NBA 2K14: My GM Virtual Currency Rewards Slashed by 40%

Feature Article

Submitted on: 03/21/2014 by Jayson Young

Earlier this week, NBA 2K14 quietly installed a server-side update that has reduced the amount of virtual currency PlayStation 4 and Xbox One gamers receive for completing owner goals in the My GM game mode.

All season milestones which had previously awarded 200 VC and 250 VC, such as selling out 32 home games or winning the NBA championship, will now yield just 100 VC once they are completed.

It is unclear whether this reduction is a temporary, unintentional bug or a permanent "fix" designed to curb the productivity of virtual currency "farmers."

Forum speculation supports that second theory, as developer Visual Concepts is undoubtedly aware that NBA 2K14's most popular user-created roster file, "Youtube: Doogshere," currently has 356,488 downloads on the PlayStation 4 -- almost twice the amount of the next most popular roster, "Official w/Transactions 3/19" (186,601 downloads).

The latter file's creator, iTofutastic, has been offering up-to-date transactions alongside the 2013-2014 NBA season. His foil, TheDoooogs, has simply placed Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, Julius Erving, Karl Malone, Shaquille O'Neal and Bill Russell onto the Oklahoma City Thunder, while tossing every other team's superstar players into free agency.

Prior to this week, simulating a season with the "Youtube: Doogshere" roster would typically produce 1,850 VC:

200 VC -- Sell out 32 home games.
200 VC -- Finish first in division.
200 VC -- Finish first in conference.
200 VC -- Reach top 10 in attendance.
200 VC -- Don't let team chemistry drop below 67%.
100 VC -- Sweep your playoff opponent.
200 VC -- Reach the conference finals.
250 VC -- Win the NBA championship.
100 VC -- Release or trade Karl Malone.
100 VC -- Hire an assistant GM with the recruiter badge.
100 VC -- Hire an assistant coach with a "B" or better defense rating.

Now that all goals give 100 VC, regardless of their difficulty, a typical season's earnings have dropped to just 1,100 VC.

This week's My GM changes are not the first time that Visual Concepts has adjusted NBA 2K14's in-game reward systems. What's alarming, is how every change the company has made thus far has negatively impacted the game's fans.

Back in January, Visual Concepts decided to alter My Team's Domination mode so that team card packs could only be earned once. During NBA 2K14's first two months on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, gamers could replay Domination games and continue earning team packs endlessly. That sudden change drew pages of criticism from upset My Team players.

My Team's gold tournament rewards have also declined in value since NBA 2K14 launched, as the 5,200 My Team points you could have earned during the game's opening months have now diminished to 4,500 MT.

Most upsetting, is how Visual Concepts continues to tilt NBA 2K14's economy while ignoring actual game issues like players with no shot feedback, disappearing player contracts and dysfunctional signature skills.

Whereas developers like Turn 10 Studios, makers of Forza Motorsport 5, were quick to pacify the public's outcry that a $60 retail game could employ free-to-play mechanics, unnecessary paywalls and an unbalanced marketplace, Visual Concepts, at least for NBA 2K14, seems content to ignore its critics and continue mining its newfound streams of real currency.

Do you believe that NBA 2K14's reward system is playing fair or committing a foul? Make the call in the comments below.

NBA 2K14 Videos

Member Comments

# 81 ThePowerGranger @ 03/23/14 12:10 AM

Wish they made the new games for the old consoles

# 82 knick9 @ 03/23/14 12:32 AM

Still no word from the 2K hype men about this? At least they keep us updated on important things like their tourney bracket!

# 83 Smirkin Dirk @ 03/23/14 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knick9


	Still no word from the 2K hype men about this? At least they keep us updated on important things like their tourney bracket!

and which 5th rate ****ing celebrity they'll shoehorn into the ****ing game somehow

# 84 Mikethemidget @ 03/23/14 08:51 AM

How about you get a salary in mygm, so other day, you get a payout, based on how well you do. So get rid of goals and add in salary, and same with mycareer, you start by getting 500 vc, and if you do well you get a raise.

# 85 dre2 @ 03/23/14 09:25 AM

This burns me a lot, how is this anything but a slap in the face to fans of the series?

# 86 KyotoCarl @ 03/23/14 01:32 PM

Seriously. Why have they done this? I thought this article was about them slashing the VC prices, which would've been logical since it's not balanced. But slashing how much VC you GET is totally unacceptable.

# 87 RayZLAL @ 03/23/14 01:44 PM

I stopped playing myteam since can't open packs as frequently

# 88 WTF @ 03/23/14 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyotoCarl


	Seriously. Why have they done this? I thought this article was about them slashing the VC prices, which would've been logical since it's not balanced. But slashing how much VC you GET is totally unacceptable.

And all of the registered Development Team has been on the forum since this article. .. yet... crickets. I may be wrong, but I am almost positive I've seen them lurking.

# 89 The 24th Letter @ 03/23/14 02:28 PM

I keep seeing the dev team brought up...the dev team makes these decisions? I'd be surprised if that were he case...

# 90 knick9 @ 03/23/14 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The 24th Letter


	I keep seeing the dev team brought up...the dev team makes these decisions? I'd be surprised if that were he case...

Just waiting for anyone to acknowledge the change. It's just like that song "say something, I'm giving up on you" ha.

# 91 WTF @ 03/23/14 02:54 PM

Of course they don't make the decision, but you'd think with it being pointed out, they'd mention"why" the change.

# 92 knick9 @ 03/23/14 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTF


	Of course they don't make the decision, but you'd think with it being pointed out, they'd mention"why" the change.

They didn't just hurt people who sim, now MyGM isn't even worth legitimately playing. Are they making that concession?

# 93 Heroesandvillains @ 03/23/14 03:06 PM

Please change the title to this article.

I bypassed it originally thinking this was a sale. Glad I came in now.

These shady development practices need to stop and this article needs more attention.

# 94 The 24th Letter @ 03/23/14 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knick9


	Just waiting for anyone to acknowledge the change. It's just like that song "say something, I'm giving up on you" ha.

Don't get me wrong, i'm with you...I would just expect this from Ronnie or LD2k....as they are public relations....not the development team. It'd be like asking the food preparers at McDonalds why the price of the double cheeseburger went up....

# 95 Jakeness23 @ 03/23/14 04:25 PM

Yeah I gave up on this game in like January because I can't stand the VC crap. No way am I going to shell out even MORE money on micro-transactions when I already dropped $60 to buy the game in the first place. Not to mention the game was missing so many features, and to have to pay earned VC to set your lineup? Are you serious? BTW, GMs don't set the lineup, so you guys might want to change the name of that game mode back to just the Association. Doesn't really matter to me though as I won't be buying 2K15. if I do succumb to it, it will be used and cheap, either way, 2K won't get any money from me. I'm sick of the hype and final product not even coming close to matching each other.

# 96 Luis241989 @ 03/23/14 05:09 PM

Great article! Glad u acknowledged this 2k shot themselves in the foot this year i just got rid of the game its unplayable unless u give them your credit card number and with all the bugs this game has i will be skipping 2k15 this is the perfect time for live to bring out a playable product this october.

# 97 kjjnesb @ 03/23/14 06:07 PM

How insanely arrogant of 2K. They know the playoffs are coming about and are looking to take advantage of people that get the 2K itch smh.

Shame the major gaming media won't take 2K to task over this.

# 98 Smith146 @ 03/23/14 06:34 PM

I'm going to contact ign and gamespot and forward them this article. I doubt either would write something but you never know

# 99 Vni @ 03/24/14 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTF


	Of course they don't make the decision, but you'd think with it being pointed out, they'd mention"why" the change.

Because like Steve Nash, they want the money.

# 100 SPRINGS03 @ 03/24/14 04:45 AM

Eh, honestly i'm sure part of the reason they did this is because they know their fanbase will buy it anyway(similar to the COD fanbase). Let's be honest here, how many of you people complaining are gonna impulsively shell out money for 2k15 next year and then complain about things they don't fix? They probably realize they don't need to really try and i doubt they care much about improving the game when they know they'll still make a good profit anyway. The last 2k i bought before 2k14 was 2k11. 2k12 and 2k13 i bought used purposely so 2k would not get any of my profit, and i'll probably be doing it next year. If i don't find a used copy i just won't buy it. I'm in the minority though. Most people forget whatever gripes they had when they see whatever trailer 2k puts out all of a sudden they're like "OH MAH GOD MANE, DIS DA BEST LOOKING THING I EVER SEEN, I GOTTA THROW MY MONEY AT 2K CUZ I'M IMPULSIVE AND HAVE TO PLAY DIS MAN". It's sad really. For all the complaints 2k got about 2k14 this year, it won't mean a thing if they still sell well. As a matter of fact it'll prove that they don't have to try and people will buy anything(it's not like there's much of a choice, there's 2 NBA basketball games out and 1 is sooo bad that it makes 2k a game that's ok but needs a lot of work, look like the god of bball games).

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