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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
# 81 ShoeGameMike @ 05/11/15 09:56 AM
You know how in real life during the one minute time outs they take a commercial break have that, like with 2k's sponsers, State Farm sponsers 2K Show Like The Newest Cliff Paul Commercial That Would Be Pretty Amazing
 
# 82 EatableclownV @ 05/11/15 10:25 AM
Playoff or Finals mode.
 
# 83 JazzMan @ 05/11/15 02:04 PM
Offensive players need to move with urgency. Too many times players are jogging to spots, setting picks in slow motion, and coming off off-ball screens (when they're rarely set) slow. More urgency on the offensive end for players who don't have the ball is huge.
 
# 84 ItsJustaGame @ 05/11/15 04:44 PM
Better online servers.

Squad area on both sides of the court.

Decrease shooting percentages.

No shot meter whatsoever. Completely base shots off of quality, tendency, and skill.

Separate MyPark and Jordan Rec.

Jordan Rec leaderboards and records.

More stats during and throughout MyPark and Jordan Rec.

Place the most emphasis on Teammate Grade when leveling up your player's rep.

Decrease time for Hold Ball Too Long.

Require stamina to perform dribble moves, especially the dribble moves when holding the sprint button.

Private Jordan Rec Lobbies.

Jordan Rec tournaments built into the game for anyone to sign up and play.
 
# 85 Saro1 @ 05/11/15 06:03 PM
Ginobili, Crawford in myGm and myLeague are not six man, a way to improve this.
 
# 86 Bad_Intentions @ 05/11/15 07:37 PM
Rebounding needs work. Guards that rebound well in real life don't on the game. By default any center or PF is a good to great rebounder.
 
# 87 honjhv @ 05/12/15 03:00 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.
 
# 88 Parrish Knows @ 05/12/15 10:35 AM
Better Iso moves, and realistic behaviors.
 
# 89 TREIZE2K @ 05/12/15 02:25 PM
Bring back the D-League with real guys and make it to where if you send a rookie down there that they get better. Have all the shoes not the same ones that we have every year. Have all the NBA records in the game like winning streaks and losing streaks and best record and worst record. have us be able to play with the guys in the draft also have the draft combine in MyLeague , MyGM, and MyCareeer, just put whats in the NBA into the game.So bring back the D-Leauge Euro teams Also have it if you draft a foreign player you can choose to bring him to the NBA or keep him overseas. Real Life NBA to NBA2K16
 
# 90 KingTocco @ 05/12/15 03:00 PM
I would like a Notification Center if possible, be able to view you profile HUB by clicking the right stick or left stick, I know EA sports games have this. Also improve the VIP stats/HUB please!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
# 91 Jordanmike6 @ 05/12/15 04:58 PM
Court is too small and players are too big!!
Classic players are really really bad they don't look like to the real players: Larry bird for example (2k14 too)
Classic paint with old rule (without semi-circle)
Phil Jackson to coach retro Bulls
Horace Grant with blue googles only for magic 95 and not Bulls 91/93
 
# 92 CavsFanSteve @ 05/13/15 01:13 AM
How about bring back Situation Mode?
 
# 93 Jakeness23 @ 05/13/15 02:15 PM
If you're going to do a story in MyCareer... make multiple storylines or something so that people can have different experiences. It should be possible to not become a hall of famer. Maybe you turn into a career journeyman, maybe you're out of the league within 5 years, etc.
Make the controls less complex, there's almost TOO many options and half the time you don't do the right thing and I'm sorry, but I don't have hours on end to dedicate to practicing the controls. Make the CPU (the other team and your teammates) smarter and more aware... they do some pretty dumb stuff...
 
# 94 24ct @ 05/13/15 03:01 PM
Online Rec Lobbies.

It's so frustrating to have to wait 30 mins for a game only to have the other team get off and then wait another 20 for 5 guys to get on.

There should be a lobby for each rec and it should only hold 10 guys due to the servers being terrible. That way people can see who's in and how many players they need.

For example: I log into 2k. I go the the Rec Lobby. I see there are 4 guys on 1 spot waiting for 1 PG. I ask can I join them. They say cool. Then a squad of 5 sees there's a Rec with 5 players waiting for a game so they join in and game on.

I get the aspect of seeing the game and all that but everytime I get on I have 5 guys to play Rec and we always spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to get 1 game started. Now after there's usually teams waiting to play game after game, but it's to the point where it's out of control.

I don't care to see the other team play. There should at least be an OPTION for a Lobby so say I want to run Rec. I join a Rec Lobby and then go to the Park until there are 4 other guys if I don't have 5. Then the game says 'Rec Game About To Start' And I have the option to join or stay in the park. Simple.
 
# 95 AllStarDaDon @ 05/13/15 03:16 PM
Presentation! Crowd still sucks were to deep in the series to not have a crowd react properly to beautiful clutch NBA Basketball. To not react to last second game winners it's ridiculous, unacceptable and it really ruins game winners and the overall game. 4th Quarters just don't feel like 4th quarters.

Replays online! Pleaseeee man it sucks playing 48 minutes of sim basketball online(yes us sim players still exist) to not be able to look at full game highlights. I mean it's a video game right aren't highlights a big part of sports and sports video games? I also like to see my opponents highlights sucks when playing a quality player you can't even relieve the game after putting in 48 minutes of work just to get some freaking stats only stats come on.

Presentation online has been lacking For years.... Idk if it's because 2k servers never been stable enough but presentation online needs a huge overhaul.

The game wasn't bad this year but the presence of the online community has been the worst it's been in years. Especially if you're a sim players, you can never get a legit game in. Please bring lobbies Casual, default, sim HOF Pro AllStar etc. There should be sim lobbies for us sim players to get in a respectable game, I mean isn't this suppose to be a basketball simulation anyways? So let us play sim games without having to chase people down and text their personal cell phones asking if there free or in the mood for a game...

TNT presentation wouldn't be bad. I felt like they modeled their game after TNT for years but just never got the official license.
 
# 96 Neoprankster @ 05/13/15 05:31 PM
Bring back create a team with more customization options.

Cut the MyLeague and MyGM length down from 80 to 30 seasons.

For MyCareer, have a choice between 1st Round Pick, 2nd Round Pick or Undrafted Free Agent with each having different storylines.

Be able to import saves from previous year's game.
 
# 97 JazzMan @ 05/13/15 08:05 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neoprankster
Bring back create a team with more customization options.

Cut the MyLeague and MyGM length down from 80 to 30 seasons.

For MyCareer, have a choice between 1st Round Pick, 2nd Round Pick or Undrafted Free Agent with each having different storylines.

Be able to import saves from previous year's game.
Why cut the length down?
 
# 98 Clappington @ 05/13/15 09:37 PM
Bring Crew to next gen zero reason why its not in the game...stop trying to pass this freestyle street basketball game on us. We need to have our own team with jerseys and logo and arena.
 
# 99 jayman504 @ 05/13/15 10:24 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sWCG8Bhoe4


THIS right here...PLEASE for the love of god make my players bloody smarter!! This happens waaaaaayy to often in this game and it sucks.
 
# 100 cima @ 05/14/15 01:44 AM
Getting back to my request earlier of playoffs mode, allow us in Playoffs mode to choose the 16 teams freely rather than having to keep it 8 east vs 8 west.
 


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