NBA 2K: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

[ChaseB]

A common refrain echoed when people talk about sports games is a desire for "better atmosphere" in them. It’s sometimes hard to parse what "better atmosphere" means because it could be something generic like better visuals or audio, or it could just be something like making the regular season feel different from the playoffs.

When it comes to NBA 2K, this talk crops up a lot year to year on Operation Sports, which is not surprising because it's a mega-popular game. But with NBA 2K, the complaints also seem to get way more specific and a bit more off the beaten path. Now you could look at that as a positive for NBA 2K as people have to "reach" to find these problems. But another way to look at it is that some of these things have been legacy issues for so long that people are more attuned to identifying and talking about them.

In short, not many people question the natural-sounding commentary (sans it being repetitive like with every sports game), lively varied PA announcer and the signature style that many of the arenas already possess. It’s more these other underlying things like crowd reactions, how all the audio elements are mixing together, how the rim sounds, or just where random noises are coming from in the game that get attention.

So after the jump, we'll show off a couple of these complaints and talk about why they have some merit.

Read More: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

[Steve_OS]

Re: NBA 2K: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

I can dig it.

[knich]

Re: NBA 2K: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

I would like them to fix the PA audio. It is horrible as it is very difficult to hear even if I turn down all the other audio.

[jyoung]

For me, the biggest audio annoyance in 2K15 is that the crowd only gets loud in the last two minutes of games.

You can have a close game the entire way, but the crowd doesn't really react much until the clock hits 2:00, and then all of sudden the noise level magically goes up and people in the stands start going crazy.

One of the things that NBA Live does way better than NBA 2K right now is crowd noise. Live's audience members maintain a much more natural ebb and flow throughout all four quarters.

[23]

Re: NBA 2K: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

Oh yes, this is LONG overdue!!! I have to leave shortly but Ill be back with a vengance.

In the meantime, go ahead and load up a blu ray on your tv with just the tv sounds...

Then turn on your surround sound system and tell me if there is a difference in the immersion of the movie.

That's the difference between having correct sounds or not. Immersion

[ochosynco]

Why can't the commentary be updated mid-season? There are so many changes in the NBA throughout the year that an update with more conversation seems not only necessary but common sense. Did anyone else find it strange to hear Steve Kerr commenting on the Golden State Warriors only to see him standing on the sideline as well?

[24ct]

Re: NBA 2K: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

The rim and net sounds pretty bad too. Like I don't know what 2k it was but these haven't changed for a LONG time. I've never heard a dunk sound the way they do in this game. Especially at the park and stuff. Not to mention it's ALWAYS the same exact sound. No variation whatsoever.

Crowd noise is terrible. Nobody doing anything different. I do remember the old 2ks having random ppl in the crowd actually shouting random things. They need to bring this back.

[23]

Re: NBA 2K: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

Guys if possible post examples

[m1ke_nyc]

Re: NBA 2K: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

Sometimes throughout the game there's this noise that kinda just pops in. Like something is trying to break through my speakers. I'm gonna try to get some audio of it tonight. Only does this during 2K no other game does it. And does it on all TVs and speakers/soundbars in my house.

[redsox4evur]

Re: NBA 2K: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

Why can't the commentary be updated mid-season? There are so many changes in the NBA throughout the year that an update with more conversation seems not only necessary but common sense. Did anyone else find it strange to hear Steve Kerr commenting on the Golden State Warriors only to see him standing on the sideline as well?

They can't do this because they have to get these guys to come in and record all of this commentary. And this could take weeks or months and these guys have regular games to be working during that time. Also they have to travel from game to game and spend time with their families. So there isn't time for them to come in and record new lines every 6 months or whatever. Also I don't know if this is even something that they can patch in. And the Steve Kerr thing happened because of when he was hired so late in the development cycle.

[TreyIM2]

This stuff is not my issue with the sounds. Proper crowd reactions, responses and swells to what's happening on the court is still not right nor consistent. Big plays by the home teams barely get a reaction sometimes.

[DolfanDave]

Re: NBA 2K: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

My biggest problem has been the center channel has no audio coming from it and it started after an update 2k14 and havent been back since. Until that is fixed all other problems will be magnified. I am surprised this hasnt been a major discussion to fix. i can only assume most people dont have 5.1 or higher.

[Blippity]

New comer here, but a lurker for about a year!

Every year I seem to complain mostly about the sound, mainly the crowds.

But firstly, I feel for digital Doris. Every half time/post game interview, I have to turn down the crowd volume from 60 to about 5-10 because I cannot hear her or the players. It's annoying how it's not just once or twice, but EVERY single time. I hear those weird sounds when Doris talks too. I had to pause the game the first time thinking "What's that high pitched sound?" thinking it was coming from home. Nope, it went when it paused it.

My main issue is the crowd is useless. There is no natural flow to their reactions and it's annoying. My top 3 actual NBA game moments featuring crowds are:

1) Mavs vs Spurs, when Vince Carter nails a 3pt dagger over Manu Ginobli to tie the conference series 2-2 in 2014. Dead silence in anticipation for in-bound pass and the eruption (and goosebumps!) as the shot goes in.

2) Same year, different series as Damian Lillard does the same over the Rockets in Game 6 (I think).

3) I think it was game 5 in the Spurs win over the Heat. About 2nd or 3rd quarter, the Spurs were behind about 45-52 or something, when they go on a huge run through Leonard and Ginobli. Every bucket saw the crowd grow stronger and more excited as they cut down the lead and overtook the Heat. Each bucket past the Heats score, until a time-out was called, elevated the players and the crowd went nuts.

I am yet to experience anything exciting as these plays in 2k. Even when home teams are shooting FTs, there is still a roar not a hush. I often have the crowd volume low as I find it irritating.

[suh90beast]

Re: NBA 2K: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

Yea 2k lacks excitment in clutch moments. There should be some build up to the last shot

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[WISports]

Re: NBA 2K: Let's Talk About Some NBA 2K Audio Issues

Yesss. As good as 2K has been as a whole, they have ignored this aspect of the game for far too long.


The modded video just shows how much better it could/should sound.


Net sounds are terrible as well. In 2K15, whether you swish a layup, or a 3 pointer, they both sound the same. Unacceptable. The net shouldn't even really make a sound on a made layup.