Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

[ksuttonjr76]

All bugs, glitches, and exploits aside why do we play this game? Does anyone play this game in their mode of choice and be relax and chill most times than not? When you lose, is this the only game that genuinely makes you angry the most? I have played other multiplayer games religiously, but NBA 2K seems to be the only game where I want to break crap. Even when I played basketball IRL, it was rare that I got mad during a game. As consumers, we have the choice not to play this game, yet most of us continue to play it despite how angry we get at times with the game.

I broke my controller this morning, but do you think that's going to make me stop playing this game? Do you think that's going to make me reflect on my priorities and come to the conclusion that this game isn't worth my sanity? Nope. I'm going to buy a new controller, and I'll be it again tonight. It's almost like being in a bad relationship that I should be distancing myself from, but I continue to stay.

[NoleFan]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

The post is funny but at the same time, I kinda get it. I play because, in my need for instant gratification, I bought the legend (or whatever the $100 version Is called) edition for both my Switch and Xbox. To that end, I play because I feel obligated....for now. Lol

And for all the folks who’ll give you tips on things to do to be better, how does that help my cpu controlled teammates (I play position lock)?


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[awg811]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

I was going to make a similar post wondering if there is some sort of mind control or subliminal messaging in the game that makes us come back. Lol
I really don’t know what it is or why I keep coming back to play this game when it is so fundamentally flawed and broken.


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[_Nalbi_]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

You definitely have a valid point.
Last week, I bought my first NBA 2K since 2K11 on my PS3.. And for the past 8 years, I've never been mad at a game to the point I punched my wall. It took 2 days for me to remember how it feels...

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

Definitely laughed out loud at the title, ha ha. I hear you man.

We just have to keep it in perspective. These are video games. They are made for us to enjoy and have fun with. I know for some people they have become somewhat of a job, or even a source of income, but that’s not the case with most*of us. They should be looked at as an outlet…even for guys that consider themselves ‘hardcore’…We have to get back to having fun again.

I get it, a lot of us are competitive\ passionate. I’ve played basketball competitively low to mid-level and still play. I’m a pretty passionate guy on the court….but these games man, they are just that to me, games. I used them to relax and get away from all life’s actual stress. The minute a game starts stressing me out is the minute I stop playing it for good. Seems like every moment of some’s 2k experience is miserable and I have no idea how they stomach it. Deleting the game every 2-3*days etc. It’s not worth the anxiety.

Might be time to really reflect on your experience. I know most of us here all love basketball, and for some 2K is all they play. Maybe it’s time move on to less stressful modes within the game itself. Maybe it’s time to supplement your*2k play with other games\outlets so you don’t feel as pressed. Maybe it’s time to put it down for good man. You just have to take a step back and reflect sometimes.

I’ve started rambling…but I hope things get better for you bro…you’ve always been good people.

[FixEverything2k]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

Honestly I think alot of us play it because its the only competent basketball game. A Lot of things about this game are good in THEORY, but are executed badly. If there was a new company other than EA that made a full basketball game with online modes and franchise modes and such and it was at least comparable in gameplay people would likely leave 2k.

Whoever makes PES should try it tbh

[ph33]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

Everyone has their own story on something like this.

My video game experience growing up was having my friends come over, talk **** to each other, eat trash food, and bond over whatever games we're playing. So for me, the social aspect is a big part of it. I don't really care for that many single player games (I'm actually the type that prefers to take turns) or offline modes vs. the CPU---MLB the Show is really the only game I can deal with playing the CPU for a variety of reasons that I'm not going to bother to get into.

So for me and my friends, this is one of the very few titles on PS4 that offers a team co-op experience that I can really get down with. Not really big into Fortnite (PUBG>Fortnite) and Battlefield Squads can be dull if the rest of your team isn't doing their job.

So while there's a lot of stuff in this game that annoys me (3 pt shooting, playing with multiple players being difficult, etc.) the experience of just playing with friends while chilling is something that's hard to find elsewhere, NHL and FIFA can match it. (And I personally think NHL is the best experience, but most of my friends aren't that enthused about hockey) And for years this is something we've always just gotten out of default, hoping next year will be a better experience than the last. But I know for sure a few of us are just burned out, and if they don't play anymore, then that's when I stop. Maybe we've gotten there.

Also, basketball is my favorite sport, by far. That contributes a lot to it, and I'm sure this is the case for many here.

As for a mental drug, all games have this. I mean damn, I remember my college roommate telling his mom on the phone "Stop crying mom, I'm not addicted to and playing World of Warcraft!" while playing World of Warcraft.

[jadert]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

NBA 2K does a million things right, and a thousand things wrong. Like most in life, we focus on the wrong because it impacts us the most.

I tend to put video games in perspective and understand that the MOST realistic game of basketball is played on the court in real life. As much as technology has advanced, it will never perfectly replicate the real sport. Especially with millions of people having different opinions on the "right way to play". Hell, we even disagree with referees during EVERY game in real life.

So it is what it is. Just enjoy the game

[Junior Moe]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

It isn't for me. I play games to chill and relax. Then again, I'm not a competitive person by nature. Games are supposed to be fun. It's why I make my son turn it off whenever he starts raging playing Fortnite. It ain't that serious.

I played AC Origins again last Thursday just to see how it looks on the Pro (I beat it last year on the OG PS4) in 4K. I ended up beating the main story again because I just got lost in it again. I literally played Origins all day Saturday until we went out. I'm the same way with 2K. Some days, like today, I'll play 3 or 4 games in a row just chilling. Other times I might not touch 2K or my gaming systems for days at a time. It just depends. There are things I don't like about the game (charges hardly ever get called) as is the case with every game I own. If there's more good than bad though and I genuinely enjoy the experience I'll always come back.

In short, 2K is like any other game for me. I enjoy it for what it is but I never lose sight of the fact that it's just another game. It's one of my favorite games, but it's just for entertainment and wasting time. Nothing more.

[howardphillips214]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

Not gonna lie... Snuck a couple career games in last night. I'm just not on for hours on end like i was last year.

I steadily racked up 6-7 hours a day with 18.

[ksuttonjr76]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

I had to reread my OP, lol. It does read like....

"Hello. My name is ksuttonjr, and I'm addicted to NBA 2K19."

I must have been still emotional when I wrote it, lol. However, there are some great comments. I don't feel as alone. I just need to go back to treating this as a video game, but this is coming from a guy who made people sweat while playing against me in chess tournaments.

[Thrustie]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

I think most competitive games will cause you a measure of frustration at times. I play 2K because it gets my competitive juices flowing. I play real sports as well but video games supplement them quite well as I’m getting older. I also play because typically I enjoy the game as well. This is the first 2K where I actually find myself frustrated almost as often as I’m having fun. Every 2K has had some level of your toon not doing what you want but I’ve never seen it as bad as this year; speaking as an inside scorer. The amount of times my guy launches into a slow layup when I’m open for dunk, gets blocked from behind by a guy with no defensive attributes or misses an open layup 2 feet from the rim is crazy. We’re talking multiple times a game.

Why don’t I stop if it’s causing me so much stress? I honestly really only play a couple of competitive games (NBA and NHL). I’m awful at FPS games which is a large chunk of competitive multiplayer games. I have single player games I can play to relax and unwind but that’s not really why I play 2K. I play 2K to compete and, hopefully, win. Playing other games doesn’t really scratch the same itch. I keep playing hoping it’ll change for the better. If it doesn’t, I got my first baby on the way in December so I guess i’ll be too busy and sleep deprived to be miserable about this game anyways!

[2kVetRespect]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

I was going to make a similar post wondering if there is some sort of mind control or subliminal messaging in the game that makes us come back. Lol
I really don’t know what it is or why I keep coming back to play this game when it is so fundamentally flawed and broken.


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It's just addiction.

The game is a good game but it is also competitive and if you're into competition, you strive to get better.

[ForeverVersatile]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

Yeah it's something because I've said I'm done 50 times already and i still come back.

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[thegenerel]

Re: Is NBA 2K a Mental Drug?

I was going to make a similar post wondering if there is some sort of mind control or subliminal messaging in the game that makes us come back. Lol
I really don’t know what it is or why I keep coming back to play this game when it is so fundamentally flawed and broken.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

More or less, this is true.

Games are designed with dopamine or reward/pleasure in mind. That is why in the ultimate team modes we always clamor for the newest (albeit slightly better) cards/players/etc. Pulling a pink diamond AI last week might have felt great for 5 minutes but most people do not feel better about their lives or themselves - and that AI likely cost $20, $50, $100 or more. I get sucked into this more than I would care to admit, but trying to keep up with the biggest and best is expensive, exhausting, and nothing to show for it.

So while I enjoy video games, I am slowly pulling back from the games littered with microtransactions.