NBA 2K15: Fixing Broken Shot Forms Exposes Flaw in Shooting System

[RaychelSnr]

NBA 2K15's fourth patch isn't available yet on Xbox One, but PlayStation 4 and PC owners have now had a week and a half to experience its effects.

Developer Visual Concepts hasn't published an official change log (and doesn't plan to, until Xbox One users receive the update), but Gameplay Director Mike Wang has already confirmed a few changes to NBA 2K15's shooting system on the Operation Sports forums...

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[Taer]

Re: NBA 2K15: Fixing Broken Shot Forms Exposes Flaw in Shooting System

I agree that the influence of user timing should have a more subtle effect on overall results. I also agree that in any system within 2K that real player percentage should always form the core basis.

MyCareer's inability to have slider control is somewhat mitigated by use of real player percentage shooting but it still suffers from the lack of an ability to fine tune gameplay.

The only real solution is to separate online from offline play - mixing them together only frustrates everyone when it comes to MC.

Edit: I will add this - If 2k were to follow a tighter, more true to real field goal percentage system there would be a lot of complaining from people who believe that if they had a "perfect" release then it should have gone in. 2k would face all sorts of whine to go along with the cheese.

[zrohman]

Re: NBA 2K15: Fixing Broken Shot Forms Exposes Flaw in Shooting System

I always thought 2k overfavored the random luck of the draw vs the skill of the person shooting. However I think green releases are a completely argument.

They should probably go in at a much lower rate. 75%?

And maybe a few less greenies.

[Luke Skywalker]

Have all 3 shot mechanics in the game.

Real Player % = Ratings Based

Shot Meter = Green Releases are automatic (casual and online modes would use this)

User Timing = Green Release is true player rating, -3 slightly late/early, -9 very late/early.

Also let the sliders 50 be actual ratings, why must the Midrange be at 45 and the 3PT be at 47. Beef up the defense 2k, let the default value truly represent the player.

[Tonyattia]

I agree, also I think other things that should lower the rating besides timing, are being off the dribble and contested like they already have, but the height of the player shooting and of the contested should play a part in it. You can be all over Kd but if your 6 ft it shouldn't really affect you as my h as a taller players contest would

[Pokes404]

Re: NBA 2K15: Fixing Broken Shot Forms Exposes Flaw in Shooting System

I like the idea of perfect releases equating to an automatic bucket. It gives players the feeling that they actually made the shot. However, there are 3 things that need to be added. They need to be more difficult to achieve, they should only be possible for players with a 75+ shooting rating for the situation, and they should only be possible if the shooter is wide open (even the slightest contest from the defense should make a perfect release impossible).

This leaves the possibility for "perfect releases" in the game, but puts more weight on ratings and less on user timing.

[Bornindamecca]

You shouldn't be eligible for a perfect release if you're below 80 from the respective range. Timing for perfect release between 80-85 should be pretty tight. Above 85, you should prioritize contesting that player. Above 87, open shot percentages should remain the same, but contested shots should receive a 5-10% boost.

None of this works without a big boost to defensive movement and responsiveness to the shot contest buttons. With defensive movement still being egregiously bad, VC should have opted for a more moderate nerf.

[thedream2k13]

user timing and shot ratings should always play a part in shot success

[LorenzoDC]

Re: NBA 2K15: Fixing Broken Shot Forms Exposes Flaw in Shooting System

Money quotes form the main OS article:

While both of these changes are welcome, finally being able to achieve a perfect "green" release with every shooting form in the game has caused field goal percentages to skyrocket, post-patch. The reason is that green release shots go in roughly 99% of the time in NBA 2K15, regardless of what difficulty the game is set to, or how poor the shooter's attributes are.
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The near-perfect success rate of green shots, unfortunately, cannot be changed by lowering shooting sliders. It's just something that's hard-coded into the game, and needs to be seriously reconsidered for NBA 2K16.

Yup. Sadly, this seems to be true. It's great 2k even attempted a patch this late in the cycle, but it has created unanticipated problems, moving the game forward in some ways and backward in others.

I hope the devs don't take a lesson from this that says, "Don't support the game late in the cycle." When we give feedback, let's try to make that clear, and appreciate that they even tried to fix releases, which we all asked them to do though many threads.

[LorenzoDC]

Re: NBA 2K15: Fixing Broken Shot Forms Exposes Flaw in Shooting System

You shouldn't be eligible for a perfect release if you're below 80 from the respective range. Timing for perfect release between 80-85 should be pretty tight. Above 85, you should prioritize contesting that player. Above 87, open shot percentages should remain the same, but contested shots should receive a 5-10% boost.

None of this works without a big boost to defensive movement and responsiveness to the shot contest buttons. With defensive movement still being egregiously bad, VC should have opted for a more moderate nerf.

Interesting idea.

Just wanted to shout out. I really enjoy your SimHangout participation.

[bwright25]

Great article. What does MYteam mode use? They dont use ratings based?!?!?! It kind of makes the whole upgraded players pointless. There is no need to go after a onyx version of the card if a lesser version will just shoot as good.

[threattonature]

Have all 3 shot mechanics in the game.

Real Player % = Ratings Based

Shot Meter = Green Releases are automatic (casual and online modes would use this)

User Timing = Green Release is true player rating, -3 slightly late/early, -9 very late/early.

Also let the sliders 50 be actual ratings, why must the Midrange be at 45 and the 3PT be at 47. Beef up the defense 2k, let the default value truly represent the player.

I would love to see the user timing you mentioned. Currently if you have a player's shot down perfect you can be a monster with him even though his ratings don't dictate that you should be.

[kackle85]

Great article. What does MYteam mode use? They dont use ratings based?!?!?! It kind of makes the whole upgraded players pointless. There is no need to go after a onyx version of the card if a lesser version will just shoot as good.

Ratings do matter until your shot release is "perfect" at that point its pretty much automatic. The probably is its too easy right now to hit that perfect release.

[capitolrf]

Re: NBA 2K15: Fixing Broken Shot Forms Exposes Flaw in Shooting System

I think if the shot heuristics went back to :

Wide open = 45%
Fully Contested = 35%
Heavily Contested = 10%

Instead of :

Wide open = 60%
Fully Contested = 20%
Heavily Contested = 10%

It will be fine, since the "shot glitches has been fixed". In my opinion it's not the perfect releases that is creating high percentages. It's the fact that more slightly early/late shots are falling at a higher clip.

[TUSS11]

Re: NBA 2K15: Fixing Broken Shot Forms Exposes Flaw in Shooting System

Like others have said, just make green releases harder to achieve.