NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

[Bernte]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

But you don't have to pay VC to get that stuff. If I didn't want to spend my VC on attributes I could have gotten them. If you just play the game for a month or two you can get most of the stuff you wanted anyways.

that's exactly what's shady about it.

[jonm1010]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

I gotta put the cape down but you won't let the torch go? Fair.

Just don't see the "you can't preview your hair?? VC grab for sure!" came straight down from the corporate business offices as a direct command to force the customer to spend more out of the wallet money motivated by absolute greed.

I see that way more as a development oversight. You have your opinion on the subject, I have mine.

And customers?? Customer is always right eh? Lol customers suck. If you've ever worked in customer service, you know how customers work and how they twist the victim scenario.

You did your job though, I'm out of this thread. There's only one way to see it, 2k is a sinister company from the top down.

I suppose the 2004-Kobe not having a fade hairstyle is a greed/VC money grab too, and not a development oversight.

*Que the "that's a gross over-exaggerating etc" and que my "just like this a lot of impressions in this thread (not all, great points in here anti-vc as well)" response*

You could probably go back and forth over any one particular item you want to nitpick and make a case in isolation on either side.

What I think is harder to argue against is the overall trend of the game mode over multiple iterations now, and of the underlying mechanisms that govern it. As being one toward greater and greater monetization of the game mode.

More items continually get put behind VC walls, more restrictions on what your player can access without VC, a reduction in the strength of achieving non-monetary VC gains in-game, through secondary pathways like endorsements, and through the accompanying app. A set of indicators that make it hard to draw any other conclusion then intentional development toward increasing monetization.

All wrapped up in a game that is built around up-selling you on versions of the game that are double, and triple the entry-level price, heavily centered around filling your VC bank account. An option and distinction that by its very nature creates an unfair playing field that puts even casual fans that enjoy competitive multiplayer MyPlayer modes in a position that it is hard, if not impossible to keep up with unless you invest additional money to buffer your VC bank. Not to mention signaling pretty hard how important that extra VC can be in getting a competitive edge.

None of this is to say I am trying to level some enormous negative value judgement on this decision(though my personal opinion is negative). And I do think it is hard to make the argument the decision has been justifiable in terms of re-investments into the property. As most re-investments beyond the usual year to year tinkering that has gone on for multiple console generations seems to primarily be focused on this particular mode, and heavily toward the monetization aspects. And I am sure inside of the overall drive for larger and larger earnings in the company, there are some non-cynical things at work(paying salaries, bonuses, attracting talent, freeing up money for other properties that require larger risks, market feedback) but as a consumer, I have to say they are decisions that have put me into the camp of not wanting to support them directly for this product. Buying the game used and only using it for the areas that won't signal to 2K this design path should continue.

[MrWrestling3]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

You could probably go back and forth over any one particular item you want to nitpick and make a case in isolation on either side.

What I think is harder to argue against is the overall trend of the game mode over multiple iterations now, and of the underlying mechanisms that govern it. As being one toward greater and greater monetization of the game mode.

More items continually get put behind VC walls, more restrictions on what your player can access without VC, a reduction in the strength of achieving non-monetary VC gains in-game, through secondary pathways like endorsements, and through the accompanying app. A set of indicators that make it hard to draw any other conclusion then intentional development toward increasing monetization.

All wrapped up in a game that is built around up-selling you on versions of the game that are double, and triple the entry-level price, heavily centered around filling your VC bank account. An option and distinction that by its very nature creates an unfair playing field that puts even casual fans that enjoy competitive multiplayer MyPlayer modes in a position that it is hard, if not impossible to keep up with unless you invest additional money to buffer your VC bank. Not to mention signaling pretty hard how important that extra VC can be in getting a competitive edge.

None of this is to say I am trying to level some enormous negative value judgement on this decision(though my personal opinion is negative). And I do think it is hard to make the argument the decision has been justifiable in terms of re-investments into the property. As most re-investments beyond the usual year to year tinkering that has gone on for multiple console generations seems to primarily be focused on this particular mode, and heavily toward the monetization aspects. And I am sure inside of the overall drive for larger and larger earnings in the company, there are some non-cynical things at work(paying salaries, bonuses, attracting talent, freeing up money for other properties that require larger risks, market feedback) but as a consumer, I have to say they are decisions that have put me into the camp of not wanting to support them directly for this product. Buying the game used and only using it for the areas that won't signal to 2K this design path should continue.

Completely agree; to me it seems like they are trying to the cherry pick the most profitable aspects of other popular online MMO/Competetive MP/E Sports titles and integrate them without much consideration as to how well they mesh with their current business model.

What we end up with is an odd hybrid which tends to ignore the fact that it is a full priced yearly release with no backwards compatability, while also gradually alienating the offline fanbase due to the increasing marginalization of said modes.

My hope is that the reintroduction of a competing product this year will eventually force a re-evaluation of this practice and eventually a shift to a more sensical system that works with what they are trying to do.

[jonm1010]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

Completely agree; to me it seems like they are trying to the cherry pick the most profitable aspects of other popular online MMO/Competetive MP/E Sports titles and integrate them without much consideration as to how well they mesh with their current business model.

What we end up with is an odd hybrid which tends to ignore the fact that it is a full priced yearly release with no backwards compatability, while also gradually alienating the offline fanbase due to the increasing marginalization of said modes.

My hope is that the reintroduction of a competing product this year will eventually force a re-evaluation of this practice and eventually a shift to a more sensical system that works with what they are trying to do.

I think EA has a real opportunity if they can take one more positive leap with the core gameplay(and already superior presentation) with their Live franchise by next season(and resist their own worst urges and pull back a bit on their own monetization aims). Just based on glancing over pretty much every NBA 2k community I can find that seems disillusioned with the feeling of rampant greed this franchise has gotten to.

If EA could step up and become that true viable alternative, then I think money would begin to talk and 2K would feel their hand forced.

I don't think anything short of that is going to change much personally. Except for maybe some really viral blowback to these trends. One where they are really concerned about long-lasting brand damage.

[Fist Of Kings]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

Watching a vid showing what the neighborhood mode was all about, I feel the heart and sole of the mode itself was to milk gamers dry with micro transactions. A lot of the stuff in the game isn't new either, as I'd rather have simple menu options for clothes like before, instead of literally jogging from one store to another to spend precious vc on a particular shirt.

Then, day 1 of this game's release, you already saw 85 ovr players in it's online mode. I feel like the game is shifted towards frustrating players to the point of buying vc, and everything is has taken a back page to that. Shame that this is what this great series has turned into, because this was one of the critical factors in me not buying this year's game.

[nico_lomo]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

my first 2k was 2k17, i grinded hours and hours (two 95pjs) wasted in a game almost broken ( i played offline only) with a face scan that sucks. i was thinking in buying 2k18 beacause i see the improvements that i want to see but this year the grind vc is even worst and much expensive, so i buy live, for offline career players live is the choise

[MrWrestling3]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

I think EA has a real opportunity if they can take one more positive leap with the core gameplay(and already superior presentation) with their Live franchise by next season(and resist their own worst urges and pull back a bit on their own monetization aims). Just based on glancing over pretty much every NBA 2k community I can find that seems disillusioned with the feeling of rampant greed this franchise has gotten to.

If EA could step up and become that true viable alternative, then I think money would begin to talk and 2K would feel their hand forced.

I don't think anything short of that is going to change much personally. Except for maybe some really viral blowback to these trends. One where they are really concerned about long-lasting brand damage.

That is very much what I am hoping for,for the good of the consumer. There needs to be serious competition to incentivize 2K to take a hard look at their business practices and to a lesser extent, certain game design choices.

[El_Poopador]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

I gotta put the cape down but you won't let the torch go? Fair.

Just don't see the "you can't preview your hair?? VC grab for sure!" came straight down from the corporate business offices as a direct command to force the customer to spend more out of the wallet money motivated by absolute greed.

I see that way more as a development oversight. You have your opinion on the subject, I have mine.

And customers?? Customer is always right eh? Lol customers suck. If you've ever worked in customer service, you know how customers work and how they twist the victim scenario.

You did your job though, I'm out of this thread. There's only one way to see it, 2k is a sinister company from the top down.

I suppose the 2004-Kobe not having a fade hairstyle is a greed/VC money grab too, and not a development oversight.

*Que the "that's a gross over-exaggerating etc" and que my "just like this a lot of impressions in this thread (not all, great points in here anti-vc as well)" response*

Not being able to preview hair may be an oversight. Forcing you to buy the same things multiple times is a money grab. I have to pay 300 VC to change my hair color, and another 300 if I don't like it and want to change it back. The same goes for a 1000 VC haircut.

If they weren't so stingy with how much VC they give out and everything wasn't so ridiculously expensive in comparison, it wouldn't be as big of an issue.

[ILLSmak]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

Don't be giving 2K any more ideas man.

In 2K19, after 5 games your lineup becomes unrecognizable and your facial hair disappears. You go back to the barbershop to get it done for you until another 5 games pass by and you need go back to get it done all over again. 1000 for hair, 500 for beard, then a 250 tip.

Mad funny, I'd have to pick up 2k for that only. haha. Me and my dude who didn't buy VC (he grinded a lot more than me, tho) were still in our scrubby wear for most of the year. I bought some 500vc stuff just for luls, but if they had that, I would be on there looking like a straight bum.

Actually you know dudes would be doing that, growing their stuff out as long as they can. That might actually be fun hmm.

But it's like dude who said yea we played park and weren't having fun so we all dropped 100 dollars on VC. It's not that 100 dollars is a lot of money or that nobody is allowed to spend their own money, it just sucks that you have to spend more than the game to go from 'not fun' to 'fun.'

Two things I'd like to see. I wanna know how much on average an online player spends on VC and I wanna know how long it took the people who grind from 60 up. Not to 99, but to 'good', like 85.

All my friend list is on 2k, and I know they probably all bought VC. My not buying the game and VC doesn't matter, to 2k, but it's principle.

that's all I'll say. I hope ya have fun, either way. SEE ME ON THE OTHER GAME.

Edit: oh and people are spamming various places about the VC. So there IS blowback.

-Smak

[meccs]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

You will need about 240 NBA games to get to 86 overall and that's if you get A+ every game, C grade is about 360 games and B about 300. It took Chris Smoove 190k VC to get to 85

[nddot]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

I gotta put the cape down but you won't let the torch go? Fair.



Just don't see the "you can't preview your hair?? VC grab for sure!" came straight down from the corporate business offices as a direct command to force the customer to spend more out of the wallet money motivated by absolute greed.



I see that way more as a development oversight. You have your opinion on the subject, I have mine.



And customers?? Customer is always right eh? Lol customers suck. If you've ever worked in customer service, you know how customers work and how they twist the victim scenario.



You did your job though, I'm out of this thread. There's only one way to see it, 2k is a sinister company from the top down.



I suppose the 2004-Kobe not having a fade hairstyle is a greed/VC money grab too, and not a development oversight.



*Que the "that's a gross over-exaggerating etc" and que my "just like this a lot of impressions in this thread (not all, great points in here anti-vc as well)" response*

Once again moving the goalposts and not answering to the matter at hand.

My player just signed an shoe deal with Jordan but guess what, i have to spend 4k vc if i want to wear the jordan 2 low.





Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[SorenInfinity]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

Road to 99 = How much can we get from you.

You can unlock like 3 cap upgrades in the time it takes you to earn the vc to pay for a third of the upgrades. That's in playgrouns. Forget the games you have to play think of the cutscenes and loading menus to 85 in MyCareer smh.

2K with the smooth robbery once again.

[meccs]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

If you look at the endorsement rewards, Nike gives you enough to get a fade at the barber shop! Seems legit.

[chanedw]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

I'm "okay" with grinding VC for myplayer's attribute. In the "career mode" of most sports game, you need to grind for some sort of points to improve your player. But to tie EVERYTHING with VC, your player's hairstyle, on-court equipment, off-court clothing, while making it un-proportionally difficult to earn VC (e.g. a Nike endorsement deal give you so little VC), removing the multiplier for difficulties, that's just plain greedy.

By no mean am I saying EA or Sony Interactive is a better company, but at least in Madden, for my single player CFM, I don't have to "pay" for my player's equipment. In MLB The Show, I don't have to "pay" to change my player's hairstyle. Having to pay VC for a hairstyle, or even on-court stuff like headband / sleeves / wrist band ... etc, which I never understand in the first place, I just see 2K Sports being more and more greedy each year.

[nddot]

Re: NBA 2k18 - Another VC grind fest?

I'm "okay" with grinding VC for myplayer's attribute. In the "career mode" of most sports game, you need to grind for some sort of points to improve your player. But to tie EVERYTHING with VC, your player's hairstyle, on-court equipment, off-court clothing, while making it un-proportionally difficult to earn VC (e.g. a Nike endorsement deal give you so little VC), removing the multiplier for difficulties, that's just plain greedy.



By no mean am I saying EA or Sony Interactive is a better company, but at least in Madden, for my single player CFM, I don't have to "pay" for my player's equipment. In MLB The Show, I don't have to "pay" to change my player's hairstyle. Having to pay VC for a hairstyle, or even on-court stuff like headband / sleeves / wrist band ... etc, which I never understand in the first place, I just see 2K Sports being more and more greedy each year.

Exactly. Did you have to pay for your shoes, with the endorsement deal ?


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports