Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

[Toupal]

NBA 2k has released its' version of franchise mode features in the following write up.

However, this year they did not take a subtle approach in letting people know who they think has the best franchise mode experience by calling out "other sports games" various times in the article. Even laying out all of the various improvements they have done since jumping to XBOX one and PS4.

http://www.operationsports.com/nba-2...s-screenshots/

Innovation. Authenticity. Engagement.

Those are the exact three words I lead off with last year in NBA 2K17’s MyGM/MyLEAGUE blog. We have used those three words to serve the NBA 2K community well for many, many years now. In a space where other developers continually shy away, the team here at Visual Concepts has once again delivered a robust and thoughtful list of franchise features that will keep you coming back for more.

I shouldn’t be at this point, but I am continually surprised at how little support other sports games give their franchise modes. I vowed long ago to never let the NBA 2K franchise regress to that mean.

Having had time to reflect back on what Dave, Tim, Barry, Leftos, Yu, and Daniel (take a bow, gentlemen) have accomplished for you all in these modes this year, I feel continually reaffirmed that our direction of Innovation, Authenticity, and Engagement is not only the right path to take, but that it is the ONLY path to take.

Here at Visual Concepts, we believe strongly in the franchise experience. Our management here provides us full support and believes strongly in our ability to provide innovative experiences that, as I said above, are built to delight and entertain. And in turn, you, our fans, have shown TREMENDOUS support of the work we have been able to provide over the last many years.

As I said in this space last year, it’s important to me that you feel we respect your purchase of our product. Your passion and enthusiasm is what drives us. Don’t ever stop giving us ideas, or telling us what you want to see added to the game.

Until next time folks. Enjoy your time with NBA 2K18!

Erick Boenisch

aka SimBaller

Rex Dickson has since responded with the following:


I want to hear the communities thoughts on this like:

What are your thoughts on 2K calling out other sports games? Was it fair?

Could this potential spark a feud between the two, and potentially drive madden to put more into franchise?


How much farther ahead, if at all, do you think 2K is ahead of Madden?

Would the applicable features from 2K be something you would want in Madden?

In a time where we only have ONE football game, can NBA 2k be a competitor to madden?

[SyncereBlackout]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

Yes it was fair.

I wish this was a spark, but EA isn't blind to what 2K does. They willingly, or are told to, ignore it.

2k is light years ahead of EA.

2k could be a competitor to madden if it became more about video games than sports. Meaning football itself would have to become less popular.

There is a fundamental difference in thinking / approach. One is sandbox RPG inspired, the other is linear with a screenplay written by a non-writer.

Best quote from 2k "Draft, trade, and contract decisions are not spoon fed by the writing."

If the writing is great the difference in enjoyment may be negligible, if it is bad....this is going to be a sharknado of a game. Yes we may enjoy it despite the Tara Reid one liners.


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[rkocjay]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

I take this as a shot at ALL franchise modes in sports gaming but of course mainly at EA. I think every Franchise mode can learn from what 2k has done and even Deuce mock franchise mode

[Junior Moe]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

Personally, I don't mind the back and forth between e devs. Didn't Rex challenge 2K a few years ago to come at him or something? He could have just as easily shot back something about servers. It's fun, and cool to see. Rex Just screams Hyped "bro dude" to me And he has done an amazing job with Madden. Gamers win with people like him.

With me, it all comes back to message and what's actually delivered. I'm an offline guy. Hell, I only play the campaign mode in BF and COD. I'm not into online play and buying DLC. I know I'm a dinosaur and probably not the target audience for games anymore. However, I will spend money and support what I like. I will buy any game with college sports anything because I want to do my little part to hopefully see it return. Money talks. I'm the same way with features. I bought 2 copies of 2K as a way of saying thanks for caring about franchise mode. It's my second time doing that. All that to say, there's money here if you listen to us.

I hope the friendly shots, mixed with the unusually loud outcry about franchise spurs Madden. These guys aren't incapable. They invented franchise for goodness sake. But maybe it's enough to make the powers that be let them loose. On the whole think it's a good thing. Head Coach is a gem that still hasn't been matched, IMO. That mixed with Maddens outstanding gameplay would be a great fight for us gamers were it to go that way.

[ksteward84]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

I think this has the potential of doing the opposite - it could cause EA to put less effort into Madden, and focus 95% on NBA Live - a game that actually competes with 2k.

[DeuceDouglas]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

What are your thoughts on 2K calling out other sports games? Was it fair?

I think it's good for everybody. They're basically saying you're not doing what we're doing and need to step your game up and offering up an open invitation to do so. They want to be challenged. Of course it's fair and I wish it happened more.

Could this potential spark a feud between the two, and potentially drive madden to put more into franchise?

Only if somebody is insecure and takes it personal. I don't know if I'd say feud but I think it could definitely spark some competition which is great. It's getting a lot harder for them to ignore.

How much farther ahead, if at all, do you think 2K is ahead of Madden?

Absolute miles in franchise from my perspective. I was more impressed reading yesterday's blog than I've been with pretty much every CFM blog since it became a thing. Even though Madden does the online better the mode itself still really stinks so they kind of cancel each other out IMO and as someone who greatly prefers depth and longevity over online functionality, 2K's absolutely blows CFM out of the water.

Would the applicable features from 2K be something you would want in Madden?

Absolutely. All that authentic stuff from the CBA they talked about is the exact type of stuff I want in CFM. I want to feel like I'm in charge of an NFL franchise and having to deal with the same, authentic real-life hurdles is a HUGE part of that and an area Madden sorely lacks. And then you look at what they allow in regards of customization and it completely dwarfs Madden in depth and creativity.

In a time where we only have ONE football game, can NBA 2k be a competitor to madden?

They better be. It shouldn't be just 2K either, they should be competing with FIFA, UFC, The Show, CoD, GTA, everything. They should be looking at what every other game does well and saying how can we do that and do it better. Just because they're the only football game shouldn't stop them from trying having a better franchise than 2K or The Show or have better player movement than FIFA or a better campaign mode than CoD. It shouldn't take being called out for them to realize that.

[RudyBrown]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

Competition fuels greatness. Simply put!

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[iceman43]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

Very fair and they are right Rex Dickson

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[PhillyPhanatic14]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

It was awesome. People need to be held accountable for doing a crappy job year after year instead of innovating.

[roadman]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

What are your thoughts on 2K calling out other sports games? Was it fair? Yes, why not?

Could this potential spark a feud between the two, and potentially drive madden to put more into franchise? Again, yes, why not? Now, the Madden developers have ammo to the suits and marketing. I don't know if 2k has the same size as the Madden team,(I'm referring to everyone from the secretary on up) sometimes, the more layers you have in management and inbetween plus sidetracks(ie, marketing), the more red tape/layers/personalities you need to cut through) The differences could lie in all the layers of management and marketing, big fish in small pond vs small fish in large ponds.


How much farther ahead, if at all, do you think 2K is ahead of Madden? Offline franchise, 2k is miles ahead of Madden, online franchise, Madden is miles ahead of 2k. Game play, I was not impressed with 2k at all last year and it remains unclear where that is headed this year. I'm more gameplay over franchise, but I understand I'm in the minority when it comes to that and people need both. I just know I'm not very good with the GM aspect of games, I'd rather play them out vs play around with front office type of stuff. That's just me, though.

Would the applicable features from 2K be something you would want in Madden? Dueces's mock up and Shopmasters list should be plenty of inspiration. Duece said it best in the rebuild thread, Madden can add over the next few years and fire shots back regarding online franchise modes. I'd say if Madden upgrades FM over the next few years, Madden can take the high road and not fire any shots back.

In a time where we only have ONE football game, can NBA 2k be a competitor to madden? I didn't think of it as a competitor type "shots fired." In the franchise thread where we are having a similar type discussion, Lexicon said maybe the 2k developer is a fan like us and is tired of MLB and Madden not excelling in an area that he is. Also, he could of been taking a shot at Madden trying to help out little brother.

[Grey_Osprey]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

What are your thoughts on 2K calling out other sports games? Was it fair?

Absolutely. With all due respect, they've earned it.


Could this potential spark a feud between the two, and potentially drive madden to put more into franchise?

I don't think so.


How much farther ahead, if at all, do you think 2K is ahead of Madden?

If were talking NBA2K vs Madden franchise I'd say 5-10 years, if not more.


Would the applicable features from 2K be something you would want in Madden?

Absolutely! Modes, customization, sliders a mile long. Who wouldn't want that?


In a time where we only have ONE football game, can NBA 2k be a competitor to madden?

Basketball vs football? I don't think so.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

Really glad to see this and Rex’s acknowledgement.

CFM on 17 did get some well deserved attention. But the sim community wants more.

I personally love playing Madden offline, and would love to see a robust franchise mode like NBA 2K delivers with My League.

MLB The Show also needs to do some serious upgrades too in terms of presentation within franchise mode and better AI.

I think what get’s lost sometimes is the AI needs to be seriously stepped up in franchise modes.

It is primarily a solitare mode for the vast majority of us and the AI at this point in the technology cycle should be better than the state it is in IMO. I am not a game developer, it’s not my area of expertise. But AI on 2K is pretty strong. The Show’s AI has been traditionally strong (this year...something is off with AI lineup management). Madden I am always micro-managing the AI week to week (and to be honest I do the same for The Show as well but I actually enjoy it). With Madden I don’t want to have to manage RB rotations, special team returner decisions, CB matches (this year apparently it is fixed), injury management, etc etc.

[RogerDodger]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

This isn't the first time. Back in the day, NFL 2k was released for $10 less than Madden and an EA producer at the time - Jeremy Strauser - took a swipe calling it a budget product at a budget price or something along those lines.

[deu22ces]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

This stood out to me from the 2K blog:

"Authenticity is a very important word here at Visual Concepts. While some of these changes may be small in nature, the sum of their parts makes them critical to an authentic team-building experience."

This is the mentality that all Franchise-type modes should have. There was a time when this was 'important' to EA. It's amazing what can be done when the commitment is there. 2K didn't have to change the "36" rule to "38"; honestly that's a minute detail even I would not notice or care much about. But they wanted to do it, to be true to the game and give the maximum experience to those that want it.

That blog also blew up EA's prior excuse that they don't want to make the mode "too complicated for the casual gamer". EA has it backwards. You're supposed to make the game as authentic as possible, then you make sure you have 'auto' settings to help the 'casuals', or even teach them the details of the sport. One main reason people are 'casuals' in the first place is that they don't understand the complexities of the game. You don't neuter or dumb down the authenticity to 'lure in' a casual audience. That alienates your die hard core players, the loyal ones that over the years made you the huge company you are today.

[T4VERTS]

Re: Shots Fired by 2k at "other sports games"

I wonder if EA will fire back at their horrible online environment/ servers? A good developer feud is always good fun to watch.