NBA 2K14 News Post

NBA 2K14 My Career Mode Makes and Misses

12:33 PM - December 9, 2013 by DustinT

Of all the PlayStation 4 sports games, NBA 2K14 is the one I have played the most. I have almost exclusively played the new-look My Career mode, where you create an avatar and guide him through the cliché ascent from unknown street baller to NBA champion.

While the premise itself is stale, the mode's presentation is fresh, plus its scope is larger than any previous sports gaming story mode. You'd have to go all the way back to Midway's retired NBA Ballers and Blitz: The League series to find a sports game that put anywhere near as much work into crafting storylines and choreographing cutscenes.

NBA 2K14 My Career Mode Makes and Misses - Read More

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# 21 ponderguy @ 12/09/13 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supermanemblem


	Add gameplay to the mix. I'm a 7'2" center and I had to add dunk packages to dunk the ball. Really?? Rebounding is a joke. When I have inside position, the CPU makes 93% of the shots. When they miss, and I have inside position, I get out rebounded by someone much shorter. I'm averaging about 2 boards a game. My last game, I took a pass from the right block. I turned baseline and shot a hook that hit the side of the backboard. WTF?? I'm slowly not liking this game.

post up fadeaways are money

# 22 Athame11 @ 12/09/13 08:53 PM

Makes and misses is a great way to sum up my career experiences for me.

For the makes:

I really like the idea behind it. I like the player progression, the choice of player personality, the focus on your character while in game from broadcasters, the customization (yes very limited, but i do like the 'idea' of it), the agent, gm, coach and teammate relationships (again, very shallow as it is, the idea is still cool).

On the other hand:

I find the 'rpg' aspects of the mode pretty bland, and almost irrelevant. However, I am only on my second season, so perhaps as my character progresses, my choices will add depth to my character and his nba experiences, however I don't have a lot of faith in that happening.

The in game broadcasts don't feel very personal at all. It's like it is all focused to be a my player experience, but in game it is the same as any other game mode experience. I would like a lot more 'behind the scenes' experiences (perhaps skipable for the X mashers), like showing us enter the court to the screaming crowds, some halftime ear fulls from coach for not getting to the boards, little things like the car I drive changing as I make more money, PR opportunities like earning VC for helping a charity, or some autograph time cut scenes after the game. Yes the primary focus on the game should be gameplay, but I also feel some depth to your myplayer could go a long way in peoples experiences with the mode, IF it is done properly. The really is a myriad of opportunity to add depth to this mode, as it sits now it is pretty stale, all be it better then any other sports game career mode.

Why are we constantly getting hit with the same generic cut scenes that we can't skip through? This is a large wast of time, unless there is another choice of answer, or a reason for the cut scene, I feel it brings absolutely nothing to the experience.

Overall I like the idea of creating a player and watching them grow into an nba baller, but I feel it is a fairly generic experience the way it is implemented in 2k14. I get it is still a basketball game first, but it seems with the push towards this game mode, and VC, you would think the bar would have been set a little higher for depth and content.

Edit: I would also like to see deeper relationships built with the people closest around you in your path to greatness, like invited to team parties, maybe people seeking your wisdom, growing meaning full relationships with the basketball greats would also be pretty cool. Of course this cant all be crazy cut scenes and time consuming experiences, but I am sure a preper balance of fun, responsibility and rewards can be had.

# 23 tarek @ 12/09/13 08:54 PM

So I've yet to play the game (I'm waiting for the next ps4 batch here in Australia), but I'm definitely interested.

However, I keep reading how the scripting is rubbish and very controlled.

So, has anyone got any experience for what happens AFTER your rookie season? I've read somewhere that after your rookie season you can start to skip game (to key games). Does it generally get better? Or do the GM moves, and scripted events continue further into your career making the mode even less playable even after you put in such effort?

I always played My Player as a 7'0'' Center in the same mold as Tyson Chandler, rebounding and defence and if I get a dunk here or there good. I happily average less than 10ppg as long as I'm among the league leaders in rebounding and blocked shots. But someone wrote earlier that as a big man they couldn't grab any boards and that the mode values scoring way too much, which doesn't suit my play style AT ALL.

# 24 hapa17 @ 12/09/13 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurst31


	My 5'10" point guard has logged more minutes as a shooting guard than he has at his natural position, as my coach frequently matches me up against taller, stronger players like Kobe Bryant (6'6") and Dwyane Wade (6'4"). This could just be because the team is overloaded with pgs and there are only 2 sgs.

get this ... i am a 6'11 PF and i get drafted by the t'wolves (uhhh ... kevin love, anyone?) and by new years, i REPLACE him in the starting lineup. i'm rated a 73 and i can score a little (when i follow directions and ball hog like a mutha), but i'm barely pulling down 5 boards a game. i mean, you know ... MAYBE start me at center next to love (sorry nik pekovic), but full on replace him? and to his credit, k-love has taken me under his wing and told me that there's no hard feelings about me getting his spot, but i mean come on! i almost feel like demanding a trade out of respect to the mofo! and as a 6'11" rookie PF with a low 70s rating, i just don't get the "score 10 points in a row" dynamic goal. i had 9 once, before love killed it with a putback deuce, but i mean ... who's ever seen a rookie PF on the same team with a top 10 nba player demand the ball and score 10 straight points? i play this mode the most of anything, and it has a lot of potential, but there are some things in there that are just plain goofy. and i'm willing to just roll with it the first year of next-gen ... i'm sure the dev cycle was relentless ... but i certainly expect things to be MUCH more ironed out next year.

# 25 BluFu @ 12/09/13 09:45 PM

2k11 still had the best my player. don't understand why they went away from this 'path to greatness'.

# 26 thomasg2488 @ 12/09/13 10:19 PM

Here's what to do to make this mode as best as it can be for 2k15

1. More options for creating a player. Things like the ability to choose a personality, a voice, things that make us individuals. Give us more than just a stereotypical sounding NBA guy that have swag. Some of us don't want swag, some of us want to be able to keep it quiet and just play. I'm not one of those guys that has swag, whenever that became the new word for cool. If you have it, good for you, enjoy it. I'm someone that like that. I aim to just get the job done without as much fanfare as possible and go about my day. Not everyone in the NBA acts like that, they just play the game. I think 2k has overdone this now.

2. Give us a choice of what we want from cutscenes. We can have them or we don't have to. Personally, when it's scripted like this and you don't get to choose any of the options that we probably would in real life, it's annoying. Or at least allow us to skip cutscenes. And get rid of the rivalry crap or at least make it a better way. If I outperform Jackson Ellis, why is he going first before me in the draft? Or why do I have a rival in the first place? If I met him in the tunnel, and he started going off I would have said "I'll let my game do the talking." Give us THAT option. And the after the game conservation "Guess running your mouth gets you no where" and kept on walking. Give us more than just a few options otherwise, get rid of the cutscenes and rivalry crap.

3. Give....The Goals.....LOGIC. I've had this happen way too many times in anything related to MyPlayer or now MyCareer. Ok, I played as an Athletic SF, got 25 points, 8 assists, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal. Pretty damn good game. But wait, I only got a B+ as a teammate grade. Hey, I only had 2 turnovers but because of "Bad pass attempts" or "Allowing an Offensive Rebound" when both were complete b.s. and other things I get an B+ when I'm out playing EVERYONE? Same with the Dynamic Goals. He's spot on with the Ball-Hogging goals. Sorry I don't play Hog-ball, I play LeBron, Magic Johnson ball. I facilitate the play and play defense. I can score at will, but defense and assists are easier for me to do to get the teammates involved. It doesn't make any freaking sense. Or better yet, when I'm scoring those same numbers off the bench and I'm out performing the guy who's starting, yeah, I'm going to be the starter. Another good spotting by the writer.

4. Give The TEAMS Logic. This has happened too. As that same SF, I perform fantastic at the Showcase, I have interviews with two teams that interest. By the way, why am I only interview by TWO teams? Yeah, that makes perfect sense there too. Here's a better way to do this, give me five teams that are interested in me, have them send me questions without the cutscenes and I answer each one, kind of like that personality test you get. If they like my answers, they stay interested, they don't, oh well. Anyways, I was interviewed by the Suns (YAY!) and the Pistons (WHAT?). Here's where the first part of logic is needed. Why would the Pistons, who JUST signed Josh Smith want to interview me? They just filled out that position and yet want me as well? Ok, so I'll be coming off the bench for 4 years? Uh, no, in real life that might fly (barely) but in this mode, you want to start. So basically, you want me to take Josh Smith's spot and COMPLETELY cause internal team problems? No, that doesn't make sense here, they should not be interviewing me. That's where the "we need more interviews" argument comes in here. Teams like the Cavs, Wizards, Bobcats, Suns, Timberwolves should be interviewing me because they have a need at SF. Then when I get the Suns saying they'll draft me, what do they do? Draft Ellis (figures) and the PELICANS draft me. The PELICANS? What? They already have most of the starter roles filled and never even interviewed me. Basically, logic gets thrown out the door for everything here. Fix that.

If those things could be fixed, this game mode would be ten times better than what it is. It's still fun, but it just makes you go WTF?

# 27 Phreezy P @ 12/10/13 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by da ThRONe


	They put the cart in front of the horse and now the mode has become unplayable.

That's actually an amazing metaphor.

I need to jot that down honestly.

# 28 RangersCruz @ 12/10/13 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supermanemblem


	Add gameplay to the mix. I'm a 7'2" center and I had to add dunk packages to dunk the ball. Really?? Rebounding is a joke. When I have inside position, the CPU makes 93% of the shots. When they miss, and I have inside position, I get out rebounded by someone much shorter. I'm averaging about 2 boards a game. My last game, I took a pass from the right block. I turned baseline and shot a hook that hit the side of the backboard. WTF?? I'm slowly not liking this game.

This is your problem not 2k's i average 12 boards with a 7'2 easily

# 29 RangersCruz @ 12/10/13 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athame11


	Makes and misses is a great way to sum up my career experiences for me. For the makes: I really like the idea behind it. I like the player progression, the choice of player personality, the focus on your character while in game from broadcasters, the customization (yes very limited, but i do like the 'idea' of it), the agent, gm, coach and teammate relationships (again, very shallow as it is, the idea is still cool). On the other hand: I find the 'rpg' aspects of the mode pretty bland, and almost irrelevant. However, I am only on my second season, so perhaps as my character progresses, my choices will add depth to my character and his nba experiences, however I don't have a lot of faith in that happening. The in game broadcasts don't feel very personal at all. It's like it is all focused to be a my player experience, but in game it is the same as any other game mode experience. I would like a lot more 'behind the scenes' experiences (perhaps skipable for the X mashers), like showing us enter the court to the screaming crowds, some halftime ear fulls from coach for not getting to the boards, little things like the car I drive changing as I make more money, PR opportunities like earning VC for helping a charity, or some autograph time cut scenes after the game. Yes the primary focus on the game should be gameplay, but I also feel some depth to your myplayer could go a long way in peoples experiences with the mode, IF it is done properly. The really is a myriad of opportunity to add depth to this mode, as it sits now it is pretty stale, all be it better then any other sports game career mode. Why are we constantly getting hit with the same generic cut scenes that we can't skip through? This is a large wast of time, unless there is another choice of answer, or a reason for the cut scene, I feel it brings absolutely nothing to the experience. Overall I like the idea of creating a player and watching them grow into an nba baller, but I feel it is a fairly generic experience the way it is implemented in 2k14. I get it is still a basketball game first, but it seems with the push towards this game mode, and VC, you would think the bar would have been set a little higher for depth and content. Edit: I would also like to see deeper relationships built with the people closest around you in your path to greatness, like invited to team parties, maybe people seeking your wisdom, growing meaning full relationships with the basketball greats would also be pretty cool. Of course this cant all be crazy cut scenes and time consuming experiences, but I am sure a preper balance of fun, responsibility and rewards can be had.

You my friend expected way too much for a first gen game and im surprised they even touched and have us a different my career i thought it would be the copy and paste from CG

# 30 RangersCruz @ 12/10/13 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarek


	So I've yet to play the game (I'm waiting for the next ps4 batch here in Australia), but I'm definitely interested. However, I keep reading how the scripting is rubbish and very controlled. So, has anyone got any experience for what happens AFTER your rookie season? I've read somewhere that after your rookie season you can start to skip game (to key games). Does it generally get better? Or do the GM moves, and scripted events continue further into your career making the mode even less playable even after you put in such effort? I always played My Player as a 7'0'' Center in the same mold as Tyson Chandler, rebounding and defence and if I get a dunk here or there good. I happily average less than 10ppg as long as I'm among the league leaders in rebounding and blocked shots. But someone wrote earlier that as a big man they couldn't grab any boards and that the mode values scoring way too much, which doesn't suit my play style AT ALL.

That's my style as well and there isn't a problem getting boards it's people with bad timing and positioning thinking they should get every single board i easily average 12 on superstar simulation so it's not the game

as for as valuing scoring more you get those goals on guards/forwards more that you need to bring your team back into the game or take the last shot

# 31 RangersCruz @ 12/10/13 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gosens6


	How anyone could enjoy such a scripted experience is beyond me. Sent from the Dungeon Of Doom using Tapatalk

I prefer it over the CG game after game that was boring quickly

# 32 tarek @ 12/10/13 01:37 AM

RangersCruz - Thanks for the answer mate. It's good to see that you can still dominate the boards if you focus on it. I haven't played 2K since 2K12 but back then my primary focus was to box out, rebound and protect the rim. On offense I would just hang around outside the key and crash the boards, or set picks and roll to the basket. That's all. Back then I remember I still wouldn't get many offensive rebounds (3-4 per game) but could generally clean up the defensive rebounds (8-10 per game).

Any comments on the mode past your rookie season? If it opens up to a more free mode, where you can skip to key games and move through seasons a bit quicker then it might be worth enduring the pain of that first season.

# 33 supermanemblem @ 12/10/13 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RangersCruz


	This is your problem not 2k's i average 12 boards with a 7'2 easily

It will be their problem when I stop buying their product. Cats like you crack me up as if we play with the same settings. I've been playing sports video games since the early 1980's dude so don't try to play me out as some scrub. The rebounding mechanics in this games is fugged up on the real, among other things. Don't get me started in my extremely dumb CPU teammates watching rebounds and lazy passes. But you'll probably blame those on my skills too huh?

# 34 Ejinternational @ 12/10/13 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Csquared


	Miss- Bob from maintenance has WAY to many birthdays!!

Lmfao Hahahaha hilarious stuff that was a good one I laughed hard for ten minutes on that one.

# 35 Ejinternational @ 12/10/13 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quehouston


	I just wish the mode was more realistic. They give us a 2x VC multiplier for HOF but HOF is close to impossible to win on while playing realistically. My teammates literally cannot function without me, and I put up ridiculous numbers without trying to. I find myself putting up 25+ shots a game because my teammates literally will not shoot the ball. They pass me the ball without me even calling for it. I call a play, but it breaks down immediately. It's really a mess on court if you are trying to play sim and not dominate every game as a rookie unrealistically. The storyline stuff is okay, but make it dynamic. I don't want the same story as the next guy. Stop making me miss layups to force me to have a training session. Stop taking me out in the 2nd quarter when we are up by 25, just so you can put me back in with 2 seconds left telling me to hit the game winner. Stop telling me to score 10 points straight, so you can penalize me for not ball hogging. This mode would be so great if it wasn't such a fantasy/fairytale.

Man I agree completely. It's like they want you to be Michael Jordan right out the gate it's completely ridiculous.

# 36 JayAtkHar @ 12/10/13 06:40 AM

I kinda want my money back. Cuz there's only 3 modes you actually think about which is online myplayer and mygm. Blacktop is boring but good for one on one practice. Like the game was way too simplified. Like graphics make the WHOLE game good. Graphics are cool just COOL. Gameplay is something else. Just because it's better than other ball games or two years ago (2k13 is the best ball game of all time, just needs physics with ps4 graphics) I can't just settle. Defence has become harder to execute yet it's still not as great as offence. I want my defence to be scary as much as my offence. If I use the Knicks I have a lot of length and perimeter lockdown pitbulls. But if my man scores on IMAN SHUMPERT once, he gets cold defensively...the rhythm thing sucks. It makes you miss free throws even when you time it the same way you did before.

# 37 da ThRONe @ 12/10/13 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtkiii


	That disappointing to hear on the misses. This is truly the mode I want to play on PS4 later down the road but maybe later will be nba2k15. People must have complained how the earlier versions of myplayer kinda forced you to be more team oriented....which I liked. With PS4 the you passing and the guy making the shot bug shoulkd never happen. It should have logic/storyline based on A:shot and won, B:shot and missed, C: Passed and shot was made, D: shot was passed and missed. All 4 of those scenarios should be taken...hell a 5th one could be turnover.

That's the thing about sports there are so many different varying options that could take place(good, bad, or neutral) that having the appropriate cut scenes just based on the natural flow of each individual game isn't doable right now. It was difficult enough with the post game press conferences and that was way more simple. So 2K is forced with a choice either have less detail and more variety or great detail and a forced storyline to go with it. I won't purchase this game until we have the former as the direction for this mode.

IMO the way sports modes such as MyGM or especially in this case MyCareer should be taking is focusing on the real elements of working hard as a pro. It's great to have limited interaction with necessary personnel ex. teammates, coaching staff, agents and even to a lesser degree fans. I said this before you should get things like scouting reports. That's something that can be redundant, yet relevant every game.

2K did something so brilliant than completely went away from it. When they 1st introduced MyPlayer they had a demo where you got to create your MyP than go through the combine complete with drills and pick up games. Why not bring that back. They want to sell VC how about you sell a full fledged combine maybe with the draft, summer league, and training camp (for us sim people who keep asking for it back every year, but manage to get less) for MyP. Not only can we get a test run of the game early we get to have our MyP's made and improved from day one. And for all those instant people they can have the Rising challenge thing they added with the regular purchase.

# 38 dstroble @ 12/10/13 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by da ThRONe


	The greatest miss of all is how they fail to capture a true simulation of what it means to go from a top college prospect to being a pro. Until they focus on that aspect this mode is unplayable to me. Forcing cut scene, made up rivals, and story boards was the last thing this mode needed. The put the cart in front of the horse and now the mode has become unplayable. If they are going to steal ideas for RPG's. They should have stole from Skyrim. At least in that game actually doing certain aspects make me better at the very same action that I'm doing. As oppose to accumulating VC/Skill point (or what ever they want to call it today) just to use not only on completely non related skills in My Career mode, but random stuff in every other mode.

That's a bingo!!!

I couldn't agree more.

# 39 Gosens6 @ 12/10/13 11:43 AM

This mode is pathetic. Coming down the stretch I'm down by 3 and at the line for 2 free throws.

My guy has an 88 FT rating, and I clank both shots, with excellent release because the game decided the AI was gonna win and I needed some stupid *** cutscene talking about my poor performance. Absolutely pathetic

Sent from the Dungeon Of Doom using Tapatalk

# 40 RangersCruz @ 12/10/13 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supermanemblem


	It will be their problem when I stop buying their product. Cats like you crack me up as if we play with the same settings. I've been playing sports video games since the early 1980's dude so don't try to play me out as some scrub. The rebounding mechanics in this games is fugged up on the real, among other things. Don't get me started in my extremely dumb CPU teammates watching rebounds and lazy passes. But you'll probably blame those on my skills too huh?

You guys come here and bash the game well then sell it and buy something else seriously

The rebounding is not perfect by any means but you only getting 2 rebounds with a 7 foot center is your problem not 2k's and i went on HOF got 9+ games

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