NBA All-Star Weekend: MIA in Sports Gaming

[VDusen04]

Re: NBA All-Star Weekend: MIA in Sports Gaming

Wow, you really want them to spend a ton of design and development resources on this?

I think it'd be a great addition. I'm always in support of real-deal, gameplay feature additions. 2K12 is the first 2K in a long time that seemed to bite off more than it could chew and it seems most of those issues had to do with online connectivity (Online Association, Freezing due to NBA Today updates, YouTube upload issues, etc.). I don't mean to minimize their problems, but it sort of seems like one encompassing issue that, if they could solve it, would lay to rest a ton of problems 2K12 seemed to suffer from. Of course, that's all separate from actual gameplay, which has it's own issues altogether. I just tend to view the development of new modes and regular NBA gameplay to come from separate development groups within the company.

I think an All-Star Weekend has more than enough replay value to warrant production. My basis for comparison in this particular case is 2K12's Legends Showcase DLC. Personally, I loved the DLC only because it provided a gateway to a large helping of more legends. Otherwise, the mode itself served as a 5 hour diversion and then I never stepped to it ever again (particularly after the legends were unlocked by users into the main game ... which they should have been in the first place). In contrast, I think an All-Star Weekend mode could potentially provide much more than 5 hours of gameplay, not to mention it'd serve an actual simulation purpose (All-Star Weekend occurs in real life).

To be honest, if 2K always concentrated every one of their resources on gameplay, we'd be stuck with two modes: Quick Play and Season Mode. The gameplay may very well be better than it is now, but there's no doubt there'd be just as many complaints in some manner or another. Instead, 2K's diversity in terms of new features and modes has led to many great places. To have the ability to run an association, mimic today's NBA matchups with updated rosters, statistics and commentary, play as your own NBA prospect rising to greatness, or re-live the best moments in NBA history (my favorite) ... it's a gift to behold. I hope 2K only continues their path onward and upward.

[tril]

agree with your article 100%.
I always skip the all star event in 2k even if a few of my players make the all star team.
I believe 2k will do this, cause like you said everything in the all star weeend is included in some other mode is some form.

[misterkrabz]

I wish the NBA All-Star weekend was MIA in real life. They could make the NFL Pro Bowl "MIA" as well IMO. Those are two events that are literally unwatchable. However, it could translate to a fun video game (3 point comp. and dunk comp)....do they still do those in real life? I honestly don't know.

[MarvellousOne]

Re: NBA All-Star Weekend: MIA in Sports Gaming

I agree completely with this article and feel it's way overdue also. Would be nice to get the jersey setup right also...when was the last time the rookie/sophomore game was played in the stupid T-mobile uniforms that 2K has...they have been playing with there original team jersey's for a few years now and that has yet to be updated. I really like the part about options, we should be given not only an option to correct the all-star teams (which there should be a prompt asking if you like to do so or not) but also we should be given an option of what city will the events should take place, maybe a prompt at the beginning of the year in an association mode that way during your season as it nears all-star weekend the commentators can start hyping it up and presentation can start popping up about it.

[VDusen04]

Re: NBA All-Star Weekend: MIA in Sports Gaming

I agree completely with this article and feel it's way overdue also. Would be nice to get the jersey setup right also...when was the last time the rookie/sophomore game was played in the stupid T-mobile uniforms that 2K has...they have been playing with there original team jersey's for a few years now and that has yet to be updated. I really like the part about options, we should be given not only an option to correct the all-star teams (which there should be a prompt asking if you like to do so or not) but also we should be given an option of what city will the events should take place, maybe a prompt at the beginning of the year in an association mode that way during your season as it nears all-star weekend the commentators can start hyping it up and presentation can start popping up about it.

Great idea about the city prompt. Even if the All-Star game does feel special in year one of the Association, a lot of that special feeling is zapped the following year by playing in the same exact location with the same exact jerseys. The ability to choose new locations would add a ton to the replay value of the weekend.

My longstanding idea has been to randomize the All-Star locations and arenas year by year of Association. I'd then suggest creating generic "All-Star" logos for each subsequent year. Instead of "All-Star Orlando 2012" it's just be "All-Star 2014". I picture them looking like the create-a-team logos, but obviously varied and based with stars. At worst, I'd suggest just one generic "All-Star" logo and court for each subsequent All-Star year and location.

Regarding jerseys, in a creative dreamworld, the ability to design one's own All-Star jerseys would be top of the line. However, I think a quick-fix for the variable All-Star jerseys would be to include a significant lineup of retro All-Star uniforms (like NHL2K used to provide). This would give us the ability to at least change things up year to year, not to mention I wouldn't mind bringing back those San Antonio duds.

[10yard-Fight]

@ Matthew Coe, since when can you do the 3 point shootout and slam dunk contest on the street ball courts on nba2k12? You must own a different version of 2k12 then me, because that is not present in my version of the game.

And to my knowledge EA bought the rights to "All Star Weekend" a few years back so 2k wouldn't be able to use that in their franchise mode anyway...

[10yard-Fight]

@ Matthew Coe, since when can you do the 3 point shootout and slam dunk contest on the street ball courts on nba2k12? You must own a different version of 2k12 then me, because that is not present in my version of the game.

And to my knowledge EA bought the rights to "All Star Weekend" a few years back so 2k wouldn't be able to use that in their franchise mode anyway...

you must own a different version than me... not then me. the grammar gods show no remorse sometimes... had to fix that

[VDusen04]

Re: NBA All-Star Weekend: MIA in Sports Gaming

And to my knowledge EA bought the rights to "All Star Weekend" a few years back so 2k wouldn't be able to use that in their franchise mode anyway...

I just saw an old thread on this topic get bumped back up around here a few days ago. I stated there what I've said for a long time: It seems somewhere along the lines an assumption was made by someone that EA bought the rights to All-Star Weekend. Then, once it was assumed enough, everyone began stating it as fact. However, I've never found such an assumption to make sense.

If EA did own the All-Star Weekend rights, I would never understand how 2K could have provided an official All-Star Game with All-Star ballots, Jerseys, Official Logos, and Courts. Further, I couldn't see how 2K would have had the right to re-create the T-Mobile Rookie/Sophomore game. Moreover, I also could never see how EA could own All-Star Saturday even (assuming those right were somehow separate) yet still allow 2K to run an officially named "Sprite Slam Dunk Contest" where the only thing missing, really, was the correct arena setting.

Also, I never truly believed the NBA would go exclusive on a set of days. I feel it'd be like 2K buying up the exclusive right to the NBA Draft, forcing EA to call there version "The 2012 Player Selection Dispersal, hosted by Daniel Stern".

I mean, I could be wrong. It's just, through the years, with no source on this topic from anywhere, the EA All-Star exclusivity rumor seems to make zero sense.

[Pared]

Re: NBA All-Star Weekend: MIA in Sports Gaming

People say they want this... only to say that it was a waste of time and they shouldn't have spent time doing this after the game is released.

The same people that hammer the developers for spending time on classic teams are the same one that would want this... and then complain about the main game.

How about they work on providing all the things they promise in a game first? Working online association with updated rosters on a schedule, gameplay that has balance, etc.

[Jadakiss88]

I just saw an old thread on this topic get bumped back up around here a few days ago. I stated there what I've said for a long time: It seems somewhere along the lines an assumption was made by someone that EA bought the rights to All-Star Weekend. Then, once it was assumed enough, everyone began stating it as fact. However, I've never found such an assumption to make sense.

If EA did own the All-Star Weekend rights, I would never understand how 2K could have provided an official All-Star Game with All-Star ballots, Jerseys, Official Logos, and Courts. Further, I couldn't see how 2K would have had the right to re-create the T-Mobile Rookie/Sophomore game. Moreover, I also could never see how EA could own All-Star Saturday even (assuming those right were somehow separate) yet still allow 2K to run an officially named "Sprite Slam Dunk Contest" where the only thing missing, really, was the correct arena setting.

Also, I never truly believed the NBA would go exclusive on a set of days. I feel it'd be like 2K buying up the exclusive right to the NBA Draft, forcing EA to call there version "The 2012 Player Selection Dispersal, hosted by Daniel Stern".

I mean, I could be wrong. It's just, through the years, with no source on this topic from anywhere, the EA All-Star exclusivity rumor seems to make zero sense.

It's a possibility, during all star weekend they have fan events and during fan events the only game that has ever been showcased is NBA Live (At least the few I have been too). Besides, it's very possible for this to happen. They might have exclusive rights through their contract with the NBA saying they are the only company that can have a representation of the All-Star Weekend Events (i.e. 3 point Shootout & Dunk Contest) in their game. It might have been something they agreed on in negotiating the rights to use the NBA and the players in the game.

Even though it's part of the NBA it doesn't mean that one company can't have exclusivity over the Weekend's Events not to mention EA always did a better job than ANY NBA game on the market in both events.

[1D4ever]

Re: NBA All-Star Weekend: MIA in Sports Gaming

I think EA does own the title sprite slam dunk contest, but I doubt that prevents 2k from calling it something else. Granted their first game Jordan vs Bird had a pretty good(albeit very difficult) Slam Dunk contest.

[BezO]

Re: NBA All-Star Weekend: MIA in Sports Gaming

As someone that has fallen out of love with All Star Weekend, maybe except for the All Star game & 3 Point Contest, I can do without it.

I used to want it bad, but watching NBA players take 5 tries to complete a dunk is not fun. I can't imagine watching my friends replicate this being fun either.

I barely want to see All Stars playing And 1 style ball. I definitely don't want to see rookies/sophomores playing this style.

Celebrity game? Nah, I'm good.

Skills Challenge might be fun.

Basically, I don't like enough of the weekend to care if it's replicated in the game, especially considering the time it would take away from the core game & features.

[tabulaRasa]

This story was written maybe because This is what ea has worked. Os is doing it to inflate the need for this thru their liasons on os. Ea Should work on building à decent game instead.

[tabulaRasa]

Nba live Will feature This , thats why os wrote This. Inflate the need.Thunderpuck 2.

[1D4ever]

Re: NBA All-Star Weekend: MIA in Sports Gaming

2K copyed and improved on about everything else (controls, Legends, signature moves, etc) why can't they do a decent 3pt and dunk contest. If they spent half as much time on this as they did trying to make the Legend and classic teams difficult to put together and obtain they way they were right out of the box on 2k11 there will be more than enough time to improve on the gameplay.