Monday Tip-Off: The NBA 2K24 Backlash, In Perspective

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Keep Those Old Saves

I've made no secret of the fact that more recently, I've preferred to stick with an old favourite - or new favourite old release, as is the case with NBA 2K14 for PS4 - rather than play the latest NBA 2K. It's not just a matter of liking the gameplay better in older games, though admittedly that is a key factor. To be blunt, I'm tired of grinding and starting over from scratch every year, knowing that I won't be able to enjoy the fruits of my labour when the servers are shut down. And yes, the use of the word "labour" is deliberate here, because it does end up feeling more like work than play.

And so, I've gravitated towards games that hold up well, and I can continue to dust off and play for years to come. Reaching my sixth year in NBA 2K14 MyCAREER is far more rewarding than anything I could achieve in NBA 2K23's mode, which will one day be inaccessible. Retaining access to my Chicago Bulls Dynasty in NBA Live 06 PC holds far more appeal than any cards that I could collect in NBA 2K23 MyTEAM. With care, I can preserve those experiences and revisit them whenever the mood strikes, which isn't the case when live service content is involved. However, thanks to a lack of foresight, there are long-lost saves that I'll never be able to revisit.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: The Identity Crisis Of An Open World

I haven’t been shy about sharing my disdain for the direction of MyCAREER. I’ve bluntly stated that the mode sucks in NBA 2K23, and that it’s reached the point of no return. I’ve also unfavourably compared it to MyCAREER in NBA 2K14, which I’m still greatly enjoying. I’ve discussed the varying quality of the stories, and how that approach could best be used. Over the years, I’ve experienced the best and worst of MyCAREER, so when I say that the mode is at an all-time low, that doesn’t come from a point of ignorance, nor is it hyperbole.

It wasn’t an immediately sharp decline, but the writing has been on the wall since NBA 2K18. I’ve described it as a turning point for the series, and MyCAREER is the mode that was most impacted. The implementation of The Neighborhood in NBA 2K18 steered MyCAREER towards an eventual identity crisis, which finally came to fruition with the expansion into The City in NBA 2K21 Next Gen. Not everyone wanted to see it that way, preferring to shout down anyone who dared not enjoy it. Now that the problems are painfully obvious to all but the staunchest shills and fanboys, we can openly acknowledge that the mode doesn’t know what it wants to be.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Franchise Mode Free Agency Follies

Part of being a diehard NBA fan is taking a keen interest in what happens when there's no basketball being played. You'll find some fans that describe the offseason as their favourite part of the year, or at least consider it as exciting as the Playoffs. It makes sense. There's optimism as teams are making moves to gear up for a new season, and drama when the biggest names change their jerseys. Of course, most of that drama is over within the first couple of weeks. These days, teams are in a bigger rush to get deals done, so we don't see many situations like Michael Redd in 2002.

Since franchise modes emulate the key aspects of the NBA offseason, we're able to experience virtual free agency. For those of us who like to play (or simulate) multiple seasons in franchise modes, the offseason and free agency reflects the anticipation and enthusiasm of the real event. There's the added fun of being in control, and signing the players that we wish our favourite team would, or could. To that point though, virtual free agency can likewise end up being a disappointment. We might also discover that even if we make desirable moves, being a successful NBA GM is easier said than done. I know that I've had a few franchise mode free agency follies over the years.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Depth vs. Simplicity In Modes

Generally speaking, we want to see deep, engaging modes in sim basketball games. Whether it's a franchise or career experience, or even a card collecting/team building mode, depth is a vital ingredient to them remaining immersive and engaging. On top of being a more accurate representation of the NBA - wherever applicable - there's simply more to do and care about. As modes have become deeper throughout the years, our expectations have naturally increased proportionately. Shallow modes are criticised for their lack of features and detail, and considered to be behind the times.

At the same time, there's merit and appeal in simplicity. I'm not just talking about retro gaming either, though that can be part of their draw. Even in modern games though, there's an argument to be made for simplicity and streamlining in modes. This runs contrary to calls for deep and comprehensive experiences, but for some gamers, that depth and detail can be overwhelming. While having more to do and care about sounds like a great time for many of us, many still see too many moving parts, and tasks that distract and detract from the point of the games: playing virtual basketball. As such, developers are challenged to a balancing act as far as depth vs. simplicity.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: How NBA 2K24 Can Win Me Over

Around this time last year, I discussed how NBA 2K23 could possibly break NBA 2K14 PS4's monopoly over my basketball gaming sessions, and make a far better impression than NBA 2K21 and NBA 2K22 did. It was interesting to go back and read what I'd written now that NBA 2K23 is approaching the end of its life cycle, and NBA 2K24 is on the horizon. After all, NBA 2K24 will also be competing with my entire collection and a preference to diversify my virtual hardwood experiences, so once again, simply being the latest release won't be enough.

While my criteria are essentially unchanged, my expectations have naturally been shaped by what happened with NBA 2K23, and the apparent direction of the series. As was the case last year, I must emphasise that these are personal preferences that will determine my level of enjoyment, and inclination to play NBA 2K24 over other games. NBA 2K24 is going to be highly successful regardless, and my opinion of it won't impact its fortunes either way. I can only speak for myself, and I don't pretend otherwise. With that being said, I do stand by my criteria and suggestions. I hope that I am impressed by NBA 2K24, but it will have to surpass what NBA 2K23 did.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Making The Case for Basketball Game Demos

It's strange how when I think of basketball video game demos, they feel like such an antiquated concept. That may be because video game demos in general have fallen out of vogue - much as shareware did - but it hasn't actually been that long since we had a demo for an upcoming hoops title. The last NBA Live demo came in 2018, while we had a small preview of NBA 2K21 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Now, that is indeed going back a few years at this point, but for some reason those demos don't immediately come to mind. Instead, demos seem like a relic of the 90s and 2000s.

Of course, one could very well argue that that's when basketball game demos were far more relevant. There was legitimate competition between NBA Live and NBA 2K right through to the end of the decade. The preview season for both games began around June, and there was a steady stream of information as they competed for attention and pre-orders. There was value in both companies dropping a demo a few weeks before the full version was released, to show off a few key improvements and possibly change some minds. Even with NBA 2K's virtual monopoly over basketball gaming, however, I maintain that there's still value in providing a pre-release demo.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Being Broke Isn't The Problem

It's time once again for me to attempt the impossible task of shutting down an ad hominem that's become far too popular in basketball gaming discourse (and gaming discourse in general). Spend enough time talking about microtransactions, pay-to-win (or pay-to-enjoy) mechanics, and tedious grinding, and someone will accuse you of being "broke". For you see, the only reason not to want to pay above and beyond the cost of a game is - apparently - because you can't afford it. Conversely, being willing to dump disposable (or not-so-disposable) income into a game is somehow virtuous.

There are so, so many problems with that line of thinking. Sadly, however, shills continue to trot out that argument to shut down any criticism of recurrent revenue mechanics. "Broke" has become a buzzword along the lines of "cartoonish", only it's far worse because of how judgmental it is towards your fellow gamers. Obviously, there are hobbies that are expensive, and given the cost of hardware alone, video games do arguably qualify as such a hobby to some extent. There are still reasonable and unreasonable costs though, and focusing on personal wealth overlooks that the problems with recurrent revenue mechanics have nothing to do with being broke.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Can 2K Fix The Toxicity Of Its Online Scene?

When you produce content or any form of entertainment, I firmly believe that you get the audience that you cultivate. This isn’t to say that periphery demographics aren’t a thing, or that popular works don’t end up attracting toxic people for the same reasons they appeal to more pleasant fans. However, some works establish or openly welcome problematic attitudes within their core audience. This includes elitist gatekeeping, and open disdain and hostility towards differing preferences, as well as other genres and interests. They may champion pseudo-intellectualism, and in extreme cases, bigotry.

I’ve spoken at length on many occasions about the toxicity in NBA 2K’s online scene. One might argue that I’m being melodramatic or overly sensitive, but if so, I’m not alone in my views. Just about everywhere that you’ll find discussion of NBA 2K and its online modes, you’ll see complaints about the toxicity, including assertions that it’s the worst in gaming. Now, that may or may not be hyperbole, as many of the issues with toxicity in NBA 2K’s online scene aren’t exclusive to the series. Nevertheless, the scene in other games has been described more favourably. This leads me to ask just how much of the problem is under 2K’s control, and what they can do at this point.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: The Lies of Developer Blogs

Back in August 2018, as the preview seasons for NBA 2K19 and NBA Live 19 were well underway, I wrote an article discussing the cynicism that developer blogs sadly often inspire. I drew some comparisons between the NBA 2K18 developer blogs and a Game Informer interview previewing NBA 2K19, noting that the latter revealed some outright lies in the former. I don't like to throw around the word "lies" easily, but with some developer blogs, it's a fair accusation. As we prepare for our first look at NBA 2K24, I wanted to revisit those blogs. They're a reminder that while we may always hope for the best, we can't always put much stock in what developer blogs say.

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[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Thoughts on "Green or Miss" in NBA 2K24

As revealed in last week's developer blog on gameplay, shooting in NBA 2K24 will come down to "Green or Miss". In other words, precise timing will be required, as any shot that isn't a Green Release will be unsuccessful. However, this won't be the case across the board. In modes such as MyNBA, MyTEAM, and Play Now, the timing will be more forgiving on lower difficulty levels, meaning that you'll be able to make some shots without getting a Green Release. However, if you're playing on Hall of Fame difficulty, or one of the online competitive modes, it'll be "Green or Miss"!

It's a strict approach to the shooting mechanics, though obviously not as strict as it could've been. It could prove to be a controversial decision, and will certainly fuel further arguments between NBA 2K gamers. Personally, I have mixed feelings about the "Green or Miss" approach, and the way it will be implemented in NBA 2K24. The idea has merit from the standpoint of establishing a skill-based competitive scene, but the concept still has its flaws. It needn't impact the gameplay experience on offer in the traditional modes, but it's still there in the background. I'm sure there will be many elitist takes on this, so let's take a more nuanced look at the "Green or Miss" concept.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: My 25 Favourite Basketball Video Games

On Saturday, I celebrated my 22nd year of running the NLSC. It's been a long ride with plenty of ups and downs, but I'm still very glad that I accepted the gig when Tim moved on to work at EA Sports, and that I stuck it out through some rough patches to enjoy the good times. To mark the occasion, I've decided to rank my Top 25 favourite basketball video games. This being my 22nd Anniversary as webmaster/admin of the NLSC, I was originally going to pick my Top 22 games. Top 25 has a better ring to it though, and it also serves as a belated 25th Anniversary celebration for the site itself!

Before we get to the countdown, let me emphasise once again that it is a Top 25 of my favourite basketball video games; not the Top 25 best hoops titles. That's a different list, and if I were being more objective, there are games I'm listing here that wouldn't make the cut. Because I haven't spent as much time with certain NBA 2K, College Hoops, or NCAA Basketball/March Madness titles, I don't have as much of an affinity for them, though that may well change in the future. I haven't "forgotten" about those great basketball video games, but they haven't become one of my personal favourites (as yet, anyway). With that being said, here are my Top 25 virtual hardwood classics!

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Why Basketball Game Reviews Suck

As much as I value thoughtful critique over statements that are blunt and insulting for the sake of being provocative, I must be frank here: many of the reviews of basketball video games flat out suck. They aren't helpful to enthusiastic hoops gamers who want to know if a title is a significant improvement over its predecessor, and whether it's worth getting. Their lack of insightful commentary provides no useful feedback to the developers, and seldom holds the publisher accountable for business practices that are predatory and even hostile towards the core audience.

It's extremely frustrating for me. As someone who has been playing basketball video games for over 25 years, and - at the risk of sounding egotistical - knows a thing or two about them, I'm unimpressed by such poor evaluations of them as products. On top of that, my philosophy is to stand with my fellow gamers rather than shill for a company. I believe it's vital to be honest with ourselves and each other, and to keep the community informed. Also, while there's really no such thing as an "unbiased review" as opinions are always subjective, personal bias can impact fairness and accuracy. It's these recurring issues that result in laughable and subpar reviews.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Next Gen Elitism Goes Back Generations

So, look. Getting older has its drawbacks. Creaky knees, more responsibilities, and existential dread all come to mind. At the same time, it has its perks! One of them is that you care a lot less about trends than you used to. When high school is rapidly becoming a smaller and smaller speck in the rear view mirror, you don't really care if you're not on the cutting edge of fashion, or not completely au fait with the latest slang. Youthful status symbols become increasingly meaningless when you've been out of school longer than you were ever in it.

Well...to a point. Not everyone enjoys being completely out of touch, even if you're still generally comfortable in your own skin. More to the point, if you're a content creator, then you have to care about trends, algorithms, and current events, at least to some extent. Unless you're exclusively covering retro gaming, you're going to need hardware that plays the latest titles. To that end, I do have a gaming PC capable of running new NBA 2K releases, as well as a PlayStation 5. I also have an interest in other genres of games, so it makes sense to invest in those platforms. What doesn't make sense is the elitism that I see regarding ownership of Next Gen consoles.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Sim Heads Are Not Casuals

Since we're all on the internet here, I'm going to assume that we're all familiar with Harvey Dent's line in The Dark Knight about either dying a hero, or living long enough to become the villain. It's up there with Alfred musing that some men just want to watch the world burn; another line that the internet loves, especially wannabe nihilist edgelords. In any case, Dent's observation can be applied to the real world as well. From people who tarnished their reputation, to simply finding yourself on the wrong side of the argument as time goes by, it's possible to end up as the bad guy.

Of course, when it's a matter of fandom infighting, "bad guy" is a relative term. We're more likely to throw around a word like "casuals" to dismiss the opinions of people we disagree with, ostensibly because they just don't get it. For a long time, gamers who played basketball games, but didn't know or care much about the real sport, were the ones who were branded with the "casuals" label. While I don't agree with the gatekeeping nature of that, it made sense in so much as sim games in particular were designed with hardcore hoop heads in mind. These days, sim heads are being called "casuals" by those who advocate for cheese and "stick skills" over realistic gameplay.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Matching the Original Aesthetic With Mods

Do I even need to say that mods are awesome? In this community, we're well aware of how modding can enhance basketball video games. It's something that people around these parts have been doing since 1996, and the work has only become even more impressive over the years with bigger and better projects. We've updated rosters to keep old games current, taken games back in time to replay classic seasons, and revamped games to turn them into completely different leagues. Smaller mods have still made a big difference too, fixing inaccuracies and enhancing details.

Needless to say, it takes practice to develop your modding skills, especially if you're working with textures and models. Furthermore, if you're updating a logo, or adding a missing portrait or jersey, then you'll also be aiming for conformity as well as quality. That is to say, the goal is to create mods that seamlessly blend in with the original aesthetic, appearing as though they're official assets that were always there. Indeed, the best mods often don't even look like mods - but for knowing that their content isn't in the original game - because they're crafted to fit in so well. It's why it's important to hone our skills and techniques so that we can properly match that original aesthetic.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: The Sim-Arcade Hybrid

When it comes to 5-on-5 basketball video games, I'd consider myself a sim gamer. Going back to playing NBA Live in the 90s, it was my desire to see the series strive for more realism. When I finally warmed up to the NBA 2K series, I was delighted at the authenticity in the games. Sure, there were a few rude shocks as I realised that I perhaps wasn't as sim as I thought, and had to adjust to play a more realistic style of virtual basketball, but I loved that that was necessary. There have been some great sim titles in every era that I've enjoyed immensely.

At the same time, I'm a fan of the arcade style, too. I grew up playing NBA Jam as well as NBA Live, and I'd alternate between the two, depending on what I was in the mood for. To that point, while I'd call myself a sim gamer, I'm an arcade gamer as well, with many fond memories of playing both types of hoops titles. However, there is a style of basketball video game that I've tended to overlook through the years: the sim-arcade hybrid. These games have combined elements of sim and arcade titles to create their own style of gameplay that definitely has its place in the genre. As I've expanded my collection, I've come to appreciate these sim-arcade hybrid games.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Control & Influence in Career Modes

There's a reason that I've been talking about playing NBA 2K14 MyCAREER in so many articles and on the NLSC Podcast, posting updates and highlights over on my Twitter/X, and maintaining a story topic in the Forum: it's been a blast! Playing into my sixth season has been so fun and rewarding, and it's reminded me of why I came to really enjoy career modes. The emphasis on grinding and pushy recurrent revenue mechanics that have come to plague more recent iterations of MyCAREER aren't an issue. There are no quests, no open world nonsense...nothing but virtual basketball.

Of course, being one of the earliest iterations of MyCAREER, and the first to adopt the story-driven approach, NBA 2K14's take on the career experience does have a few limitations. There's no private court where I can shoot around whenever the mood strikes, either for genuine practice or just to fill time. A few of the stats screens are inaccessible unless a news story on the in-game NBA.com links to them. There's content that I can no longer access because the servers have long been shut down. However, it's the features that granted more control and influence in later games that I really miss, even if the lack of them arguably makes for a more authentic experience.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Assorted Cover Player Trivia

I’m sure that it’s apparent from my various features, as well as comments I’ve made on the NLSC Podcast, that I really enjoy trivia about my passions. I love discovering new “fun facts” about my favourite hobbies and interests, and of course, discussing them in the content that I create. Of course, the downside of being passionate about trivia is that it’s easy to come off as a know-it-all, or a bore. Still, I imagine that if you’re here to consume content about basketball video games, you enjoy these facts as well! It’s always my aim to share something that hopefully not everyone will know.

So, cover player trivia. It seems only appropriate, since in the grand scheme of things, there aren’t too many aspects of basketball video games that are as trivial as the cover player! The face of the game doesn’t necessarily indicate its quality, and there have been some out-of-the-box choices on the front of the box throughout the years. It’s still a point of interest, of course. We admire creative cover art, and while it doesn’t (or shouldn’t) impact our enjoyment of a game, we also appreciate a worthy cover player. With so many basketball games and a multitude of players appearing on their covers, there’s some interesting trivia we can dive into as we tip off another week.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Transparency, Goodwill, & Mutual Respect

A point that I’ve frequently made in articles and on our podcast is that we should stand with each other, rather than shill for games and companies. Support your fellow gamers, be fans not fanboys, and be critics not haters. As such, whenever I see a developer or someone in the industry mocking or disrespecting gamers, it does bug me. It doesn’t happen constantly, but there are times when criticism is dismissed out of hand with the declaration that gamers don’t know what they’re talking about. To me, that’s demonstrating great disdain for your core audience.

At the same time…yeah, sometimes we bring those responses on ourselves! I’ve also seen unnecessary hatred spewed at developers, and comments that suggest the person doesn’t know as much about video game development as they may think. I don’t claim to be an infallible source of knowledge on that front, but dabbling with programming, and talking to people who do have experience with game development and software design, has been illuminating. I absolutely don’t condone the nastiness, either. The bottom line is that when it comes to the relationship between developers and gamers, there needs to be mutual respect and goodwill. Transparency helps to foster that.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Set Trends, Don’t Follow Them

I’m going to make a comparison here. Although I’m not a fan of Adam Silver and I have some gripes with his NBA, I won’t pretend that the late David Stern always got it right, either. Like many older fans, I rolled my eyes whenever he talked about the pipe dream of expanding into Europe; an idea that seemed like a logistical nightmare for a league in which teams play four to five games per week, and players can get traded wherever and whenever, whether they like it or not. In particular, I remember cringing when he once used the word “friendlies” when referring to exhibition games.

Obviously, those two words do mean the same thing in terms of sports. Of course, “friendlies” is commonly used in football (that is, association football, or soccer if you prefer) to describe a match that doesn’t count, and is more of a British/European term. Conversely, American leagues such as the NBA tend to use the word “exhibition” for such games. As an Australian, they’re interchangeable terms for me. As for Stern, he was clearly trying to sell the NBA to the European market and ingratiate himself by using a familiar term. I understood that, but I still cringed because it felt inauthentic. Basketball video games chasing trends instead of setting them reminds me of that.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: A Viable Roster of What Ifs

Hypothetical situations invite thought-provoking discussions, no matter what the topic. To that end, like all sports, basketball has provided us with countless What Ifs. Granted, too many fanboys believe that their imaginary scenarios prove a point, as theoretical accomplishments are used to enhance a legacy. Tribalistic discourse aside however, NBA What Ifs are fun and interesting to ponder. They’re also a tantalising idea for roster mods, since those hypothetical situations can be made tangible, thus allowing various debates to be played out on the virtual hardwood.

A couple of people have made What If roster mods over the years. In fact, it’s an idea that I keep in the back of my mind as a project that I’d be open to tackling at some point. However, those What If rosters are usually comprised of standalone teams, and maybe an opponent for them. In other words, it’s a mixture of What Ifs: Tim Duncan on the 2001 Orlando Magic, Kobe Bryant on the 2005 Los Angeles Clippers, and so on. Such a mod is still fun to play with of course, but I’ve been wondering if it would actually be possible to make a single season roster that accounts for multiple What Ifs. If so, what would be the ideal season for it, and how much history would we change?

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Old Favourites Deserve Love...And Mods

Retro gaming is hardly an obscure interest, no matter what the genre. Of course, the newest and most popular titles will always get the most attention, and annual sports releases are often left in the past by a majority of the fanbase. As such, there’s always risk in producing content based around old favourites, at least as far as getting more eyes on what you’re doing. Nevertheless, it’s something that I’ve had an interest in doing, going right back to when I joined the community and created the NBA Live Domain. As I’ve said before, I’ve realised that I was born to be a retro gamer!

That’s why I’ll always advocate for dusting off old favourites, if only every now and again. The clips and highlight reels of older basketball games that Dee and I have shared over the past few years have clearly resonated with the community. To that point, we’ve had comments along the lines of “I wish I could still play this”. Here’s the thing: there’s no reason you can’t! As long as you still have the games and hardware to run them, let nothing stop you from hooking up a console! Furthermore, as far as PC releases are concerned, recent ones readily work, while older titles can still run with minimal fuss. With that in mind, why shouldn’t we look to mod old favourites?

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: New Game Bad, Old Game Good...Yes, Sometimes!

It’s undoubtedly obvious from both my articles and commentary on the NLSC Podcast that I greatly dislike thought-terminating clichés. One that I’m seeing pop up rather frequently these days is a derisively sarcastic “new game bad, old game good”; an ironic echo intended to mock and dismiss a preference for a previous release. It’s being trotted out a lot in the Mortal Kombat subreddit in the wake of criticism of Mortal Kombat 1, and we’ve certainly seen it (or words to that effect) in the basketball gaming community. And yes, since I’m writing about it, it obviously grinds my gears!

That isn’t to say that there’s no credibility to the sentiment. It’s a phenomenon that I’ve discussed before, and as I acknowledged at the time, it is true that pretty much every NBA 2K game – at least over the past decade or so – has been labelled by some people as being the worst in the series when it was new, only to be effusively praised later. Of course, the key words here are “some people”. There are others who are far too quick to call every new game the best ever, so it goes both ways. The point is that there’s nuance and context that’s ignored when we defend games by dismissing valid criticism with “new game bad, old game good” sneering. It’s an oversimplification.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: End of the Road for PS4 & X1

Although I don’t support Next Gen Elitism any more than other forms of gatekeeping, there is a valid point when you sift through the snobbery. At some point, support does have to end for older hardware and software alike. It’s the same reason that, as much I dislike the timeframe and impact of NBA 2K’s server shutdowns, I do understand the practice. I can even relate it back to my time creating roster updates for NBA Live. As more and more gamers moved on to playing NBA 2K on PC, it was increasingly hard to justify the time and effort needed to mod games that were no longer as popular.

That’s just for mods that cost nothing to produce, and are freely available. Once the majority of gamers have moved on to the latest generation of consoles, it makes sense – technically and financially – for developers to leave the previous one behind. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality of the situation. With an annual release like NBA 2K, there’s always the question of how long the previous generation will still be supported. While I don’t have any official word about this – this is absolutely just me speculating – the series’ history and the handling of NBA 2K24’s preview season and post-release support subtly hint at this being the end of the road for PS4 and X1.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: In Defense of Single Player Experiences

There are many different ways of playing basketball video games. There’s exhibition play, which I believe has become underappreciated. You can play a single season in the NBA, or guide a team through multiple seasons in a franchise mode. The card collecting/team building modes are great for gamers who like to build fantasy squads. The career modes allow us to step into the shoes of an NBA player, or take an avatar online for competitive team play. Single player, local and online multiplayer…the best games facilitate all ways to play, and make them a lot of fun.

To that point, there’s no wrong way, or for that matter right way, to play basketball video games. You are no less of a basketball gamer for preferring one mode or style of play over another. I realise that tribalistic factions exist within almost all fanbases, and hey, if people are going to judge each other over their choice in preferred camera setting, there’ll be gatekeeping over modes as well! Over the years however, I’ve noticed more and more disdain for offline and single player experiences. I don’t expect to put an end to that chatter or change everyone’s mind, but I’m compelled to advocate for single player experiences, and explain why many enjoy and prefer them.