by AlienDunker on Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:17 am
So nice to see this discussion. I hope both EA & VizCon ( 2ksports ) are listening close.
... I'm an insider & i got to share with you guys that 2K mostly led in creative, technologically and business strategy since the beginning and continues to drive the breed into for almost a score ( years ) now.
The initial reason for may surprise some of you. 2K was super open-minded when at 2k's inception; hiring a cadre of African American animators, coders and game designers. Each one contributed significantly to the base culture you witness today. When 2K first burst on the market, EA had to go back to the drawing, or shall we say in this case, the blackboard. They struggled always keeping an eye affixed on their unexpected competition. Trying to anticipate their next move, trying to get with the latest step.
BUT, it was impossible.
When 2k came with design innovations like 24 / 7 Mode ---- EA didn't know which way was up.
They had to battle by trying to exploit shelf superiority ( ALL YOUR GAMESTOP SHELVES BELONG TO US ) and license provisioning. They succeeded with NFL but fortunately, the NBA didn't fall for it & didn't go exclusive.
This wasn't a race thing. It was a cultural thing. It wasn't that black people were the main thing it was a more creatively competent form of making good games.
With every force comes some friction and NBA Street was that. Sicker, doper but then some of those guys joined 2k.
As someone said before, EA is constantly adapting to a market defined by their enemy. Over time EA has learned though as they will. They can be good and at times they are known to be the best. We will need to watch them. But my forecast is that there will be new blood that takes our hearts & minds. Both of these games are sunken in the quest for reality and ludological spreadsheet wielding design vampires. The next might just come from Activision or Ubisoft. They are quite formidable. The Ubisoft/Nintendo trained Canadians are the reason EA can even compete today.
Anyway, guys this is my experience and overall take on the situation... The details from year to year must have been great to see - 2 companies fighting it out fiercely like getthoysburg haha.