Any news about NBA 2K15 for PC?

[cramsiaca]

Well, damn. At least the physical box posted somewhere on this thread doesn't have it. So, yeah.

[ColumbusBobby23]

In my investigation, I have seen that in all PC listing, almost none have displayed PC preorder along with the DVD-ROM logo. That is good. And considering that the Steam logo appeared on the preorder box or something, it is even better.
Why? Because if it has DVD-ROM, the chances of next gen are so slim considering that DVDs have only ~7 GB of storage and as I have found out, Next Gen file size was almost 40 GB.
These are just fruits of observation, though. Still, this is logical proof of my dream.

If it was to be Next-Gen, I don't think they would have any problems fitting the game on 2 or possibly even 3 DVDs. BF4 is on 3. It doesn't cost very much for publishers to put out 2 DVDs as opposed to 1. I would guess around $0.25 per unit(At the very most). I worked for a distribution company that burned, labeled, and packaged products for Microsoft, so I have a little bit of knowledge in that area. But it doesn't really matter too much because 95% of PC games are sold through digital distribution. So I don't think that is much of an issue.

PC games are a little different from their console counterparts anyway. They run 100% from the hard drive. Which means the information on the disk can be compressed since you don't have to access the DVD except for the install and the copyright check.

[TRIIIAD]

Went through all countries where pre-order PC version of NBA2K15 via 2K oficial app https://www.facebook.com/NBA2K/app_597429030282127. ALL (except US) have DVD-ROM logo on cover

This probably means nothing, but in that facebook link, the PC version is with the next gen consoles, not the current gen consoles.

[ColumbusBobby23]

Went through all countries where pre-order PC version of NBA2K15 via 2K oficial app https://www.facebook.com/NBA2K/app_597429030282127. ALL (except US) have DVD-ROM logo on cover

This probably means nothing, but in that facebook link, the PC version is with the next gen consoles, not the current gen consoles.

They always list the PC last. It's like XBOX360,XBOX ONE,PlayStation,PlayStation 4......Oh yeah and the PC too.

[Dmayne]

We have 3 months until release, it's weird we have no for sure answer on the PC version...
Most likely 2K is waiting till last minute to break the good/bad news to us, they rather have us buy the PS4/Xbone version.

I'm guessing as long as they still release NBA 2K for last gen, PC gamers will be stuck with that.

I'm done playing last gen NBA 2k, if I can't get the "next gen" version on PC, I'll probably break down and buy a PS4 just so I can play it.

[RashbaNor]

OK guys, here's what I think.

In my opinion it's quite possible that we'll have a true 'new-engine' NBA 2k on PC this year. Not some old last-gen crap but the thing than PS4 and XB1 will get. I think Visual Concepts guys are working on it. Maybe they won't make it on time and we'll get a proper NBA 2k in 2015, but I think the focus is to get the new game engine on PC as soon as possible. Why do I thinks so? Here's my explanation:

1) Development costs. PS4 and XB1 architecture is almost identical to PC. It's much easier and cheaper to develop PC ports of games running on PS4 or XB1 compared to porting X360 and PS3 titles.
2) The thing with piracy. I know the developers like to blame piracy cause it's the easy way out when explaining flaws or shortcomings of PC versions. But the piracy on PC is not as rampant as few years back and it can't be used as a reason for treating PC userbase like crap. Just look at CD Projekt and their Witcher games - they make millions while not using any DRM! But OK, I understand that, while Visual Concepts never officially used the 'piracy excuse', it still can damage the market analysis and harm the potential profitability of a game. So what a company can do to eliminate the risk as much as they can? Make game not attractive to pirates. How can you do that? The easiest way is to implement always-online requirement or online-only features. I guess that's exactly what was introduced in 'next-gen' NBA 2k14! Much of the data from MyCareer was synchronized with NBA 2k servers - that's why we were unable to play with NBA 2k servers down. That's the way to go with PC version - synchronize saves from all game modes. That would cripple the pirated version to almost unplayable state. Pirates would only be able to play pickup games or try to 'have fun' with semi-functional (unsaveable) other modes, that's it. That would force many potential thieves to buy the game.
3) Money. PC game market is back from it's knees. It's not a niche anymore. Yeah, it's smaller than console market but there's still a huge potential for earning a crapload of cash. Especially when there's no licence fees like on Sony's and Microsoft's platforms. If Visual Concepts guys implement synchronizing game state with their servers on PC platform it will let them sell VCs to PC players without fearing the system will be compromised by crackers editing files on their computers. Selling more and full priced (60$) game copies to PC players means more money, selling VCs to PC players means even more money.

I think, considering points 1 and 2, they are working on a proper PC NBA 2k15 port just because it's better to earn more than less.

Last edited by RashbaNor on Thu Jul 03, 2014 2:40 am, edited 2 times in total.

[Smoove784439]

OK guys, here's what I think.

In my opinion it's quite possible that we'll have a true NBA 2k on PC this year. Not some old last-gen crap but the thing than PS4 and XB1 will get. I think Visual Concepts guys are working on it. Maybe they won't make it on time and we'll get a proper NBA 2k in 2015, but I think the focus is to get the new game engine on PC as soon as possible. Why do I thinks so? Here's my explanation:

1) Development costs. PS4 and XB1 architecture is almost identical to PC. It's much easier and cheaper to develop PC ports of games running on PS4 or XB1 compared to porting X360 and PS3 titles.
2) The thing with piracy. I know the developers like to blame piracy cause it's the easy way out when explaining flaws or shortcomings of PC versions. But the piracy on PC is not as rampant as few years back and it can't be used as a reason for treating PC userbase like crap. Just look at CD Projekt and their Witcher games - they make millions while not using any DRM! But OK, I understand that, while Visual Concepts never officially used the 'piracy excuse', it still can damage the market analysis and harm the potential profitability of a game. So what a company can do to eliminate the risk as much as they can? Make game not attractive to pirates. How can you do that? The easiest way is to implement always-online requirement or online-only features. I guess that's exactly what was introduced in 'next-gen' NBA 2k14! Much of the data from MyCareer was synchronized with NBA 2k servers - that's why we were unable to play with NBA 2k servers down. That's the way to go with PC version - synchronize saves from all game modes. That would cripple the pirated version to almost unplayable state. Pirates would only be able to play pickup games or try to 'have fun' with semi-functional (unsaveable) other modes, that's it. That would force many potential thieves to buy the game.
3) Money. PC game market is back from it's knees. It's not a niche anymore. Yeah, it's smaller than console market but there's still a huge potential for earning a crapload of cash. Especially when there's no licence fees like on Sony's and Microsoft's platforms. If Visual Concepts guys implement synchronizing game state with their servers on PC platform it will let them sell VCs to PC players without fearing the system will be compromised by crackers editing files on their computers. Selling more and full price (60$) game copies to PC players means more money, selling VCs to PC players means even more money.

I think, considering points 1 and 2, they are working on a proper PC NBA 2k15 port just because it's better to earn more than less.

Naw we will get it on 10/7/2014. It is listed as being released that day. Also, online only features would mean that 2K had to step their game up on PC. They have just ignored the PC Online. Everytime I try to play a Quick Match, the match has this very annoying 3 second delay and is extremely laggy. I also loaded Team-Up like 12 straight times and I would get booted from the match before tip-off. So if this continues and they give us online only stuff then our MyCareers are almost unplayable. But yes it is a good idea to try to keep the game away from pirates. Also, no offense to 2K, but they have been lazy on the Console versions the last couple of years so doing something good for PC would be very unlikely. For example, we kept requesting for crew mode starting from 2K12 when it first disappeared and now we at 3 going on to 4 years of crew mode not being here. In 2k14, they announced it was coming but we just got a somewhat upgraded blacktop that didn't even come to the PC like it did in 2K10 and 2K11, and then in the next gen we got a Park mode that was unplayable before the patch and still had issues afterward. Also we should have an option to play our MyCareer offline. But our offline player would run on SP, not VC so people couldn't get stuff that costs money for free. And our offline player can't go online at all (It can't go on crew, that is, if it ever comes back). Also, by always-online do you just mean MyCareer, Crew, MyGM (if we get these) or all features in the game? Because you are talking on NLSC, a modding site and we would not want NBA 2K15 to become a League of Legends, which is 100% not modable and everything is stored online so you can't hack. We will still want our mods like the awesome scoreboards that exrxixxx and JoeJames has made. Or the great roster mods of all time like Hawk's UBR. Is there anyway we can do what you said in your post without eliminating the modding? Those are some great ideas though

P.S. Any news on Crew coming to NBA 2K15 PC? We used to have it around on PC in 10 and 11. Didn't get it last year or this year.

[RashbaNor]

Always-online doesn't exclude modding. In most cases it just means that the game 'phones home' on boot (and maybe on a few more occasions) to check if the exe wasn't modified or your serial key is unique and properly activated or something like that - depends on the developer. That doesn't mean that we wouldn't be able to switch textures, models, GUI elements etc.

If it comes to online matches. Well, I'm not going to comment too much on that cause I'm not an netcode expert. I don't even know if NBA 2k is P2P game or is it based on Take Two's servers or maybe something even else. I bet 10 fast moving players and a super fast moving ball are pretty darn hard to synchronize with fluctuating 50 - 150 ms latency when you don't have a well designed and built network structure like MS has at Xbox Live or Sony at PS Network. But maybe you're right and they just don't give a crap about PC.

If it would be me who decides... I would synchronize all saves with servers - progress for every mode and all MyPlayers. That would make pirating the game virtually senseless. I guess Visual Concepts / Take Two are at the position where they can easily afford such a solution. I mean, it shouldn't take a whole lot of bandwidth and server disk space.
I would also give an user a possibility to switch MyPlayer character to offline mode but only after creating it online and that would be an one-way switch. You wouldn't be able to bring that MyPlayer back online but at the same time you wouldn't be forced to use VCs to upgrade him. I guess the lack of necessity to use VCs would be the drawback from the perspective of a company which wants to earn as much money as possible.

[Smoove784439]

Always-online doesn't exclude modding. In most cases it just means that the game 'phones home' on boot (and maybe on a few more occasions) to check if the exe wasn't modified or your serial key is unique and properly activated or something like that - depends on the developer. That doesn't mean that we wouldn't be able to switch textures, models, GUI elements etc.

If it comes to online matches. Well, I'm not going to comment too much on that cause I'm not an netcode expert. I don't even know if NBA 2k is P2P game or is it based on Take Two's servers or maybe something even else. I bet 10 fast moving players and a super fast moving ball are pretty darn hard to synchronize with fluctuating 50 - 150 ms latency when you don't have a well designed and built network structure like MS has at Xbox Live or Sony at PS Network. But maybe you're right and they just don't give a crap about PC.

If it would be me who decides... I would synchronize all saves with servers - progress for every mode and all MyPlayers. That would make pirating the game virtually senseless. I guess Visual Concepts / Take Two are at the position where they can easily afford such a solution. I mean, it shouldn't take a whole lot of bandwidth and server disk space.
I would also give an user a possibility to switch MyPlayer character to offline mode but only after creating it online and that would be an one-way switch. You wouldn't be able to bring that MyPlayer back online but at the same time you wouldn't be forced to use VCs to upgrade him. I guess the lack of necessity to use VCs would be the drawback from the perspective of a company which wants to earn as much money as possible.

Okay but 2K probably wont this. Its too much for them considering what they have done in the past.

[RashbaNor]

Okay but 2K probably wont this. Its too much for them considering what they have done in the past.

Maybe they won't... or maybe they will.
Remember that last year they had to get 'next-gen' NBA 2k out on the market ASAP, to be ready on PS4 launch. So the PC version was out of the picture. This year it's a different story. Another thing is, PS4 and XB1 version is practically a PC version. It's not that hard to port 'next-gen' (or 'current-gen' as some people prefer) console games to PC as it was with 'last-gen' - X360 and PS3 (especially PS3). So, Visual Concepts are out of excuses. It's just about their priorities and willingness, not about technical difficulties, piracy and potential profitability anymore.
I hope they'll choose to earn craploads of money instead of angering part of their userbase, the most vocal and dedicated part.

[ColumbusBobby23]

Somebody mentioned that they are holding back on revealing anything about the PC because they don't want it to interfere with preorders for the consoles. I think that is a valid point and I'm hoping that's the case. Because it's the only reason I can think of for them not to reveal any good news. If that's not the case, we are getting the PS3 port again.

[RashbaNor]

Somebody mentioned that they are holding back on revealing anything about the PC because they don't want it to interfere with preorders for the consoles.

Yeah, they can even have some exclusive deals with MS or Sony. They can also try to pump up console version preorders cause there won't be VCs on PC version. Then, there's also a possibility they still have no idea if they'll be ready with 'next-gen' for PC on a release day.

[Andrew]

Even if the game itself doesn't have any measures to prevent modding, it seems pretty much a given that we'll need new tools to mod a PS4/X1 port. While that would be a shame, I'd suggest that someone will be able to develop new tools in time, and the upside of having a PS4/X1 port will outweigh the initial setback to modding.

[agolden]

Even if the game itself doesn't have any measures to prevent modding, it seems pretty much a given that we'll need new tools to mod a PS4/X1 port. While that would be a shame, I'd suggest that someone will be able to develop new tools in time, and the upside of having a PS4/X1 port will outweigh the initial setback to modding.

yeah, and for anyone who wants to dick around and make aliens for 2k, you got 2K14. I doubt any new iterations of past-gen 2k for PC would include significant new gameplay/mode features, regardless.

[pistonnation]

Does Leftos still do any modding for the PC community? If so, how does this work out now that he works at 2k? He has all of the tools he needs there. lol

[Kevin]

Does Leftos still do any modding for the PC community? If so, how does this work out now that he works at 2k? He has all of the tools he needs there. lol

Its against their company's reasons to let the devs, specially the guy who makes almost every tool to mod.

[ThePointForward]

No, I believe he's not only too busy, but also prohibited by contract. However all of his past work is open source so you (anybody) can take the wheel and keep them updated.

[Spree#8]

If it would be me who decides... I would synchronize all saves with servers - progress for every mode and all MyPlayers.

Yep, because that has worked out so exceptionally well in the next gen 2K14.

A company with notoriously terrible servers and a track record of huge online problems making an always-online game with no hard drive saves? Doesn't take a ton of brainpower to figure out that's an awful connection. Then again, they've already made it, so never say never I guess.

2K has always had big problems online and at this point I don't expect it to change. In case you don't already know, all that goes double for the PC. They don't care about PC and that fact combined with their massive struggles on consoles (where they probably do give a shit) prove that they are most likely neither capable of nor willing to even attempt making said "step up" for PC online, one that would be required for it to work even half the time.

It's not happening - and it's a very good thing. Having to be online to play an offline mode is so retarded that I can't believe there are people in the community supporting the idea. If their servers crap out again (which they will, several times - let's not kid ourselves), you can't play your offline game modes or really anything except for quick games. And you've probably heard about the saves getting corrupted on their servers, resulting in all-25 rated players, for instance - I don't suppose the game lets you make a backup save. What happens when 2K16 comes out and they shut down servers for 2K15? You can't ever play anything other than quick games again. Have fun in case you want to go back due to the next game being subpar or just skipping the next game.

I know they must protect the game from piracy somehow, but that, my friend, is going WAY too far. You should also notice that the problems this approach creates mostly affect people who are fair customers and bought the game - giving them a pretty good reason not to do the same next year, if you ask me. In all likelihood, pirates are mostly people who wouldn't have bought the game anyway. They won't exactly cry a river if 90% of the game becomes useless for a week because of 2K's stupid servers.

The reasons I just laid out are why the game being always-online on the PC would be an automatic and definitive deal breaker for me and I'm likely not alone, especially after the last game. However, I'm still fairly confident it won't happen. I'm still assuming we're getting a PS3/X360 port this year, despite the reportedly easier porting from the PS4/X1. Not everyone rushed out to buy a new console the moment they came out and many people are still waiting to see if they should bother. Even in this thread you can see posts like "if we get current gen again this year, I'll finally buy a next gen console" - and that's exactly what they want people to do.

[skoadam]

Still its better to prevent from piracy+fix netcode+more servers and release next gen than not to prevent, no major fix for netcode and no next gen right? I have no problem with being online all the time. Whats more? I have no problem with shut down servers for 2k15 if 2k16 will be same version for pc and ng consoles.

[Patr1ck]

They had to improve something with their net code, otherwise "the park" would not be able to exist. Unlessthe other courts are just cpu AI acting out what looks like a real game being played, but I haven't heard any evidence of that.

Remember the factors that played into 2k releasing a pc port in the first place. Processors were powerful enough that mid range affordable pc's were able to run the game and EA stopped making one. From a business perspective, until it becomes cost effective to release a current gen port, we should continue to see an xbox360 port for the pc.

With a full priced pc game coming in October, it can only mean two things. One, they listened when people saidthey would pay full price for the game if it contained all of the same features as its console counterpart, or two, it is indeed a currentgen port.

[shadowgrin]

Having to be online to play an offline mode is so retarded that I can't believe there are people in the community supporting the idea.

[RashbaNor]

Yep, because that has worked out so exceptionally well in the next gen 2K14.

To be honest, the only time when I couldn't play NBA 2k14 MyCareer on my PS4 was three or four hours the other day just after Christmas. So it wasn't so bad, at least not for me.

A company with notoriously terrible servers and a track record of huge online problems making an always-online game with no hard drive saves? Doesn't take a ton of brainpower to figure out that's an awful connection.

Online synchronized saves doesn't mean no local hard drive saves. Where did you come up with such an analogy? Just look at how Steam handles it's cloud saves. Take Two / Visual Concepts could release NBA 2k14 for PC as Stream-only and then use Valve's system.

(...) they are most likely neither capable of nor willing to even attempt making said "step up" for PC online, one that would be required for it to work even half the time.

Couple of years ago (you can do a search on this forum) many people claimed Visual Concepts will never do a PC port of NBA 2k. Just never! Never ever! They don't care, they're too lazy, they can't!
The other thing is... money! When you want to sell a game with 60$ price tag instead of 20$... well, you better deliver.

Having to be online to play an offline mode is so retarded that I can't believe there are people in the community supporting the idea.

This is such an expired statement. It was popular two or three years ago. Now, when we have tons of always-online games and services, not many people care about this dreaded requirement anymore. Mostly because this retarded and repulsive solution turned out to be pretty much harmless.

But I understand your objections:

If their servers crap out again (...), you can't play your offline game modes or really anything except for quick games. And you've probably heard about the saves getting corrupted on their servers, (...) I don't suppose the game lets you make a backup save. What happens when 2K16 comes out and they shut down servers for 2K15? You can't ever play anything other than quick games again. Have fun in case you want to go back due to the next game being subpar or just skipping the next game.

2k14 was their first try on online-saving. They did a mediocre job, yes. There's a huge room for improvement. First of all they should sync the local saves with NBA 2k servers, not only store the saves online. That would fix most of the problems you mentioned. It's not that hard to create a syncing system which lets a user to play offline but makes the title unusable when not activated, never online (pirated).

I know they must protect the game from piracy somehow, but that, my friend, is going WAY too far.

See, you know they should do something but you don't really know what exactly. At the same time you're opposing the most popular today anti-piracy solution (Sony uses it with PSN, MS uses it with XBL, Valve uses it with Steam, UBIsoft uses it with UBIplay, EA uses it with Origin, etc). I know it's not perfect but in the perfect world there would be no piracy and no crappy servers. Besides, it's always good to wait with complains after using the product, not months before it was even released. What if they do a good job and we'll be able to play just fine?

You should also notice that the problems this approach creates mostly affect people who are fair customers and bought the game - giving them a pretty good reason not to do the same next year, if you ask me. In all likelihood, pirates are mostly people who wouldn't have bought the game anyway. They won't exactly cry a river if 90% of the game becomes useless for a week because of 2K's stupid servers.

I don't agree. What you wrote is a very popular opinion among gamers but it's not necessarily right. Yes, there are anti-piracy systems which cause a huge headaches for legal users. These system are, at most, unused by now. Always-online requirement or online-only features are not that big of a deal when done right. Developers are much better at implementing such solutions today when there's so many MMOs, online services for gamers, online features in 'single player' games.

Even in this thread you can see posts like "if we get current gen again this year, I'll finally buy a next gen console" - and that's exactly what they want people to do.

That's what MS and Sony want everybody to do. But Take Two would love to sell 60$ PC version of NBA 2k14 to everybody. Just because there's no 'console maker licence fee' on PC.

The reasons I just laid out are why the game being always-online on the PC would be an automatic and definitive deal breaker for me and I'm likely not alone, especially after the last game.

I think you're too extreme. Have some faith, relax a little. Just wait for the game to be released, read reviews, watch gameplays and then decide.
Maybe they'll do OK, maybe they won't screw us this time. If they will, you'll be able to tell me 'told you so, sucka' in a few months and I'll buy a PS4 port. If they won't screw us... well, we'll have a pretty decent PC version of NBA 2k.

[PatriceLumumba]

Hi guys! I'm new here and I tried to communicate with some of you via Youtube, but it didn't work. It bugged me that you're still speculating and hoping, while there is no hope, imho, so I registered in order to let you know the following:

The German community has already lost hope for a next Gen release of the PC version and here's the reason:

On German amazon, they've already set the price tags: 70€ for the Next Gen versions (PS4/Xone), 50€ for the last gen console versions (360/PS3) and 30€ for the PC version (which was the price tag for last year's release, too)

http://www.amazon.de/2K-Sports-NBA-2K15 ... s=nba+2k15

If you don't trust me enough to use that URL, you can just visit German amazon and search for NBA 2K15 yourselves.

http://www.amazon.de

Note that it's possible that amazon redirects you to the English/American amazon, make sure you're still on the German site after you've copy/pasted the URL.

maybe next year =/

take care

[Spree#8]

Still its better to prevent from piracy+fix netcode+more servers and release next gen than not to prevent, no major fix for netcode and no next gen right? I have no problem with being online all the time.

I do. My Internet connection can be a little unreliable at times and I wouldn't like it getting in the way of me playing an offline game mode, such as Association (assuming it's even in the game). Even more annoying if the problem would be 2K's servers, which have been poor for many years now and expecting them to suddenly get all fixed up is quite naive. Like I said, I have absolutely no interest in an always-online game - next gen or not.

I have no problem with shut down servers for 2k15 if 2k16 will be same version for pc and ng consoles.

I do, just in case I skip the next game or the next game happens to be a lot worse than the previous one. It's happened before - see: NBA 2K12. 2K12 with shiny next gen graphics would still be... well, 2K12.

To be honest, the only time when I couldn't play NBA 2k14 MyCareer on my PS4 was three or four hours the other day just after Christmas. So it wasn't so bad, at least not for me.

I guess you were lucky then. Don't have it myself, but what I've heard and read has deterred me enough. Not so much here, but many people over at OS were driven absolutely crazy by the servers not working, saves getting ruined, all-25 player glitch, VC lost, etc.

Online synchronized saves doesn't mean no local hard drive saves. Where did you come up with such an analogy? Just look at how Steam handles it's cloud saves. Take Two / Visual Concepts could release NBA 2k14 for PC as Stream-only and then use Valve's system.

2K14 next gen is where I came up with it. If I remember correctly, which I'm pretty sure I do, I've read that the game doesn't even let you save rosters to your hard drive. If it's not required to make the always-online thing work, then that decision looks even dumber to me now. Either way, when things like local roster saving become wishlist items, you know something's gone horribly wrong.

The other thing is... money! When you want to sell a game with 60$ price tag instead of 20$... well, you better deliver.

The price jump is indeed weird. Unless I missed something, they still haven't said a single substantial thing about the game or the PC version yet though, so it could still be a mistake - stranger things have happened. And if it's correct, we still have no clue how they plan to justify the $60 price tag.

I think you're too extreme. Have some faith, relax a little. Just wait for the game to be released, read reviews, watch gameplays and then decide.

It may be extreme, may be old-fashioned, whatever - it is where I stand on the matter. I understand that what's a problem for me may not be a problem for others (and in reverse) and we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one, it seems. This discussion could very well be irrelevant anyway.

If they won't screw us... well, we'll have a pretty decent PC version of NBA 2k.

Decent is what we have now - I feel like 2K14 current gen is underrated by many people. Only two significant gameplay problems and the fewest game mode glitches in recent memory make for a pretty decent release. Shiny graphics, while nice to look at, aren't that high on my priority list at all. If the $60 thing is true, they'd better have something truly amazing in store.

[shadowgrin]

most popular today anti-piracy solution (Sony uses it with PSN, MS uses it with XBL, Valve uses it with Steam, UBIsoft uses it with UBIplay, EA uses it with Origin, etc)

Steam has an offline mode so you can even play games in your library that don't require you to be online...

Having to be online to play an offline mode is so retarded