A different look at 2k13

[Rockie_Fresh88]

I just read an interview where 2k last summer said they were going more casual with the game . Boy it shows

"I think we're going to deliver a game that's more casual, but deeper all at the same time," said Jones. "A casual guy will be able to do everything in our game and enjoy it and think that's he's cool, but then he'll get his butt kicked by someone who really understands how the mechanics work."

Notice he said how mechanics work not fundamental of basketball .

That's 2ks focus. Keeping the casual (majority) crowd engaged . Especially in online play. I think I shouldnt just expect a sim anymore just casual fun basketball . Not saying its a bad thing . But maybe it's meant to be an easy going casual game.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=playbooktech&id=912

[LoudMouthHoops]

Re: A different look at 2k13

The real problem here is how STUBBORN 2K is...

All that needs to be done is create Casual and Sim Quick Match options.....problem SOLVED. Everyone is happy.

Casuals can just pick up a controller and score 30 with Kobe with cheeser nonsense...and SIM dudes are happy they have the SIM version of 2K basketball back.

Why is this not done!?!?!?!

And it only makes perfect business sense for 2K because they give ALL of their fans they game they WANT!!!! They don't alienate anyone....everyone is happy!!!

It's beyond stupid NOT to do this....and if they don't, it's going to cost them sales and profits.

Personally, I will not buy 2K14 if there is more of this "casual" talk and no SIM online option. It's BS.

[emceeschw3pp3]

Re: A different look at 2k13

How about focusing way too much on online play in general.. every menu has to connect to servers which DRAMATICALLY increases load time.

[mango_prom]

Re: A different look at 2k13

I agree with everything said. Why even focus on casual fans? Just implement online sliders with OnBall D set to 0 and everyone can play superman. Add some stupid shoes every few weeks and the 12 year olds wearing their Lebron and Griffin jerseys are happy.
That's all it would take, but I suspect that 2k devs themselves consist mostly of casual big market team fans if they watch basketball at all.
Yesterday it was said that there's a separate "team" working on rosters, so after nearly 5 months of 2k13 look at playbooks and tendencies...on what exactly did I spend money in October, Jay-Zs paycheck?

A big reason for criticism, and this applies to videogames in general, is that we've got a crowd of grown-up gamers now that is just as enthusiastic as all the kids, but cares more about quality and isn't satisfied by marketing gimmicks like a Jay-Z nametag or more colorways on shoes.

I grew up in the late 90s/early 00s and back then expectations at game design were pretty low, the whole business started catching up with the 3d-technology. Remember how big of a deal Mario 64 was back then.
So in the 00s we had huge progress in terms of graphics, while the core mechanics of game AI were left behind a bit. Didn't matter, kids can be impressed with style instead of substance.
Now this generation has grown up and it's not your parent's money you throw out the window anymore, so personally I'm more concerned about the quality of products I buy.

2k seems to focus on the younger target group now which can be satisfied with superficial upgrades to presentation and graphics. It's a smart strategy, they save a lot of money recycling the same game over and over again. But the whole demographic of grown up fans is left behind. Right now they can pull this off since you can't choose to play another product.

In the long-term, I hope EA decides to establish a sim oriented series. A great example of how you can be successful with this is Sega's Football Manager series. It's an incredibly deep game (compare this to 2ks association design, pathetic...) that is successful despite being not very accessible to casuals.
But it's rewarding to get into it, which is exactly what 2k13 lacks. Yes there are hundreds of moves and huge playbooks, but neither do you need them at all, nor are these features executed well.

It's easier to make a sim accessible than the other way around. That's exactly where 2k13 fails again. Let's assume 2k14 would be a complete reboot turning the franchise into a complex bball simulation. Still, just set OnBallD to 0 and ballhandling/dunks to 100 and everyone can go NBA Jam on it again. But the other way around, we simply can't make gameplay more realistic if the core mechanics were not meant for that in the first place.

[thedream2k13]

Re: A different look at 2k13

2k only worried about dunks, shoes and rappers ( main thing that appeals to casuals)

brings a tear to my eye looking at them degrade their product to bring in more ESPN watchers . 2k11 was a beast game as well as 2k8 and they werent "Casual" Instead of making the game so users had to learn it they just degraded aspects of the game to make it "pick up and play". I hope EA goes the simulation route and is putting out a good product , i will happily play live if its any good.

BTW 2k dont give us demos with excellent defense and then the final game represent something totally different from the demo.

[thedream2k13]

Re: A different look at 2k13

and ANOTHER THING lol,

the nba is a physical game as seen on TV every night. in 2k13 they took out the physical gameplay for some reason and now its just drive drive drive or 3pointer ( i am speaking online of course) The game lacks physicallgameplay which makes user shot selection important.

[chrome_305]

Re: A different look at 2k13

and ANOTHER THING lol,

the nba is a physical game as seen on TV every night. in 2k13 they took out the physical gameplay for some reason and now its just drive drive drive or 3pointer ( i am speaking online of course) The game lacks physicallgameplay which makes user shot selection important.

The game is fine for both casual and "hardcore" fans. The game is not just drives and 3 pointers. That is what the guy meant when he said casual gamers like yourself would get crushed by people with more experience.

Shot selection is very important when shooting***n your plays and the game opens up even more.

[thedream2k13]

Re: A different look at 2k13

The game is fine for both casual and "hardcore" fans. The game is not just drives and 3 pointers. That is what the guy meant when he said casual gamers like yourself would get crushed by people with more experience.

Shot selection is very important when shooting***n your plays and the game opens up even more.

casual gamer ? lol dont troll me kid. Anyways the article is a sham. Skill and bball 101 isnt required for 2k13. Ive been playing 2k for 10 years and this interation is the easiest to get into the paint due to lack of defensive rotations and poor defensive AI. You dont have to belive me seeing as how you most likely only play offline by yourself against the cpu but ONLINE/user vs user running plays, good shot selections, and general bball knowledge isnt necessary due to the "casual friendly " approach. Everyone knows thats the truth this year. When i can do up and unders from around the ft line and hit them on HOF SIM online on the defense theres a HUGE problem.

2k11 not casual friendly= 2k13 casual friendly
2k11 my average ppg online quick match 40-55
my 2k13 average ppg 70-85

Guys are dropping 80ppg in 20 minute games online in 2k13!!!! cmon son this game is to casual friendly even you can see that.

[thedream2k13]

Re: A different look at 2k13

The game is fine for both casual and "hardcore" fans. The game is not just drives and 3 pointers. That is what the guy meant when he said casual gamers like yourself would get crushed by people with more experience.

Shot selection is very important when shooting***n your plays and the game opens up even more.

casual gamer ? lol dont troll me kid. Anyways the article is a sham. Skill and bball 101 isnt required for 2k13. Ive been playing 2k for 10 years and this interation is the easiest to get into the paint due to lack of defensive rotations and poor defensive AI. You dont have to belive me seeing as how you most likely only play offline by yourself against the cpu but ONLINE/user vs user running plays, good shot selections, and general bball knowledge isnt necessary due to the "casual friendly " approach. Everyone knows thats the truth this year. When i can do up and unders from around the ft line and hit them on HOF SIM online on the defense theres a HUGE problem.

2k11 not casual friendly= 2k13 casual friendly
2k11 my average ppg online quick match 40-55
my 2k13 average ppg 70-85

Guys are dropping 80ppg in 20 minute games online in 2k13!!!! cmon son this game is to casual friendly even you can see that. unless you like the easy scoring that is ?

[stillfeelme]

Re: A different look at 2k13

I just read an interview where 2k last summer said they were going more casual with the game . Boy it shows



Notice he said how mechanics work not fundamental of basketball .

That's 2ks focus. Keeping the casual (majority) crowd engaged . Especially in online play. I think I shouldnt just expect a sim anymore just casual fun basketball . Not saying its a bad thing . But maybe it's meant to be an easy going casual game.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/b...ooktech&id=912

This gameplay is too casual very noticable for how everything works in the paint. The funny thing I read this before the game came out and I thought they meant the controls would be more casual friendly which they are. To be honest I don't know what we will get in 2K14.

Keep this in mind they actually broke records selling 2K13 at least through the first week or so I remember. 2K give us the abilty to tune the Sim rotations foul, etc. on Sim and let the casual dunk fest be on a casual settings.

[LoudMouthHoops]

Re: A different look at 2k13

I will give 2K credit and say that they have made the controls easier this year without it losing too much for SIM players. The only issue is the EuroStep glitch....honestly I don't know how that one doesn't get caught in testing.

It's actually a nice addition...with some decent animations. That is, if it wasn't glitched...and the game didn't think it was a layup.


As for the whole Sim VS Casual thing....I just fail to understand why 2K can't give options for online play so BOTH sides get what they want.

And if you don't want to hurt people's feelings by calling it "casual" then just have Regular and HARDCORE...

Hard to understand why such a simple and logical fix that makes both types of gamers, ie PAYING customers, happy seems to be ignored. Kinda silly if you ask me.

[thedream2k13]

Re: A different look at 2k13

I will give 2K credit and say that they have made the controls easier this year without it losing too much for SIM players. The only issue is the EuroStep glitch....honestly I don't know how that one doesn't get caught in testing.

It's actually a nice addition...with some decent animations. That is, if it wasn't glitched...and the game didn't think it was a layup.


As for the whole Sim VS Casual thing....I just fail to understand why 2K can't give options for online play so BOTH sides get what they want.

And if you don't want to hurt people's feelings by calling it "casual" then just have Regular and HARDCORE...

Hard to understand why such a simple and logical fix that makes both types of gamers, ie PAYING customers, happy seems to be ignored. Kinda silly if you ask me.

Thing is they tried with "gamestyles" that are basically preset sliders. THe sim sliders are GARBAGE by default so the gamestyle idea is a flop to me. I remember when we could set our own sliders in private matches and it worked great. They need to go back to that

[Rockie_Fresh88]

Re: A different look at 2k13

IMO 2k is going the casual Route. I don't blame them that's where the money is. At the same time the game is fun, no doubt.

It's more of a pick up and play game. Have a get together with the boys and run a 2k tourney .

I mention playing hard defense and running plays my friends think I'm crazy . It's all offense in their eyes

[InthePaint]

Re: A different look at 2k13

Red Dead Redemption had a CASUAL mode, REGULAR mode, and EXPERT mode for their Multi-Player.

[thedream2k13]

Re: A different look at 2k13

man those old unranked lobbies would do a WORLD OF GOOD for 2k14 or even for next gen 2k next year. Hopefully now that the new consoles are closely releated to PC's it will make it easier for 2k to intergrate all modes and lobbies into their game. They cant keep taking away options like crew. leagues, and such without cause anymore with the new "easy to code" infrusturacture thats being claimed by Sony. Defense is a must and its time to actually teach bball 101 to ALL users instead of just making gameplay easier. You can have casual but that just needs to be "rookie mode". The gameplay in itself should stay the course of a simulation. The old 2k lobbies that varied from street to HOF and custom was a great step in seperating skill levels of players.

I can only hope they read this site