KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

[LorenzoDC]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

From Ronnie2k on twitter: "Haircuts, coloring and facial hair are now 100 VC. Want to make sure it's realistic going forward!"

Kotaku gets their attention.

[ksuttonjr76]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

Kotaku gets their attention.

Aargh! That was 10 haircuts!

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

You can actually play the game just fine without spending any money at all. For those who are mad about all the transactions I suggest just playing the game without them. Solution seems simple enough.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Note: I personally don't know anything about "Myplayer" and whatever online mode is hot with the crowd because I strictly stay offline with real NBA teams. I don't create myself either because to me, that's not realistic in my mind. I never played in the NBA. I'm also not 6'10" nor 7' feet. And I'm not an athletic 275lb guy.

I suspect the uproar comes from the fact that everyone wants to compete online on day 1.

I suspect the uproar comes from the fact that a 60 OVR player can't really compete (and win) with those that choose to spend real money on VC.

VC infused characters are stronger and more athletic than your basic bare minimum myplayer. When an 85 OVR on day one is hitting shots left and right while your 60 OVR is missing shots left and right, that might be a reason why there's a dislike for VC microtransactions.

The more you win, the more VCs you earn? I don't know. I might be wrong, but that's how I picture the whole VC, microtransaction, online community.

[sparkybob]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

Note: I personally don't know anything about "Myplayer" and whatever online mode is hot with the crowd because I strictly stay offline with real NBA teams. I don't create myself either because to me, that's not realistic in my mind. I never played in the NBA. I'm also not 6'10" nor 7' feet. And I'm not an athletic 275lb guy.

I suspect the uproar comes from the fact that everyone wants to compete online on day 1.

I suspect the uproar comes from the fact that a 60 OVR player can't really compete (and win) with those that choose to spend real money on VC.

VC infused characters are stronger and more athletic than your basic bare minimum myplayer. When an 85 OVR on day one is hitting shots left and right while your 60 OVR is missing shots left and right, that might be a reason why there's a dislike for VC microtransactions.

The more you win, the more VCs you earn? I don't know. I might be wrong, but that's how I picture the whole VC, microtransaction, online community.

Right but the flip-side is people who have multiple real life responsibilities can't sit down and grind like people who can play 50 hours a week. You can argue it's not fair for those people who just plan to be casually competitive to have such a disadvantage compared to others.

[MrWrestling3]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

Right but the flip-side is people who have multiple real life responsibilities can't sit down and grind like people who can play 50 hours a week. You can argue it's not fair for those people who just plan to be casually competitive to have such a disadvantage compared to others.

Agreed, I feel that implementing proper tiered matchmaking and finally separating the online and offline experiences would probably solve much of the issue on both sides of the fence.

[ApolloKids]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

I like VC because it lets me live out the career of an NBA player. You know how they are so starved for cash they can't afford haircuts or shoes. It's a tough life on a rookie salary especially. Can't even ride a bike.

[Hustle Westbrook]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

Ronnie just announced they dropped the prices of haircuts to 100 Vc.

[Marty Funkhouser]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

https://twitter.com/Ronnie2K/status/910275847088627712

2K already feeling the heat!

[TarHeelPhenom]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

Not fair to compare 2k to WoW when with WoW its not a new game every year. If my 80k VC from 2k17 carried over to 2k18 I'd be happy as heck but every year we gotta start from the bottom and grind but this year they've taken it too far with how much you get and how much everything cost.

What rapper was it that said "and we grind from the bottom just to make it to the bottom"...


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[TarHeelPhenom]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

Right but the flip-side is people who have multiple real life responsibilities can't sit down and grind like people who can play 50 hours a week. You can argue it's not fair for those people who just plan to be casually competitive to have such a disadvantage compared to others.

But wouldn't you argue the same IRL that if you are a casual basketball player who plays once or twice every 3 months would be at a disadvantage if he went to open run and played against dudes who played every day? I remember Fight Night Champion being that way. They had the whole gym concept where you could joint a gym and spar for VC or earn in tournaments...or you could just purchase a boat load of VC and make your boxer a 95 in like 5 minutes. It was very frustrating trying to build my boxer by grinding when some dude could just pay a little dough and boost his. I would always compare it to steroids vs. clean training. I think the concept is good as far as the grind but the waters get muddied when you bring VC into it. Everybody should have to go through the grind...and whatever your attributes are it is what it is. JMO tho.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[strawberryshortcake]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

Right but the flip-side is people who have multiple real life responsibilities can't sit down and grind like people who can play 50 hours a week. You can argue it's not fair for those people who just plan to be casually competitive to have such a disadvantage compared to others.

My response below about having two competitive online modes, one where players who pay real money joins and the other where players spend absolutely no money to join and use their bare minimum basic character. That way, those that are truly casual and just want to have fun without having to worry about VC infused character can actually enjoiy 2k basketball.

But wouldn't you argue the same IRL that if you are a casual basketball player who plays once or twice every 3 months would be at a disadvantage if he went to open run and played against dudes who played every day? I remember Fight Night Champion being that way. They had the whole gym concept where you could joint a gym and spar for VC or earn in tournaments...or you could just purchase a boat load of VC and make your boxer a 95 in like 5 minutes. It was very frustrating trying to build my boxer by grinding when some dude could just pay a little dough and boost his. I would always compare it to steroids vs. clean training. I think the concept is good as far as the grind but the waters get muddied when you bring VC into it. Everybody should have to go through the grind...and whatever your attributes are it is what it is. JMO tho.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

I think the bigger picture is that video games are meant to be an outlet from everyday reality.

Truly casual gamer jump online because they're now able to play against Suzy or Fred on the other side of the world when all there was back in the days of no internet competition was inviting Tim down the street or your siblings for friendly competitive match.

Casual gamers are those that don't want to go through the grind. Hardcore gamers are those that will find the time to grind.

What 2k should have is two completely separate online division or communities:
(A) Those that choose to spend VC, tied to your gamer tag, somehow someway to track that real money was spent.
(B) Those that just want to have fun with the bare minimum myplayer that have no interest in spending real money. VC farmed through the standard grinding process.

Group (A) could have their own bragging rights while Group (B) could have their own Wall of Fame. Group A on steroids, and Group B going all natural. Who's got more bragging rights?

[TarHeelPhenom]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

My response below about having two competitive online modes, one where players who pay real money joins and the other where players spend absolutely no money to join and use their bare minimum basic character. That way, those that are truly casual and just want to have fun without having to worry about VC infused character can actually enjoiy 2k basketball.











I think the bigger picture is that video games are meant to be an outlet from everyday reality.



Truly casual gamer jump online because they're now able to play against Suzy or Fred on the other side of the world when all there was back in the days of no internet competition was inviting Tim down the street or your siblings for friendly competitive match.



Casual gamers are those that don't want to go through the grind. Hardcore gamers are those that will find the time to grind.



What 2k should have is two completely separate online division or communities:

(A) Those that choose to spend VC, tied to your gamer tag, somehow someway to track that real money was spent.

(B) Those that just want to have fun with the bare minimum myplayer that have no interest in spending real money. VC farmed through the standard grinding process.



Group (A) could have their own bragging rights while Group (B) could have their own Wall of Fame. Group A on steroids, and Group B going all natural. Who's got more bragging rights?

I hear you and agree but the group they cater this Neighborhood mode to look at this game as some form of real life. They really get serious with it. I don't think they will ever separate it though. Don't think they have the time.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[ChaseB]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

My take is that no competitive online game should be this reliant on microtransactions and making sure you're not a liability when you first enter the online space. Paying for attributes is just not a good philosophy for a competitive online game, and it probably never will be. It unbalances things in ways that only occur because the paywall exists to begin with.

Charging for tattoos and haircuts and everything else is silly and petty, but it's not abnormal. The attributes aspect is the real problem.

[coolcras7]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

My take is that no competitive online game should be this reliant on microtransactions and making sure you're not a liability when you first enter the online space. Paying for attributes is just not a good philosophy for a competitive online game, and it probably never will be. It unbalances things in ways that only occur because the paywall exists to begin with.

Charging for tattoos and haircuts and everything else is silly and petty, but it's not abnormal. The attributes aspect is the real problem.

My take is if people are willing to pay to take a short cut, dont complain about it afterwards. No one is being forced to buy VC, people have to start taking responsibility for their choices.

[MrWrestling3]

Re: KOTAKU : NBA 2K18 is Riddled With Microtransactions

I hear you and agree but the group they cater this Neighborhood mode to look at this game as some form of real life. They really get serious with it. I don't think they will ever separate it though. Don't think they have the time.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

Honestly, neighborhood mode bothers me; it's essentially just a fancy online menu/hub.I don't really want to sit through extra loading times so I can see doodlebop547386 and a bunch of other guys I could care less about interacting with running around.

Don't even get me started on when I go to the training facility and there's a line of people grinding their Quick Reflexes badge at the reaction drill station.