NBA 2K16's Keys To Success - Operation Sports

Feature Article

NBA 2K16's Keys To Success

Submitted on: 08/06/2015 by Jeremy Chisenhall

NBA 2K16 will be the third basketball title released by 2K Sports on this generation of consoles. The developers will be looking to improve and stabilize this series, and there is no doubt that the hype for NBA 2K16 is very high. With news continuing to release about new modes, improved gameplay, and enhanced visuals, 2K is continuing to boost the hype as we move towards a late-September release. That being said, let's take a look at what I think are the five keys that will ensure NBA 2K16 is a success this season.

1. Servers

Let's get the most obvious one out of the way first. In the previous two editions of the NBA 2K series, online play has been a disgrace, especially immediately after the initial release. Just about all of NBA 2K's game modes require an internet connection (including the new MyLeague online), so therefore servers will have to be up to par with the demand for online play this year. If gamers have to deal with the server issues that have plagued this series in the past, more and more people will have a negative outlook on NBA 2K16, and thus, the franchise as a whole.

2. Pro-Am Needs To Be As Good As Advertised

The Pro-Am game mode that has been revealed for this year's title looks incredible. All basketball fans love the idea of completely customizing a team's court and jerseys. This will give fans of the series an opportunity to create the look of any team, real or fictional, that is not in the NBA. To make it even better, the Pro-Am offers real NBA basketball gameplay, which is music to the ears of those who could not stand the extremely unrealistic gameplay of MyPark last year. 2K claims that games will start quickly, and there won't be waiting times like we experienced in NBA 2K15. All of this sounds great, and if 2K Sports can really deliver on this game mode, it will please all fans of the series.

3. MyCareer Needs To Be Authentic, Not Corny

Anyone who has played MyCareer the last two years knows that the game mode, while showing great potential, has had issues involving the storyline. Often you will hear that it was too scripted, and too cheesy or corny. The plan to have Spike Lee write and direct this year's storyline leaves everyone hopeful that the cheesy scripts will be gone for good this year. With what has been revealed so far, it appears that we will be able to select a college to go to and build our career from there. Hopefully, this means we have multiple options and multiple paths to take throughout our player's career that could significantly affect our player in the long run. If Lee is able to capture authentic emotion, and design realistic cutscenes for our players to be a part of off the court while the gameplay is sound on the court, this game mode will live up to the expectations that fans of the series have had for it since the series moved to new consoles.

4. MyLeague Online

Partly due to the server issues in NBA 2K15, MyLeague became a very popular game mode last year. It was essentially an offline franchise mode that gave you control over the league, and it was a lot of fun to play. This year MyLeague online is looking as though it will be an online franchise type of game mode, which is a mode that has become very popular in other sports titles. If the servers hold up, and this game mode is consistently playable, we will finally have a mode that allows us to build our own version of the NBA with our friends (or fellow OS'ers). If the servers work well, this mode could become a bread and butter feature for NBA 2K.

5. Gameplay

Last, but certainly not least, gameplay has to be good in this game. It really goes without saying, but there have been some complaints about the gameplay on this generation of consoles, especially when compared to some of the last-gen efforts. The biggest concern seems to be in the paint, specifically with post play and rebounding. We have seen tweets from 2K staff members confirming that they have been working on the paint play, so hopefully there will be enough changed to get the gameplay back at its best once again.

NBA 2K16 will be here before we know it, and many sports gamers are excited about its release. Personally, I can't wait either. The game has high expectations, but if we get what we have been promised from 2K, then there is no doubt that NBA 2K16 will be an outstanding game.

NBA 2K16 Videos

Member Comments

# 41 JazzCeltics @ 08/16/15 05:58 PM

I really hope NBA2K16 has less cheese than NBA2K15, but I'm going to be happy nonetheless.

# 42 cmsky80 @ 08/16/15 11:13 PM

The ability to download community sliders. Penalizing players that exploit ratings. Increase the number of "mistakes" so the game plays more like a real one. Improve class teams. Focus on online play

# 43 Trackball @ 08/16/15 11:19 PM

NBA 2K, to me, is like Avatar: The Last Airbender.*

It has its ups and downs, yeah, but not once have I ever thought "this thing sucks." At its worst, it's still pretty darn good.

(And if you haven't seen that cartoon by now, get the DVDs. There's a reason it's so highly-regarded. It is THAT good.)

*Movie? What movie? There was no movie.

# 44 BDM313 @ 08/18/15 10:32 AM

Presentation Needs To Be Revamped And Servers Up To Par. Can't Wait To See What's In Store For Us 2K Fans

# 45 b1baller @ 08/18/15 12:12 PM

Gameplay and Eliminating "Cheese"

# 46 Pokes404 @ 08/18/15 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackball


	NBA 2K, to me, is like Avatar: The Last Airbender.* It has its ups and downs, yeah, but not once have I ever thought "this thing sucks." At its worst, it's still pretty darn good. (And if you haven't seen that cartoon by now, get the DVDs. There's a reason it's so highly-regarded. It is THAT good.) *Movie? What movie? There was no movie.

Oh man, I thought you were talking about the movie for a second. I was thinking to myself "Worst ... Analogy ... Ever" lol. Yes, the TV show is very well done, and I'm not much of a fan of animated TV/movies.

Well, I think I've officially de-railed this thread enough ... carry on everyone haha.

# 47 gremdog8 @ 08/18/15 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackball


	As a guy who likes to play a Moses Malone type in MyCareer: As long as we don't end up averaging 30 boards a game in that mode again despite putting NOTHING into the Rebounding attributes, I'm good.

You can seriously have your rebounding at 50 for offensive and defensive and average 20 boards or more on 2k15. All you gotta do is box out cause you know the ball goes no more than 2 feet away from the rim off a miss shot. I have said it in other past forums and seen other OS users as well state it, need LONG rebounds, tip outs like noah/chandler for example do. Don't know how this was not noticeable during last years development cycle but it has been a thing 2k has never really got right imo.

# 48 kolkmania @ 08/19/15 05:55 AM

Personally, I don't really care for online modes like MyTeam and such. Occasionally I play some Quick Games online, but that's it. Recap shows are extras for me, gameplay is by far the most important thing.

1. Different passing animations. Some plays include hand-offs, due to the lack of this animation the play's flow stops and kills the flow of the offense. In addition I would love to see a pocket pass in combination with a sliding screener.

2. Spacing. I don't know it is because of the movement of the big men or the actual size of the court, but the help defense of the weak side is so quick. The most efficient way to defend is to put the PoE to "Protect the Paint" and manually closeout the shooters. When the shooter pulls op a three pointer, the defender is 90% of the time in his face. Due to the bumping it isn't possible to attack the closeout and slash for an lay up attempt.

3. Players movement. I want to see an explicit difference between players like Westbrook and e.g. Hibbert, guards should be able to blast past static big men. Hell, even in transition I can't see a clear difference.

These are the three key things for succes to me. There are some little things that need to be tweaked or added:

1. Post Fadeaway, no explanation needed. Every big men that receives the ball (even near the 3-point line) fades and hits the shot. Really, really annoying.
2. Addition of tutorials. I want to be able to improve my post offense, let me train my post moves with e.g. Okafor or dribble moves with Curry.
3. Rebounding, stats are just unimportant. Every big men is able to rebound, somehow stats need to affect their rebounding skills.
4. Hop before shooting. When I choose a floppy play for Thompson or Green, I want them to shoot the ball immediately after they receive the ball without turning the shot in an impossible fader.
5. Blocks. They should occur more often and the shots need to be blocked with force, not the weak touches. Playing with Poke's sliders improves the blocking, but it still needs some tweaking in my opinion.
6. MyGM is way to easy, every young player improves to fast and every old player declines to fast. MyLeague is fine, but it misses a lot of content in comparison with MyGM.

There are probably many other things that needs to be improved that I can't think of right now. For clarification, I loved(!!) the game this year. Played the game throughout a whole year and with the constant patching and custom sliders the game is great. I hope NBA Live gives 2K some competition this year, so they keep improving the game!

# 49 hesko @ 08/19/15 11:57 AM

i wonder if there will be the same complaints come 2k19. i kinda feel like they should go for the kill tho. i also wonder how much stuff they actually add/take out before they get to the copy that we get to purchase.

# 50 spoofrice11 @ 08/21/15 02:33 PM

Anyone know if you can turn off AutoSave this year (deal breaker for me)?
And if Coach Mode is back?

Thanx.

# 51 jyod21 @ 08/21/15 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoofrice11


	Anyone know if you can turn off AutoSave this year (deal breaker for me)? And if Coach Mode is back? Thanx.

In MyLeague, you can turn off autosave. Not sure about GM or Career, though.

# 52 spoofrice11 @ 08/21/15 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyod21


	In MyLeague, you can turn off autosave. Not sure about GM or Career, though.

I haven't bought a game for a few years.
Which mode is the Franchise Mode now (just play offline)?

# 53 JohnnyCash2015 @ 08/21/15 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoofrice11


	I haven't bought a game for a few years. Which mode is the Franchise Mode now (just play offline)?

My league is franchise, there's no auto save starting this year

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

# 54 sleepyshotta @ 08/21/15 05:51 PM

In MyCareer mode I want to be able to find out how many team fouls my team has.

Youtube.com/sleepynate718
Twitter.com/ryanjnate

# 55 BluFu @ 08/21/15 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoofrice11


	I haven't bought a game for a few years. Which mode is the Franchise Mode now (just play offline)?

Good year to be back spoof

MyLeague & MyGM (Franchise) Info

# 56 spoofrice11 @ 08/22/15 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluFu


	Good year to be back spoof MyLeague & MyGM (Franchise) Info

Looks like it will be a good year. I didn't have time to read all of that yet, but looks neat, especially moving and changing teams (I always did that on Madden). I think I will get a new system and buy NBA 2k16 and Madden. Not sure whether I should get a PS4 or Xone yet.

- Anyone know if Coach Mode is back? I like to play some with other guys to help their stats but let it on coach mode for a while while I do other things.

# 57 BluFu @ 08/22/15 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoofrice11


	Looks like it will be a good year. I didn't have time to read all of that yet, but looks neat, especially moving and changing teams (I always did that on Madden). I think I will get a new system and buy NBA 2k16 and Madden. Not sure whether I should get a PS4 or Xone yet. - Anyone know if Coach Mode is back? I like to play some with other guys to help their stats but let it on coach mode for a while while I do other things.

From the blog

Quote:


	SimCast Live, in a nutshell, is the hybrid version of simulating a game and playing it. It�s a coach mode for the armchair quarterback. In a true game cast fashion, you will watch representational �chips� of the players move around the court in real-time. You won�t be controlling player movement, but instead, you�ll be pulling ALL of the strings. You�ll be calling plays on both ends of the court. You�ll be making substitutions as needed. You�ll be making POE and strategy changes as needed. In order to get through games quicker, you will be able to adjust the speed of the simulation on-the-fly from real-time speed all the way to up to 6x the normal speed.

# 58 spoofrice11 @ 08/23/15 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluFu


	From the blog

That doesn't sound promising for Coach Mode being back. Why do they take out good features that old games have?
I put a game on letting it play some without subbing to pad a players stats and then I play part of it scoring a bunch with that player I want to have better stats. (Say Durant is only averaging 22 points a game in a year of my franchise and I want him closer to 30, so I want to get him 50 in a game. Or the top PG is averaging 8.5 assists, I'd get in and try to get him 20 asts to help that. But I don't want to play for the whole hour of another team's game.)

# 59 BluFu @ 08/23/15 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoofrice11


	That doesn't sound promising for Coach Mode being back. Why do they take out good features that old games have? I put a game on letting it play some without subbing to pad a players stats and then I play part of it scoring a bunch with that player I want to have better stats. (Say Durant is only averaging 22 points a game in a year of my franchise and I want him closer to 30, so I want to get him 50 in a game. Or the top PG is averaging 8.5 assists, I'd get in and try to get him 20 asts to help that. But I don't want to play for the whole hour of another team's game.)

It's basically the old coach mode but you can now speed up parts of the game (or skip quarters/deadballs). If you need another way to pad a guy's stats, a good way to do it is in the coaching settings. You can set (for example) Durant as the first scoring option & he'll take more shots. You can also increase the offensive tempo in the coaching setting to get guys higher APG. If those don't work, then you could even try increasing the shooting tendency or passing ratings for the specific guy(s).

« Previous 1 23Next »

More Links