The VC issue - perfectly put in words

[zeric]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

We live in the the age of pay-to-play...it is what it is.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

I hope you are a troll

[iam31yearsold]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

Younger people seem to be fine with pay-to-win because it's what they have grown up with.

'Deal with it' mentality is exactly what they want you to think. Nothing you can do...might as well just give them money...BUT HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE THEY GOT FROM VC AND STILL HAVE BROKEN DEFENSE...yea...keep defending 2k.

Pay to win is not eSports...but I have noticed 2k has stopped throwing that term around...because...it's so far from it its laughable.

[Americas Team]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

This is why I stopped playing MyPlayer, I dont have the time to grind. I only Play two modes in this game, Play Now and MyLeague, when I want to see MyCareer or The Park I just watch people play on Youtube or Twitch.

[iam31yearsold]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

Broken game mechanics trick user into think they NEED to be a higher rating to be successful...so they play...too long, need instant gratification...buy VC...game mechanics still broken, still not able to be as good as I feel I should be...play...too long...buy VC...

Freemium gaming that costs $60

[El_Poopador]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

I don't get why people are so against earning VC to level up their player. It's the same with other games. Final Fantasy, Grand Theft Auto, God of War, Arkham games, etc. You start out with only basic stats, weapons or spells, and earn your way into greatness.

I don't want to start off averaging a triple double on my first month. I'd get tired of the game pretty quick. It's fun working your way up. It's rewarding to see your player gain more attributes and badges. And you know it's all because of your hard work.

A couple of issues here. First, not everyone has hours upon hours to sink into gaming, making the grind much more of an issue.

Second, the other games you mentioned generally only force you to grind if you want to be over-leveled; you're on par with your enemies/opponents otherwise. In NBA 2k, you're drastically under-skilled compared to your competition.

I'm not against having to work to make your player an all star, but the way your attributes start out, you're barely better than a high school player. I would have less of an issue with that if you only needed to upgrade your skill attributes, but even your player's athleticism is pathetic when starting out. Why, as a top 3 draft pick at PG, am I slower than the majority of PFs in the NBA?

If I need to work to develop my jumper, that's fine, and that's realistic. But I should not have to grind just to be able to run faster or jump higher; that's not realistic. And those physical attributes tend to be the most expensive ones to upgrade. I've said this before and it still holds true: most NBA players are already at or close to their physical peak early in their careers. They improve their skills, but they don't become substantially faster as their careers progress.

The other major issue is that I have to choose between wearing the stupid sweatpants I start with through every cutscene, or buying a pair of shorts but then not being able to upgrade my attributes. Why do I have to choose between improving my skill on the court or being able to wear a sleeve while I play? Why does something as basic as a headband cost more than improving my dunking ability?

[nddot]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

This thread starter is keeping it 100 and some of you fanboys with your blind defending of greedy tactics is embarrassing. Other issues are locking all the my player modes together online and off while tied to vc so you have to play and grind everymode to upgrade. I hate playing against boring and predictable AI, but I am forced to play my career and upgrade so i can compete against the best players online. Now you can say i don't have to pay but you know many will buy VC to get that competitive advantage so I either have to pay exta as well or grind like crazy early on in a completely unfun tedious manner. Each year they remove work arounds to earning upgrades and vc more quickly while also restricting more thing behind a vc wall. It is absolutely becoming pay to play and pay to win on a game that already charges a premium. The more blind fanboys keep defending it the worse it will get until nobody can stomach it. I love the gameply improvements this year but am contemplating just giving up on my player Pro Am because of the hassle making my player competitive. Sadly pro am is what i like best.

the bolded part is 100% truth

[335TDC]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

Only problem I have with the My Career/ VC debate is that your player starts so poorly rated. I don't mind a "grind" in a career mode, but if I'm the 7th player picked in the draft and I dominated the college circuit, a 55 overall is just stupid. For a mode that tries so hard to build a narrative, this is a flat-out narrative breaker.

That's where I think the greedy argument might hold water. The motivation for a 55 overall player might be to make VC more tempting to buy, and that's where they lose my loyalty.

It's obviously NOT bad business, but as a consumer I have the right to say, "You've ruined My Career for me" and jump ship. And I have.

I'll enjoy My GM...!

[iam31yearsold]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

Only problem I have with the My Career/ VC debate is that your player starts so poorly rated. I don't mind a "grind" in a career mode, but if I'm the 7th player picked in the draft and I dominated the college circuit, a 55 overall is just stupid. For a mode that tries so hard to build a narrative, this is a flat-out narrative breaker.

That's where I think the greedy argument might hold water. The motivation for a 55 overall player might be to make VC more tempting to buy, and that's where they lose my loyalty.

It's obviously NOT bad business, but as a consumer I have the right to say, "You've ruined My Career for me" and jump ship. And I have.

I'll enjoy My GM...!

MyGM still have VC uninvented shortcuts that make mode easier and less realistic.

[Bernte]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

WELL SAID!!! You are exactly right. Why do people have to complain about every single thing!?! Lol. They act like they are being forced into buying the VC. If you play this game for a whole year you will have multiple players maxed out. I think you should have to earn it as well. Now I will say the cosmetic items are ridiculously priced and buying dribble moves is kinda weird but overall this game is amazing.

that's not the point. the point is, that the game design forces you in a very subtle way into buying vc. of course you can reach everything by grinding like an idiot for weeks and months, but hey, only 50$, and you can skip this. c'mon, do it! DO IT! DO IT!

if you know what i mean...

[iam31yearsold]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

To say the game is amazing, with the AI defense in its current state shows how much people care about the bells and whistles over core gameplay mechanics.

I'm assuming everyone on this thread defending the VC system, bought VC and its trying to justify it.

[StayPlation82]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

it's all funny, sad, i created my MC guy in create-a-player and his OVR rating was like 10 points lower. so even if you "grind" to a 99, you're really a 90. VC or not the best you can be is a 90. then it's almost double the amount of VC to max out this year, bought or not. smoke and mirrors! some people believe in magic and some don't.

[ballin095]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

I'll just say this much about the topic. Is there a reason that as soon you select the get upgrades section in the my career menu the "buy" vc option is already highlighted?

[downsouth]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

Yes because they aren't consistently one of the best selling games of the year? 2K makes an absolute killing off the game without even factoring in VC.


There's a difference "not running a charity" and trying to suck every penny out of your customers. it's greedy.

Free 2 Play games use microtransactions as they don't get paid upfront. 2K charges $60+ as an entry fee and makes a killing off VC purchases and after the success of that strategy there's no way that elements of the game have not been designed around encouraging the user to purchase VC.

Hell, compare 2K to Battlefield or GTA, two franchises along with 2K, sell copious amounts copies and earn massive revenue off their titles. Both of those games have microtransactions but at the same time they regularly give free content to their customers, GTA V especially. 2K nickel & dimes the customer at every opportunity.

And yes, I am perfectly fine comparing the 2K to GTA/BF/etc because they all charge full price, they all are consistently the top selling titles every year and they all are consistently under development.

What's even more disgusting to me is how they started selling college teams before even acknowledging the massive amount of bugs in this year's release. It's downright repulsive.



But hey, they ain't running a charity but people sure do donate. Who can blame since people are so willing, might as well take advantage of those who have no issue with being taken advantage of.

It would be foolish for a game company to ignore the revenue from the item store model. The cost of the game is peanuts compared to the profit on game currency sales. That genie is out of the bottle. The market was proven when "Free2Play" games and phone app games came on to the market and generated more revenue per player than games selling for $50.

All we can hope for is that they take those profits and improve the game. Or hope enough people dont buy it to where they lose profits. Doesnt look like that is happening anytime soon.

At least in NBA 2K with time and patience you can achieve everything that a VC buyer can. In other games I play, players arent so lucky.

*edit* also wanted to add, it isnt taking advantage of anyone. Its offering goods and services that arent required for a price you can pay or not. Its about personal value to you. For example, i buy too much VC but i wouldnt spend $1.99 on a pack of 100 college teams. Its about what you want to do.

[thexzeno]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

I bought 30 dollars worth of VC because I work a full time job and can afford it and also because I enjoy mycareer and mypark

My biggest gripe is that when I buy VC to help make a character to play in park or pro-am and they are terrible I am out 30 dollars and tons of time(practices and grinding badges) and I know for a fact that 2k wont come and try to balance anything. The archetype post scorer is useless because the stats they decided to give him are fundamentally terrible I also feel sorry for slashers. Why is my close shot maxed at 73? sure I can back down but then I just get instantly ripped up by a pg with hall of fame pickpocket who can still shoot threes mid range and dunk.

Now some will say JUST REROLL but i dont want to i dont have the time to play 12 min quarters everyday for 400 VC a game and 1 hour of my life wasted. Im pretty sure it takes over 300,000 VC just to get to 85 you know how ****ing long that takes just playing casually? you'll never be able to compete with anyone in any other game mode.

[iTofu]

Re: The VC issue - perfectly put in words

I agree with OP for the most part.

Although, you don't need to "shake" anything, it's designed for you to buy VC, if you're serious, a lot of VC. In MyCareer, VC is treated like an entry fee to Park and Pro-Am. Want to try another build? Cool, pony up another entry fee and by the way all those animations you bought? Buy 'em again plz, kthxbye.

On the other hand, I paid it, so how unreasonable is it?

Also, I actually think after the entry fee, the VC is more than sustainable if you play online, so I don't think linking the grind and VC is necessarily valid in terms of MyCareer.

'Deal with it' mentality is exactly what they want you to think. Nothing you can do...might as well just give them money...

I get what you're saying. However, let's think about what the impact of people's efforts here. Let's say some nice guy at 2K is reading and understands our pain and takes our complaint to the highest level...

2K Meeting:

NiceGuy: "I've been reading some of the feedback, people are really upset about how much Virtual Currency they have to buy..."

Christoph, President: "Interesting, I don't like bad feedback... Hmmmm... Let's get David on phone." *turns on speaker*

David, VP of Finance: "Hello, you've reached is David."

Christoph: "Hey it's Cris and NiceGuy is here. He's done some interesting research on what people think of our game and I'm wondering how much of our revenue comes from VC?"

David: "It makes up XX% (not a small number percentage) of our revenue from NBA 2K17."

Christoph: "hahaha... Oh man. Well... That settles that, VC is in forever, sorry. You know how it is, cash rules everything around me. Thanks David, that's all. Talk to you later."

David: "Cool. Take care." *click*

NiceGuy: "Ugh... What should I tell these angry fans?"

Christoph: "Take it to PR, I'm sure they have a great idea. Maybe another $250K tourney, that seemed to have went well."

NiceGuy: "Not sure about that, most of these people are casuals. You know, soft with the sticks. Plus, the scoring system for entry into the tourney was kind of wack... I mean (trails off)"

Christoph: "I don't know, can we get Rachel DeMita to wear sexier clothes or something?"

NiceGuy: "Seems a little sexist, don't you think?"

Christoph: "You know our user base, right? You ever been on a mic with most of these people. Maybe tell them we'll fix defense. :wink: Why are we brainstorming? I'll contact Ryan, the head of communications myself. Take care. Thanks for bringing this to my attention."

NiceGuy: "No problem. Talk to you later."

This is how a market works. There an enormous number of users who love Park and/or Pro-Am and thus are willing to pay. 2K has found an amount that seems unreasonable but a price people are willing to pay, so you better find a way to make a massive dent in that revenue. I suspect that's the only time they'll listen.