Monday Tip-Off: Is It Me, Or The Games?

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Finishing Seasons On The Virtual Hardwood

TI've previously said that completion is what we make it when it comes to the virtual hardwood. Indeed, I dedicated an entire article to exploring that notion. I still stand by that. While it can be extremely fulfilling to be a completionist when it comes to the games we play, it isn't a necessity to have fun. It doesn't matter if you didn't collect all of the cards in MyTEAM, reach the Hall of Fame in MyCAREER, or play through to a championship in a mode representing the NBA season. As you long as you enjoyed your time with a game and feel like you got your money's worth, that's what counts.

With that being said, there's great joy to be had in playing through seasons from start to finish. If you manage to play multiple seasons - either before the next game comes out, or by returning to an old favourite - it can be an even more rewarding experience. It's a tall order, especially with a full 82-game season on twelve minute quarters with no simulation, as I've often aimed to achieve. No matter which settings you prefer however, there's a feeling of accomplishment when a season is in the books, and your team is standing at midcourt raising the Larry O'Brien trophy. Even before that, of course, there's a journey that I strongly advise everyone to savour along the way.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Improving NBA 2K Discourse in 2023

I realise there's a certain futility in articles such as this. The people who read them are likely already in agreement with the message, while those who really need to heed such suggestions are unlikely to do so. In other words, I'm preaching to the choir while simultaneously yelling into the wind. Still, it never hurts to try! I don't pretend that I have the reach or the words to eliminate toxicity from the discourse surrounding the NBA 2K series. Nevertheless, if it makes a few people think, or encourages a more positive example, it's a worthwhile endeavour.

And yes, the word "toxic" gets thrown around a lot these days, but it's not inaccurate. Mind you, because it's so ubiquitous, it's undoubtedly an uphill battle to change the culture of online discourse, whether it's NBA 2K, real hoops, or basically anything else that we care to discuss with each other. As I said though, if it gets a few people thinking differently about NBA 2K discourse and critique, then in my view it's worth a try. These are things that I believe we should keep in mind when we're discussing the issues with NBA 2K and their possible solutions, and pretty much all discourse regarding the series. I promise that they're not all phrased as stuffy "Do Nots"!

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Getting Into Basketball Game Collecting

So, you say you want to get into collecting basketball video games? I've seen some people express interest in the hobby, especially with how often that Dee and I have talked about our collections on the NLSC Podcast! We're admittedly at the crazier end of the hobby, doubling up on different platforms, picking up spare copies if we see them for ridiculously low prices, and seeking out some more expensive titles. One doesn't have to be a completionist to collect though, especially when it comes to video games. It's fine to just amass a collection of favourites that you want to have on hand.

We've received a couple of strange YouTube comments in regards to our collections, which seem to imply that we're somehow doing something nefarious, or that we're in some exclusive hobby that requires great wealth. To put it bluntly, neither is true! I believe the former comment mistook our discussion of shared experiences using Parsec as somehow hoarding games, while the latter is assuming that collecting needs to be an expensive hobby. We did respond to those comments and provided some tips on basketball game collecting way back in Episode #436 of the Podcast, but I'd like to offer some further advice, including a summary of key tips at the end of this article.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: The Haunting Atmosphere of Empty Servers

Last year, I bid vale to the NBA 2K20 servers and its online features. In that article, I mostly focused on the increasing amount of content that we lose when servers are shut down. That's an important topic, and obviously it's happened again in the wake of the NBA 2K21 servers being switched off. Although 27 months amounts to supporting an annual title through two and a half seasons, it always seems to go by so quickly. If you do have any unfinished business in MyCAREER or MyTEAM, you may spend the last days of December scrambling to complete it before it's too late.

I've absolutely been in that boat myself. Furthermore, as a content creator, I've made it a point to get as many screenshots and clips as possible for potential future articles and video features. This means having at least one more session where I go through as much of the online content and connected modes as I can, adding to my media library. Indeed, after my New Year's Eve plans fell through at the last minute, I spent the evening of December 31st 2022 taking one last look at MyTEAM and MyCAREER in NBA 2K21. With The City and The Neighborhood in MyCAREER in particular, it was impossible not to notice the haunting atmosphere that comes with empty servers.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: NBA 2K14 MyCAREER Nicknames

As I've previously discussed, I greatly enjoy generated rookies in franchise and career modes. Obviously it's vital that we have the option of inserting real Draft Classes into our game if we so choose, but fictional prospects have always been more appealing to me. That may sound strange given that I prefer to play with real rosters, but I enjoy how generated rookies encourage us to use our imagination as a fictional NBA takes shape. Even if I could use custom Draft Classes with real prospects in NBA 2K14 MyCAREER, I'd have to pass on that, as it would mean no Terry Hanson!

Although Terry Hanson is my favourite generated player - naturally, since he's my teammate on the Philadelphia 76ers - there are some other fictional players who are adding personality to the league. Some of them are already shaping up to be star players, which makes the matchups fresh and interesting five years in. There are also some fun name combinations, and unique generated appearances. This has led me to give nicknames to some of those fictional players in my NBA 2K14 MyCAREER as I've encountered them in gameplay, or in the roster listings. It's a fun exercise that's added to the immersion, and set some of them up to be Virtual Hardwood Legends.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Mods For Free? No, Money Down!

This is an extremely ticklish subject to put it mildly. It's not my intention to step on any toes, yet that seems inevitable by broaching this matter. However, it's an issue that has been building within the community for years. From the time that the NLSC was founded, we were dedicated to providing mods - or patches, as they used to be called - 100% free of charge. As we expanded into other content, none of that was put behind a paywall either. The general philosophy is that we were a site for basketball gamers, by basketball gamers, and non-profit.

Of course, times have changed as far as online content creation is concerned. What was once a hobby or creative outlet can now be monetised, and even turned into a career. Although more traditional media still looks down on YouTube, Twitch, and other online platforms - as evidenced by the Saturday Night Live sketch that was a swing-and-a-miss swipe at the Try Guys - hardworking and creative people have been very successful with online content. With that in mind, it's understandable that video game modders would also look to cash in. It's anti-community at best and dangerous at worst though, with some highly undesirable possibilities looming on the horizon.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: My Aversion to Mobile Basketball Gaming

NBA Live is not dead. I don't say that because I believe that the series is poised to make a big comeback - though every so often, there are hints that it might be a slim possibility - but rather because the name does technically live on through NBA Live Mobile. I do actually have NBA Live Mobile installed on my phone, but it's not part of my basketball gaming rotation. Although I've seen fit to continue installing it as I've upgraded to a couple of new phones over the years, I've barely touched it except to get screenshots.

The same goes for the mobile version of NBA Jam. I posted a brief but positive review of the Android release over a decade ago, but it hasn't been a regular in my rotation either. As for the mobile versions of NBA 2K, I haven't ever bothered to buy and play them. Indeed, since I gave up on getting the face scan to work, I no longer even install the companion app for the console/PC releases! I'm not here to bash mobile gaming, basketball or otherwise. I'm all for developers exploring different platforms, and if you enjoy those releases, more power to you! However, I do have an aversion to mobile basketball gaming, and frankly, I don't think it'll ever win me over.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Nothing But Net

Yes, that's right. An entire article about virtual basketball equipment: the net. Of course, the net is a vital part of basketball. Practically speaking, it serves two main purposes. It indicates that the ball has indeed passed through the hoop, and also slows its descent so that it's easier to catch. As anyone who's ever played on an outdoor rim without a net can attest, you'll certainly notice a difference when it's not around to fulfil these functions! And of course, there's the swish - the act and sound of hitting nothing but net - representing supreme accuracy when shooting.

Whether nylon, polyester, or the steel chains often used on the blacktop, this is what the net brings to basketball. As such, any virtual representation of basketball needs to do its nets justice. In the grand scheme of things, there are more important aspects that determine whether or not a basketball video game is fun and overall well-made. Still, like inaccuracies on a jersey or a quirky transitional animation, it's something that knowledgeable hoops gamers will recognise. If there are issues with the nets, such as shape, length, physics, and so on, you can be sure that they'll be noticed! It may seem nitpicky, but not when you consider their importance and the satisfaction they bring.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: The Truth About Reactivating Servers

Whenever the official NBA 2K Twitter sends out a Tweet, you'll see some familiar replies. Some gamers will bring up technical issues that they're having, prompting a form response from the 2K Support account. Others will be asking for Locker Codes or VC giveaways. There's bound to be a few disgruntled gamers making that eternal request of "fix your servers!" And speaking of online support, you might see a couple of people raising the issue of reactivating servers for games such as NBA 2K16 and NBA 2K17. In turn, those people will be accused of being blinded by nostalgia.

While I disagree that it's merely myopic nostalgia that has created an appreciation for NBA 2K16 and NBA 2K17, and a desire to see 2K reactivating the servers for those titles, it is fair to note the unlikelihood of it ever happening. That isn't to say that I'd be against 2K reactivating servers for those games, or some other old favourites. Even if it were for a week or two every year to celebrate the history of the series, it would be a fantastic opportunity to revisit classic releases and re-download lost updates. I have my doubts that 2K would go to the trouble of doing so however, and while I'll always support my fellow gamers over a company, I do understand their position.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: The Point of No Return for MyCAREER

Although I'll readily defend the past against notions that everything new is better, and point out that many old ideas can be repurposed as modern solutions, it's absolutely possible to regress. We shouldn't want to see that in anything, including the basketball video games that we enjoy. One of the biggest knocks on NBA Live during the eighth generation was that it felt behind the times. Even if you enjoyed the experience on the sticks, barebones modes and a lack of additional content made it feel as though the series had regressed to a point that it should've been well past.

It's an issue that contributed to NBA Live's inability to win back the crowd, and thus a further descent into dormancy and irrelevance. With that being said, while this is a pitfall that NBA 2K has avoided, Visual Concepts' series has arguably suffered the opposite problem. There are certain ideas and approaches in NBA 2K that have now evolved so far beyond their more humble beginnings that going back to a simpler time is seemingly impossible. You might argue that this isn't actually a problem; that a new standard or baseline has been established. Not everyone is satisfied with the current approach to MyCAREER however, and unfortunately, it's at the point of no return.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Enjoying Your Own Mods

While I can still have a blast playing classic basketball games in their vanilla state, it's a lot of fun to revisit old mods at the same time. That's something that Dee and I have been doing in several of our Parsec sessions. We've revisited NBA Live 98 and 99 with the Legends and Champs rosters that Lutz made more than twenty years ago. We also used some of my old mods, such as the 1996 rosters for NBA Live 2004 and later NBA Live 2001, the current roster pack that also added the Dream Team and Team USA 2012 for NBA Live 06, and a couple of work-in-progress projects.

As I said, all of those games are still fun to play in their default state. However, using those mods made them even more enjoyable, as it was an interesting change of pace from the usual retro gaming experience. Playing Lutz's rosters for the first time in years, I was once again reminded of how impressive they were, and how the work of our founders and other early modders inspired me to get into the hobby. To that point, as egotistical as it may sound, playing with some of my own old mods led me to think "Hey, I did a pretty decent job with these!" There were also moments that I cringed and wanted to follow up with new releases, but I found enjoyment in my work.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Credit & The Modding Community

When the NLSC was founded in 1996 and our modding community was established, we adopted several rules that are still in place as of today. Two of the most important rules are the prohibition of charging for mods, and the requirement of giving credit whenever you're using someone else's work (as well as asking for permission first, whenever possible). Most of the biggest blow-ups in our modding community have come about due to an incident involving one of those rules, in particular the latter. It's the reason why it's gone from being an unwritten rule to a clearly specified policy.

To newcomers, the notion of giving credit and asking for permission may seem odd. After all, anything we make and release is for the benefit of our fellow gamers, and we do walk a fine line with what we do when it comes to modding in the first place. It is part of our established culture and etiquette however, and as long as we're civil with each other and not draconian in enforcing those rules, it does work for us. At the same time, I do wonder if we can be too precious about our work, not to mention take credit when it isn't due. There's something to be said for being flexible, and I say that as someone who has been very particular about credit and permission in the past.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Wish I Could Play It, Now That I Can't

The notion that we want what we can't have, and that we don't appreciate what we do have until it's gone, are very old proverbs indeed. It's a concept that's been discussed at length, and portrayed in various works. In a rather infamous episode of Scrubs, J.D. discovers that he doesn't want to be with Elliot after pining for her all season. Glam metal band Cinderella even had a power ballad literally titled "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)", which was used rather superbly - even movingly - in an episode of South Park. It's a sentiment that we can all relate to.

As far as basketball video games are concerned, this is an inevitable part of server shutdowns. There was a time when that only applied to online multiplayer, but thanks to server-side content and connected experiences, single player modes are now also affected. Of course, there's still plenty to enjoy in older basketball games, especially when you go back to before online content was ubiquitous. Over the past generation though, and even going back to the generation before that, there are modes that I wish I could still play. On top of that, there are modes that I wish I could play for the first time - or at least finally explore in-depth - now that that's no longer possible.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Is It Me, Or The Games?

I've been playing basketball video games since the 90s, becoming a part of the online community - then largely centred on NBA Live - towards the end of the decade. As you may or may not know, I started out with my own NBA Live fansite - the NBA Live Domain - not long after I discovered the NLSC and modding, and decided to get involved with the scene. I took over the NLSC in August of 2001, a couple of months before turning 17. At times it's somewhat overwhelming to reflect on the passage of time, but it has indeed been more than two decades since I started this journey!

What does this mean? Well, I'm sure that some people would have unflattering things to say about me still being a content creator for basketball video games in my thirties, but we needn't concern ourselves with mean-spirited remarks from small minds with an axe to grind. With that being said, it is true that after all these years and all the different games I've played, I am now in the upper end of the demographic. As an Elder Millennial, I'm in a weird place where I'm simultaneously a terrible young person and a bitter old head, depending on your generation relative to mine. I may be a little of both, and so sometimes I wonder where the problem lies when I have gripes.