NBA 2k13's sim engine..

NBA 2k13's sim engine for "my career" is ridiculous, and I guess I should've known. 2k11 didn't have such a great one either, but at least I would occasionally have a few 30-40 point games and sometimes a 50 if I was lucky. This is my situation, I'm an 85 overall small-forward that has a thing for big games. My team, the Phoenix Suns (drafted 13th overall) finished 51-31 which was the 5th seed under the Lakers who were 4th see and also 51-31.

So I play through the entire Lakers series, winning 4-1 with all 5 games finished with over 40 points or more. I then move on to the semi finals against the 1st seeded Denver Nuggets who were 59-23 (their last game was against us, and we stopped them from getting 60 wins). I play the first two games and we win by a margin of 10 or more, so I became confident that since we have the next 2 games at home I could simulate to the next key game with us up on the count. Instead I am sent into the next game (game 6) down 2-3 somehow, as if the nuggets suddenly decided to play hard ball after being pummeled in the first two games (where I scored 40 or more twice).

I just think the consistency with 2k's sim engine is weak, you'd think a guy that's averaging 38.6 points on 60% shooting in the playoffs with a side kick (shannon brown) averaging about 25 would be enough to close out a team down 2-0 having to play the next 2 games on my court! My overall is 85 now, I am the best player on the team and have recorded many 40 point games throughout the playoffs and regular season in which most of those would turn out as wins. I don't understand how realistic it would be if a team would somehow win 3 straight in a row. That's not supposed to happen, or at least it shouldn't. Now I have to win an extra 2 games to get to the Western Conference Finals because the simulated games screwed me so bad.

I do like My Career mode, but what the developers could have done better is the simulations. You're player should have a hot or cold streak that would correspond with the in-game performances by the player.

That's kind of how things go when you entrust the success of your team to simulation. It can't really account for the way we users often play above and beyond the implied abilities of a player's ratings, not to mention factors such as gameplay sliders and other settings that may make gameplay easier and a team more successful than the sim engine projects.

But for me NBA 2K13's sim engine is one of the best since 2K10 ... and the trading scheme is absolutely better

^Yes, the trading is definitely better than what I remember. I still am somewhat disappointed with the result of those 3 games I simulated though. If the in-game settings do not match that of the simulations then in their next game - I would like to see something like that, shouldn't have to worry about a team turning the series around when the momentum is clearly on your team's side.

It's difficult for a game to accurately simulate user input though. As I said, we often find ways of using players above and beyond the abilities implied by their ratings and outsmart artificial intelligence. That's difficult to replicate while still remaining balanced.

Well that is true, my in-game performances really don't reflect all of my players attributes well. But even then, I remember in 2k11 with my 99 overall SF (legitimate) who is solely scoring based having some ludicrous lack-luster performances when simulating to the end of the game. It's not all game-breaking, but it's frustrating and I become flustered when I see the results after a simulation such as the most recent one.

I really do want a hot-streak and cold-streak type system implemented into the next games for my-career mode. Just as real players have their streaks, whether up or down it would provide a more real experience for the gamer in my opinion. Let's say that my player had a streak of a few games with a stat-line of 25P/7R/5A I think the probability for his next game to produce similar results should be calculated by something like the consistency rating. Just a thought of mine.

Would it be as fun if it were predictable? Who sais the the 59-23 Nuggets don't make adjustments that happen to win them 3 straight games? Just because you are putting up superhuman performances at an 85 rating doesn't mean they are going to be consistent(like Andrew said, user input/sliders/cheese vs sim AI). Since you stopped the Nuggets from getting 60 wins, it's a great story right now. They are one game away from eliminating you and getting the last laugh. Especially since they have the better record. I dare you to simulate game 6.

Mmm, I might just sim it. Going to bed now though so tomorrow (spring break!) I'll be able to see how it all goes out.

I answered you at Andrew's review, only to realise, that here's a better place...

I think you’re overreacting man. If the NBA’s best team losses the first 2 games (at home, obviously) of the series, they’ll try hard to advance and turn things around. You are the 5th seed and they are the 1st seed, it’s no surprise they’re better than you and without accounting for the human play (which modifies the game heavily biasing it towards the human user), the game realizes that, and the Nuggets win. It’s not rocket science, as the game is just numbers and probability. The engine doesn’t account for recent successes, and I don’t think it should, because the Nuggets, being the NBA best team, would at least win 2 of the next 3 games in that series.

The real “most bogus” think that would happen is that the 5th seed swept the 1st seed in the Conference Semi Finals. That would be weird.

Nah, the NBA's best team in my current career mode is the Miami Heat. Not all number 1 seeds have preformed their best in the playoffs anyway, we've seen some astounding upsets. Like the 2011 playoffs, Grizzlies beating the Spurs: first seed vs last seed. It just appears to be a rarity in any basketball sim I play, where in reality it is very much possible, having witnessed upsets myself. Yes, as the first seed with the western conference's best record they should have a higher chance to win, but there are other factors that should play in to it. Such as the fatigue and weariness of losing in front of their home crowd, and then having to drag their feet to an opposing crowd. I realize it is possible for them to overcome it, but not by very much.

I'm not bitter though, just thought I was robbed during the series *hint*. This sort of thing is just really beginning to frustrate me, having to play another 96 minutes plus maybe overtime isn't exactly ideal (laziness lol). I don't mind losing a game or two, but as I said earlier it's not very probable for a team to just "come back" after being murdered in the first two or even three games (Three games hasn't happened yet) Well, there's always next season though.

An 0-2 comeback has occurred as recently as last season in real life, though admittedly it's not too common. Not all number one seeds do perform well, but given that they're obviously one of the best teams in the league, they more often than not make a decent run in the Playoffs. Since the sim engine can't account for user intervention and has to work from ratings and probability, you will get results like that if you don't sim.

What NBA 2K really needs is a sim intervention feature like the one we've seen in NBA Live, both basic (quarter by quarter sim, jump in at the beginning of a quarter, prompted to intervene in certain scenarios) and detailed (play-by-play sim, jump in at any time, intervention scenarios). That way you can sim most of the game if you like, but if things are close down the stretch or looking a bit tenuous as the fourth quarter begins, you can jump in and take care of business without needing to play the entire game.

Ah yes, the lovely intervention system in NBA Live. I have never understood why they have never implemented such a feature, I remember in Live 08 I think it was by quarters only. In NBA Live 09 (I have it) play-by-play simulation with the fast-forward, slow-forward, and pause options made it possible to hop in whenever you wanted. Absolutely would love to have that in 2k.

Oh, and the scenarios that would happen on occasion. Such as your team being down or up by X amount of points during or at the end of a quarter. Sometimes Live would have a scenario with 24 seconds left with you (sometimes your opponent) inbounding the ball, whilst being down usually 1 or 2 points. Having played Live 08 and Live 09 quite a bit, I can say that that sort of feature would be welcomed.

NBA Live 08 on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 did play-by-play sim, the previous gen version (ie the PS2 version that was ported to PC) did quarter-by-quarter. In any case, it would definitely be a welcome addition to 2K.

For some reason, even in 2k the Dallas Mavericks (which as Kevin Durant as the star) seems to be an unlucky team. They have the number one seed in the Western Conference in my fantasy drafted association only to lose in the first round. I forgot the team that beat them but I wanted to reset the playoffs after that happened but it is already too late.