NBA 2K13 News Post

2K Games VP of Marketing Promises No Jay-Z Overload In NBA 2K13

01:33 PM - August 8, 2012 by Steve_OS

In an interview with Complex Gaming, 2K’s VP of Marketing, Jason Argent talks about Jay-Z's involvement with NBA 2K13.

As most of you are aware, Jay-Z selected the 24 song soundtrack and also has his fingerprints on the intro video, menu screens, transitions, and more.

What you won't see, is Jay-Z front and center on NBA 2K13 commercials or ad campaigns. Don't expect Jay-Z to be a playable character or see his virtual self sitting in the front row at the Brooklyn Nets game with Beyonce.

Quote:


	Will Jay-Z be a playable character on the Brooklyn Nets? I'll put it this way. The key focus with us was to not make this gimmicky, it had to be real and authentic. Jay-Z's involvement had to be the same way. Seeing him as a playable character and all that wasn't necessarily something we were trying to achieve in this game. It was the bigger, general artistic vision of what he wanted to bring and what we wanted to bring to NBA 2K13.

Source - Interview: Jason Argent Of 2K Games Promises No Jay-Z Overload In NBA 2K13 (Complex Gaming)

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Member Comments

# 1 JerzeyReign @ 08/08/12 01:36 PM

We must follow the same people on Twitter, lol. I just read this and was just about to post it.

# 2 LD2k @ 08/08/12 01:48 PM

This is a great article - really shows what the JAY Z integration is all about. I recommend this to all of you.

# 3 MavsManiac4Life @ 08/08/12 01:49 PM

Didn't he also say getting Jay-Z was the biggest thing to happen in their company's history? That being said, I hope we this is true, as don't want him shoved in my face everywhere I go in the game.

# 4 TeamBuilder @ 08/08/12 01:56 PM

Jason Argent:

"You've probably seen over the last several years that we've focused a lot more on building out more of an experience than what just happens on the basketball court. If you look at the NBA, the product as a whole, basketball is obviously at the core, but it's a lot more than that. It's music, culture and entertainment. We wanted to have that feel injected into our game."

Can we please get it right ON THE COURT, before we focus on improving off the court?

# 5 VDusen04 @ 08/08/12 02:04 PM

I'm certainly open to being impressed with Jay-Z's contributions, and I'd like nothing more than to finally see what he did with 2K and come away saying, "Wow". But for the time being, the mere talk about Jay-Z and what he's doing with 2K just isn't registering with me. It's not exciting for me to picture a music mogul working on non-music stuff in a basketball game I like to play. And I'm not sure I'd be too head over heels about a game design based upon what Jay-Z thinks is hot.

With that said, I think actual information on this topic will change my tune.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeamBuilder


	Jason Argent: "You've probably seen over the last several years that we've focused a lot more on building out more of an experience than what just happens on the basketball court. If you look at the NBA, the product as a whole, basketball is obviously at the core, but it's a lot more than that. It's music, culture and entertainment. We wanted to have that feel injected into our game." Can we please get it right ON THE COURT, before we focus on improving off the court?

I've always been in favor of tackling both on- and off the court matters. If basketball games waited until they got everything right on the court, My Player, Association, Crib, Classic Teams, Dunk Contests, 3pt. Shootouts, Season Mode, Playoffs, Situation, Real Time Roster Updates, and 2KShare wouldn't exist.

With that said, I did raise an eyebrow when I read the paragraph you quoted, but for a reason differing from your own. Again, not having any true information released that'd better explain what Argent's talking about, I cringed a little when I read "basketball is obviously at the core, but it's a lot more than that. It's music, culture and entertainment." I think creating an entire environment could work out nicely, but I also think it's a thin line. For starters, Jay-Z's music (and that of his peers included on the soundtrack) is not my basketball, music and entertainment culture and it's not my NBA culture. While Argent assured us Jay-Z himself would not be thrown into gamer's faces, I am hopeful other things aren't instead.

# 6 Pared @ 08/08/12 02:14 PM

...he better be on the sidelines at the Barclay's Center with Beyonce!

# 7 TeamBuilder @ 08/08/12 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VDusen04


	I'm certainly open to being impressed with Jay-Z's contributions, and I'd like nothing more than to finally see what he did with 2K and come away saying, "Wow". But for the time being, the mere talk about Jay-Z and what he's doing with 2K just isn't registering with me. It's not exciting for me to picture a music mogul working on non-music stuff in a basketball game I like to play. And I'm not sure I'd be too head over heels about a game design based upon what Jay-Z thinks is hot. With that said, I think actual information on this topic will change my tune. I've always been in favor of tackling both on- and off the court matters. If basketball games waited until they got everything right on the court, My Player, Association, Crib, Classic Teams, Dunk Contests, 3pt. Shootouts, Season Mode, Playoffs, Situation, Real Time Roster Updates, and 2KShare wouldn't exist. With that said, I did raise an eyebrow when I read the paragraph you quoted, but for a reason differing from your own. Again, not having any true information released that'd better explain what Argent's talking about, I cringed a little when I read "basketball is obviously at the core, but it's a lot more than that. It's music, culture and entertainment." I think creating an entire environment could work out nicely, but I also think it's a thin line. For starters, Jay-Z's music (and that of his peers included on the soundtrack) is not my basketball, music and entertainment culture and it's not my NBA culture. While Argent assured us Jay-Z himself would not be thrown into gamer's faces, I am hopeful other things aren't instead.

I consider the bold to be part of the game and connected to on-court gameplay. It's the music and entertainment part of the quote that worries me. Aside from giving me something to listen to while I tinker with trades in association, I don't see how music is that important in a basketball game.

# 8 return.specialist @ 08/08/12 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pared


	...he better be on the sidelines at the Barclay's Center with Beyonce!

don't forget Blue Ivy

# 9 VDusen04 @ 08/08/12 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeamBuilder


	I consider the bold to be part of the game and connected to on-court gameplay. It's the music and entertainment part of the quote that worries me. Aside from giving me something to listen to while I tinker with trades in association, I don't see how music is that important in a basketball game.

Ah, I see where you're coming from. I guess we'll just have to wait and see on that front. I think there's a lot of things that could be added to a basketball video game that may better reflect everything that happens at an NBA basketball game but again, there's a line. I suppose most of that would fall under the presentation umbrella and I'm all for improvements in presentation, as long as they're moves toward accurately representing the NBA basketball experience and not someone's interpretation of what they think NBA basketball should look like. I'd like to think 2K was sensical about their approach. We shall find out soon.

# 10 iLLosophy @ 08/08/12 03:09 PM

Quote:


	This isn’t about Jay-Z promoting himself or us promoting him. It’s about his involvement from a creative standpoint. You won’t be seeing him in the center of any of our ad campaigns or anything like that.

Interesting. Looking forward to seeing what Jay brings to the game outside of the soundtrack....the Brooklyn Nets logo is tight so this could turn out to be a great move

# 11 GJC1213 @ 08/08/12 03:53 PM

Fixing the broken passing, often terrible fastbreak logic and other glaring gameplay issues is far more important than incorporating a past his prime rapper that loves to rhyme about how much money he has. I know some of the younger guys around here love this news and are hype for Jay-Z "executive producing" (whatever the hell that means) 2k13 but I could care less. Fill us in on how you have improved your basketball game please. This information is nonsense.

# 12 VDusen04 @ 08/08/12 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJC1213


	Fixing the broken passing, often terrible fastbreak logic and other glaring gameplay issues is far more important than incorporating a past his prime rapper that loves to rhyme about how much money he has. I know some of the younger guys around here love this news and are hype for Jay-Z "executive producing" (whatever the hell that means) 2k13 but I could care less. Fill us in on how you have improved your basketball game please. This information is nonsense.

Come to think of it, Argent still didn't really give a direct answer to that question (What does “Executive Produced by Jay-Z" really mean?). Though, I suppose a direct answer would have likely spoiled the information being planned for future release. As it stands, I'm hopeful it is realized that to many, throwing out such a title (Executive Produced by) has created more confusion and uncertainty than hype.

# 13 Joobieo @ 08/08/12 05:21 PM

Glad jay-z is apart of the game but I'm also glad he's not THE game .

# 14 videlsports @ 08/08/12 06:01 PM

I thought the announcement was a return to another sport. I'm cool with it but I have to see. Maybe jay can convince them to make a Football game. That said: I'm still excited for NBA 2k 13

# 15 jaynral @ 08/08/12 07:44 PM

See, i like that. Thats means they trying to make a great game, not a gimmicky game, I think nba 2k13 is going to be a great game.. i really do trust the developers

# 16 jaynral @ 08/08/12 07:46 PM

Jay z is a huge basketball fan and understands the game so i know he will definitely give a great person on the outside advice for the sounds of the game

# 17 wallofhate @ 08/08/12 08:01 PM

It would be cool to have him rendered on the sidelines at the nets ztadium even if they snuck and put him there and let it be some kind of easter egg. Maybe even have an achievement score 99 points in brooklyn and get the "99 problems" achievement lol

# 18 VDusen04 @ 08/08/12 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheelman990


	I actually thought seeing them on the sidelines might be kinda cool. And during the Lakers...oh look, there's Jack Nicolas! lol

Agreed. Would be sick to seem him sitting courtside.

# 19 aloncho11 @ 08/09/12 12:05 AM

Don't forget about Spike at Knicks games

# 20 btrapp @ 08/09/12 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VDusen04


	I'm certainly open to being impressed with Jay-Z's contributions, and I'd like nothing more than to finally see what he did with 2K and come away saying, "Wow". But for the time being, the mere talk about Jay-Z and what he's doing with 2K just isn't registering with me. It's not exciting for me to picture a music mogul working on non-music stuff in a basketball game I like to play. And I'm not sure I'd be too head over heels about a game design based upon what Jay-Z thinks is hot. With that said, I think actual information on this topic will change my tune. I've always been in favor of tackling both on- and off the court matters. If basketball games waited until they got everything right on the court, My Player, Association, Crib, Classic Teams, Dunk Contests, 3pt. Shootouts, Season Mode, Playoffs, Situation, Real Time Roster Updates, and 2KShare wouldn't exist. With that said, I did raise an eyebrow when I read the paragraph you quoted, but for a reason differing from your own. Again, not having any true information released that'd better explain what Argent's talking about, I cringed a little when I read "basketball is obviously at the core, but it's a lot more than that. It's music, culture and entertainment." I think creating an entire environment could work out nicely, but I also think it's a thin line. For starters, Jay-Z's music (and that of his peers included on the soundtrack) is not my basketball, music and entertainment culture and it's not my NBA culture. While Argent assured us Jay-Z himself would not be thrown into gamer's faces, I am hopeful other things aren't instead.

Basketball and especially the nba has a certain culture and it directly coincides with the hip hop culture and lifestyle. I think it's actually a good thing the 2k is willing and has been in the past to embrace that culture. The music, entertainment, and culture side of things most likely won't be for you in this game, but it will be true to the association it represents.

While i'm certainly not a part of that lifestyle myself, I can see why 2k wanted that represented in the game, and I'm sure they'll do a good job.

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