Home
Feature Article
NBA 2K16's MyCAREER Details and the Influence of Spike Lee

When two powers collide, often times the ramifications are so great that someone -- or something -- ends up getting hurt in the process.

But when the powers collide to create one of the most intriguing collaborations known in the sports gaming industry, it becomes a potential win-win for everyone. This is what we’re hopefully about to get with Spike Lee’s #BeTheStory MyCAREER mode in NBA 2K16.

Lee is famous for his parading courtside at New York Knicks games, decked out in blue and orange from head to toe. His characteristics and youthful exuberance become water cooler chatter for any NBA fan. So when it’s time to translate those characteristics to the forefront of the critically acclaimed NBA 2K franchise, what comes out?

The ultimate version of “He Got Game.” Or perhaps, “You Got Game.”

Jeff Thomas, vice president of sports development at Visual Concepts, the studio behind NBA 2K, first met Lee at the NBA 2K15 launch party. The two spoke for only a brief moment, but one thing was clear: Lee wanted to be involved with NBA 2K.

“I want to tell a story, but one that starts at the very beginning with somebody young and on the way up,” Lee told Thomas. “When he makes it (to the NBA), I’m done.”

“Spike is an incredible storyteller, and he has an incredible passion for basketball,” said Thomas. “This story is a departure of what we’re used to doing. This is a true story with an added edge.”

And if the story is a shift from what NBA 2K is used to delivering, the production also changed just as much. Lee calls MyCAREER a “movie.” The director wrote every line of the mode’s dialogue. He casted each of the cutscene actors. He chose specific cameras to be used for filming. He made everyone start the day with a dance party (for real, though). He refused to use anything but a light blue sharpie pen. He did it all, just as he did when he originally filmed “He Got Game” in 1997.

“Making these two worlds come together -- the technology of 3-D and Spike’s world of filming, lighting and backgrounds -- was a huge challenge,” Thomas continued. “It was a tough year for our team, but it paid off. We put tons of effort into this content.”

The film starts in a high school setting, with the star preparing to make his mark on the game of basketball. The gym setting will give you flashbacks to the glory days, enjoying the painted bricks being covered by District Championships. From there, you’ll make your college choice. Visual Concepts licensed 10 major colleges for the game (Texas is the only one confirmed). Next up is the NBA Draft.

Along the way to that point is the real ride, and 90-minutes worth of cutscenes. #BeTheStory is about the consequence of making bad choices and risking it all when you feel like you have nothing to lose. Lee leaves no stone unturned when telling his story, which includes all of the drama of being a basketball star on the rise. From family, friends, business and teammates, chaos will surround you. There were even lines in the initial trailer removed at the NBA’s request, though they weren’t cut from the game itself. The story apparently gets that real. It’s Spike Lee, guys.

“You can’t go to someone like Spike Lee and put him in a box,” Thomas said. “He’s telling the story the way he wants to express it. It’s an engaging story...it makes you feel alive.”

So it will be up to you to decide how you want to live out your career. Each decision will have consequences. Good or bad.


NBA 2K16 Videos
Member Comments
# 21 DustinT @ 09/14/15 02:42 PM
You WILL play HS and college games.
 
# 22 Taer @ 09/14/15 02:54 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DustinT
You WILL play HS and college games.
Can we chose different high schools, or are we all going to be inner city Brooklyn kids?
 
# 23 HowDareI @ 09/14/15 04:13 PM
I'm gonna assume, as of now, that after you get drafted or you're in the NBA or whatever, you go into the 2K story. So it'll probably recall past things from Spike's story but be directed by someone else?

If that's the case I hope it's not too drastic where we actually get a gritty story in the beginning and a Disney tale with corny agents and what have you afterwards.
 
# 24 Shadymamba @ 09/15/15 04:00 PM
Damn reading this gave me chills LOL - sounds sweet!!!!
 
# 25 swac07 @ 09/15/15 04:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DustinT
You WILL play HS and college games.
Yup i cant wait for this game!!!

Sent from my Illudium Q-36 Space Modulator using Tapatalk
 
# 26 MontanaMan @ 09/15/15 04:45 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DustinT
You WILL play HS and college games.
When are you allowed to talk about this officially?
 
# 27 JJFurr29 @ 09/15/15 04:55 PM
Wonder if we get to play in Summer League?
 
# 28 DblocW @ 09/15/15 05:12 PM
Hmmm hmmmm and Hmmmm
 
# 29 Swipe7 @ 09/16/15 07:57 AM
This Frequency Vibrations nickname is enough for me to not play it. Y'all promise full customization of so much stuff then you pull this bull......c'mon 2k, every year its always something up with y'all. If I can change my nickname lemme know now.
 
# 30 trekfan @ 09/16/15 08:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swipe7
This Frequency Vibrations nickname is enough for me to not play it. Y'all promise full customization of so much stuff then you pull this bull......c'mon 2k, every year its always something up with y'all. If I can change my nickname lemme know now.
You can change that name, according to this article (good read, too).

Quote:
Your character—who doesn't have to be called Frequency Vibrations; you can name him whatever you want—begins the story as a high school basketball superstar. That's right, you'll get a chance to play high school games in NBA 2K16.
 
# 31 Taer @ 09/16/15 04:05 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by trekfan
You can change that name, according to this article (good read, too).

You can change the formal name but not the nick-name.
 
# 32 nickthemajin @ 09/16/15 04:14 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Swipe7
This Frequency Vibrations nickname is enough for me to not play it. Y'all promise full customization of so much stuff then you pull this bull......c'mon 2k, every year its always something up with y'all. If I can change my nickname lemme know now.
Then make a generic guy and player lock him in MyLeague. This is a trade off. They can't record themselves saying thousands of different nicknames for all the cutscenes. I'd rather this than going back to the generic grind of no story and just repetitive game after repetitive game. I did that enough in 2k11-14 last gen.

You'll get the same experience if you just play a guy in MyLeague.
 
# 33 Wolf Ticket @ 09/16/15 04:18 PM
Spike's story ending once we make it to the league makes sense, very few people will go 10 or so nba seasons deep and get to see the ending.
 
# 34 trekfan @ 09/16/15 04:24 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Taer
You can change the formal name but not the nick-name.
I agree, that's likely the case. I think the name "Freak" (or "Freq", but the former reads better, IMO) is a fine nickname. Generic enough not to offend and easily applicable to the majority of player name combos.

This is more linear RPG than sandbox game mode and that's what MyCareer should be, especially with Spike Lee at the helm; he had a vision for the story and arc of the character for that first year or two in the pros and, after that, the rest is in your hands.

I'm intrigued. I haven't given MyCareer a shot in many, many years, but it at least demands some attention from me this time.
 
# 35 lakers24 @ 09/16/15 04:24 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolf Ticket
Spike's story ending once we make it to the league makes sense, very few people will go 10 or so nba seasons deep and get to see the ending.
One of the reasons I always thought a full on story would never work correctly in a sports game unless there were time jumps. The way they're doing it makes sense though. I just hope they go the cutscenes/minigames for scenarios route from here on out though.
 
# 36 JustInTime952 @ 09/18/15 05:57 PM
Adjustable sliders. Yes or no?
 

« Previous 12Next »

Post A Comment
Only OS members can post comments
Please login or register to post a comment.