NBA 2K11 Demo Roundtable

[Boilerbuzz]

Quote: Originally Posted by michaeljordanjr

NBA 2K fans will disregard the condition of the demo and buy the game 9 times out of 10. Sports fans that never played a basketball game before that try the demo will get a stripped back experience. An experience that represents 20% of the actual full retail game. In what world would a marketing team choose to present 20% of a product within 4 minutes?

In a world where that particular audience only cares about that 20%? A 2K fan, playing this demo, will already know most of what he needs to know to validate his decision. The fact that he can't play Boston, doesn't matter. The fact that he can't call plays will only apply to the hardcore players that actually use plays - which is a VERY small minority. So, that won't be a big deal. Many sports games up until this year gave you only a couple of minutes of play. One game gave you 4 quarters, but only 2 minutes in that quarter. FIFA gives you a "full game", but it's wildly accelerated. So that's just smoke and mirrors. The point is that to the casual observer, this demo is par for the course because they don't call plays. The MAY want to play with their friends and that stings. But they also know that the FINAL game will not have that limitation. So what else is left?

Quote: Originally Posted by michaeljordanjr

Do commercials spend 30 seconds trying to make you guess what their product can do, throwing hints along the way?

HELL YES! Many do! No offense, but, honestly I'm starting to doubt you were actually a marketing professional.

Quote: Originally Posted by michaeljordanjr

No, within a small time frame, you need to present your product to its utmost potential. Because you dont know if youll get another shot at $65 with the customer.

You should really research the effectiveness of viral marketing strategies. How about cliff-hangers in entertainment? Really man.

Quote: Originally Posted by michaeljordanjr

That is why I take this personal. I've bought 2K games in the past as all of you have. I've seen them climb insurmountable odds to become #1 right now and year after year they dont go the distance as far as DEMO'S are concerned. I dont care about video marketing or blogs. The demo is the deciding factor for a lot of people both fans and NBA newcomers. They have Michael Jeffery Jordan, they have NOTHING to worry about, they should give us the world with the 2K11 demo. So what is the elusive reason, that none of you care to touch upon, which drives 2K to give you half an experience within a 4 minute timeframe? I'm looking for logic, rationale, anything on this simple inquiry...

Again, your marketing background should answer this question for you. I think it's pretty simple and pretty standard. Ever hear the phrase: "Leave them wanting more!"? I don't know how much more of an explanation you and your buddy need.

And if you bother to ask me - no, I don't like it because I hate being teased. But I TOTALLY recognize it as teasing. Like it or it, that's one of the MOST effective methods drum up interest in a product.

Quote: Originally Posted by michaeljordanjr

This demo won't turn away fans. It may confuse new customers. That's why I ask, what is the point of stripping it down? Most of the people downloading it are the core base customers, why not give them a treat like other companies are doing? Obviously this strategy is exclusive to 2K, show me another sports title this stripped down. So if you cant figure out whats going on in the mind of the marketing team, don't knock down those of us whom find issue with this unnecessary and uncalled for stripped down demo.

But here I see where you're going. And that's a very good question. Honestly, I don't know what they could lose. Maybe TOO much of the game 3 weeks before release will kill the "buzz". You know how it works - people would get tired of playing the game. And if anything, the thing I could see turning off a casual fan would be the level of complexity in the game. You can't cheese this game as much as you could in 2K10 and that might piss those people off. But THAT risk wouldn't change if you made it 4 quarters OR you could call plays OR you could play Boston.

[mark2k]

when is the PC demo coming out?

[Boilerbuzz]

Quote: Originally Posted by jr2424

And because people are so sensitive I love the gameplay. Think it's the best basketball game I've ever played. But that doesn't mean I can't find fault with something 2k did. I think the demo should have more than this. I don't think anyone can really argue that point.

Hey man. No one IS arguing with that point. It sucks. To me and guys like Czar, it was HIGHLY egregious to leave out play calling. It's annoying that you can't play Boston. But outside of those, the demo is pretty SOP. The point of the discussion was that this omission would drive people to change their mind and THAT is the part that, at least, I disagree with in terms of the impact. Sure, there will be people that feel they need to make a point. But even if they were on the fence, not being able to play Boston won't be the thing that make them choose a side of that fence. That's all I was saying.

[erickonasis]

Quote: Originally Posted by Carrington618

this demo left some room for ea to get more sales. some people are turn off by the lack of gameplay(2 player) in this demo. Overall 2k shot their self in the foot with this one . Any one new to 2k that plays this demo comes away saying whats all the fuss about. i bet the ea demo will be much better at showing off there basketball game. @2K you have to make a better first impression

[swac07]

Quote: Originally Posted by rudeworld

the demo is doing its part....part of the advertisement because were talking about the game.

and there you have it

[Vast]

I'm actually glad the demo is soo barebones.

This will give the game come October 5th the freshness and newness that a great game deserves.

I don't know about you guys, but i'm chomping at the bits to take control of Rondo on the court.

What usually happens for me at least is i play the crap out of the demo. Then when the game finally drops, the excitement is gone.

This is the same game i've been playing for weeks with just more game modes.

Thats not going to happen this time around, everything will feel fresh and new. Even to Laker fans, who have yet to take the bench(Blake, Odom) for a spin.

[NS HeLLaDOPe]

LOVES the demo cant stop playing it, however im not feeling the crossovers,straight "weak sauce" 2k10's where better (hopefully we can still edit player moves)....Also dont like when dribbling with the turbo(LT) held all the players move like a SF in 2k10 with "low ball-handling" (hope this is just a demo thing)....last but not least wassup with the "Players Socks".... besides them looking more like bandages than socks anybodyelse notice how the "Nba logo" is on the inside of 1 of the socks instead of the outside like its suppose to be(hope this a demo thing 2)...

[nickelplaydit]

Guys, this is just a demo....thats it!....the reason ea can put out more full demos is because they have no real competition to bother them in sales in those sporting genres..... 2k has an nba game that they know if they slip up once, EA will gain some attention and possibly take em out .. imagine if 2k could still make NFL games how would EA react to that?.......its called strategy....thats why EA's Elite didnt come out b4 @k's but thats just my opinion...


the more i keep playing the demo the more i see new things happening. i read on the roundtable that there were subbing in the demo. I just played 3 o4 games which all had subs going in and out... this is just a smal showcase.

A good analogy would be like a first date. If a woman youwere dating gives you "everything" on the first try then you probably dont wont want it long after that . Let 2k tease us for a few more weeks!

yes, i got jokes