NBA 2K17 News Post

OS is Visiting 2K Next Week, Ask Your Questions Here!

07:26 PM - March 9, 2017 by RaychelSnr

Next week, I'll be heading out to California to have a chat with several former OS'ers who are now working at 2K on the NBA 2K series. We're going to talk about a lot of topics such as what its like to work at 2K, what the transition from community members to game makers was like, and also some of the nuts and bolts behind the approaches to their jobs.

In short we kind of get to learn some of the hows and whys of game development.

We're going to be having some extended conversations in the 2K Studio about all of this and the videos will be posted afterwards on OS. We're giving you guys the chance to submit questions to the team now to the run-up of the event next Thursday. Obviously we're not going to get any unreleased info on secret plans for NBA 2K18 (sorry guys) but if you have questions about why they do certain things, how they approach their jobs, or what being in the games industry is like, we'd love to be able to talk about them.

Submit your questions in the comments, and I'll try to ask as many of them as possible when I have my sit down with the guys at 2K next week!

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Member Comments

# 61 NoLeafClover @ 03/11/17 04:17 PM

Legit lol at no one following the thread topic or being interested in asking about turning gaming into a career.

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# 62 Kanobi @ 03/11/17 08:42 PM

I have a pretty extensive history here at OS in the area of suggesting improvements to games and particular game modes. The majority of those went toward the NFL2k series. I doubt you guys have a position available for a guy to just think of stuff as you can come to the forums and harvest ideas for free but I'd love to be directly involved in the development process, especially if 2k ever returned to the football gaming arena.

# 63 Smirkin Dirk @ 03/11/17 09:07 PM

This is a really interesting topic. I have a few more.

1. What was the very first step of transitioning from community member to employee? i.e. did you contact them or they contact you? What was the initial discussion about?

2. Did you have any background in games programming or were you just a passionate NBA gamer?

3. What have you learned about the game that you did not know as a community member?

# 64 TheDuggler @ 03/11/17 09:10 PM

How much can you really change the game over the course of its lifetime (1 year)? Do you think the community has a solid grasp of what is and isn't possible to patch/change throughout the season?

# 65 Dyslexicphish @ 03/11/17 10:17 PM

I would imagine most if not all of the people in the gaming industry joined the industry because they love gaming. I've heard, however, that turning a hobby into a career can have some downsides. Did you feel like this was the case when going from playing the game you love to making it?

What do you suggest for someone with no work experience who is interested in joining the industry? I was thinking about creating a portfolio using the Unreal Engine. Do you think that would help me? If so, what do you suggest should be in it. What type of skills should I demonstrate to land that dream job?

Since its March I feel like I have to ask. What are the chances that in the next 5 years that a college bball game is released? I go back to College Hoops 2K8 this time of year and sadly the game is really showing it's age.

# 66 shegotgame @ 03/12/17 09:59 AM

Leftos,
I'd be interested to know how one becomes involved in the community management/development arena. For example, what type of experience or passion does one need to become a Rachel or a Chris Manning (is that LD2K) or a Ronnie? Or even just someone who works on a lower level and handles tweets/communication?

I love VC/2K (have been playing since the original) but I'm not a developer. How does a person like myself, with a liberal arts degree, get involved?

Lastly, how does it really feel to go to work everyday knowing you're doing what you love? This doesn't just apply to video games but I know it's not a feeling everyone gets to experience--the joy of work.

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# 67 kehlis @ 03/12/17 04:15 PM

Guys, seriously. Read the thread and what this visit is about before posting.

# 68 Mike Lowe @ 03/12/17 07:31 PM

How about: What would be most helpful to the Visual Concepts/2K Studios community that isn't already being done?

What can you/we/I do to help others out the most, beyond what's already being offered (some places in abundance).

# 69 Tell Me When @ 03/13/17 02:35 AM

Do you listen to peoples ideas on what they would like to have in the game.

# 70 SixGod @ 03/13/17 10:25 AM

- Describe your journey from OS member to VC employee. (Education, process of applying for the job, moving there)
- What is it you do at VC?
- OS members have all types of backgrounds and skills, which people are more suited for careers at VC?
- Have you met any celebrities at work?
- What is your favorite game mode and how much 2K do you get to play at work?
- What are the 2K personalities' archetypes?
- Can you post Rachel's number?

# 71 Fedor_52 @ 03/13/17 11:25 AM

-What other Sports/Games are you guys into?

-Would you like/feel comfortable working on other Games than NBA2K? Football for example ;-)

# 72 HAILAS @ 03/13/17 02:35 PM

How have your families been impacted while you were still in 'hobby mode' on this journey to what became your dream?
What type of familial/monetary sacrifices had to be made to pursue these goals? or make this kind of grind in pursuant of ones dream?

# 73 AceDawg5 @ 03/14/17 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leftos


	Alright, I think it's worth clarifying a little bit what this is about (although I think Chris S. did a very good job at explaining the theme of the questions) so that we get the best questions from you guys. This isn't a community feedback visit, OS isn't coming over to see/play the game and give community feedback and ask questions. This is about all of us that work here at VC that originated as community members, content creators, tool engineers, video editors, personalities, with roots both at OperationSports and the NLSC. We're people that loved NBA 2K with a passion, working on different areas of the game, and giving back to the community on the regular, because we were feeding from it, too. It was a hobby that turned into a career, a dream come true for every single one of us. And by working together, what both we, as developers and producers, and Visual Concepts realized, is that you can't have too many people with these roots, these origins, that are so passionate about the game, even if they don't have long tenures of professional experience in the games industry already in their resume. We're sharing our stories because we think it's important to motivate community members with ideas, creativity, passion, and skill, to join us; to move on from having this be just a hobby and making it their passion every single day to come into the office and work with us in continuing the work for NBA 2K towards greatness. So... - if you've ever felt curious about what it's like to have NBA 2K be a hobby that goes past just playing the game, - what it's like to transition from being part of the community to actually working here at Visual Concepts, - what your role might be like and how your life might change, - if you've wondered if you're good enough to actually work in the industry, - if you've never found the courage to send in your resume in fear of being rejected, - if you've wondered how to increase your exposure so that people already working there will see your work and potentially recommend you, ...now's the time. We want to hear your questions, we want to answer them, to encourage you, and to show you that we were part of OS, part of NLSC, just like you, pouring our hearts out into the game, and were discovered and picked up by VC exactly because of our passion and skill-set, and that so can you! Again, this is not specifically about 2K17 or 2K18. This is about developer stories, ex-community members that turned their passion into a career, and how you can also get to be a part of that. We're excited to share with you, and we'll be excited to answer your questions related to all of this.

How exactly did community members get their name out there to be noticed by 2k and Visual Concepts? I've always wanted to work in the gaming industry, but I've never known how to go about it. Like so many things, it's about who you know. I'd like to know how to get my name out there. Basketball has been my passion my entire life. So naturally, it's my most played game. I feel I have a lot of insight to offer. I've worked many jobs, but having a career in something I'm passionate about wouldn't feel like work to me. You guys are living the dream in my opinion. What are some tips you can offer for someone like me aspiring to get in the industry without much knowledge on the ins and outs?

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# 74 Crunky @ 03/14/17 12:59 PM

If you didn't work in the gaming industry what other field of work would you be in.

Do you guy's pull up your own idea's for the game or do the idea's come from us the community.

# 75 Junior Moe @ 03/14/17 06:15 PM

How do you square what you want to put in the game as a fan with the reality and constraints that come with an annual release?

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OS is Visiting 2K Next Week, Ask Your Questions Here!