NBA 2K16 News Post

Spike Lee Writes, Directs Story for NBA 2K16 MyCAREER Mode

10:50 AM - June 4, 2015 by iTofu

Spike Lee, acclaimed filmmaker and die-hard New York Knicks fan, is writing and directing the single-player MyCAREER mode for NBA 2K16.

Lee, who directed films such as "Do the Right Thing" and "He Got Game", said he was asked to work on the game this year, an offer which he accepted.

Quote:


	"Lee said the game's story centers on a basketball player named Frequency Vibrations, whose personal exploits off the court are just as chaotic as the game on it. "It's about the trials and tribulations of life on a big stage with the money, fame, temptations, family members, the press, fans, all that stuff," said Lee.

Lee is known for his gritty storytelling style, but that won't be an issue with NBA 2K16.

Quote:


	"We make an E-rated game," said Thomas. "It's an NBA licensed project and obviously the NBA cares a lot about their brand and makes sure we stick within those boundaries. Spike understood that from the get-go, but he didn't take his foot off the gas because of that. He still brought the drama."

UPDATE: (via SimBaller, AKA Erick Boenisch - comment post #68)

Quote:


	I hate to disappoint, but it's just a nickname people. You can take a deep breath. YOUR (created or scanned) face is still front and center, and your own inserted name is in play here. I know it's hard when it's all you have, but try not to jump to conclusions too much here. I think you guys will find this one highly enjoyable...

UPDATE #2: (via @Ronnie2K)

Quote:


	Want to squash a piece of incorrect speculation: Players are able to create, name, customize & develop their #MyPLAYER in #NBA2K16 per usual.

What do you think about Spike Lee directing the MyCAREER story this year? What do you expect to see out of Frequency Vibrations' story this season?

Game: NBA 2K16Reader Score: 8/10 - Vote Now
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Member Comments

# 121 SPRINGS03 @ 06/06/15 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TalenT


	Where are you getting the bold info from? I know you're not new to OS. People complain about EVERYTHING. MyCareer is no different. I get what you're trying to say but, the way you're making it seem is that everybody feels the same about any particular mode. I can guarantee SOMEBODY would be on here complaining about it if it stayed the same. And you're comparing Association to MyCareer? Lol Really? First point, people complain about Association all the time and how it's unchanged. Second point, MyCareer is fantasy. People have their own vision on how things should unfold in they're own fantasy world, which is why if it doesn't meet THEIR standards...they will complain. Ok, I'm done.

All you have to do is look at comments when my player was mentioned or people talk about my player for next year, before they added a forced storyline, there's ALWAYS people saying the teammate ai needs to be improved or that they wish they could use sliders. People demanding a storyline? Not so much. And just because SOMEBODY would of complained about something isn't really a strong reason for adding a mode IMO. I once saw SOMEBODY talk about how they thought it would be a great idea if 2k added a feature where in a close game in the final seconds they added some kind of slow motion theatrics on a clutch shot and you had to do a quick time event. Just because a person might want something doesn't mean it's something that's in high demand or needed.

And where do people complain about association not being changed? I'm curious. I've been an association guy since 2k5, and don't get me wrong, people complained about it all the time, but the complaints were always related to problems with the association(weird trades made by the computer was ALWAYS brought up for example), but i don''t really remember anyone saying "association is boring, i wish they would add a storyline to it"(if there's a lot of people saying that please show me) Hell even this year, after they upgraded it to myleague and fixed a bunch of issues, i don't remember people complaining about it being the same too much. The big complaint this year for it seems to be some kind of rookie progression bug from what i've seen.

And by the way, i'm not saying it's impossible that anyone could of possibly wanted some fixed storyline for my player, but i'd definitely say if there were people that wanted that, they were in the minority.

Also, i agree, people definitely have their own vision of how they want things to go in their fantasy world. Another reason a linear scripted storyline isn't a great idea.

# 122 King_B_Mack @ 06/06/15 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPRINGS03


	All you have to do is look at comments when my player was mentioned or people talk about my player for next year, before they added a forced storyline, there's ALWAYS people saying the teammate ai needs to be improved or that they wish they could use sliders. People demanding a storyline? Not so much. And just because SOMEBODY would of complained about something isn't really a strong reason for adding a mode IMO. I once saw SOMEBODY talk about how they thought it would be a great idea if 2k added a feature where in a close game in the final seconds they added some kind of slow motion theatrics on a clutch shot and you had to do a quick time event. Just because a person might want something doesn't mean it's something that's in high demand or needed. And where do people complain about association not being changed? I'm curious. I've been an association guy since 2k5, and don't get me wrong, people complained about it all the time, but the complaints were always related to problems with the association(weird trades made by the computer was ALWAYS brought up for example), but i don''t really remember anyone saying "association is boring, i wish they would add a storyline to it"(if there's a lot of people saying that please show me) Hell even this year, after they upgraded it to myleague and fixed a bunch of issues, i don't remember people complaining about it being the same too much. The big complaint this year for it seems to be some kind of rookie progression bug from what i've seen. And by the way, i'm not saying it's impossible that anyone could of possibly wanted some fixed storyline for my player, but i'd definitely say if there were people that wanted that, they were in the minority. Also, i agree, people definitely have their own vision of how they want things to go in their fantasy world. Another reason a linear scripted storyline isn't a great idea.

I think you're going a little revisionist history here. I was around when MyPlayer started and over the years of it's life. There were quite a few people that eventually grew tired of just a wall of games with nothing else really happening in the mode. Now did someone ask for "forced storylines" specifically? Don't think so, but let's not sit here and pretend like a very large portion of the fanbase (and not this small number that you're framing it as) wasn't a little fatigued at playing 82 straight games with no endorsements, no real team interactions etc. happening. People don't even play all 82 games of their associations lol.

# 123 Clappington @ 06/06/15 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nova91


	The storyline sucks. There is no new dialogue after the first 1.5 seasons, nothing new happens, hell, you actually lose cutscenes and dialogue after that. There are only so many times Al Jefferson can come to my guy and tell him to not get too pumped up after a great game. It turns back into the same old MC mode it has always been with a few extra delays you can't wait to get past so you can play your next game. The rivals make no sense. My SF plays in Charlotte, instead having a veteran or rookie rival at my position, conference or division I'm stuck with Cousins and Exum, both of which I only play twice a year and don't even get to matchup against and one is a bench player. There is no new dialogue within the rivalry and it doesn't progress. My dude wins MVP and he's still going at it with a player that averages less than 15 mpg? The scripted coaching change didn't make sense and there is only one possible coach to get. We were 5th when I signed, finished 2nd in the east and lost to the Pacers(NBA champs) in the ECF, yet we fired Steve Clifford and hired Doc Rivers who wouldn't have been fired after winning the division and having the 2nd best record in west and losing to the Thunder, who had the best record in the NBA by 10 games, in game 7 of the WCF. The in game dialogue sucks. Cover somebody!? My actual matchup is 1-6 from the field and the only bucket he scored was because no one attempted to back on defense after a my missed baseline jumper. Too many turnovers!? I have 2 in the 19 consecutive minutes you played me in the 1st half to go with 9 assists. The scrimmages suck. We need to work on being aggressive and drawing fouls!? We shot 27 FTs last game and not to mention there is no ability to draw fouls in scrimmages. Getting yelled at after the scrimmages for not hustling or playing well enough!? I scored or assisted on 11 of the teams 15 points, had 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.

I'm not disagreeing that the scripted stuff isnt annoying, the story mode has a lot of flaws and you have to understand this isnt a company that is going to make a good storymode like the witcher(example), they arent going to make the perfect storyline just not going to happen so let it go. I can agree that a lot of aspects in the dialogue needs to improve, but if you ask the majority of 2k fans they actually enjoy it and I dont want to hear "oh thats just casuals liking anything"or how "ohhh they just dedicating this game for little kids" when there are plenty of teens and adults who love the story modes!
But in all the story mode can and will improve each year its going to have flaws but why cant you just accept it for what it is.

# 124 LingeringRegime @ 06/06/15 10:23 AM

This might be a text sim year for me. Unless, the demo(s) blow me away. If there are demo(s).

# 125 SPRINGS03 @ 06/06/15 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_B_Mack


	I think you're going a little revisionist history here. I was around when MyPlayer started and over the years of it's life. There were quite a few people that eventually grew tired of just a wall of games with nothing else really happening in the mode. Now did someone ask for "forced storylines" specifically? Don't think so, but let's not sit here and pretend like a very large portion of the fanbase (and not this small number that you're framing it as) wasn't a little fatigued at playing 82 straight games with no endorsements, no real team interactions etc. happening. People don't even play all 82 games of their associations lol.

Nah i'm not revising anything, did people want more endorsements and achievements for things they did with their player? No doubt, but i'm literally talking about the storyline here, nobody really asked for that(people asking for that were more in the minority). More options as to how you can respond to the media and different questions? Definitely. Getting tired of playing games with not enough endorsements and achievements isn't the same as asking for a story mode. Again, the biggest complaints you would usually see about my player were lack of sliders and teammate ai. I think there was a complaint about not being able to sim games until a certain point too. None of that points to wanting a linear story mode, and if there were people wanting that, i'm pretty sure it was the minority. Just judging by post i've seen about the mode in general. Hell look at this thread even lol.

Also, it's not like they haven't emphasized something that nobody(or at least very little people) asked for before, remember the year when they made a big announcement about the game being executive produced by jay z? Unless you're gonna say a bunch of people actually demanded that as well lol.

# 126 VDusen04 @ 06/06/15 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_B_Mack


	I think you're going a little revisionist history here. I was around when MyPlayer started and over the years of it's life. There were quite a few people that eventually grew tired of just a wall of games with nothing else really happening in the mode. Now did someone ask for "forced storylines" specifically? Don't think so, but let's not sit here and pretend like a very large portion of the fanbase (and not this small number that you're framing it as) wasn't a little fatigued at playing 82 straight games with no endorsements, no real team interactions etc. happening. People don't even play all 82 games of their associations lol.

I had some real issues with MyPlayer when it first came out, and the lack of a "Simulate" option was a huge one. Among other things, I also wished the D-League was editable so I could play amongst real D-Leaguers when I was trying to work my way up to the NBA.

I actually thought 2K was doing a solid job of improving MyPlayer mode in subsequent years - adding the ability to simulate, introducing shoes deals, allowing your player to get his own billboard, etc. A significant portion of those changes and additions felt organic while retaining a sense of freedom and ownership in the mode.

Not to speak for SPRINGS03, but I think he's saying those types of additions (the organic stuff and the things to help the mode to run better - like the elusive alternate jersey selection) would have been preferred over a jump-the-shark level linear storyline with awful dialogue and acting.

The original MyPlayer seemed based upon injecting a single fantasy element (ourselves) into a simulation environment, a loose attempt to mimic the journey to the NBA. The Like Mike storyline introduced in 2K14 obliterated any sense of realism in order to triple down on the fantasy.

# 127 kadzier @ 06/06/15 11:46 AM

glad to see I'm not the only one who misses the best version of myplayer, where it was all about you creating your own story trying to make it in the league and not about you playing 2K's corny *** RPG story

# 128 Sinner @ 06/06/15 11:56 AM

Vdusen you may not want to speak for Springs08 but you're definetely speaking for me. I have said many times that Myplayer/Mycareer as they are now and have been for a few years are basically not really our characters anymore.

This mode is by far my favorite but mainly for the on court playing and the endorsements I receive because of my play on the court, it feels like that's really the only thing that is "mine" and I have control over and that is what appeals to me the most.

Since they have decided to go the linear story mode route I still play it and can deal with the story but I really wish we could go back to not having these stories and not feel like we're using a 2k character in a mode that's supposed to be about Me and/or My game character that is trying to accomplish something in the NBA.

I know it takes a lot of hard work to put anything in a video game and have never been one to say 2k is lazy but I do wish some of this hard work was done making Myplayer and My experience in the NBA feel like it's...well...mine.

I do believe that having Spike Lee do this story mode will help me enjoy it a bit more especially if it's going to help with the voice acting and pace of the story mode, quite simply I have to deal with it if I want to play this mode. The nickname is IMO not a very good one but as long as the on court play is better and the game as a whole is better I personally don't care what nick name they use. Ironically the only name I'm having a problem with in this mode is that it still is being called "Mycareer" hell call it NBA Life or something.

# 129 sbee2k @ 06/06/15 01:56 PM

I just hope that create a legend comes back. I tried doing player lock in association but it isn't the same.

# 130 Side Effect @ 06/06/15 02:27 PM

A little off topic, but seeing this, I hope 2K hires someone for the WWE 2K16 mycareer story.

# 131 nova91 @ 06/06/15 03:25 PM

If you go back and search through the 2k wishlists of old, you'll find that there were very few people that wanted a storyline in the MyPlayer/MyCareer here. I was on the 2k forums when 2k first introduced MyPlayer and when wishlists would pop up or people started talking about what MP need there were very few people that talked about storylines there as well. Most of the stuff people wanted to see in MP/MC involved sliders, teammate ai, jersey options, some type of "crib" a la NFL2K, shoes, different career arcs and tons of other things.

# 132 nova91 @ 06/06/15 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Side Effect


	A little off topic, but seeing this, I hope 2K hires someone for the WWE 2K16 mycareer story.

It would make more sense for 2K to do this with WWE than the NBA, since it is a script/story driven sport.

# 133 I Djm @ 06/06/15 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TalenT


	If anything, OS has showed me that you can't please everybody. If the mode had continued on it's previous path people would have complained that the mode had become stale and unimaginative. Switch things up and you get some who will say they're concerned. I'm more of a wait and see guy. Patience is a virtue my friends!

When it comes to this mode? Nah 2k blatantly ignores some of our requests

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

# 134 coolcras7 @ 06/06/15 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Djm


	When it comes to this mode? Nah 2k blatantly ignores some of our requests Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

whose request, operation sports, Facebook, twitter, Instagram, or the countless other forums out there, there are a lot of people making requests/demands who should they listen to.

# 135 I Djm @ 06/06/15 05:36 PM

Os the people who ride with them the most

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

# 136 coolcras7 @ 06/06/15 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Djm


	Os the people who ride with them the most Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

OS counts for what percentage of sales for 2k sports ?

# 137 I Djm @ 06/06/15 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolcras7


	OS counts for what percentage of sales for 2k sports ?

Not very much [emoji26]

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

# 138 Taer @ 06/06/15 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VDusen04


	... I actually thought 2K was doing a solid job of improving MyPlayer mode in subsequent years - adding the ability to simulate, introducing shoes deals, allowing your player to get his own billboard, etc. A significant portion of those changes and additions felt organic while retaining a sense of freedom and ownership in the mode.

I have not been very articulate in this thread and the majority of people did not understand my referencing AI. VDusen04 does a really good job of putting into words what I failed to do earlier.

I enjoy MC more than any mode because when I am controlling my character I feel it is more realistic than if I control someone else. What I direct Kobe to do under my control is my flawed perception of what I think he'd do and even though I've watched him his whole career and been a Laker fan for a long time, I can not pretend to be him.

2K really started out as a sim experience. The MP mode introduced in 2K10 was about immersing yourself into that sim experience. Over the next couple of years it expanded on that sim experience. Its biggest flaw was linking the career mode to online play.

Online play has its unique demands which conflict with a true career sim mode. In the career mode you want to develop over an entire career ... with online play you want to reach your peak immediately so that you can dominate online. These conflicting aspects should have been separated years ago - and the online MyPlayer could have been developed along the lines it currently has been; vc, standardized play, all the unique competition involving rec parks and street ball 3v3 games...

Career Mode - It could have developed along the lines of the Association modes with the main SIM emphasis being the individual instead of the team. It could have evolved with the experience starting from high school/college, through the draft and preseason all the way through post-career coaching/ownership. Sliders, rosters and customization could have been the bedrock that led not only to a better SIM experience in MC but within the Association experience as well.

One of the current supporters asks me why I can't just accept what is. My answer is because what could have been and should be is much greater and much better than what is. The mod gets further and further from the SIM experience focusing on the individual to the realization of someone else's idea of a basketball fantasy.

# 139 NDAlum @ 06/06/15 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolcras7


	OS counts for what percentage of sales for 2k sports ?

I will say people from OS have been hired by the 2K team and are part of the process.

# 140 nova91 @ 06/06/15 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taer


	I have not been very articulate in this thread and the majority of people did not understand my referencing AI. VDusen04 does a really good job of putting into words what I failed to do earlier. I enjoy MC more than any mode because when I am controlling my character I feel it is more realistic than if I control someone else. What I direct Kobe to do under my control is my flawed perception of what I think he'd do and even though I've watched him his whole career and been a Laker fan for a long time, I can not pretend to be him. 2K really started out as a sim experience. The MP mode introduced in 2K10 was about immersing yourself into that sim experience. Over the next couple of years it expanded on that sim experience. Its biggest flaw was linking the career mode to online play. Online play has its unique demands which conflict with a true career sim mode. In the career mode you want to develop over an entire career ... with online play you want to reach your peak immediately so that you can dominate online. These conflicting aspects should have been separated years ago - and the online MyPlayer could have been developed along the lines it currently has been; vc, standardized play, all the unique competition involving rec parks and street ball 3v3 games... Career Mode - It could have developed along the lines of the Association modes with the main SIM emphasis being the individual instead of the team. It could have evolved with the experience starting from high school/college, through the draft and preseason all the way through post-career coaching/ownership. Sliders, rosters and customization could have been the bedrock that led not only to a better SIM experience in MC but within the Association experience as well. One of the current supporters asks me why I can't just accept what is. My answer is because what could have been and should be is much greater and much better than what is. The mod gets further and further from the SIM experience focusing on the individual to the realization of someone else's idea of a basketball fantasy.

Perfectly freaking said.

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