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[FloatingDivider]

It's clear that the major media sites are given free VC to play around with the game and experience the features. Ryan from IGN mentioned this in a video that he got a bunch of VC in order to check out the MyTeam mode. What he didn't see was that the price on those packs is ludicrous, it would take you more than 3 hours of gametime just to buy a basic pack, and there are over 500 players to get. It's mind boggling.

Either that or they just read the publisher blurbs played an exhibition game, cut up the b-footage and gave it a fitting sports game score -- every mode besides exhibition in this game is fundamentally broken and designed to be so. I hate what gaming has turned into when companies actively retard progress and withhold fun for the sake of wide-eyed profiteering in an effort to gain residual profits.

 

[bigboss370]

I know I shouldn't buy 2k15 on principle, but man dat draft class.

if VC is back, I'm not buying 2k15.

 

[KimonoNoNo]

surprise surprise
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=728344

Take Two CEO:
"I think you'll continue to sell those high-end products as the entry point, and then you'll have in-game monetization for certain sold items and free items."


Please don't support this bullshit so it dies before it gets going. Tell them you're not buying their games/returning their games solely due to this.

I loved that the first page of that thread was congratulating that CEO as one of the good guys, before realising that really he was out to screw gamers out of every penny they've got.

Reviews are really not fit for purpose at the moment when publishers can patch in all the shity abusive money-grubbing crap in post launch.

If this is the future well they can fuck right off and I'll find something else to do in my free time.

 

[Sean*O]

Patch to always online is bullshit. If any kind of lawsuit arises, I'm in. Not what was advertised, and not what I paid for. Never buying another 2K product again.

 

[Morzak]

That is what happens if people don't raise a stink, it's in silnce 2k13 and it impacted stuff like MyCareer pretty badly. I was exited for the new MyGM mode in next gen, but it seems more and more it's just designed to get you to pay, especially if you also want to have a mycareer and don't plan on playing to many games in MyGM.....

Hopefully people are starting to realize how shitty this practice is.......

 

[lefantome]

I was going to buy the games before christmas, now I'm not.

congrats take 2!

 

[mxgt]

it's a shame because the core gameplay is good (except for the blatant scripting of games in my career which is complete bs)

 

[Kiriku]

Funny how I kept trying to figure out what 'VC' actually meant in the text at first glance, since it's not actually explained, had to go through Virtual Console and Visual Concepts in my mind before settling on Virtual Currency. I guess I (thankfully?) haven't run into the acronym enough times to become familiar with it.

 

[cripterion]

If only VC was the game's only problem...

 

[Marauder Shields]

This also shows why people shouldn't root for NBA Live to fail. Only reason 2k can pull this stuff is that they have no meaningful competition atm.

 

[TheChewyWaffles]

There needs to be a new category for every review that comes out this gen ranking a game on how shitty their IAP system is. It should be subject to change at any time in case a patch makes it retroactively worse.

 

[wowlace]

Def more of a grind than last year. I don't mind it because I don't want my rookie to be an Allstar before the end of his first season.

My biggest issue is the forced advertising. Did you notice pressing x to skip halftime report does nothing when the sprint logo is on screen? I wonder how much 2k got for that little nugget? Same goes for all state assist of the game.

Oh and my option settings never save. Doesn't matter if I set them in game or in the pre game menus.

 

[jiggles]

It's this bullshit that's made me wait until the games go sub-£20 before buying.

I did buy some Basketbucks once, in last year's, for £5, and it totally wasn't worth the money.

So there, 2K, I'd gladly spend £40 each year for a no-microtransactions model than spend £20 a year + £5 one-off.

 

[epmode]

pressing x to skip halftime report does nothing when the sprint logo is on screen?

Same goes for all state assist of the game.

Incredible.

 

[FloatingDivider]

My biggest issue is the forced advertising. Did you notice pressing x to skip halftime report does nothing when the sprint logo is on screen? I wonder how much 2k got for that little nugget? Same goes for all state assist of the game.

This is true, I mash X religiously and I hadn't connected the dots yet because sprint isn't available over here so it might as well be a fake brand. But it is completely and utterly unskippable.

 

[coldfoot]

Def more of a grind than last year. I don't mind it because I don't want my rookie to be an Allstar before the end of his first season.

My biggest issue is the forced advertising. Did you notice pressing x to skip halftime report does nothing when the sprint logo is on screen? I wonder how much 2k got for that little nugget? Same goes for all state assist of the game.

Oh and my option settings never save. Doesn't matter if I set them in game or in the pre game menus.

WOW, unskippable ads in games? I feel this deserves a new thread. Glad I didn't buy GTAV although my reasoning was different (last gen)

 

[The Albatross]

This also shows why people shouldn't root for NBA Live to fail. Only reason 2k can pull this stuff is that they have no meaningful competition atm.

This is one of the reasons I really want NBA Live to continue... That and actually challenging the way we think about basketball games. Make no mistake, Live is trash, but 2K's basketball mechanics -- since around 2K5 for me -- have always felt like a QTE game to me but just without the button indicators on the screen. Hold trigger, wiggle stick, watch your player make a pre-planned move, percentage that it beats defense X% based on nothing, repeat.

I feel like there's a constant give and take between animations and player control, and that usually, animations take precedence, and player control catches up by the next release.

NBA Live, of couse, is a horrible, unplayable basketball game this year. But the marketing lingo they were throwing around back when Elite became Live '11, that the game wasn't just a 1 vs. 1 animation repeat... And having actual ball and body control, seemed like a change that had to be made.

It was a huge flop. But I want Live to get better, maybe not overall package better than 2K, but playably better and then at least there will be a gameplay competitor... and arguably, we wouldn't see this VC pay to play garbage.

 

[Smokey]

I'm glad this is being discussed. Our online leagues are completely broken

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=715229

We've had gaf leagues back to 2k8. Our last one was 2k11. From that point on they implemented online association which was broke. I started it up again this year after we got excited that they were being brought back and we were slapped in the face. And yet 2k won't comment.

I'm also doing an experiment myself with VC. I got 2k14 for free as part of B2G1F at Target. I also had quite a bit of best buy reward zone certificates and decided to see how much VC it would cost to get the most out of the game. So I'm going through and getting the trophies for it and just finished up MYGM yesterday. To do what they ask you to do in the trophy list pretty much forces you to purchase VC. Things like buying a franchise cost 50,000 VC. Things like leveling your gm to level 70 costs tons of VC. Leveling your GM directly correlates to your ability to make deals etc. I would say so far I have spent probably close to $50-$60 in additional money to take full advantage of the mode.

That's not even taking into account MyCareer or other trophies where they ask you to collect all player cards or historical teams. With the amount of VC that costs it would take HOURS to do this. It's insane. Based on what I've been doing I'd estimate that it would take at least $100 extra to fully take advantage of all of the modes in the game and that is being generous.

 

[Sol..]

I believe it was 2K12 when the money system was implemented(correct me if im wrong) and that year everything was perfectly fine. Playing MyPlayer you were awarded money every two weeks as a salary, and that money could be used to upgrade your player. Similar to how things are now with the VC. The only difference is that back then you could easily EARN your money, whereas now playing barely earns you anything. 2K13 wasn't as bad either. 2K13 was a mix of 12 and 14 in that it had VC but you could still earn fairly easily. but with 2K14 damn you can barely earn anything, the whole system is designed for you to purchase VC versus earning it.

Personally I don't mind micro-transactions when they are implemented in a way that doesn't interrupt the core gameplay. But 2K just ruined things this year.

2k13 was kind of shitty. You could play a handful of games in myplayer just to buy a shirt. If you bought that shirt, you essentially couldn't spend that currency on myplayer progression. It was kind of fuckin' silly. You can cripple your player's development for a fucking plain white T.... That's like saying, I can't hit the weight room because I just bought a T shirt last week.

I wish i could say I saw this coming because that shit last year but really I just ignored it. I just didn't buy any T shirts. My player was left looking generic.

 

[Smokey]

It was much more "natural" I guess to VC in 2k13 and was also easier. This year they went completely overboard. I'd be interested to know just how many hours of would take to nock everything I'm these modes without paying for VC.

 

[FloatingDivider]

It was much more "natural" I guess to VC in 2k13 and was also easier. This year they went completely overboard. I'd be interested to know just how many hours of would take to nock everything I'm these modes without paying for VC.

I posted a pretty good guestimate for mycareer. It's in this thread: here

 

[Smokey]

I posted a pretty good guestimate for mycareer. It's in this thread: here

Holy fuck I missed that. Sounds about right. To buy a franchise is 50k VC. So you'll probably buy the 80k VC pack which is $20 as you said. Then you need to also level up your GM. Then you have to use VC to be able to buy upgrades to your staff, arena, admissions etc. There's also like 3 levels of upgrades for each category each costing more VC.

You can also use persuasion in your trade negotiations, but that cost VC. But first you have to have a high enough intelligence ability for your GM.. Which costs VC.

Loool

 

[turnbuckle]

I'm glad this is being discussed. Our online leagues are completely broken

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=715229

We've had gaf leagues back to 2k8. Our last one was 2k11. From that point on they implemented online association which was broke. I started it up again this year after we got excited that they were being brought back and we were slapped in the face. And yet 2k won't comment.

I'm also doing an experiment myself with VC. I got 2k14 for free as part of B2G1F at Target. I also had quite a bit of best buy reward zone certificates and decided to see how much VC it would cost to get the most out of the game. So I'm going through and getting the trophies for it and just finished up MYGM yesterday. To do what they ask you to do in the trophy list pretty much forces you to purchase VC. Things like buying a franchise cost 50,000 VC. Things like leveling your gm to level 70 costs tons of VC. Leveling your GM directly correlates to your ability to make deals etc. I would say so far I have spent probably close to $50-$60 in additional money to take full advantage of the mode.

That's not even taking into account MyCareer or other trophies where they ask you to collect all player cards or historical teams. With the amount of VC that costs it would take HOURS to do this. It's insane. Based on what I've been doing I'd estimate that it would take at least $100 extra to fully take advantage of all of the modes in the game and that is being generous.

 

[Orca]

Def more of a grind than last year. I don't mind it because I don't want my rookie to be an Allstar before the end of his first season.

My biggest issue is the forced advertising. Did you notice pressing x to skip halftime report does nothing when the sprint logo is on screen? I wonder how much 2k got for that little nugget? Same goes for all state assist of the game.

Oh and my option settings never save. Doesn't matter if I set them in game or in the pre game menus.

I just assumed it couldn't skip until it was done loading whatever it needed to, like in other games I've played where you can't skip the first 10 seconds of a cutscene but then it becomes available.

 

[Jeronimo Jones]

Not to minimize the problem, but provide perspective from a less hardcore player... this whole VC thing hasn't affected me (yet) because I mostly play exhibition games with my favorite team. I don't usually get far when I do start association modes or My player/My GM because I rotate my playtime through different games.

I only say this to point out a possible reason that there is not as much outrage/coverage on this as some people think there should be. I only have about 15 games under my belt so far and though I'm a big bball fan, it's becoming clear to me that I am not a hardcore 2k player. I'm not exactly a "casual" and there are multiple improvements I would like to see in the gameplay and features.

To me it seems like the hardcore will have to lead this fight. I hope 2k hears the frustrations of the players and tones down the greediness of the VC system.

 

[DoubleTap]

When i got the game i went into the Franchise mode (whatever the fuck 2k calls it) and saw that you needed to pay VC coins just to mess with rotations. I stopped playing that mode right then and there.

2K has been getting by with sub-par support for proper working online modes and leagues but i figured id give 2k14 on PS4 a shot. Huge mistake.

I wish i were surprised that these things were slipping by mainstream game sites and coverage and reviews.

This is how I play all sports games and I'm as casual player as one could possibly be. Thanks for letting us know and I'm definitely not buying this.

People have to realize, even if it doesn't affect you now, this is only the beginning. If the game sells decently, nothing will stop the publishers from going further with VC.

 

[pastapadre]

People have to realize, even if it doesn't affect you now, this is only the beginning. If the game sells decently, nothing will stop the publishers from going further with VC.

One concern now is that naturally sales are going to rise over the next couple years as consumers transition from the previous generation. Even with a concerted effort not to support the product, 2K will be able to twist their numbers to show growth along with the additional revenue and in turn justify how they've baked in the VC.

So in this case speaking out against it and making voices heard in forums like this one and through social media, and encouraging the bigger media sites to cover the issue, is probably the most effective strategy.

 

[FallingEdge]

When i got the game i went into the Franchise mode (whatever the fuck 2k calls it) and saw that you needed to pay VC coins just to mess with rotations. I stopped playing that mode right then and there.

2K has been getting by with sub-par support for proper working online modes and leagues but i figured id give 2k14 on PS4 a shot. Huge mistake.

I wish i were surprised that these things were slipping by mainstream game sites and coverage and reviews.

Wait what? Are you talking about offline Association mode? I have the PC version but there is nothing like this in that version. Can we get some more clarification about this?

 

[FloatingDivider]

Wait what? Are you talking about offline Association mode? I have the PC version but there is nothing like this in that version. Can we get some more clarification about this?

Not on the pc, the pc is a port of last gen 2K14, so xbox360 & ps3 vs xbone and ps4. And if it's anything like 2K13 most of the vc bullshit is stripped because 2K has no marketplace for the pc version. You're just left with the very low payouts and endless grinding with no option for escape (that's for myplayer, association is probably the last gen version which has no vc nonsense.)

 

[FallingEdge]

Not on the pc, the pc is a port of last gen 2K14, so xbox360 & ps3 vs xbone and ps4. And if it's anything like 2K13 most of the vc bullshit is stripped because 2K has no marketplace for the pc version. You're just left with the very low payouts and endless grinding with no option for escape (that's for myplayer, association is probably the last gen version which has no vc nonsense.)

Yeah, I figured myplayer would be different but was caught off guard when he said that you had to use VC to change rotations in Association mode. That would make no sense at all.

 

[Plinko]

I would love to see an industry-wide outrage about this issue similar to the rage about XB1 DRM.

It's a poison.

 

[CB3]

Yeah, I figured myplayer would be different but was caught off guard when he said that you had to use VC to change rotations in Association mode. That would make no sense at all.

I looked it up. Its the MyGM mode. You have to pay like 100 VC to change rotations. A trivial amount, but just goes to show how dumb all this shit is.

 

[FallingEdge]

I looked it up. Its the MyGM mode. You have to pay like 100 VC to change rotations. A trivial amount, but just goes to show how dumb all this shit is.

Oh wow.

That is embarrassing.

 

[Korezo]

Not to minimize the problem, but provide perspective from a less hardcore player... this whole VC thing hasn't affected me (yet) because I mostly play exhibition games with my favorite team. I don't usually get far when I do start association modes or My player/My GM because I rotate my playtime through different games.

I only say this to point out a possible reason that there is not as much outrage/coverage on this as some people think there should be. I only have about 15 games under my belt so far and though I'm a big bball fan, it's becoming clear to me that I am not a hardcore 2k player. I'm not exactly a "casual" and there are multiple improvements I would like to see in the gameplay and features.

To me it seems like the hardcore will have to lead this fight. I hope 2k hears the frustrations of the players and tones down the greediness of the VC system.

You don't have to be hardcore to notice this. I noticed the crap as soon as went to mycareer and was forced to make a 2k account in order to play the game on a console. And then when I went to create my character there was no customization, Tattoos, socks, headbands, wristbands, elbow bands, legs sleeves, under shirts was all gone and instead under VC coins for crazy coin prices. This game is a joke and should be priced at $20 max. Quick game is the only mode left normal.

 

[FloatingDivider]

I looked it up. Its the MyGM mode. You have to pay like 100 VC to change rotations. A trivial amount, but just goes to show how dumb all this shit is.

It also costs 500VC, which requires two games at the default setting.

 

[DoubleTap]

You don't have to be hardcore to notice this. I noticed the crap as soon as went to mycareer and was forced to make a 2k account in order to play the game on a console. And then when I went to create my character there was no customization, Tattoos, socks, headbands, wristbands, elbow bands, legs sleeves, under shirts was all gone and instead under VC coins for crazy coin prices. This game is a joke and should be priced at $20 max. Quick game is the only mode left normal.

Couldn't agree more. I wouldn't pay $60 for a game with access to only one mode even if it's the only mode I'll ever play. That's just plain wrong.

 

[farisr]

Congrats Take Two/Visual Concepts. You have the honor of being the first companies that have made me feel dirty that I bought a product. This really needs more attention and backlash.

 

[turnbuckle]

I would love to see an industry-wide outrage about this issue similar to the rage about XB1 DRM.

It's a poison.

it is, but too many people defending it. especially when it concerns one of their favorite games. any justification to defend it : " doesn't affect me", " haters gonna hate", " learn to play", " you haven't even played it, you have no right to complain", " it's optional", " it's not as bad as what that other game does", " if dummies want to give the company more money, they deserve it", " it saves time, how do you know the grind was lengthened by MTs?", etcetc

frustrating as fuck.

 

[The Albatross]

Not to minimize the problem, but provide perspective from a less hardcore player... this whole VC thing hasn't affected me (yet) because I mostly play exhibition games with my favorite team. I don't usually get far when I do start association modes or My player/My GM because I rotate my playtime through different games.

I only say this to point out a possible reason that there is not as much outrage/coverage on this as some people think there should be. I only have about 15 games under my belt so far and though I'm a big bball fan, it's becoming clear to me that I am not a hardcore 2k player. I'm not exactly a "casual" and there are multiple improvements I would like to see in the gameplay and features.

To me it seems like the hardcore will have to lead this fight. I hope 2k hears the frustrations of the players and tones down the greediness of the VC system.

Playing the Franchise modes and GM modes of these games does not make you a 'hardcore' gamer... It's the primary mode of these sports games, it's the equivalent to a single player games Story Mode, and has been a standard feature of sports games since 1998 (when NCAA Football debuted multiple season "dynasty" mode).

 

[turnbuckle]

Playing the Franchise modes and GM modes of these games does not make you a 'hardcore' gamer... It's the primary mode of these sports games, it's the equivalent to a single player games Story Mode, and has been a standard feature of sports games since 1998 (when NCAA Football debuted multiple season "dynasty" mode).

No kidding. I don't find the exhibition modes in sports games to be satisfying at all. Only good for playing a local multiplayer game really.

 

[The Albatross]

Agreed. Besides the obligatory "let's test out the new features / get used to the controls" single player Play Now game, I never play Play Now games... only Dynasty / Franchise / MyGM / etc.

 

[Jeronimo Jones]

You don't have to be hardcore to notice this. I noticed the crap as soon as went to mycareer and was forced to make a 2k account in order to play the game on a console. And then when I went to create my character there was no customization, Tattoos, socks, headbands, wristbands, elbow bands, legs sleeves, under shirts was all gone and instead under VC coins for crazy coin prices. This game is a joke and should be priced at $20 max. Quick game is the only mode left normal.

I only said the hardcore (imo) will have to lead the fight. It seems likely that others will notice only some of the changes and that may not be enough to rile up the masses. And that may have been 2K's intention.

Edit:And by hardcore 2K player, I meant people who spend a lot of time diving deep into the franchise, my gm modes, etc. That's my definition.

 

[flyinpiranha]

I agree with almost everything.

VC to unlock basics. Can't even customize your player in the career mode with various options until you pay for it.
Game doesn't even save options correctly, my camera settings are the same shitty view every time no matter where I save.
You have to buy everything, from t-shirts to options to animations. And if you suck (like me) it comes so slow it's not even worth it. Even if I do improve, 10+ points with 4 minutes of playtime, no fouls, etc ... my VC on pro is so low that I need to do that 15 times before I can buy a pair of shoes.

I haven't even touched the other modes because I'm fucking broke! It seems I have to pay VC for every single possible aspect of the game. I'm surprised saving the game doesn't cost 25 VC.

I will never buy another NBA2k game again. Ever. Fuck this company and fuck them for selling me a F2P game for $60.

I can even deal with the menus designed by Daedalus, but holy shit at this cash grab monetization for every thing in the game.

 

[Maulik]

Has anyone been able to confirm if for review purposes, major outlets get fully unlocked versions of games so micro/vc are hidden from them? I just don't understand how such fundamental issues could have been missed by all of these outlets?

 

[Smokey]

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=379298

Ah good times

 

[CB3]

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=379298

Ah good times

I remember that!

Ive been saying 2k has been the secret biggest yearly scam in gaming for years now. People dump on EA and Madden but atleast their games generally work.

 

[pastapadre]

Has anyone been able to confirm if for review purposes, major outlets get fully unlocked versions of games so micro/vc are hidden from them? I just don't understand how such fundamental issues could have been missed by all of these outlets?

As mentioned earlier in the thread sometimes the publisher will give them a large amount of currency so their progress won't be impeded. Of course this also means they aren't evaluating the economy and how it affects people who will play the game normally...which is exactly what they want.

In other cases though it's as simple as reviewers not playing it enough to notice or realize the impact. I'm not sure people realize how little time the mainstream reviewers actually spend on sports games they are tasked to review - because there is no way they are digging in completely to all the various modes while also getting in enough actual games to assess how it plays.

 

[backbreaker65]

Great NBA 2k14 Virtual Currency parody.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IZkZTWK2KI

 

[Smokey]

I remember that!

Ive been saying 2k has been the secret biggest yearly scam in gaming for years now. People dump on EA and Madden but atleast their games generally work.

I was reading through the first two pages and it's literally the same complaints 3 years later. I was 3 years too soon on that thread. If it was posted now it would probably get picked up by kotaku etc and bring attention to 2k how pathetic they are.

Fuck nba live too for being so shitty they are partly to blame for allowing 2k to get away with it

 

[Wolfgunblood Garopa]

It also costs 500VC, which requires two games at the default setting.

Total contempt for the player.