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

[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)

[JerzeyReign]

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

[LD2k]

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

[MavsManiac4Life]

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.

[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?

[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.

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.

[Pared]

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

[TeamBuilder]

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.