2K20 MyTeam trailer + blog post

[ThePointForward]

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My takes:

• Contracts are back in (0:10 - contract card in a pack).
• New dynamic goals to play cards you just get to earn some MT back. (0:12)
• Cards can evolve into higher ranks by fulfilling their requirements (0:22 McGrady evolves from 80 to 85 OVR)
  
  • The 80 to 85 goal was "score 6 points in a single game"
  • The 85 to 88 (?) goal was "score 150 points and make 25 dunks"
  • Some cards can evolve higher, Tracy had 2 levels, D Wade had 5
• Pachinki machine comes back with even more gambling design. (0:43)
• Slot machine is in! (0:57)
• Happy hours for playing within some times are in. (1:01)
• Daily login bonuses with an extra for logging in every day of the week. (1:04)
• Spinning wheel is in! (1:06)

Blog post: https://www.facebook.com/notes/nba-2k/nba-2k20-myteam/10156465406442267/

Some details:

• Card evolution is only for Evolution cards. So separate from normal, think about Heat Check.
• One free Evolution card is given instead of the previous Free Agent in starter packs - Derrick Rose, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, or Hakeem Olajuwon.
• Half the blog is about various gambling machine imitations.
• Positional restrictions - players can be only slotted in their primary and secondary positions, both in lineup and in-game substitutions.
• PRIME Series Collection - 15 cards of fun to play players and big names, released in 3 batches.
• First Galaxy Opal is Ray Allen, earned by collecting all 5 cards of first Prime release.
• Spotlight Collection - replaces throwback collection. Each release will focus on one player, first will be D Wade. You will need cards from the collection to play spotlight challenges.
• Legacy Showcase Collection - players like Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Bernard King or Nate “Tiny” Archibald. Retro, but not legends like Wilt.
• Domination - 3 levels of requirements with tied in difficulty. Level 1 is Rookie.
• Domination mode will also give some evolution cards.
• Heat check cards are back, they activate based on single game performance for couple of days.
• Auction House unlocks when you get 30 cards (20 are in the starter pack)
• Unlimited mode now has monthly resets
• Custom difficulty and quarter length when playing with friends.
• Servers - "A complete new set of hardware is in-place and prepared for NBA 2K20, along with a myriad of improvements to the server code."

[[Hyperize]]

People are praising the position lock, but it was really the easy way out; it should've been a stat decrease for playing players out of position. 2K is a sim game trying to replicate realism... there aren't position locks irl.

In reality this should be the best mode in 2K, but it's kind of the worst (granted the position lock is still a step in the right direction).

[Andrew]

The only disappointing thing for me is the continued presence of contracts. I think it's an outdated mechanic that limits the fun, and doesn't really add balance or a good challenge in the long run. It's a bit stubborn on their part not to remove them when most other card collecting modes have.

Apart from that though, I really like what I'm reading. I definitely like the idea of daily login prizes and a bigger prize for logging in every day, though unless prices have changed, offering 100 MT on any given occasion is a joke. Still, it looks like there'll be incentive to at least fire up the mode every day, and to play it often. Great job there, from the sounds of things.

New cards sound interesting as well, along with the new collections. I'll miss the Throwbacks, but as long as I can get them in some form and they're worth playing with, fair enough.

Getting a free permanent card for logging in the first time is great as well. Free Agent cards were always underwhelming, and while I understand they don't want to give too much away, I've always ended up keeping them stashed in my collection because of their limited use. The concept is fine in theory, but not as the freebie to help you on your way at the beginning of MyTEAM. So again, good move there.

I don't really like playing MyTEAM online so it won't affect me that much, but I have to applaud the decision to bar players from being slotted in at anywhere but their primary and secondary positions. I'm sure not everyone will be happy that it's more restrictive, but it's more realistic and balanced, so I'd suggest that it's necessary. It's not like you won't be able to build some incredible lineups with that restriction in place.

Unlocking the Auction House earlier is another welcome change. The fact that we'll only have to collect ten more cards after starting the mode should be enough to deter the people who want to cause problems, while at the same time making it less of a grind for the rest of us. I really hope they don't change those parameters post-launch, because outside of making the Auction House accessible right away - which I'd argue wouldn't be the worst idea - it's a very fair approach.

2K doesn't have the best track record with online matchmaking and server stability, so I'll admit to being sceptical about that. All the same, if it's been a point of emphasis then here's hoping for the best. If they've improved matchmaking in MyTEAM, hopefully they've done it for 2K Pro-Am and The Playground as well.

All in all, sounds like this will be a good year for me to get into MyLEAGUE and MyTEAM, and move away from MyCAREER.

[ThePointForward]

I just don't like how they're doubling down on more gambling machines lookalike. The pachinki, or ball drop machine this year is even more complex with more blinking etc.

As long as it cannot be directly bought I can get over it, I just don't like the direction.

[Andrew]

I hear you on that front. For now it just seems like a way to spice up the random draw nature of prizes, though it's obviously meant to invoke the same dopamine rush when you win that gambling mechanics prey upon. It's not completely insidious - yet - but not completely innocent either. I definitely agree there.

[Andrew]

Relevant Jim Sterling video.

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[[Hyperize]]

Yeah, apparently the backlash to the slot machine has been so bad that 2K removed the trailer, but what exactly is the backlash for? This is just a different version of the ball drop after Triple Threat games... do people even know what they're complaining about anymore, or is it "I see slot machine = I cry"? You can't pay to use these machines or anything, otherwise yes, it would be a problem.

This wasn't all directed at Sterling... his video made me smile, and I do enjoy his content, but the way he sarcastically says "this isn't gambling"... it really isn't though. I don't know, it just kind of upsets me how wrong he (and everyone else apparently) is getting it. For once 2K actually doesn't deserve this backlash they are getting.

I have also always liked "casino aesthetics", dating all the way back to the Casino Zone in Sonic.

Edit: I swear if this causes MyTEAM to be off limits at the beginning of the year as they are reconstructing it it's going to piss me off. People need to direct all this energy at the lack of matchmaking in parks and dumb stuff like that. Park is way more toxic than MyTEAM has ever been.

Final edit: This is really draining my morale and I can't even go on YouTube anymore for how wrong people are getting it - if only they knew the slot machine, prize wheel and ball drop were just harmless prizes you get for beating Triple Threat... this is really upsetting me.

[ThePointForward]

The design is supposed to give you a dopamine rush - flashing lights, noises, ... Incentivizing you to try again. To try again you generally need to win games.

And here lies the issue. You hook up people in hope that they'll spend real money on packs to give themselves an advantage over others by having better cards.
Sure, most people will likely not give in, but the industry is driven by whales anyway. Those people that will spend 10k on packs.
Yeah, sure the 40 bucks sent to them by army of little timmies matter too, but they were likely to spend that anyway, be it on packs or park. This is trying to get people hooked on these mechanics.

The packs themselves are another thing. Again, flashing lights, colourful, noises, especially when you get a good card...
Again a way to try and hook you up on that too.


And we are talking about game rated E for Everyone.
And the fact that unlike real gambling you have exactly zero chance of getting something of value.


Speaking of which...

Gambling is the wagering of money or something of value (referred to as "the stakes") on an event with an uncertain outcome, with the primary intent of winning money or material goods.

You wager VC which can be directly translated to money or your time in hopes you get some reward (that will be worthless in a year).
I don't know how about others, but my time ain't free.

[Andrew]

Indeed. I saw a comment on Reddit that noted that the MyTEAM trailer itself is very similar to promotions for gambling. It was designed to hit on all the things ThePointForward mentioned, the dopamine triggers that are meant to get you hooked. Even if the gambling aesthetics aren't directly tied to spending money, they're all part of an experience that is trying to push microtransactions. Sure, a lot of us can resist spending any extra money, but there are gullible kids whose parents get hit with huge credit card bills, not to mention recovering addicts who substitute video games for less healthy vices, only to get suckered in again. It's all part of some rather insidious mechanics that have sadly become part of the AAA gaming experience.

Beyond that, I think 2K has pushed their luck with microtransactions and gatekeeping and an overall lack of goodwill in recent years. People are fed up, and they're pushing back. There's something brazen about putting casino-like aesthetics in a mode that has pay-to-win (or pay-for-an-advantage) mechanics, a thumbing of the nose at the criticisms. Even if that's not the intent, it's the implication and inference. At the very least, I think people are finding it to be a bit on the nose.

That being said, I think Ante-Up in MyCAREER is something that doesn't get enough attention, as you are quite literally wagering your VC in those games. Cheap plug for this week's Friday Five, but we have to stop making excuses for these problematic practices.

[[Hyperize]]

Here's the thing that gets me: people should've been trashing Ante-Up and loot boxes for years, but instead a slot machine that is used to reward people who actually play the game is what is getting them fired up.

I have no problem if the existence of the slot machine warrants a "T" rating... give it that then, but if that were the case I think 2K would remove all the gambling stuff so they wouldn't be limiting their market.

I guess I'm the totally wrong conduit for this conversation since I'm a total frugal and gambling isn't even on my radar.

So I'm hoping the GTA casino got this type of backlash -- one that you can actually dump real money into to procure a profit.

Indeed. I saw a comment on Reddit that noted that the MyTEAM trailer itself is very similar to promotions for gambling. It was designed to hit on all the things ThePointForward mentioned, the dopamine triggers that are meant to get you hooked. Even if the gambling aesthetics aren't directly tied to spending money, they're all part of an experience that is trying to push microtransactions. Sure, a lot of us can resist spending any extra money, but there are gullible kids whose parents get hit with huge credit card bills, not to mention recovering addicts who substitute video games for less healthy vices, only to get suckered in again. It's all part of some rather insidious mechanics that have sadly become part of the AAA gaming experience.

Beyond that, I think 2K has pushed their luck with microtransactions and gatekeeping and an overall lack of goodwill in recent years. People are fed up, and they're pushing back. There's something brazen about putting casino-like aesthetics in a mode that has pay-to-win (or pay-for-an-advantage) mechanics, a thumbing of the nose at the criticisms. Even if that's not the intent, it's the implication and inference. At the very least, I think people are finding it to be a bit on the nose.

That being said, I think Ante-Up in MyCAREER is something that doesn't get enough attention, as you are quite literally wagering your VC in those games. Cheap plug for this week's Friday Five, but we have to stop making excuses for these problematic practices.

Good post; I can agree with all that. I think karma is finally hitting 2K, but in an unexpected way.

[Andrew]

I wonder how popular Ante-Up is, given the lack of objections to it. I can only speak from experience with the Australasian servers, but whenever I've gone in there to see if anyone's actually making using of it, it's always been empty.

[Dre1976]

I think 2K is in a particularly unique position since it did beat out Live due to overall better quality, then around 2K18 became the poster child for predatory micro-transaction business model. I know personally I'm a big Basketball AND video game stan so it's like they literally just manipulate the economy of the game anyway they see fit knowing there is no one to even remotely challenge them. It doesn't always directly affect SP players as much but it does in terms of overall quality of the experience (can't let create a player have tattoos or certain accesories etc. we are overcharging in the RPG part of the game for). Speaking of which, if there was any other RPG that literally sold you a game where you can literally pay another 20 to 30 after purchase to level up to lvl 85 there'd be an uproar, but as basketball fans in the videogame landscape...the f*ck else we really got? So we suck up some TERRIBLE 2K practices and just move on which has started to become harder to do since these companies are becoming more predatory than ever and some of us have children now (been on this since Dreamcast), do I want my 5 year old learning the qualities of a gambler at a Roulette wheelfrom NBA 2K? Probably not.

[Andrew]

That's the unfortunate thing about MyCAREER. You can play an offline version, but it's extremely cut down. Some might prefer it that way, but there's basically no flavour content whatsoever, so there's no midway point between a bare bones offline mode and connected MyCAREER full of microtransactions. Starting a MyLEAGUE and playing with player lock is another solution, but again, you're missing out on some of the MyCAREER-specific features that make it stand out from the traditional franchise mode. It's nice to have those options, but they're still less than ideal.

[ThePointForward]

So I'm hoping the GTA casino got this type of backlash -- one that you can actually dump real money into to procure a profit.

Not here because Rockstar never allowed players in Czech republic to gamble in the casino as it was illegal. We have online gambling laws and this fell under them so Rockstar just disabled it here.

Then again GTA V is PEGI 18, NBA 2K games are always PEGI 3 (basically ESRB's E for Everyone). It's still shitty, but somewhat less shitty.