Monday Tip-Off: Indie Basketball Game Ideas

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Dunks, Layups & Three-Pointers

The midrange jumpshot has become an underrated and too-often scorned method of getting buckets in the NBA. You can blame analytics and box score watchers for that, as well as the success of the Golden State Warriors in the 2010s. Threes may be worth more than twos as the saying goes, but a missed shot is worth zero, and three-pointers remain more difficult to hit; a fact backed up by consistent three-point percentages over the years. Nevertheless, modern shot charts demonstrate how the midrange is ignored in favour of shooting in the paint (sensible) and chucking threes (less so).

Ironically, despite their reputation for ushering in the three-point revolution and making the midrange jumper unfashionable, the champion Warriors actually did a lot of damage from that area. Kevin Durant operated in the midrange frequently during his Warriors run, and despite being a prolific three-pointer gunner, Klay Thompson also regularly attempted shots inside the arc but beyond ten feet. The midrange was Shaun Livingston's bread and butter. Nevertheless, the philosophy is to either get those extra points with three-pointers, or go for the high percentage shot with dunks and layups at the rim. To that end, it reflects a long-time basketball gaming strategy!

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Matching MJ in NBA 2K14 MyCAREER

Obviously, simply saying that I'm reflecting on matching MJ is a huge spoiler for how Year 6 of my NBA 2K14 MyCAREER turned out! Of course, I've already revealed that via my story topic, and a highlight reel of the 2019 NBA Finals. To that end, this column isn't intended to keep everyone in suspense about the results, but rather to share my thoughts as I continue to play through a full MyCAREER in NBA 2K14 for PlayStation 4. Although I did take a break to play some other games that captured my attention, I knew it wouldn't be long before I returned to complete my latest season.

While Year 6 did bear some similarities to the Drive for Five in my fifth season, in other ways it once again proved to be a unique journey with its own ups and downs. From vying for statistical feats, to players getting injured, to contending with different matchups in a league that's seen a variety of changes over the course of six seasons, I was definitely as invested in Year 6 as any prior campaign. Even though the cutscenes didn't exactly reflect it, I actually felt like a veteran who's been around the block a few times; a feeling that I enjoyed as it made the year special. And so, on top of matching MJ with six titles, here's how Year 6 of my NBA 2K14 MyCAREER went down.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: When Companies Join in the Memes

Like any joke or popular fad, online memes eventually run their course. To that end, the general lifecycle of a meme has been astutely lampooned by several people. Last year, Man Carrying Thing posted a sketch that summed up the rapid rise and fall of many an absurd meme that achieves inexplicable popularity. While "OK Boomer" lives on as a common retort, cartoonist Kasia Babis aptly used it as an example of a meme's lifecycle. Another cartoonist, Alex Krokus, perfectly captured the general response to brands jumping on memes and online trends.

Alex's comic in particular resonates with me, because we've seen more and more brands attempt to join in on viral trends as a marketing strategy. Naturally, this also includes video game developers and publishers. On paper, it makes sense for these companies to angle for some viral positive publicity by attempting to cultivate a fun and relatable image, though this can easily backfire. This is especially true whenever a company tries to lean into jokes and memes about itself. Although it can be a very effective strategy if they end up pulling it off, it can easily fail to achieve the playful vibe that they're aiming for. All too often, it instead comes across as condescending.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Confidently Incorrect Gotchas

Through message boards, chat rooms, social media platforms, and Discord servers, the internet provides us with various ways to connect and discuss the hobbies and interests that are important to us. To that point, we have numerous avenues to tell each other that we're wrong! This is of course a very old observation about online discourse. Cunningham's Law posits that posting an incorrect answer is the best way to get the correct information about a topic. The iconic xkcd strip "Duty Calls" sums up our need to argue with each other: "Someone is wrong on the internet!"

You don't have to be a troll or a toxic member of an online community to have felt the catharsis of telling someone they're wrong and setting the record straight. As much as we rightfully call out the obnoxiousness of an "um, actually", there's no denying its appeal. Besides, it is possible to offer up a correction and useful information without being a pompous know-it-all. Unfortunately, the appeal of being the one to catch a mistake or misinformation leads some people to be very quick on the draw. In short, some of us are way too eager to shout "wrong" in an effort to embarrass someone else and sound smart. This is how we end up with so many confidently incorrect gotchas.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Why Are You Playing That?

I'm sure that at this point, it's hardly a secret that I'm an enthusiastic advocate for retro basketball gaming. I've written a number of articles detailing the fun that I'm having revisiting old favourites and discovering new retro kicks, and explaining why I think it's worth considering if you're not enjoying newer titles. To that point, I don't want to keep harping on points or treading familiar ground in my articles, but the fact of the matter is that there's still pushback and scorn when it comes to playing older games. Again, "why are you playing that?" is the common refrain here.

Obviously, this is the internet where everyone has an opinion, and believes that their preferences are correct. However, I will entertain the question of why I and others still play older basketball video games, because I'm sure that some people are asking that in good faith. Considering all of the technological advances that have been made over generations of basketball games, not to mention the fact there's a new NBA season every year, I'm sure it is quite puzzling that some of us do choose to play games with outdated graphics, simpler mechanics, and old rosters. Nostalgia is a major factor, but there's more to it than that, and the stigma against retro basketball gaming is insulting.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Fanboys & Recency Bias; Look, I Get It

Recency bias is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to online discourse these days. New isn't always better, because neither humans nor the world in general are perfect. There are peaks and valleys, missteps and corrections, good and bad ideas alike. In a similar vein, I don't hold the opinions of fanboys in high esteem, either. "Stan culture" is way out of control, muddying discussions with ridiculous takes and performative debate, not to mention attacks on people who dare to disagree or dislike what you like. That isn't a recent thing of course, but social media has made it worse.

However...I get it. As someone who has made a few more trips around the sun than some folks who insist that the latest NBA 2K is always the best, or that today's NBA players are bigger, faster, stronger, and more talented than the "plumbers" of the past, I understand the feelings and the thought process. I disagree and may grumble about the youth of today with curmudgeonly sentiment that I'm still way too young for, but I honestly do get it. After all, I was your age once! I've been a fanboy too, and a victim of recency bias. It's something that I'm pushing back on now, but it's not just an issue with the younger generation today. It's something that we all have to grow out of.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Enhancing the Original Rosters

Our modding community has produced some incredible projects going right back to the 90s. The original NLSC rosters by Tim and Lutz kept games up to date, saving gamers the trouble of doing it themselves and allowing some old favourites to remain current for the people that were still playing them. We've also had retro season roster mods for multiple games, including projects that span decades. NBA games have been turned into makeshift college basketball titles, and even revamped with foreign league mods. That's just a very brief overview of the fantastic work that's been done!

However, we shouldn't overlook the value of simpler projects. I'm not just talking about minimalist mods, although I do remain an advocate for them as well. What I'm referring to here are mods that focus on the original rosters and setting of a game. On the surface, they're not as impressive as a comprehensive current roster update for an older game that people still enjoy, an accurate retro season mod, or a total conversion, but they're still worthwhile projects. With a handful of old favourites retaining their popularity years later, other classics getting a second look, and an increasing interest in retro basketball gaming, I'd like to see more mods that focus on original rosters.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Going Back to Manual Substitutions

Since I first got hooked on the virtual hardwood, my basketball gaming habits and preferences have evolved over the years. A couple of obvious examples that I often refer to are falling into a rut where I was grinding to level up a new MyPLAYER every year, and then subsequently breaking that habit by eschewing the latest release for some old favourites and new retro kicks. Of course, when it comes to my habits and preferences and the way that they change, isn't always necessarily that big and drastic. I've also changed my mind about certain gameplay options and settings.

Like most basketball gamers I'm sure, I have my preference when it comes to manual and automatic substitutions, though it's a setting that I have changed my mind about. More to the point, I've changed my mind about it a couple of times, or at least become far more flexible about my preference. Much like my other evolving virtual hardwood habits, there are reasons why I've come to prefer manual or automatic substitutions at different times. Right now though, I find that I favour manual substitutions whenever I play a mode that provides that level of control. Not only has it been refreshing to make that change, but it's reminded me why I always used to prefer calling the shots.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Changing Views on Automatic Replays

As I noted when I reflected on going back to manual substitutions, our basketball gaming habits and preferences can and do change. Maybe a particular game has a bug that requires a workaround, or perhaps you suddenly find that a specific feature is actually quite useful after all. You might discover that you change your mind again, or keep switching things up as you see fit. That's basically how I now approach manual and automatic substitutions. There was a time when I'd always turn auto subs off and I've been gravitating towards that preference again, but sometimes I'll still use them.

Automatic substitutions weren't the only option that I used to adjust shortly after getting a new basketball video game. When automatic replays debuted in the NBA Live series, I ended up turning them off; usually after forgetting and skipping a few replays before heading into the options menu to save me the trouble! However, these days I usually leave automatic replays enabled, though I may still skip them if I feel the play wasn't really worth watching again. Much like my evolving preferences with manual and automatic substitutions, my changing views on automatic replays came down to how I was playing games, and what I wanted out of the virtual hardwood.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: 2K Giving Pettiness The Old College Try

Last week, EA Sports surprised a lot of gamers with the announcement of a new college basketball title, tentatively scheduled for release in 2028. There have been some questions as to why the announcement is being made so far out. It appears that the Collegiate Licensing Company entertained bids for a new basketball game in late June, with EA Sports' bid being successful. A three year development window would be similar to the return of EA Sports College Football, which was announced in 2021 and released in 2024. Presumably, pre-production on this new hoops title has begun.

Needless to say, while not everyone is optimistic about a new college basketball game from EA Sports - understandably so - many gamers are excited. It'll be a new release from an established company, in a genre that's suffered from a lack of alternatives and competition. To that point, how did 2K respond to EA Sports rejoining the basketball gaming space with a college game? In short, a quote reply to a post on X opining that they should be the ones making the game wryly saying "the campus has been quiet for too long", and a statement in which they referred to themselves as the "undisputed home of basketball gaming". Basically, 2K is giving pettiness the old college try.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: A Long Detour for a Franchise Gamer

It's been a long time coming, but I'm finally an active franchise gamer once again! Dig into the archives, and you'll find that I was eyeing a return to franchise modes way back in October 2017. I was all set to ration my time between MyCAREER, 2K Pro-Am, MyTEAM, and MyLEAGUE. Franchise was also an option in NBA Live 18, but I wasn't completely sold on the "streamlined" approach. In the end of course, it didn't matter. I soured on NBA 2K18, preferred Ultimate Team in NBA Live 18, and committed to making it to the Hall of Fame in MyCAREER come NBA 2K19.

And then, I got hooked on NBA 2K14 MyCAREER! That remains in my rotation as I'm still having a blast with that career seven seasons in. However, I grew up playing old school season modes and then franchise modes, so they've been responsible for so many of my all-time favourite basketball gaming experiences. Indeed, this is why I've often considered myself a franchise gamer who has been taking a detour, but at this point, there's no denying that I'm a career and card collecting mode gamer as well! My love of franchise gaming never truly went away though, and now that I'm back into it, I expect it's going to be a significant part of my time on the virtual hardwood.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Support Your Fellow Basketball Gamers

In many ways, gamers don't have a lot of power or leverage as consumers. We can choose not to buy games - and I'd certainly advise that if you're not sold on a new release - but generally speaking, widespread boycotts are ineffective. The same goes for abstaining from pumping extra money into games via their recurrent revenue mechanics. Whales will still spend, apologists will bleat "it's optional", and the gaming experience will remain weaker for anyone who doesn't want to pay. Even constructive criticism gets shouted down as "complaining".

Obviously this frequently happens on most any platform where basketball games (or titles from other genres) are discussed. However, it's particularly disheartening when content creators with significant influence jump on that bandwagon. I've seen some creators with large audiences share some truly terrible takes that throw their fellow basketball gamers under the bus, yet somehow they don't seem to lose any credibility when they do so. Along with so much zero-sum thinking in the wider community, it underscores a lack of willingness for basketball gamers to support each other. That only plays into the hands of the suits, making it high time that we change this attitude.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Untold MyCAREER Stories

Not to sound like a broken record, but I'm glad to have escaped the basketball gaming habits that had me in a rut. Although I can still have fun with MyCAREER - as my ongoing game in NBA 2K14 clearly demonstrates - I don't miss the annual ritual of starting over from scratch with a ridiculously low-rated MyPLAYER. I don't miss diligently doing every extracurricular activity to maximise my VC earnings so that I don't have to spend money to speed up the process. I don't miss weathering an awful grind until MyCAREER is fun, knowing that I'll have to do it all over again next year.

With that being said, I would've liked to have spent a bit more time in MyCAREER in recent years, if only so that I could comment on their stories like I have for previous games. Although I've been quite critical of some of the MyCAREER stories, I've also greatly enjoyed others, and come to appreciate the concept in general. Of course, what I really miss is the ability to go back and experience the MyCAREER stories in recent NBA 2K games. Now that the mode is no longer available in any form offline, a big chunk of eighth and ninth gen NBA 2K releases isn't available for retro/throwback gaming. And so for me, these MyCAREER stories will sadly remain untold What Ifs.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Am I Ever Disappointed While Retro Gaming?

Although I'm still interested in new releases, in recent years I've mostly been getting my virtual hardwood fix through old favourites. It's a very old habit for me, but it's also the result of dissatisfaction with the current generation of NBA 2K games, and ninth generation gaming as a whole. I'm obviously also producing content based on retro gaming, from retrospectives of classic and not-so-classic basketball video games to other deep dives into the history of the genre. Whether it's for content creation or just recreation, older basketball games constantly enter my rotation.

There are some people who will scoff at that idea, in particular the "everything gets better, you're just hung up on nostalgia" crowd. Obviously there are many examples of regression and bad design choices that disprove that assertion, but more to the point, it's attempting to make an objective declaration that a very subjective personal preference is wrong. With that being said, basketball video games certainly weren't universally better back in the day, and I won't claim as such; even when it comes to my all-time favourites that hold up superbly. To that point, am I ever disappointed while retro basketball gaming? Well, it depends on what you mean by disappointed.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Has Realism Become a Dirty Word?

We all have our own ideas of what makes for a fun basketball video game. Beyond a preference between the sim and arcade styles, we each have a vision of what games in those subgenres should be like. Obviously, sim gamers have traditionally preferred a realistic approach to the virtual hardwood, though opinions will vary as to what that realism should entail. However, when the sim titles were primarily aimed at hardcore basketball fans, there was usually more unity in calls for the games to be as realistic as possible. The notion that realism didn't matter was certainly an unpopular view.

It's why Da_Czar's catchphrase of "don't play video games; play basketball!" became a creed that resonated with so many simheads, and why there was excitement when he joined the development team at Visual Concepts. After all, if Take-Two was going to hire anyone to help in the continued efforts to strive for realism in their NBA series, Da_Czar was an ideal choice! As NBA 2K's popularity has grown however, there's been a noticeable shift in attitude. More and more people are saying "who cares about real basketball, it's just a game!" Sim gamers are suddenly the ones being labelled as "casuals", and realism is being treated as a dirty word when talking about sim titles.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Fixing The Connected Experiences in MyCAREER

This is far from the first time that I've discussed criticisms of the competitive scene in NBA 2K, specifically the online team play experiences connected to MyCAREER. To that point, I'm going to be treading some familiar ground here today, from grinding to proper matchmaking functionality. That's because the same issues continue to hold back the connected experiences in MyCAREER, and improvements are well overdue. As popular as the online scene in NBA 2K may be, the quality of the experience lags behind other games, and is nowhere near where it needs to be.

You can see the frustration everywhere. It's been mentioned in our Forum, over on Operation Sports, on social media, and in numerous threads in the official NBA 2K subreddit. So many gamers see the issues, and apart from the ones who want to shout down all criticism - usually thanks to selfish zero-sum thinking - people want to see the scene improve. The concepts of the connected modes in MyCAREER have the potential to be so much better than they are, and I speak from my own experience when I say that they've shown flashes of that brilliance. Until these improvements are made however, the connected experiences in MyCAREER will continue to suffer.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Lacklustre Video Game Retrospectives

Presently, I'm covering at least one game per month with an in-depth retrospective for Wayback Wednesday. I'd like to increase that number while also covering other retro-themed topics, but time is a factor when it comes to producing those features. I want to spend ample time with a game that I'm revisiting before I talk about it, especially if it's one that I didn't grow up playing and thus have less familiarity with. I also want to be as detailed as possible, not only covering all aspects of the gameplay, modes, and features, but also any relevant history and interesting trivia.

To that end, beyond getting my hands on the sticks, I'll also do some research. That often leads me to contemporary reviews, and of course, some other retrospectives. I try to avoid reading other people's opinions before I've formed my own, but it's still fascinating to see what's been said about a game. It allows me to discuss how it was originally received, and whether my views match the consensus. Sometimes my take is very different, and that's completely fine! Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, though opinions carry more weight if they're well-reasoned. With that in mind though, I've encountered some incredibly lacklustre basketball video game retrospectives.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: On to the Next One

During our discussion of the presentation developer blog for NBA 2K26 in Episode #592 of the NLSC Podcast, we once again broached the idea of 2K bringing back the Pressbook in a future game. While it isn't absolutely essential for offline gamers who can easily pause to use instant replay and Photo Moments, it'd still be handy to have. It would be even more useful in online play, since it would provide cinematic replays and stills that would otherwise be impossible to capture. While we both like the idea, Dee made a very important point about the mentality of many online gamers.

He pointed out that when it comes to online play, a lot of people take the approach of - to quote a Jay-Z song from the NBA 2K13 soundtrack - on to the next one. In other words, there's no waiting around to reflect on your last game and to view screenshots and highlights from it, as is often the case in offline gameplay. As someone who did play online for several years, Dee is absolutely right here! Even though I'm still in favour of it returning, there's no question that the Pressbook might not be very popular with online gamers, despite how fun and useful it could be for content creation. When it's all about moving on to the next one though, the sentimentality just isn't there.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Should Reviews Be Harsher on Microtransactions?

Many years ago, I used to post bulletins about other sites' reviews of the latest game. It's something our founders did, and I followed their example as it certainly seemed like the logical thing to do. With the preview season at an end and a new game now available, sharing those reviews reported on its general reception, and provided our community with an assortment of professional opinions as they considered picking it up. In recent years, I've stopped doing that. Beyond the lack of any reciprocation as far as sending other sites traffic, I've been unimpressed by so many reviews.

When it came to NBA Live reviews during the eighth generation, it felt like several publications were more interested in being snarky and delighting in its shortcomings, rather than being informative and constructively critical. As for NBA 2K, while there has been more to praise, it's also felt as though some reviewers are far too gentle and forgiving. It's not surprising in an era of content creators and access journalism, but it's dismaying to see major issues being glossed over. In particular, it bugs me when microtransactions are basically met with a resigned shrug, or ignored altogether. Still, it's fair to wonder if there's any point in reviews being harsher on microtransactions.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Bonus Content > Live Service Content

Live service content is an inescapable part of so many Triple-A games these days. While the idea didn't exactly begin with mobile gaming - expansion packs and the like have been available for decades - modern Triple-A titles definitely take their cues from games with freemium economies. The concept succeeds because there is merit to it. Live service content can keep games fresh for as long as they're supported, giving us something to look forward to. Of course, it can also be predatory, not to mention a crutch for games that are incomplete at launch.

To that end, in my opinion, bonus content that's in the game from the very beginning is much better than live service content. I realise what an "old head" opinion that must sound like, but I stand by it. There's a joy to bonus content that I just don't believe live service content can replicate, because of its underlying concept and aims. It's not that I haven't ever enjoyed the live service content in recent basketball games, or for that matter, been underwhelmed by the bonus content found in old ones. However, as I've revisited more and more old games for Wayback Wednesday and explored their bonus content, the more soulless and dull that live service content has become in my eyes.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: I've Lost My Enthusiasm For New Games

When the preview season for NBA 2K26 officially tipped off in early July, I was filled with dread. Frankly, I wasn't looking forward to aggregating the news and discussing the upcoming game. Likewise, I wasn't excited for September to arrive so that I could get my hands on it. The anticipation that I once felt for new games - even when I was hooked on the current one - simply wasn't there. It helped temper my expectations, but as I discussed in Episode #596 of the NLSC Podcast, NBA 2K26 still failed to reach the low bar that I'd set for it.

Moreover, as I said on the show, NBA 2K26 proved to be a breaking point for me. I already felt disappointed and disillusioned with the ninth generation, but this was the final straw. Unfortunately, I've lost my enthusiasm for new games. Even though it's a year away, I'm not excited about going through another preview season. I'm dreading having to play and talk about future NBA 2K releases. I can't feel optimistic about the future of the series, or the chances that we'll see the return of NBA Live; especially after EA Sports rescinded their proposal for a college game. Call it an extreme case of the New Game Blues if you like, but I'm not sure how I can get that enthusiasm back.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Fictional Players & Sim Games

By definition, sim basketball games are anchored in reality. Unlike arcade games, we don't expect or desire to see mascots and other secret characters being playable on team rosters. However, we are invited to create fictional scenarios through fantasy drafts and the trades and signings of our choice in franchise play, as well as the card collecting and old school custom teams modes. We can also inject NBA Legends and classic teams into the current NBA, play inter-era exhibitions, and mod in fictional characters. The All-Time Teams in NBA 2K are ready-made fantasy scenarios, too.

In other words, sim games aren't always serious business, or about playing with real rosters, be they contemporary or historical. That is still the default starting point, of course. Any breaks from reality that we see are either at our discretion, or intrinsic to the concept of a specific mode. Furthermore, these fictional scenarios still involve real players. We're generally not clamouring to see completely fictional characters inserted into modes where rosters are expected to reflect reality; at least to begin with. With that being said, we have seen fictional players who aren't placeholders take part in modes based around the real NBA. I certainly have mixed feelings about that idea.

[Andrew]

Monday Tip-Off: Indie Basketball Game Ideas

Even as someone who grew up with video games, I never really dreamed of working in the industry. Way back in 2008, I did receive an offer to join the NBA Live team, an opportunity that I ultimately turned down for personal reasons. Of course, given what was on the horizon with NBA Elite 11, there's a very good chance that I'd have been back in Australia and running the NLSC again within a couple of years anyway! In any case, even though I remain passionate about video games, creating one isn't my calling. It's a fanciful thought, but it is indeed a fantasy more than a dream.

If nothing else, I simply don't have the skills and knowhow to create a game, and I somehow doubt that a major studio will randomly offer me creative control over a project of my choosing! When it comes to video games, I'm a consumer, critic, and content creator, and that's absolutely fine by me. With that being said, I still have some ideas about games that I'd like to see, in particular basketball titles. Obviously that includes new NBA Live, NBA Jam, and NBA Street releases, but the indie scene also has a ton of potential. To that end, I'd like to throw out a few ideas! If you're an indie developer who is considering creating a basketball video game, may I suggest...