NBA 2K16: Some Ideas On How to Improve the Series

Feature Article

Submitted on: 05/05/2015 by Danny Webster

NBA 2K15 was a good game. Very solid and still playable. In its first year operating with a full-year of a next-gen system, 2K delivered above expectations and provided glimmers of hope for what’s to come down the road.

That being said, it’s never too early to start looking at NBA 2K16.

When it comes to video games, of course there are those who will be left wanting more. It’s the nature of the beast. No one goes into a game’s release date thinking, "This is going to be the most perfect game ever." And if that’s true, then more power to you.

With that said, here are five things that could be done to improve the game next year and make it an all-around great experience, from both a playing and features standpoint.

Improve low-post defense

2K has tried to make this work in the past. It’s been better the last couple of years, but if you’re controlling the likes of Anthony Davis or DeAndre Jordan, more times than none you’ve been called for a foul going for a block.

There’s a large number of fouls being called on taller players who have the ability to block shots at the rim, especially on harder difficulties. It takes the fun out of having a Davis or Jordan because they could foul out in a matter of five minutes. 2K has made strides in making defense playable, but this is the next step. This isn’t to say players shouldn’t block shots every time someone attacks the rim, but there needs to be a balance.

Improve defensive rebounding

This goes hand-in-hand with the low-post defense, but it should not be so difficult to grab a defensive rebound.

For example: Last week, I witnessed a game where a friend played the Boston Celtics online against the Atlanta Hawks. There are people who would probably bet house money that Kelly Olynyk wouldn’t grab 12 offensive rebounds in a game against the likes of Paul Millsap and Al Horford, but who am I to tell you otherwise?

That did happen, and there were even moments Olynyk glitched inbetween the two and grabbed a rebound, followed with an and-1 putback. It’s unclear whether or not there’s a surefire way to fix this, but if so, it needs to be addressed.

Make MyTeam more affordable

MyTeam can be a ton of fun. But why in the world does it cost 8,000-9,000 VC to buy a pack with no guarantee of a great player?

2K did good by making an auction house, but that can get just as expensive if you don’t possess enough MT. The more packs you buy, the more likely you get a good player. But not everyone can afford to stay elite.

Make the packs go for 5,000 VC, and make it affordable for everyone. That’s how you appeal to the non-MyTeam audience and make it a more meaningful game mode.

Expand MyCareer

The story idea behind this year’s MyCareer was actually brilliant: an undrafted rookie who has to sign multiple 10-day contracts before getting a contract for the rest of the year. It was brilliant. But it can be better.

It appears Spike Lee might be having a hand in the MyCareer story in 2K16, and if that’s the case, it might be the best one yet. But there are features to be considered, like bringing back the Draft Combine or implement the NBA Summer League. There’s so much that can be done.

Chance to make presentation overhaul

With Steve Kerr now unavailable to do any color commentary ever again on 2K, this is the chance to do a complete overhaul on presentation.

It doesn’t need to be a drastic change by any means. The pregame show with Ernie Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal is fantastic. Even the pregame intros brought back the old days of NBA 2K3. But here’s a chance to implement more: Get Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith under contract and make it a TNT-based video game.

Kevin Harlan can still do the calls, or you can bring back Marv Albert from the NBA Live days. Or bring on both. And you can still have Clark Kellogg if you want. If EA Sports can go full-on ESPN with their presentation, why not up the ante and give TNT some love? They already have the best gameday coverage for the NBA out there.

This is a long shot, but it would be fantastic appeal.

And just for fun...

Fix the sliders

I mean, you can’t get everything you want. But this is still a dire need

NBA 2K16 Videos

Member Comments

# 221 videlsports @ 07/13/15 02:08 AM

If they make the shot meter more rewarding for getting space. Sometimes in the NBA you have like 1 second off the dribble to get open and shoot. The post game needs major improvements as far as fg percentage. Too many missed under the rim with a gimmie lay up by a big. Dribble penetration was decent but can be improved by quicker dribble move response by the ball handler.

# 222 xcvbh @ 07/14/15 11:12 AM

I really wish the career mode would go the route of year to year saves like MLB The Show. Probably might stay with 2k15 a year or two because I actually want to ho through a career. Still depends on 2k16's quality and whether it's worth starting over.

# 223 lil_smitty31 @ 07/14/15 05:11 PM

better create a player with realistic tattoos, better hairstyles, and headbands!

# 224 LingeringRegime @ 07/14/15 05:19 PM

Has coach mode be announced/revealed for 2K16?

# 225 Rockie_Fresh88 @ 07/14/15 08:33 PM

Many animations are too forced on the user . Loss of control , lack of response, I.E pressing the block button but big mam tries to charge instead .

Game looks great in motion but it needs to feel like basketball too

# 226 haloofduty @ 07/15/15 01:01 PM

On the player card they need to bring back when you led the league in a statistical category. I forgot which 2k it was but on the player card where awards are shown it showed when you led the league in scoring, rebounding ect. It also showed the year. That gave me a reason to try to lead the league in scoring ect.

They also need to add dunk contest and three point winners on the player card also. Whats the point of leading the league in certain stats and winning all star contest if you forgot you did it?

# 227 micdaduke21 @ 07/17/15 01:45 PM

A major issue for me with the 2k series is the lame random dressed ball boy in cargo pants and a hoodie standing under the basket holding a floor cleaner he just looks so out of place. So I guess the presentation bothers me, like the bench why don't the put back on there warm ups when there not in the game and add a few more seats for the assistant coaches. Then there the issue with the four people at the scoring table there should be way more reporters and scores at that table. What also bothers me is the net looks so fake and generic. Next is the fouls it seems like there's only reach ins and shooting fouls what about blocking, charging, loose ball, over the back and technical fouls? those are all a part of basketball and 2k neglects these things to make the experience more authentic.

# 228 DaKoKing @ 07/18/15 02:52 PM

My suggestions are related to MyCareer mode.

First, have a simulation slider setting specific to MC mode. The MC mode teammate AI plays absolutely moronic basketball. They all either dribble too much or shoot as soon as they get their hands on the ball.

Second, would be have a meeting with coaching staff option. The meeting could be used to suggest the strategy changes that you can't make within MC mode. So you can suggest you guys play uptempo ball, protect the paint, etc.

# 229 wizfan2 @ 07/18/15 08:21 PM

Like The SHOW can we get more updates in franchise mode when you are playing franchise games like at the end of every quarter. Just feel it adds to the emersion factor a great deal.

# 230 flo182 @ 07/19/15 06:55 AM

Random Draft Classes looks...

Those automatically created players look like they are from a 2003 video game. I understand that it's hard to make them look as good as the real guys but there soo much room for improvement. After a few years into MyLeague you start to wonder how many twin brothers are playing in the League because they all have the same faces....

Rookie Tendencies

Maybe give us some patterns for tendencies. E.g. tendencies for a shooter, a defensive big man etc. and use them for the automatically created players/rookies. Nobody wants to see a defensive big man shoot twenty 3's in a game when he has an F-Rating in shooting.

# 231 DaKoKing @ 07/20/15 07:51 AM

Another idea that doesn't even require coding is to create a PDF document that explains what the sliders actually do and host it on the 2K website. That way instead of just having people complain about the game you give them the ability to see if they can get a game setting that plays how they would like.

# 232 GSW @ 07/21/15 05:44 PM

This is vague and potentially was covered in the thread but,

I used to play MyTeam and I was excited to get a "Ruby" Dennis Rodman, arguably one of if not the greatest rebounder of the 90's and im expecting this dude to out hustle and get every rebound and well you know where this story goes.

It would be nice if players, especially legendary players somewhat performed how they did in real life, in game.

It's a lot more than just making him a 99 rebounding, because the way the game works now there's no real "hustle" aspect to any players, there's a rating sure, but the animations aren't there to dictate that type of aggressiveness.

As a piggy back, aggressiveness all over the board can be applied, not just rebounding, defensive aggressiveness by the CPU is basically non-existent, still feels like a lot of standing around and waiting and not enough pressure put on you that could potentially cause you to make a mistake.

# 233 rheylew @ 07/22/15 11:55 AM

I'm actually quite tired of these incremental updates each year, this is beginning to feel like EA Sports. What happened to big ideas and true innovation?? Here's just a few ideas I've had over the years:

- 3 point contest and in-game free throw shooting via actual hand/arm shooting movements via ps4 cam or kinect ala kinect sports.

- During timeouts/halftime, the coach actually gives you audible coaching advice based on the current game and situation...."LeBron is too open on the wing guys, let's close that down...Westbrook is getting into the lane at will..where's our defense? Steph is killing us from 3, double him as soon as he get's the ball!..." something like that

- A MyCoach mode where you're literally the coach. Again, utilizing the PS4 cam or the Kinect to track your head and body movement, you would see the game in 1st person from the sidelines. You sit down, the view changes, you stand up and move left to right, the view changes. You could yell out plays, call timeouts, look down the bench to make substitutions, argue calls made by the ref, try not to get techs, etc...

- Please bring back the pump fake - step under - initiate foul animation

- Please also bring back the ease at which it used to be to change your shot midair, with the right players of course..

- While we're on that topic, more AND 1'S

- Ability to argue bad calls, but up to a certain point as you would risk getting a tech. The flip side is that the ref will now be on the lookout for that type of call next time and it may go the other way..

- Fantasy Basketball- ability to monitor your Fantasy basketball players in real time via Yahoo Sports or ESPN. Let's say I'm playing a regular exhibition game, I want a ticker to show one of my players (Steph Curry) just hit a 3 in a real game and gave me +5 fantasy points or however your fantasy rules are set, and I could hit a button to bring up a translucent overlay with all my fantasy stats updating in real time.

- Actual Halftime/Post Show that goes in depth on the current game, highlights, mistakes, etc...The best Halftime Show to date is still ESPN NFL 2K5, and look how old that technology was.

- Key Player halftime and post game speeches. If this happens to be your MyPlayer or Created Player, give us the ability to record the 20 or so different speeches in OUR own voice and/or let us create some additional ones.

- Lastly, get rid of all those little micro-transactions in the game. I get it makes the company extra money, but it seems greedy and disrespectful that it's implied we should spend more than the $60 we already paid to enjoy the game in it's entirety. We should have the ability to unlock items in a timely manor conducive with playing the game.

# 234 jk31 @ 07/22/15 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rheylew


	- Lastly, get rid of all those little micro-transactions in the game. I get it makes the company extra money, but it seems greedy and disrespectful that it's implied we should spend more than the $60 we already paid to enjoy the game in it's entirety. We should have the ability to unlock items in a timely manor conducive with playing the game.

No need for buying anything in this game. Have not given 2k a single cent after buying the game and had no problem anywhere. You get tons of VC just by playing the game...

# 235 Boilerbuzz @ 07/27/15 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rheylew


	I'm actually quite tired of these incremental updates each year, this is beginning to feel like EA Sports. What happened to big ideas and true innovation?? Here's just a few ideas I've had over the years: - 3 point contest and in-game free throw shooting via actual hand/arm shooting movements via ps4 cam or kinect ala kinect sports. - During timeouts/halftime, the coach actually gives you audible coaching advice based on the current game and situation...."LeBron is too open on the wing guys, let's close that down...Westbrook is getting into the lane at will..where's our defense? Steph is killing us from 3, double him as soon as he get's the ball!..." something like that - A MyCoach mode where you're literally the coach. Again, utilizing the PS4 cam or the Kinect to track your head and body movement, you would see the game in 1st person from the sidelines. You sit down, the view changes, you stand up and move left to right, the view changes. You could yell out plays, call timeouts, look down the bench to make substitutions, argue calls made by the ref, try not to get techs, etc... - Please bring back the pump fake - step under - initiate foul animation - Please also bring back the ease at which it used to be to change your shot midair, with the right players of course.. - While we're on that topic, more AND 1'S - Ability to argue bad calls, but up to a certain point as you would risk getting a tech. The flip side is that the ref will now be on the lookout for that type of call next time and it may go the other way.. - Fantasy Basketball- ability to monitor your Fantasy basketball players in real time via Yahoo Sports or ESPN. Let's say I'm playing a regular exhibition game, I want a ticker to show one of my players (Steph Curry) just hit a 3 in a real game and gave me +5 fantasy points or however your fantasy rules are set, and I could hit a button to bring up a translucent overlay with all my fantasy stats updating in real time. - Actual Halftime/Post Show that goes in depth on the current game, highlights, mistakes, etc...The best Halftime Show to date is still ESPN NFL 2K5, and look how old that technology was. - Key Player halftime and post game speeches. If this happens to be your MyPlayer or Created Player, give us the ability to record the 20 or so different speeches in OUR own voice and/or let us create some additional ones.

No offense, but if they implemented that list, you'd still call the game an incremental update. There's nothing groundbreaking on that list.

Quote:


	Lastly, get rid of all those little micro-transactions in the game. I get it makes the company extra money, but it seems greedy and disrespectful that it's implied we should spend more than the $60 we already paid to enjoy the game in it's entirety. We should have the ability to unlock items in a timely manor conducive with playing the game.

Name 1 Triple-A sport title that doesn't have micro-transactions or purchasable DLC... Ready to stop buying video games altogether?

# 236 Rockie_Fresh88 @ 07/27/15 05:50 AM

A collision system and the toning down of baseline animations http://gfycat.com/GregariousJadedAmazonparrot

# 237 Chemthethriller @ 07/27/15 07:03 AM

Could we between rec and park games (after winning) just have free gym mode on the court (like in real life) while we wait for the the next "got next team"?

# 238 swac07 @ 07/27/15 07:46 AM

I just wish your players would react to loose balls and rebounds better.....its quite irritating watching your teammates just stand there after you tipped the ball and the cpu picks it up in an instant.

Also reward good defense the cpu gets bailed out ALOT if you play good defense ...phantom blocking foul calls/animations if the cpu runs out of options on offense with less than 5 secs on the shot clock cmon now..

Lastly, I know every pass in real life isnt 100 percent,but cmon now why does the passing mechanic choose the worst possible passing option for just pressing "a on xbox one"/"x on ps4"????.....if im passing to a big man cutting inside and its a mismatch height wise why does it automatically choose a bounce pass then the ball bounces off the defender and they recover it when if the pass wouldve picked an overhead pass the big man wouldve had position to score......fix that logic and those issues and 2k would be less frustrating and more enjoyable imo

# 239 hesko @ 07/28/15 04:25 AM

refine player movement.
1. how they catch certain passes or turn to catch certain passes.
2. contextual passes. different outlet pass animations.
3. how they pick up loose balls. 4. how ball handlers come up the court. (lebron brings the ball up different than kyrie/steph/drose)
5. make collision detection, steps, player position on the floor matter.
6. kyrie needs a layup package/ give him the abilty to finish at the rim like he does irl. switching hands to avoid the defense.

# 240 georgiafan @ 07/28/15 07:05 PM

I didn't my read the thread but the ability to draft foreign players and stash them in the euro league for a few years

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