NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Details

[CR2]

NBA 2K gets high marks year after year for its good (relatively great) representation of basketball in its gameplay. I stop short of great or excellent representation, because of the hit or miss play calling. Only great representation when compared to other sport games like Madden.

Game reviewers and 2K fans do not hold NBA 2K accountable for the lack of improvements to its game modes (with the exception of MyPlayer) from year to year. The Association and CAP modes have been largely unchanged for years. That is unacceptable. Madden is criticized (overly, in IMO) from year to year for an array of reasons, yet 2K gets a free pass on game mode improvements.

I've been playing 2K12 on PC using mods for the past two years (playing old seasons and setting up dream matchups from past seasons). No 2K13 for me and no 2K14 (this gen or next) unless significant improvements are made to Association Mode. The weak tweaks they're highlighting for the current gen version tells me all I need to know about the chances there will be any significant improvements to 2K14's Association Mode... Clearly 2K thinks Association Mode is nearly perfect and only in need of minor fine tuning.

[TheLetterZ]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

NBA 2K gets high marks year after year for its good (relatively great) representation of basketball in its gameplay. I stop short of great or excellent representation, because of the hit or miss play calling. Only great representation when compared to other sport games like Madden.

Game reviewers and 2K fans do not hold NBA 2K accountable for the lack of improvements to its game modes (with the exception of MyPlayer) from year to year. The Association and CAP modes have been largely unchanged for years. That is unacceptable. Madden is criticized (overly, in IMO) from year to year for an array of reasons, yet 2K gets a free pass on game mode improvements.

I've been playing 2K12 on PC using mods for the past two years (playing old seasons and setting up dream matchups from past seasons). No 2K13 for me and no 2K14 (this gen or next) unless significant improvements are made to Association Mode. The weak tweaks they're highlighting for the current gen version tells me all I need to know about the chances there will be any significant improvements to 2K14's Association Mode... Clearly 2K thinks Association Mode is nearly perfect and only in need of minor fine tuning.

I hear you. To be fair though, is there a single console game out there that's really making strides with dynasty/association/franchise mode?

I don't play other sports games as much as I used to, but from reading the boards on here, it seems like fans of every game are disappointed with lack of improvements in that area.

Maybe it's more of an industry-wide thing for some reason.

[CR2]

I hear you. To be fair though, is there a single console game out there that's really making strides with dynasty/association/franchise mode?

I don't play other sports games as much as I used to, but from reading the boards on here, it seems like fans of every game are disappointed with lack of improvements in that area.

Maybe it's more of an industry-wide thing for some reason.

In general, I agree with you. I just have a laser focus on 2K's Association Mode, because that's the mode I primarily play. But I also play The Show, Madden and NCAA. Those franchise/dynasty/etc modes have improved (to some degree) over the past few years. NBA 2K's Association Mode has not. It's untouched from year to year. To me that's an extreme case.

Don't get me wrong. I love the NBA 2K series, but I’ve been disappointed year after year with the lack of attention paid to Association Mode. I just needed to vent some frustration.

[Money99]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

I hear you. To be fair though, is there a single console game out there that's really making strides with dynasty/association/franchise mode?

I don't play other sports games as much as I used to, but from reading the boards on here, it seems like fans of every game are disappointed with lack of improvements in that area.

Maybe it's more of an industry-wide thing for some reason.

I think you're right.
I still believe NBA2K has the best franchise mode out of all the sports games.
The NHL series has been lacking for a long, long time. It's actually quite embarrassing with how few options there are.
Then there's the Fight Night series. Don't even get me started.

With how prevalent online gaming has become, I think most development company's are relying on gamers to create their own online dynasty modes.
But for a near-40-YO gamer like myself, I only play offline.
So there is a lot to be desired when it comes to these offline franchise/dynasty modes.

Saying that, when I had NBA2K12, it was the most absorbed I've been in a career mode in a long time.

[VDusen04]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

I think you're right.
I still believe NBA2K has the best franchise mode out of all the sports games.
The NHL series has been lacking for a long, long time. It's actually quite embarrassing with how few options there are.
Then there's the Fight Night series. Don't even get me started.

With how prevalent online gaming has become, I think most development company's are relying on gamers to create their own online dynasty modes.
But for a near-40-YO gamer like myself, I only play offline.
So there is a lot to be desired when it comes to these offline franchise/dynasty modes.

Saying that, when I had NBA2K12, it was the most absorbed I've been in a career mode in a long time.

I feel you there. The push toward online fantasy gaming (MyTeam, Crew, MyPlayer) by developers (while often ignoring offline) is kind of killing me a little. I wish there was a an NBA game out there that focused largely on the fantasy "make your own star and buy him gear by earning online points" angle while there was another quality NBA game out there that remained primarily focused on a real-life replication.

[Melbournelad]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

2k if you completely disregard association year after year and live comes out with its franchise mode as the main focus after gameplay, you WILL lose customers.

[KyotoCarl]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

If that is the case TELL US. Then we have a Reason to buy NEXT GEN. Issue Statement saying ISSUES from Current gen Association HAVE been FIXED in the NEXT GEN Version, more details coming soon.

I totally agree and i really hope that 2K realises that we want more in-depth information on modes like these.
I dont understand why they've stopped the great written insights from a couple of years back.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[vtcha]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

Has 2K mentioned anything about the option to reduce the number of games per season in MyCareer?

I love the mode but honestly, I cbf playing 82 games per season and I prefer not to simulate games (e.g., A.I altering my stats, etc.) whilst playing 12 minute quarters to achieve realistic scores & stats. I've gone through about 5 seasons on Association playing 29 game seasons/12 min quarters but in MyCareer, I barely manage to get past my Sophomore season because I lose motivation and it's such a gruelling schedule. Has anyone ever played a MyCareer for over 5 seasons? MyCareer .. yeah right .. more like MyFirstFewYearsInTheNBA

As for the Association mode mentioned, it doesn't seem like they did much, let alone add any new features. Seems more like an update/patch, i.e., improving A.I logic, etc.

[Trini94]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

Has 2K mentioned anything about the option to reduce the number of games per season in MyCareer?

I love the mode but honestly, I cbf playing 82 games per season and I prefer not to simulate games (e.g., A.I altering my stats, etc.) whilst playing 12 minute quarters to achieve realistic scores & stats. I've gone through about 5 seasons on Association playing 29 game seasons/12 min quarters but in MyCareer, I barely manage to get past my Sophomore season because I lose motivation and it's such a gruelling schedule. Has anyone ever played a MyCareer for over 5 seasons? MyCareer .. yeah right .. more like MyFirstFewYearsInTheNBA

As for the Association mode mentioned, it doesn't seem like they did much, let alone add any new features. Seems more like an update/patch, i.e., improving A.I logic, etc.

I've got a a 9 Yr SF and 6 Yr PG and I still enjoy playing with those two lol

[Da_Czar]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

I feel you there. The push toward online fantasy gaming (MyTeam, Crew, MyPlayer) by developers (while often ignoring offline) is kind of killing me a little. I wish there was a an NBA game out there that focused largely on the fantasy "make your own star and buy him gear by earning online points" angle while there was another quality NBA game out there that remained primarily focused on a real-life replication.

It is really unfortunate but those modes are the most played right now. Easily so. It's not even close. I am a big association player as well! I am hopeful both games will do something special for association on next gen systems.

[Taer]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

Yeah, I'm sure the reason most people don't use plays is that the system is flawed...

I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic here but when a play calling system breaks when setting up screens called for by the play the system calls itself, then people choosing not to use it because of this uncorrected bug is indeed a valid reason not to use it.

I'm pretty sure that the development team would be aware of this and not base their conclusions on data resulting from such skewed and flawed data, however, sometimes things slip through the cracks and the person(s) responsible for this might not have known of this bug. Unlikely however it might be, there have been such failures in the past.

[Optik]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic here but when a play calling system breaks when setting up screens called for by the play the system calls itself, then people choosing not to use it because of this uncorrected bug is indeed a valid reason not to use it.

Yes, I was being sarcastic because the reason most people don't use plays is because they have no need for them. When you can run a five-seconds-or less-offense and don't need to be open to shoot efficiently and can hang with people who run plays and run pick and roll to get open, why SHOULD you run plays?

[KyotoCarl]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

Yes, I was being sarcastic because the reason most people don't use plays is because they have no need for them. When you can run a five-seconds-or less-offense and don't need to be open to shoot efficiently and can hang with people who run plays and run pick and roll to get open, why SHOULD you run plays?

It's only in my player mode the system breaks down, not in normal play.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[Jrocc23]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

It's only in my player mode the system breaks down, not in normal play.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Plays have broken down in every mode I've played.

[KyotoCarl]

Re: NBA 2K14 Hands-On Preview - Association Mode, Presentation, Gameplay & Online Det

Plays have broken down in every mode I've played.

But not by setting screen. You run a play and your players go around setting screens. Then it does break up

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