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

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
# 41 TexasFan2005 @ 05/06/15 09:23 AM
Instead of having replays trigger automatically, have the ability to press a button (R3) to trigger manual replays after a play; whether it be a scoring play, foul, travel, whatever.

TNT presentation & music is a must for primetime games. Have the generic broadcast presentation as well for added variety, and make it similar to a fox sports regular season broadcast. Please let 2k16 be there year for TNT in 2k. Live uses ESPN, so this would be a great chance for 2k
 
# 42 dubplate @ 05/06/15 10:23 AM
Removing the terrible comeback coding that makes the game unplayable would be an amazing start.
 
# 43 TotesMaGotes @ 05/06/15 10:34 AM
Crew, bring Crew back. That is really it... Crew, not blacktop, not blacktop disguised as another mode, bring crew back.
 
# 44 jamgreen9991 @ 05/06/15 12:10 PM
They should make shot blocking easier for legitimate shot blockers. Ex: when playing a season or franchise anthony Davis should really be able to average around 2.5 blocks a season.
Make double teaming more effective, as of now when you double it does virtually nothing to make the offensive player take tougher shots or turn the ball over. Also make double teaming react quicker on defense.
Revamp rebounding. I've played with the heat before in a season and I don't see how it's possible for Chris bosh to avoid 13 rebounds a game when he only gets 7 on average.
When playing multiple seasons I don't see any changes in signature skills from season to season. Based on players performances from the previous season sig skills should evolve or diminish.
More turnovers not just based on steals, like the real nba. Most teams avg about 7 to 8 steals a game but the average turn over a team has is about 14.
Make hard fouls effect the stamina of the players being fouled more. That way the enforcer badge actually means something.
Make players like Dennis Rodman on the bulls actually be able to get 15 rebounds a game during a season.
Make the charge card sig skill actually mean something when players continually drive to the hole.
More flagrant fouls during season play with it having a good chance to injure players.
Add playoff mode and all star mode.
 
# 45 redsox4evur @ 05/06/15 12:17 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dubplate
Removing the terrible comeback coding that makes the game unplayable would be an amazing start.
This has never been a feature in the game. Beluba (one of the devs) has to into these forums many a time and said that this so called comeback is NOT in the game.
 
# 46 sluknucks @ 05/06/15 12:38 PM
Please bring back online associations. I can't believe how madden can have connected franchise mode and we basketball fans can't have an online association modes BRING THEM BACK!!!
 
# 47 psyberkayos @ 05/06/15 01:41 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by teebee
Anthony Davis is actually not a good rim protector but we get the point
Unless I'm missing something, his exact words were: "guys who have the ability to block shots at the rim."
 
# 48 threattonature @ 05/06/15 02:05 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sluknucks
Please bring back online associations. I can't believe how madden can have connected franchise mode and we basketball fans can't have an online association modes BRING THEM BACK!!!
This is my number 1 want.
 
# 49 Bblade @ 05/06/15 02:46 PM
NBA 2K16 needs:

- Revamped sounds fx. The arena sound has been going in and out for years.
- Better floor spacing
- A better TV broadcast interface( GUI)/Mode, for example TNT, ESPN, or NBA TV
 
# 50 alpirik @ 05/06/15 03:11 PM
i would love to play sixth man in whole of my mycareer that is what i want to do. sixth man of the year. being a starter and playing 45mpg is ridicilious. one more thing to add: stop that 4th quarter ridiciolussness like the opposing team hitting everything
 
# 51 dsnyder336 @ 05/06/15 03:15 PM
Here is another idea.. The game comes out in October.. How about some new game play comments in Janruary with an update. So a game play in Janruary would get some added commentary during the game. That way the game stays fresh with commentary.
 
# 52 redsox4evur @ 05/06/15 03:18 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsnyder336
Here is another idea.. The game comes out in October.. How about some new game play comments in Janruary with an update. So a game play in Janruary would get some added commentary during the game. That way the game stays fresh with commentary.
You know hard something like that would be? That requires trying to bring in someone for at least a couple of days or weeks. And the guys that they are using for commentary are working national games. And don't have that much time to spend to updating commentary in a video game.
 
# 53 woshihuxingtan @ 05/06/15 05:59 PM
come on, the priority is to fix the movement lag and input delay in all online modes!
 
# 54 sluknucks @ 05/06/15 06:22 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by threattonature
This is my number 1 want.
I promise if 2k and EA could put there differences aside let 2k do the game development and use EA servers we would be golden
Wishful thinking
 
# 55 dante.holder @ 05/06/15 06:45 PM
Make the MyCareer cut scenes for last gen too.
 
# 56 woshihuxingtan @ 05/06/15 07:59 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by speedtrucker
I've always said, a huge "skip" factor is a broadcast that doesn't feel real. I can't stand Madden floating between the NFL channel and a quasi-CBS broadcast overlay/feel.

nba live has been super subpar but dang if I don't love the look and presentation of the dang game. FIFA 15 did it with the EPL, I'm a huge Real Madrid fan but both of my manager and player careers have been EPL because of the presentation package.

NCAA basketball and football were great to get that saturday feel with the full ESPN feel. throw in when basketball had both the ESPN AND CBS packages and broadcast views.

2k has great flowing commentary but it doesn't feel like a single broadcast I've watched. it feels like it is trying to find a medium between a few different ones. out. same with Madden, especially since you have the known NFC vs AFC coverage, nothing breaks my "reality" like playing Cowboys vs Bears on a sunday and it is this sorta-CBS broadcast. I'd even take Nantz and Simms but with a "fake" Fox style broadcast overlay if Madden stil refuses to bring in another broadcast crew to compliment Nantz/Simms not replace them. why not have a "Fox" and "CBS" style overlay, have the silly Fox Robot doing the game intro for Cowboys vs Redskins rather than this current strange intro that tells me its going to be an exciting matchup between two TEs today!

same for 2k, go TNT completely. get Chuck and Kenny, get the TNT overlays, get the whole NBA on TNT feel with pre-game, half-time, menu-"talking segments". that would bring it back to the real game feel.
Can't agree more!
 
# 57 woshihuxingtan @ 05/06/15 08:56 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by zrohman
I agree with these things but you missed some critical elements. Yes everyone will gripe about what you said buy:

1: defensive sliding. Enough said.

2: online lag. Enough said.

I won't nitpick outside of that. Yes it's frustrating that could are called at random in the post... But with the lag and defensive sliding playing d online, in the park, or even offline, is extremely difficult.. It's not just hard to PLAY defense, but to even move where you want to move.. That, random fouls and online lag are by far the biggest problems...

Crowd atmosphere is huge too. One category Live dod GREAT in this year. ( no live debates please)
That's the point! That's should be priority!
 
# 58 durantmi12 @ 05/06/15 09:56 PM
I would like to see longer defensive rebounds. for example, when a player shoots a 3 pointer, the odds are that the rebound will go further than just inside the paint
 
# 59 Ford74 @ 05/06/15 11:01 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsnyder336
Here is another idea.. The game comes out in October.. How about some new game play comments in Janruary with an update. So a game play in Janruary would get some added commentary during the game. That way the game stays fresh with commentary.

Great idea.
If there isn't a descent online league where my friends and I can play against each other as well as the cpu, I will not buy 2K16.
 
# 60 joosegoose @ 05/06/15 11:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by thedream2k16
1. Remove all CPU assist when it comes to on ball defense .

2. tone down the "glue" feeling when defenders feel magnetic to ballhandlers

3. Remove auto shot contesting its overpowered all someone has to do is put it on "always" and the shooter is handicapped even when defender isn't in good position to contest
I'm not sure I understand the difference between 1 and 3. Anyways regarding 3, why would you want an option completely removed? That sounds horrible, like if they were to remove a bunch of camera options because some are easier than others.

If you dislike the feature because it can be used/exploited at will online (no idea if this is true, just guessing) then I think you should be suggesting change in that department, e.g. restrictions on settings changes or "house rules" that can be agreed upon. I remember a thread where someone wanted to see the "who to guard" arrow completely removed, this complaint sounds very similar to that one.
 


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