Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

[spankdatazz22]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

Wasn't feeling the article myself. I think given the situation, going with co-cover athletes in Jordan/Bird/Magic was easily the logical choice. 2K11 has consistently charted top 10 NPD since it's release. I don't think any sports game can claim that type of sales consistency. It benefited from there being no NBA Live of course. But still a remarkable accomplishment. Makes no sense to make an immediate left turn away from what was wildly successful; makes better sense to try to build on that success - which is what they appear to be doing.

[MrSimCity]

I agree 100%. How can you claim to be a fan of the NBA and not want to experience and enjoy some of the history that made it what it is today?

For some reason that article just really annoyed me. I mean Griffin really? Apparently ChaseB you have no real love of the game and no sense of history. I hope 2k doesn't look to your opinion in shaping their games.

I wrote this...not Chase.

I grew up in and on this "past" you refer to, and as a hoops fan, there's no other period I enjoyed more. Just because I don't like the marketing direction for this year's cover doesn't mean I'm not a fan of the past. Some elements of the past and basketball's history should be in these games REGARDLESS of who's on the cover.

But this piece was mainly about the marketing of the game -- neither you nor I know exactly what they have in store in terms of how they implement Magic & Bird into NBA2K12. Even though if I had to guess, it won't be to the extent of Jordan's integration in NBA2K11 since the Magic & Bird covers are only limited editions. My fear is the creative team rested on it's laurels and went with what already worked last year and threw in Magic & Bird as collectors items.

The game's past and history is great, and should be in the game regardless of the cover. But given the success this present NBA had with last season, why not come up with a creative idea with today's stars? Just my thoughts.

[23]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

But given the success this present NBA had with last season, why not come up with a creative idea with today's stars? Just my thoughts.

right... I can see the alternative now...

NBA 2k12 includes BRAND NEW modes!

**includes**

Lockout 2.0

Join another superstar then lose

Make the coach poke you in the chest during a timeout

Win 65 games then lose in the first round

trade your star player but only after half the season

and the best of all call the ref obscene names from the bench to get fined!


Sounds great come to think about it

[VDusen04]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

right... I can see the alternative now...

NBA 2k12 includes BRAND NEW modes!

**includes**

Lockout 2.0

Join another superstar then lose

Make the coach poke you in the chest during a timeout

Win 65 games then lose in the first round

trade your star player but only after half the season

and the best of all call the ref obscene names from the bench to get fined!


Sounds great come to think about it

On one hand, to reiterate, I love the cover choices this year. First, from a personal standpoint (because it seems to insinuate more classic work is to come). And second, from a logical standpoint, because it seems to be a sound choice to make given the lockout. It's just a fitting puzzle piece.

However, to be fair, there's always been issues in the NBA. The MJ edition could have just as well come with a gambling mode and the ability to call out your teammates during drills by manipulating the right bumper in conjunction with Y.

Or Magic Mode could feature draft picks who choose to play for only teams of their choice while eventually providing the opportunity for players to enter ultimatums to the front office to fire the coach or trade them.

Or in honor of the return of 80's basketball, "cocaine addiction" could be listed as a new injury.

And that's not to say the MJ's or anyone in the 80's were horrible people. Rather, I'm just saying players and stars who aren't perfect is nothing new. I feel sometimes, current generations get the brunt of accusations like this. The same accusations were there in the 90's too when Derrick Coleman was coming along. Each era has their issues.

[J_Posse]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

right... I can see the alternative now...

NBA 2k12 includes BRAND NEW modes!

**includes**

Lockout 2.0

Join another superstar then lose

Make the coach poke you in the chest during a timeout

Win 65 games then lose in the first round

trade your star player but only after half the season

and the best of all call the ref obscene names from the bench to get fined!


Sounds great come to think about it

LOL

Everything was hilarious, except the bolded part. Plus, the Spurs won 61 games and lost in the first-round not the 65 you claimed.

Even if 2K uses old footage and current players, as they did with 2K11, the marketability of Bird, Johnson and Jordan surpasses every current player in the NBA. They are considered the "holy trinity" of NBA basketball to many people around the world. Even I as die-hard Spur fan, but life-long Magic Johnson fan, am pumped to buy the Magic limited edition cover. They can do many creative things with their marketing and still not have Bird, Johnson or Jordan directly involved.

[Sam Marlowe]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

"Resting on their laurels" aside from being lazy would also be fairly stupid. This is the last year they have the market to themselves. If they go about things the right EA's game will just be an interesting footnote next year. The last thing they need to do is leave the door cracked by being obviously lazy.

We dont know how much they've expanded the classic elements of the game but it seems like their making a pretty big push to really blow things out. That should help them retain the folks who came on board for the classic stuff. I cant see them neglecting gamplay issues just because they can.

[jd@os]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

"Everything Jordan touches should be gold, and by most accounts, NBA 2K11 certainly was. But I fear 2K Sports might not be able to keep up that level of excellence for the remaining years of Jordan’s 2K tenure -- and as a result, could tarnish the legend of NBA 2K11."

Huh? So 2K shouldn't try to top itself with 2K12?

What that guy wants from 2K: Hey guys--we had a great game with 2K11 and we're gonna have a hard time topping it so let's just put a current player on the cover.

What WE want from 2K: Hey guys--we had a great game with 2K11 and we're gonna top it. We had the GOAT on the greatest video game last year; let's put the GOAT on it again because THIS year will be the greatest video game!

That write-up makes you want to punch something then face palm.

[MrSimCity]

Everyone has their own opinions, feel free to share.

But the notion that "hey, MJ was a great cover last year, so let's do it again this year" from a marketing standpoint to me isn't very fresh.

People would be up in arms if this was any other player besides MJ that had two covers in a row. That whole Iverson back to back to back cover thing won't fly in today's world, people would call it stale.

To me, sequels are just never quite the original, especially when dealing with things of nostalgic value.

[JayMizzle]

I strongly disagree with that article. As long as 2K is still focused, your not stopping them. How many times have those questions of "How they going to top last years game?", and etc been brought up and time after time after time (11+ yrs) have they delivered on not only answering the criticism but surpassing expectations?
I like the move of three great players on their covers. Jordan, Bird, Magic...shoot all they missing is Isaiah Thomas lol. I say they bring out the 1990 Dream Team!

I'm not worried about 2K Sports being lazy or taking plays off. They are a humble company in my opinion. They are not sitting on EA money, they are hungry. Matter of fact I don't believe money is the reason why they do things the way they do things. Of course they make games for money bc they have to live but I believe they truly want to bring the ppl/fans the closest experience to sports as possible. This is why I can't wait till they get another crack at the NFL license.

[VDusen04]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

Everyone has their own opinions, feel free to share.

But the notion that "hey, MJ was a great cover last year, so let's do it again this year" from a marketing standpoint to me isn't very fresh.

People would be up in arms if this was any other player besides MJ that had two covers in a row. That whole Iverson back to back to back cover thing won't fly in today's world, people would call it stale.

To me, sequels are just never quite the original, especially when dealing with things of nostalgic value.

That's a fair opinion. But on that same hand, any player besides MJ isn't MJ. And to take it one step further, I'm not sure why a back-to-back Iverson cover wouldn't fly in today's world (aka 6 years later). I think MJ (and Magic and Larry) transcend "just another basketball player". If it was any other player besides them? Right. Exactly. That's what makes them, them. The fact that they can be retired for anywhere between 8 and 20 years and still make a massive splash with their cover appearance is what separates them from the rest.

And it's true, sequels are indeed never the originals. They're sequels. Often they don't meet their origin's standards, but sometimes they do exceed them (Dark Knight vs. Batman Begins for example). I'm not expecting a rehash in game modes. I'm not expecting just a "Jordan Challenge Pt. 2, now featuring a game he had against the Bucks in '93". I'm expecting strides to be made. And maybe that's off base, because you're only addressing things from a marketing standpoint. But even then, adding two more bigger than life Hall of Famers to your cover is one helluva sequel.

[Green Magic]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

I strongly disagree with that article. As long as 2K is still focused, your not stopping them. How many times have those questions of "How they going to top last years game?", and etc been brought up and time after time after time (11+ yrs) have they delivered on not only answering the criticism but surpassing expectations?
I like the move of three great players on their covers. Jordan, Bird, Magic...shoot all they missing is Isaiah Thomas lol. I say they bring out the 1990 Dream Team!

I'm not worried about 2K Sports being lazy or taking plays off. They are a humble company in my opinion. They are not sitting on EA money, they are hungry. Matter of fact I don't believe money is the reason why they do things the way they do things. Of course they make games for money bc they have to live but I believe they truly want to bring the ppl/fans the closest experience to sports as possible. This is why I can't wait till they get another crack at the NFL license.

This is the money ea is sitting on:

[Sam Marlowe]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

I would agree with you Mr Sim City if it looked as if they were just going to focus on MJ again. But it looks like (only going off knowing that they've added the Run TMC and 2001-2002 Kings squads. Those additions only make sense in a certain context) their expanding the entire historic experience that was really only background fodder for MJ last year. It wasn't fully explored. Looks like their taking this thing the whole way this year. With more polished gameplay this year they'll be ready to unleash a game with full historic capabilities and totally revamped gameplay ideas if they so choose in 2k13.

[whizer17]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

People would be up in arms if this was any other player besides MJ that had two covers in a row. That whole Iverson back to back to back cover thing won't fly in today's world, people would call it stale.

So now you are not only comparing MJ to Iverson but MJ, Bird, and Magic to him.

You just don't get it. Perhaps you should just stick to writing about Soccer as your avatar would suggest.

[23]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

On one hand, to reiterate, I love the cover choices this year. First, from a personal standpoint (because it seems to insinuate more classic work is to come). And second, from a logical standpoint, because it seems to be a sound choice to make given the lockout. It's just a fitting puzzle piece.

However, to be fair, there's always been issues in the NBA. The MJ edition could have just as well come with a gambling mode and the ability to call out your teammates during drills by manipulating the right bumper in conjunction with Y.

Or Magic Mode could feature draft picks who choose to play for only teams of their choice while eventually providing the opportunity for players to enter ultimatums to the front office to fire the coach or trade them.

Or in honor of the return of 80's basketball, "cocaine addiction" could be listed as a new injury.

And that's not to say the MJ's or anyone in the 80's were horrible people. Rather, I'm just saying players and stars who aren't perfect is nothing new. I feel sometimes, current generations get the brunt of accusations like this. The same accusations were there in the 90's too when Derrick Coleman was coming along. Each era has their issues.

you gotta do it more light hearted man lol

[23]

Re: Yet Another Jordan Comeback?

LOL

Everything was hilarious, except the bolded part. Plus, the Spurs won 61 games and lost in the first-round not the 65 you claimed.

Even if 2K uses old footage and current players, as they did with 2K11, the marketability of Bird, Johnson and Jordan surpasses every current player in the NBA. They are considered the "holy trinity" of NBA basketball to many people around the world. Even I as die-hard Spur fan, but life-long Magic Johnson fan, am pumped to buy the Magic limited edition cover. They can do many creative things with their marketing and still not have Bird, Johnson or Jordan directly involved.

Yeah i know it wasnt 65...the whole post was an exxageration and a joke anyway... good one though, i knew it was coming lol

Also I agreew ith this post... I like the idea of keeping the interest of the classics fans while improving the gameplay which basically is for the entire game, current and classics.. why people are trying to seperate the 2 is silly