most common emotion with nba 2k12 before any patches and somehow i think that patches will not be the answer to redeeming nba 2k12 they need nba 2k13 for that

# 28 Lyvean @ 12/06/11 10:35 AM

It's only right the suffer in sales.

They filled people's heads with marketing talk and they produced a game that it barely on working state for peolpe who want a serious simulation.

The fact that My Player mode is so broken clearly shows this game for what it is: a cheap effort to take our money and DELIBERATELY cheat the customers. Unless there are people here who think that 2K didn't witness the serious bugs before release.

All companies act the same, though, it's not only 2k's style.

I can forgive some faults in 2k11 since it was a really step forward for so many mechanisms.

But to see THE SAME faults appear in this year's game? That is unacceptable.

We are paying customers, not guinea pigs.

So, less sales this year? That can only be a good thing for the series.

# 29 ffaacc03 @ 12/06/11 10:39 AM

Once you get pass the pre release inmense expectations, this year questionable decissions taken by 2k (specially the restrictions, removals, hidden and overlooks), the bugs and glitches and the recurrent online functionality failure ... it is a great game that I see as an even better base to build upon than its predecessor.

The upcoming start of the NBA season, the DLC, the "big" patch, the roster updates and ultimatelly is all around package, should suffice to awake the need to give this game a shot (or second shot). All the goods this game has, makes it worth it, specially since the price has now drop to $40.

# 30 tcrews @ 12/06/11 10:57 AM

I'm amazed at what Jayson Young said. I have no idea if someone urinated in his coco puffs but I've never read such exaggeration or seen such a complete lack of bias towards a game on this site from a "professional" reviewer or staff writer or whatever he's supposed to be. You can dislike games all you want, but writing about how you're better off spending the $60 for a gym membership? You're also better off buying a real car than playing Gran Turismo, so what is your point? Was that supposed to be clever or witty? I really hope 2k doesn't take you too seriously, which I'm sure they don't. If not for 2k11 and 2k12's insane effort and attempts (successful) at realism, NBA Live/Elite would still be putting out horrible games.

I can agree with you that plays should be patched, and that passes should be tuned. But obliterating a game via interview on a website you're allegedly some form of professional on because of just those two things? That's lunacy.

Your quick, dim-witted comments are no different than someone asking you if they should give Red Dead Redemption another chance, and you replying no, because the horsey is too hard to control, it doesn't truly feel like riding a horse, and that makes the rest of the game terrible and unplayable. You have no business writing on here, people expect unbiased, objective, even-keeled opinions. Not someone who's gotten so peeved at the game for two problems that can and most likely will be fixed that they run up to homeless people and tell them not to buy 2K12, because that's what you come off as, you clown.

# 31 Hardin @ 12/06/11 11:04 AM

I bought the game when it was on sale on steam for $20. It's pretty fun, but not as good as last years. This game seems to be a lot harder for me than the previous game. I think it will be even more fun to play when the NBA season begins.

# 32 Serra11 @ 12/06/11 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyvean


	So, less sales this year? That can only be a good thing for the series.

I completely agree with you.
Also I hope that the absence of competition from the other companies will end as soon as possible.
It's another aspect that allow the producers to NOT give the necessary and needed attention to the developing of the game.
Do you want to buy an Nba game???You HAVE to buy Nba 2k12.
Is it glitched and full of bugs???Who cares,soon or LATER we will give you a patch!

Onestly I like the game but I consider it...broken.
The complete absence of double team in low/high post mismatches and against hot players(2k11 had absolutly not problem in this area) take off a foundamental aspect of an Nba game.

# 33 DBMcGee3 @ 12/06/11 11:29 AM

I actually popped my 2k11 back in the other day just to compare, and c'mon guys, you can't tell me this year's game is worse than that. Almost every single thing being complained about here (passing, slow running plays, CPU bias, online problems, excessive animations) were just as bad or worse in last year's game. The playcalling last year was an absolute joke, the Jordan challenge was pretty much no fun at all because of the time constraints, and I thought the shot releases last year were way off, especially after the patch. The NBA Today function was also severely flawed last year. Jrue Holiday headshot anyone?

The only things I really feel they've gone backwards on are the in-game strategy (dpad) and some of the isomotion controls (I HATE the spinning jumper, layup, and dunk controls). I also still wish they had an actual hop-step button, although I realize it was easy to exploit at times .Still, it's a fun game, and much closer to the real thing than any other hoops game ever has been. We'll see what the patch has to offer.

# 34 spankdatazz22 @ 12/06/11 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serra11


	Also I hope that the absence of competition from the other companies will end as soon as possible. It's another aspect that allow the producers to NOT give the necessary and needed attention to the developing of the game. Do you want to buy an Nba game???You HAVE to buy Nba 2k12. Is it glitched and full of bugs???Who cares,soon or LATER we will give you a patch!

Okay some of you guys are getting ridiculous with the complaints. IT'S NO FAULT OF 2K'S THAT THERE'S NO COMPETITION. One competitor bowed out because of there just wasn't enough interest in the title (Sony's basketball game) and another produced a game that was so bad in comparison to 2K's that they had to take a few years off before attempting another game (EA's basketball game). 2K got to the point they're at now IN a competitive environment; it was the quality of the other titles which killed other NBA games being available. Yet you're complaining that if you want an NBA game you only have one choice. Maybe you as a consumer should've been more open to supporting these other titles so they could still be around.

It's highly unrealistic to expect these games to increase in complexity and expect developers to get it completely right on a game's initial release. This isn't just a 2K12 issue, or a sports game issue. I've seen people complaining about pretty much every major release this year from Batman AC (missing codes/codes not working), Battlefield & MW3 (online issues, issues with new online services), Uncharted 3 (aiming issues), & Skyrim (people complaining of bugs in an expansive free-roam world).

I guess I have a different perspective because I can remember playing MaddenXX with whatever rosters the game released with and accepting that was what you had to play with the entire year. There was no updating of rosters, let alone patches to tweak gameplay issues. People might not have liked it, but there wasn't a choice. And absent of choice we worked with what we were given. Now people are given so many additional options, that some gamers react indignantly if a game has issues at it's release. And blame developers for using patches, when imo it's gamers who's expectations have gotten way out of control/unrealistic.

# 35 DJ @ 12/06/11 12:35 PM

Spank, you've been posting a lot of great stuff lately. Much appreciated.

# 36 Serra11 @ 12/06/11 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankdatazz22


	Okay some of you guys are getting ridiculous with the complaints. IT'S NO FAULT OF 2K'S THAT THERE'S NO COMPETITION. One competitor bowed out because of there just wasn't enough interest in the title (Sony's basketball game) and another produced a game that was so bad in comparison to 2K's that they had to take a few years off before attempting another game (EA's basketball game). 2K got to the point they're at now IN a competitive environment; it was the quality of the other titles which killed other NBA games being available. Yet you're complaining that if you want an NBA game you only have one choice. Maybe you as a consumer should've been more open to supporting these other titles so they could still be around. It's highly unrealistic to expect these games to increase in complexity and expect developers to get it completely right on a game's initial release. This isn't just a 2K12 issue, or a sports game issue. I've seen people complaining about pretty much every major release this year from Batman AC (missing codes/codes not working), Battlefield & MW3 (online issues, issues with new online services), Uncharted 3 (aiming issues), & Skyrim (people complaining of bugs in an expansive free-roam world). I guess I have a different perspective because I can remember playing MaddenXX with whatever rosters the game released with and accepting that was what you had to play with the entire year. There was no updating of rosters, let alone patches to tweak gameplay issues. People might not have liked it, but there wasn't a choice. And absent of choice we worked with what we were given. Now people are given so many additional options, that some gamers react indignantly if a game has issues at it's release. And blame developers for using patches, when imo it's gamers who's expectations have gotten way out of control/unrealistic.

I thought and still think that it is easy to understand the point of my post...
I wrote the evidence:competition creates better products/results.
I have to stop to overestimate me.

# 37 Lyvean @ 12/06/11 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankdatazz22


	It's highly unrealistic to expect these games to increase in complexity and expect developers to get it completely right on a game's initial release. This isn't just a 2K12 issue, or a sports game issue. I've seen people complaining about pretty much every major release this year from Batman AC (missing codes/codes not working), Battlefield & MW3 (online issues, issues with new online services), Uncharted 3 (aiming issues), & Skyrim (people complaining of bugs in an expansive free-roam world).

Is it unrealistic to expect a mode that wasn't working in a previous year, like My Player mode, will be working next year?

I don't think so.

As for bugs, I can accept bugs in games as complex as this. But there is a difference between bugs that couldn't be foreseen and bugs that were intentionally left in because people will be ok with this and because the game will be patched. I mean, what kind of mentality is that, if not a sick, corporate mentality born by the lack of competition?

I could also forgive them for that, too, as long as they were honest about it. Present us with a clear patch strategy some weeks after the game's release, so we know where we stand as consumers. But that would be asking them to be -shudder- responsible as a company.

As long as sales are up, they will absolutely NOT give a damn about consumers. If sales go down then we will see some action.

We, as consumers, must say enough at some point regarding these half-finished games (and that applies for ALL sports titles, sadly).

# 38 Jamake1005 @ 12/06/11 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankdatazz22


	I really don't get the view that NBA2K12 is a "less than enticing" effort. Last year this time most wondered how they could top 2K11's effort. Whether you believe 2K11 is better or not, I don't know how anyone could say they didn't try/make a major effort to improve on it. I can understand the disappointment some have with [their pet feature from last year] not being available or not in the game, but I think it everything has to be viewed in context. Even if some elements of 2K12 are to be considered "stripped down" from 2K11, what other sports game offers as much content as 2K12 at default? - 2K12 unquestionably has set the high bar from a Presentation standpoint - period. From the arena-specific camera angles, to the exceptional commentary, to the pregame/halftime/postgame efforts, to everything in between it's hard to argue another game being close to this effort - The work with the Legends is also ********* imo. I'd think fans of any sports genre would love being able to play with legendary teams with their full rosters whether it's football, baseball, etc. Here we've had people laughably try to write it off as fluff. This is the first game to come close to fully implementing full legendary rosters with the players' looks, signature styles, commentary that provides tons of anecdotal references to the period and/or specific to the situation, as well as visual presentation and gameplay elements specific I think as well as arenas, specific to the moment. Again, I'm not aware of any other sports game that's even attempted this type of effort - Whether you like or hate them, there were many efforts made to improve on the gameplay. And to me I have a hard time seeing every improvement as being an adject failure. Simply latching on to not liking the playcalling system because it's not NBA Live-whatever and complaining about the passing does the rest of the effort a serious disservice. The new animation blending techniques yields excellent animations most of the time. I think by far 2K's biggest mistake how they implemented cpu play on the higher difficulty levels (flat-out cheats at times), and their customary lack of providing information on how the game needs to be played. The new training modes are a nice addition, but given the amount of content in the game a lot needs to be explained to users so they know what they're doing. The game has lots of depth but I doubt most people begin to even try to grasp it These are things off the top of my head. I'd think people would be doing backflips if they were able to get an NFL2K12-equivalent, or something of that nature. It's not perfect, but it shouldn't have to be.

I agree with you 100%. NBA 2k12 is a great game and they def stepped it up and improved a lot over 2k11. I don't know what ppl want. Ppl always wont every feature they had from year to year and I understand being disappointed but come on this game is great. Yes it def has some problems but what game doesn't. This game is worth every penny I spent on it. NBA 2k12 is amazing screw the haters and the whiners pick this game up because you are missing out! Well done 2k sports again well done. I find it funny this game is this amazing and ppl will buy Madden yr after yr which doesn't improve on piss.

# 39 da ThRONe @ 12/06/11 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankdatazz22


	Okay some of you guys are getting ridiculous with the complaints. IT'S NO FAULT OF 2K'S THAT THERE'S NO COMPETITION. One competitor bowed out because of there just wasn't enough interest in the title (Sony's basketball game) and another produced a game that was so bad in comparison to 2K's that they had to take a few years off before attempting another game (EA's basketball game). 2K got to the point they're at now IN a competitive environment; it was the quality of the other titles which killed other NBA games being available. Yet you're complaining that if you want an NBA game you only have one choice. Maybe you as a consumer should've been more open to supporting these other titles so they could still be around. It's highly unrealistic to expect these games to increase in complexity and expect developers to get it completely right on a game's initial release. This isn't just a 2K12 issue, or a sports game issue. I've seen people complaining about pretty much every major release this year from Batman AC (missing codes/codes not working), Battlefield & MW3 (online issues, issues with new online services), Uncharted 3 (aiming issues), & Skyrim (people complaining of bugs in an expansive free-roam world). I guess I have a different perspective because I can remember playing MaddenXX with whatever rosters the game released with and accepting that was what you had to play with the entire year. There was no updating of rosters, let alone patches to tweak gameplay issues. People might not have liked it, but there wasn't a choice. And absent of choice we worked with what we were given. Now people are given so many additional options, that some gamers react indignantly if a game has issues at it's release. And blame developers for using patches, when imo it's gamers who's expectations have gotten way out of control/unrealistic.

I'm with you as far as I don't care about games needing to be patched to be a complete product. However the history with patches especially with sports games is the patch many times does just as much damage as good. The patched they released has already "broke" other things.

# 40 TreyIM2 @ 12/06/11 06:03 PM

While I really haven't been playing this game becuz the dust bunnies on it are now large and heavy enough to present a prob with me lifting the game off the shelf (heh), I will say that I was enjoying it for half a sec but whatever phantom and actual improvements to gameplay/controls were made were not enough glue to keep me stuck to playing it.

However, I will be making a return to it soon prior to the start of the season. I do have to agree with Jayson on the play running and passing although the passes did seem to get zippier after that one patch. As for that playcalling ish, seems like the only way to get the play to run is to stand EXACTLY DEAD CENTER of the circle. I lose 5-10 secs of play clock just trying to center myself in the damn circle. Smfh on that one.

Oh, and controls and player movement are still sloppy and not very intuitive but I do the best I can becuz the game can still be fun.

« Previous 12Next »

More Links