MyPark & Pro-Am: Where Your $60 Entry Fee Isn't Enough To Compete Online

[Steve_OS]

"Black Friday" circular ads are already surfacing on the Internet, so if you're planning on purchasing NBA 2K16 during the Holiday shopping season, and you're looking forward to taking your created character into multiplayer matches, know that whatever you spend for your copy of the game, it won't be enough to compete online -- at least, not right away.

NBA 2K16's Pro-Am and MyPark modes are built on competitively unbalanced and psychologically manipulative grind-to-win/pay-to-win models -- the kinds you'd expect to find in a free-to-play mobile app, not on a $60 Blu-ray disc. If you want to keep up with the majority of Pro-Am/Park players, who are presently rated in the mid-80s to high-90s, your avatar must choose between slowly earning or outright purchasing six figures of in-game currency just to raise your player's overall rating from a completely inept 55 up to at least the low-80s.

Read More - MyPark & Pro-Am: Where Your $60 Entry Fee Isn't Enough To Compete Online (Written by: Jayson Young)

[hanzsomehanz]

This is great! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[bottledwaterfan25]

Re: MyPark & Pro-Am: Where Your $60 Entry Fee Isn't Enough To Compete Online

Preach.

Sadly in 2015 with the current video game landscape we will no see this change.

In fact, it will likely get even more ridiculous with micro-transactions and pay to play models.

One thing we all have to keep on mind is that, at the end of the day, 2k's real job is to generate profit. Sure they also want to make the best basketball game, but profit is #1. Think about it: 2k makes x amount of millions of dollars just selling the game. Then they realize they can make even more millions of dollars off the same people who already put up $60, by adding all the micro transactions.

I personally hate it, but I fully understand why we are seeing this game go down the path it's going down. The problem is, it's never enough for these companies. Every year since 2k started these micro transactions, each release has seen an increase in available items/categories that you can spend real money on. The question is, when is 2k going to cross the line to where us as customers become resentful? Some would argue that line has been crossed already.

[jrich730]

If my comment helps get something like this implemented I AGREE!

[dnyce87]

This is great and exactly what I am trying to emulate, but in more details. Check out "Community Playstyles" thread. I've been working on SF position and have came up with 6 different playstyles with detailed numbers and fair amount of badges.

[RipCityAndy]

Totally agree with the post. But this is nothing new with MyPark. It's one of the most obvious pay to win models.

[bo.jangles344]

Re: MyPark & Pro-Am: Where Your $60 Entry Fee Isn't Enough To Compete Online

You can win without boosting. You can win with a mediocre player. You just have to have the right team.

[zrohman]

Re: MyPark & Pro-Am: Where Your $60 Entry Fee Isn't Enough To Compete Online

You can win without boosting. You can win with a mediocre player. You just have to have the right team.

Not if you play against the right team.

I'm extremely upset about the system myself. They had the audacity to start you out at a 55 as the most unathletic human alive to force you to buy vc


But to add my park cards... the audacity.

We all know they won't stop. Nba live doesn't even have rookie face scans in the game yet. They have no competition. They make a good game offline, and force you into spending money or not enjoying the game. While my friend grinded to 75, I grinded to 89, and we find ourselves playing 88 to 99 rated players full of my park cards. Dunking all over me, a perfect inside defender with perfect athleticism (Sim Bhullar is probably faster than me)

[Quentin32]

Re: MyPark & Pro-Am: Where Your $60 Entry Fee Isn't Enough To Compete Online

Not if you play against the right team.

I'm extremely upset about the system myself. They had the audacity to start you out at a 55 as the most unathletic human alive to force you to buy vc


But to add my park cards... the audacity.

We all know they won't stop. Nba live doesn't even have rookie face scans in the game yet. They have no competition. They make a good game offline, and force you into spending money or not enjoying the game. While my friend grinded to 75, I grinded to 89, and we find ourselves playing 88 to 99 rated players full of my park cards. Dunking all over me, a perfect inside defender with perfect athleticism (Sim Bhullar is probably faster than me)

Don't go in the park/pro am with a 55ovr. I locked up plenty players with way better stats than me. I also got torched by players rated the same. It's hard to score if u play D imo

[iam31yearsold]

Re: MyPark & Pro-Am: Where Your $60 Entry Fee Isn't Enough To Compete Online

Don't see how this is any different that any 'MMO' style game where you need to play, earn, and then level up to compete.

If you don't think an MMO'ish approach should be in a sports game, that is totally valid, but to say that they are manipulating people into buying VC is not fair.

Everyone wants to be good...instantly. Not the way these modes work. Destiny, Elder Scrolls Online, even COD multiplayer modes start you off at a disadvantaged base character and you actually have to earn everything from the ground up. And to me, THAT is the fun. To keep me playing so I can save up for the sick item I want.

You can tell that not many people ever play RPGs on here, with all the instant gratification needs, which is obviously fine, it its operationSPORTS after all.

In Metal Gear Solid V, I didn't even unlock the FOB online portion until I was 60 hours in.

In conclusion, if you don't think this style of a mode belongs in a sports video game...I feel your opinion, but this basic play, earn, level, improve has been the base model for RPGs since the creation of RPGs.

You are playing the role of a professional basketball player.


BUT I think NHL has the best approach, class based online play where ratings are out of the equation and mostly about class choice and user skill. Not an RPG style mode, and its awesome. Would love to see 2k go this route in some way in the future.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

[Vroman]

Re: MyPark & Pro-Am: Where Your $60 Entry Fee Isn't Enough To Compete Online

Badges is what put you into competative level in park/pro am, not overall rating. Of course you need to have at least 60-70 upgrade points(depending on position) put into your player as well.

I have made Power Forward and used all vc i had collected with my sf on park/mc to get all initial 75 upgrades and I didn't felt like he is on level vs mediocre and better bigs on park. But with some badges that I got to him its already much better than it was at first.

So even if you buy VC to get all upgrades , you will get trashed by many unless you put a lot of work into badges grind. Also playing mc and getting to know your player's limit will make u much better in park as well (also you'll get tendencies up which got effect), there is plenty people who are high ovr and clueless on what they can do with it

[bo.jangles344]

Re: MyPark & Pro-Am: Where Your $60 Entry Fee Isn't Enough To Compete Online

I'm at a 2-1 ratio right now. I'm like 596-306 and have a blast most of the time. Now that they changed the rules it's actually way more competitive. Only played a little today as one of my buddies i usually run with has been MIA since fallout 4 came out lol. Running with randoms is the worst. You just need a good squad.

[pslieber]

Preach. EA NHL System is awesome. I was shocked when our team of level 1-5 shellacked seeming superstars in the 30s.

NBA Live suffers from a similar system. I'm exhausted by trash talking 8 year olds at level 99 (I'm not kidding by this comparison). The only saving grace is that you can play the Summer League against/with CPU pros. Also, Live rewards you solely for team play versus scoring. I watched two idiots go 2-20, another 1-19. I never had the chance to take a shot.

If anyone wants to play either on PS4, look for OrngeAlum. A friend request, and I'll gladly provide email to find each other online. Also have PES, other stuff.

[iam31yearsold]

Re: MyPark & Pro-Am: Where Your $60 Entry Fee Isn't Enough To Compete Online

I'm a system where a lot complain that it 'forces you to be a superstar', seems like everyone wants to be a superstar' day one.

I made a 6'11 Defensive PF because I know I'm not going to get to 99 because I put time into other offline modes.

Im an 81ovr, haven't spent one dime in VC. Averaging 10pts and 10reb. I play team ball, set screens, defend the rim, and get back to stop fastbreaks. 31-11 as a walk on in ProAm, no complaining...just playing.

You don't need to be a 99 to compete.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

[Barncore]

Re: MyPark & Pro-Am: Where Your $60 Entry Fee Isn't Enough To Compete Online

This is the reason i don't get into the MyPlayer/Online modes.

Unfortunately it's not going to change, for as long as people keep paying for it. What do you think 2k are going to choose, profit or user satisfaction? 2k is already a beast in the market and has no competition; people are going to buy the game regardless. They'll choose profit every time. It's just the smart business decision. It just sucks for basketball-gaming purists.

They should make two parks, one for people who have bought upgrades, and one for people who have earned upgrades.