Why I'm Done With NBA Basketball This Year: NBA 2K9

[spankdatazz22]

Quote: Originally Posted by Benicio10

my biggest gripe with 2K is developer communication. Let's face it, NBA 2K is much farther along than the Madden franchise is, but the Madden community is invigorated because of the level of communication the devs have established, and the message they have sent across that their goal is to create a SIM. We don't know what kind of game 2K wants to be, but there is more evidence to support they value arcade gameplay than sim. If that's the case, it's OK. We'll just walk away and not shed a tear like TO says. It doesn't cost money to socially network online. The lines of communication need to be open. It's becoming an industry standard.

Okay, this is a pet peeve so I may get long-winded. What choice did the Madden devs really have? It's debateable that Madden's popularity either plataued or declined somewhat the past few years. It's not the NFL; it's continued to grow in popularity. For years they were able to announce record sales year after year; the only reason they haven't been able to the past 3 years or so is because of the quality of the game itself.

As far as the devs communicating that the game will be SIM this year, what news have they actually conveyed that confirms that to be the case? I've seen the community getting excited about:

- the game having refs on the field (every other sport has their referee equivalent on the field/court. )
- procedural awareness (which I think is a fancy name for head-tracking. again, done in games already to date)
- improvements to pursuit angles; improvements to QB play, WR/DB interaction, pocket protection (things expected year in and year out. the game unfortunately still performs behind much older games)
- additional customization options and ratings

There are others; those are off the top of my head. The expectations are totally different. I fully expect Madden 10 to be better. It's supposed to be better. My expectation isn't that it finally beats out NFL2K5; that should've happened with Madden '06 frankly. Anymore than MVP '05 should still be able to be compared to MLB2K9. I have my own expectations of what Madden should be at this point. A lot of people have lowered their expectations of Madden to the point where any positive news is going to be made to be bigger than it is. Again, I'm sure Madden will take more of a SIM approach - but why is that a surprise? That should be expected imo. I'm sure info will be coming detailing the intracacies of cover 2, or OL protection schemes (okay, maybe), etc. But to date there's been no firm information regarding actual gameplay details. So people are excited about the talk of a more SIM approach.

I think I said earlier - NBA2K has been the most consistently performing next gen sports game to date imo. It was the one launch 360 sports game that was a quality title. And has improved significantly with each iteration. But this underscores the fickle nature of the forums. Madden - which has improved but disappointed for years - is now being treated as the standard all other games must follow. 2K's next gen performance hasn't even earned them the benefit of the doubt for a year (personally I think most people enjoy 2K9, despite the complaining of some here). Even NCAA, which has it's own huge following, has some of it's hardcore gamers griping. And they have a certain level of dev involvement. I commend the Madden team for what they've accomplished in turning around the game's perception - Madden '09 became a distant memory back in late Dec./early January when the dev involvement started. It's obvious that some level of developer involvement is expected to some degree now, even if a lot of it comes off as creative marketing.

But in terms of substance - people are getting themselves excited because it's something they want to do. Again, I believe the game will improve - perhaps significantly. But imo a lot of the excitement is because expectations were so low to begin with. No one would be surprised if Madden doesn't have some semblance of individual player signature style, although that's expected in pretty much every other sports game. People would be ecstatic if the game's fundamentals were solid. Much improved OL/DL play, for example. That's different than the standard 2K is held to. As I've said for years, the games are held to totally different standards by the community, yet judged on the same level. As far as community perception, the Madden community actually blames David Ortiz for Madden's problems, totally ignoring that every EA next gen sports game started out slowly. No one's citing the team being unprepared for next gen - was it Ortiz's decision they developed a completely different game engine with a short development window? However, the community conveniently blames him for all of Madden's ills. While I think it's likely a necessity for dev interaction to occur on some level at some point, I also can see the fickle whichever way the wind blows nature of the community.

Apologize for the long winded post

[DC]

spankdatazz22; I understand your points but at what point do you just let us voice our disappointment in the game that we WANT to love? We don't HATE the game. Some of us have already said that it is the best basketball game made. But we are still disappointed in it because it isn't as good as we THOUGHT it WOULD BE.

Telling us how much we are ungrateful and never satisfied is cool after the first time, but why must you constantly go that route?

If we want to offer constructive criticism of the game, then let us do that. We shouldn't have to worry about getting our heads cut off because people are attacking us for having an opinion.

We ALL want the game to be perfect. While it won't happen it doesn't hurt trying does it?

So just relax man. We are all on the same page here.

[Joey P]

Quote: Originally Posted by DCAllAmerican

Telling us how much we are ungrateful and never satisfied is cool after the first time, but why must you constantly go that route?

Wow...

You have totally thrown me for a loop now.

While some people are tryin to make the game better, some just want to attack attack and bad mouth. In the same breath, ask for different changes. Im so confused.

Lest just wonder, what if "they" are listening, who do you think theyll be listening to. The lil boy who keeps crying wolf, or the kid who has documented progress?

[DC]

Not sure what they will listen to but my point is people that "complain" about the game are doing nothing but offering ways to make it better. For any one of you to basically tell them to "STOP COMPLAINING" (what you are essentially doing) leads me to believe that you don't believe the series needs to improve.

But I KNOW we all KNOW the series needs to improve, so my question is why get on the people that are "complaining" instead of getting on 2K for causing them to complain.

That is all I am saying.

Again we ALL want a perfect basketball game. Trying to HUSH folks when they are offering ways for the game to improve won't help us reach that goal.

We need more unity around here is what I am saying. I would NEVER tell another 2K fan to stop complaining about ANYTHING. Because nobody is going to suggest things to HURT the series

[Pared]

Quote: Originally Posted by DCAllAmerican

spankdatazz22; I understand your points but at what point do you just let us voice our disappointment in the game that we WANT to love? We don't HATE the game. Some of us have already said that it is the best basketball game made. But we are still disappointed in it because it isn't as good as we THOUGHT it WOULD BE. Telling us how much we are ungrateful and never satisfied is cool after the first time, but why must you constantly go that route? If we want to offer constructive criticism of the game, then let us do that. We shouldn't have to worry about getting our heads cut off because people are attacking us for having an opinion. We ALL want the game to be perfect. While it won't happen it doesn't hurt trying does it? So just relax man. We are all on the same page here.

The problem is the unrealistic expectations out of some. It's apparently cool to be dramatic now on this board. Who is the biggest drama queen in the forums? Seems like it's always a contest people keep trying to win.

Spank put it best, people talk about how they hate the game then catch feelings when others call them out on their hypocrisy. Cam, where you at? Ask 'em why they mad!

Never played orkl2002 until last night for the first time. Had a great game, nothing out of the ordinary, as Lebron killed me and Vince got his points. We didn't have any buzzer beaters and there wasn't anything bad. It was just great basketball.

The game has a few issues that need addressing. But you're here 6 months after release claiming you hate the game? You have issues.

[DC]

Well if that is directed to ME, I NEVER said I hate the game. I like the game. Just expected more. Imagine drafting LeBron James and he never amounted to anything more than Caron Butler. That is the type of disappointed I have for this game.

STILL a very good game, but never reached the promised expected

[Pared]

You calling this game Kwame? Wow...

[DC]

Quote: Originally Posted by DCAllAmerican

Well if that is directed to ME, I NEVER said I hate the game. I like the game. Just expected more. Imagine drafting LeBron James and he never amounted to anything more than Caron Butler. That is the type of disappointed I have for this game. STILL a very good game, but never reached the promised expected

Quote: Originally Posted by Pared

You calling this game Kwame? Wow...

Too early to be gettin high man