The most immersive 2K experience I've had, a new way to play

[clinthc0003]

"Don't play video games, play basketball" - Da_Czar

I remember hearing that back when I first saw a Czar video back in like 2K8 or something and it always stuck with me. I've been playing 2K since the original was released on Dreamcast and the 2K games have helped me develop an appreciation for the game of basketball at a much deeper level than I would have if I just watched the NBA. I've been on a bit of hiatus since I never got one of the newest consoles, but with us finally getting the latest version on PC I'm super excited to jump back in.

In this thread I'd like to describe the tweaks in how I'm playing that led to me having one of the coolest experiences I've had in a long time with a 2K game. I'd also like to hear similar approaches that you guys take to help make the game more enjoyable for you.

Since I got a PC, one of my obsessions has been modding games to make them as immersive as possible and I feel like it's had a huge impact in how I appreciate video games. Games like RDR2, Assassin's Creed, Skyrim, Ghost Recon, etc. take on an entirely new level of immersion when you take away the HUD. I attempted to do the same with 2K and had a really awesome experience today that I'd like to share. The mods I'm using in the video below help a bit (better body types, lighting, hiding scoreboard, etc.), but I think the core of this experience could also be felt on consoles.

One of the reshades I was using had this add-on called "Border". It just adds black bars to the top and bottom of your screen. I'm not sure if it's by intent, but this hides the scoreboard. I decided to play a game (and watch a CPU game after) after accidentally toggling it on and had so much fun with it. I can toggle it on with a key press if I NEED to see it.

How I’m playing
The key idea here is to make it feel like you are in the stadium. Minimizing HUD elements helps keep everything "in world" and minimizes the uncanny valley and "video gamey" effects that you get if it's there.

1. Removing all HUD elements. The key change to “normal 2K’ that I have made is removing all HUD elements. If you play the game without play art, without a shot meter, without an arrow telling you where to go on defense, and without a silly sound effect and green flash giving you a dopamine hit every time you “green a shot” it feels like a completely new game. You find yourself thinking about things like an actual basketball player would instead of some omniscient basketball god that can see the entire floor and has HUD elements holding their hand along the way.

2. Playing with player lock. Playing with a player lock gives a different experience that a lot of people enjoy. Most of those people have moved on to MyPlayer, but that mode lacks immersion because of the intense competitive aspect of it. This way of playing with actual NBA players feels more like a “Luka role playing game” in this example that traditional 2K.

3. Camera setting. I’ve found myself using “Floor Swivel” as the camera with it zoomed in. This camera lets me see what I need to see ~90% of the time. I kind of like that though because it’s closer to what the player is actually aware of. If I’m locked in on denying the ball to my defender and a shot goes up, maybe I’m not in position for the rebound. Maybe I have trouble finding my matchup when running back on D, etc. It simulates real mistakes players make that simply doesn’t happen when using something like the 2K cam where you can see everything all the time.
 
Some examples of things I caught myself doing in this game that I never even considered:

- Looking up at the ACTUAL shot clock and scoreboard to see what’s going on. Having to remember, “alright there’s 2min left in the quarter and we’re up by 3” is the kind of thought a basketball player would have instead of someone who sees all that info all the time that’s playing a video game.

- Scrambling back on defense and having to find my matchup without an arrow guiding me.

- Feeling a sense of urgency when the initial action on offense isn’t working, having to glance up to the shot clock and adjust from there.

- Seeing my stat line on the jumbotron during a timeout when I have no idea what I’m at when I’m just in the flow of the game.

If anyone has any similar experiences or ideas, please share! If anyone tries this or something similar out, let me know what you think.

I was streaming this out into the ether on Twitch and the VOD was recorded, so here it is to see what I’m talking about. Here’s an in game image of what the gameplay looks like.

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2254100991?t=50m0s
(I may upload to YouTube at some point to)

[Hustler79]

Dope idea, so how do we turn ALL of the hud off ?

[jeebs9]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hustler79

Dope idea, so how do we turn ALL of the hud off ?

I've been playing like this for 10 days now. 100 percent age with him. Turn off everything. The only thing I have is shot feedback after a shot, who to guard and pick and roll overlay. In PNO games my opponents don't even know who I am


Knocked it out of the park post here!!

Go to the customization HUD in feature from the main menu. Turn off everything. Then if you want to get crazy turn off icon passing and pick and roll overlay. That will get you to the above.

Also if I wanted the rim on fire I'd pay NBA Jam

[clinthc0003]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hustler79

Dope idea, so how do we turn ALL of the hud off ?

Jeebs is right 90-95% of it can be turned off in the "Customize HUD" submenu (available in settings in some game modes and under "Features" from the main menu.

A few other lingering elements are in the Controller Settings (Who-to-guard, pass icons, etc.) and Coach Settings (Play art, etc.).

The only things I have removed via mods right now are the "Cold" and "On Fire" indicators that you get under your player in game and the alley oop button prompt (done via this mod linked below). And then the black borders to block out the scoreboard I mentioned that come from the reshade (not technically a 2K mod).

The only lingering element I'm aware of is the "who to pass to" white circle that appears underneath the character.

https://www.2kspecialist.net/2024/09...ators-mod.html

[clinthc0003]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeebs9

I've been playing like this for 10 days now. 100 percent age with him. Turn off everything. The only thing I have is shot feedback after a shot, who to guard and pick and roll overlay. In PNO games my opponents don't even know who I am Knocked it out of the park post here!! Go to the customization HUD in feature from the main menu. Turn off everything. Then if you want to get crazy turn off icon passing and pick and roll overlay. That will get you to the above. Also if I wanted the rim on fire I'd pay NBA Jam

Nice! Lol at the NBA Jam comment, definitely feels like that

What I'm doing with the shot feedback is only allowing myself to turn that meter on when I'm in practice modes. In game I wanna rely on executing what I practice, not making micro adjustments mid game based off of feedback.

I'm using Eccentrics sliders/settings (with Low risk reward and real player % for layups), so I don't have it where my timing has to be perfect. This obsession with "pure green windows" and "making whites" is driving me mad. I get it from a competitive standpoint in leagues like the park or really competitive PlayNow Online players, but I think this feels more like real basketball than trying to time a shot perfectly all the time.

[troy10]

Love the post, unfortunately there are still several HUD elements that was inexplicably cannot turn off. They are:

Hot/Cold Circles
White circles underneath the person to receive the pass
Orange basketball underneath handoff pitch pass recipient
Alley Oop meter

I've tried to post in the discord but my posts get removed or I'm not doing it properly. I'm surprised there hasn't been more of an uproar about it (and the jumpshot creator glitch).

[clinthc0003]

Quote: Originally Posted by troy10

Love the post, unfortunately there are still several HUD elements that was inexplicably cannot turn off. They are: Hot/Cold Circles White circles underneath the person to receive the pass Orange basketball underneath handoff pitch pass recipient Alley Oop meter I've tried to post in the discord but my posts get removed or I'm not doing it properly. I'm surprised there hasn't been more of an uproar about it (and the jumpshot creator glitch).

Yeah, I put in another post a couple above the mod I found that got rid of the hot/cold and the alley oop meter. Still seemingly have the other 2. Hopeful we can get rid of them on PC and hope 2K will address it for everyone as well.

I also tried to chime in on another thread in the Discord, so hopefully they saw it as well.

[Fake Empire]

Nice post. I also play with most HUD elements off on Real %. I have play art and passing icons on though. Even though I played professional basketball, I'm getting older and I'm finding a bit hard to memorize the plays. Playing on broadcast cam though, I don't like any cams close to the 2K one. Idk why but the game feels different with these cameras, maybe too gamey if I could say it with one word. It's strange we don't have an experimental first person camera, I would have tried that for the immersion.