So i finally got around to playing MyCareer mode the other day...

[Nick]

Why am i being heralded as the next big superstar when i'm rated 59 overall and got drafted 17th? Why am i getting shoe deals when i'm averaging a couple of points per game on an awful FG%? Why is my sister black? #somanyquestions #tooscripted

Don't get me wrong, the work 2k have put in is extremely commendable. But some of the core creative decisions on this mode aren't aligned with eachother. The narrative doesn't make sense. It's too scripted.

Also, it's a small gripe, but the scenes in between games (with the agent, sister, vic, etc) are too long and dramatic. I started to get annoyed after every game.

[Andrew]

I've given my thoughts on MyCAREER in last week's Podcast and in this week's Monday Tip-Off, but I know those features aren't for everyone, so I've been meaning to jump into the discussion here in the Forum, too. This thread seems as good a place as any.

Basically, I agree with you. The production values are really good, a lot of work has obviously gone into it, and I can see what they were trying to do. I also think that the approach of having your player start off in high school, go through a few college games, and then finally make it to the NBA, is a really cool idea. The problem is, the underlying concept of the mode doesn't quite match up with the story elements. As you noted, you're meant to be a big deal, but you start out rated really low; around the level of someone who's a career journeyman and frequent benchwarmer. The story is meant to play out a certain way, but there's a disconnect with the gameplay.

And that's one of the biggest problems with the mode. Spike Lee obviously had specific characters in mind when he wrote the story, which doesn't gel with the "put yourself in the game" and RPG-like aspects of MyCAREER. As such, when you do have a white MyPLAYER, he looks really out of place with his black parents and black twin sister. The protagonist in the story is clearly meant to be a young black man from Harlem, growing up in the projects. Fair enough; that's the story that Spike Lee wanted to tell, and it's not like a lot of NBA players can't relate to that background. Nothing wrong with that plot whatsoever. However, it's not a "one size fits all" story, and thus it's not universally suitable for a mode in which you can put your own face into the game. As I said in the Monday Tip-Off, you end up looking like a very miscast actor, if you don't fit the character Lee had in mind.

The abundance and length of cutscenes is a legitimate gripe, so I agree with you there too. The writing itself is a bit corny and cliched - part of that's on Lee, though it might also come down to him having to work his style into a more family-friendly rating - but even putting that aside, it feels like the gameplay to cutscene ratio is skewed the wrong way. To me, it's turned out to be a perfect example of how problematic it is to incorporate a scripted story into MyCAREER. The best thing you can say about it is that it's relatively short, so you can get through it reasonably quickly.

However, you shouldn't have to slog through it to get to the good stuff in MyCAREER. I'd like an option to skip the story, and just start a MyCAREER game similar to the approach on last gen. And if you're going to have a story - skippable or not - include some plot branching, and find ways that allows your MyPLAYER to fit into the story better. A more flexible back story, multiple character models for your family that change a little according to the MyPLAYER you've created (Fallout 3 did it way back in 2008, I'm sure 2K could find a way). That'd be a much better way of handling this style of MyCAREER game, because right now, it's not so much "Be The Story", as "Be Lee's Story".

[Nick]

I think the key feedback i would give to a dev is this: the suspension of disbelief is completely broken from the start. That's the primary element. Everything else stems from there. I could look past the "miscast character" element if i was able to buy into the storyline. But it just doesn't make sense (no matter what colour your character is).

Also, i like to feel like I'M the one having an impact on the landscape of the NBA. I want to get accolades because MY performances deserve it. In 2k16, full-blown clout is served to you before your player even has any legit NBA skills. I could happily put up with these cutscenes if they were happening because they should. But the cutscenes and the actual gameplay feel completed separate and disconnected. There's no sense of "action = result". I feel like i'm playing a basketball game, and then being forced to watch a bad movie in between.

I understand that 2k16 has to balance the online element; make sure that the player starts off with a low rating so you don't have a bunch of superstars ballin' on the online courts within the first month. But the player has to have a higher rating to start with, or change the story. You can't have both, otherwise the whole story doesn't make sense. Ironically this is probably what spurns people to hack the ratings.

That said, i haven't gotten past year 1 yet, so i should probably reserve judgement. One of my friends said the story gets better after year 1. But the thing is, at this point i feel no desire to play it anymore. I haven't bought in at all.

Edit: Just had a thought. Maybe i'm bad at the game? Haha, i have to consider that. Maybe people have the ability to perform really well with a player with shitty ratings, and they are able to justify the plot. I have been playing 2k since 2005 though so i'd like to think i have a pretty decent knack for it.

[Nick]

I'd also like to point out that the idea to have the player go from high school to college to the NBA is an AWESOME idea. I love how the player skills and physical attributes increase as you go up from level to level. I really enjoyed that part. Once you start getting college pitches and you get drafted though, that's when my willing suspension of disbelief started to break

[Andrew]

Year 2 is, from all accounts, more RPG-like and closer to the mode that really drew me in back in NBA 2K13, despite being a long-time franchise mode gamer. That's why I'd like to see a similar approach to what they've done with MyLEAGUE and MyGM; either play through a story that has a few branching paths, or just play the mode, building the story in your head and through interviews and the like. It's hard to put yourself into the character when it's all scripted and laid out for you.

I'd suggest that the "miscast" MyPLAYER is actually a big part of breaking the willing suspension of disbelief, but I get where you're coming from. If the character and backstory is going to be so rigid, it would almost be better if the story-driven MyCAREER mode had a pre-made, uneditable character. I don't think that's the right way to go though, so I'd prefer more choice and flexibility, decisions that impact your career. As it stands, a lot of the choices you make are pretty much just cosmetic.

[fjccommish]

"The production values are really good, a lot of work has obviously gone into it..."

I disagree.

The bad choice of Spike Lee aside, when it begins with Spike Lee explaining how awesome it is, that's a sign of how bad it is.

[Andrew]

Yeah, the intro is a bit self-indulgent.

[MaxMBox]

I think that if 2K want to make some kind of RPG-style Career mode then they should headhunt some Bethesda staff. They definitely can do some RPG-style storyline (say hello to Fallout and The Elder Scroll series).

In fact in this mode we don't need detailed written storyline. Few games in school, few games in college (I like amount of games this year, but wish that we can upgrade our player during that period:maybe SP instead of VC, or maybe some skills can increase\decrease regarding of Ur game and statline like we have in some of draft-combine few years ago), few sideline characters: let them be friend, girl, agent or maybe friend-agent that you can dismiss just like in 2K13 for next-gen (I guess it was there) and possibility to MAKE SOME CHOICES that can affect our live\career. For example after 1st college year I wish to see projected draft pick that can help me to decide whether I will go to the draft (if I like my ovl or projected team and I think I can learn some stuff sitting on the bench couple of seasons and growing there instead of hanging out in college) or stay for 1 more year in college (even if it will be another 6-7 games), dismiss\hire agent (different agents can give me better contracts but will take bigger % from my income). I wish to have ability to brake up with girlfriend or if not and she will be some kind of fashion designer (like Yvette) there will be another endorsement from her fashion house. I don't need twenty 15-20 minutes cutscenes during first couple seasons and then none of them in others. Let it be 2-5 minutes rarely cutscenes but during 5-6 years (college, draft, start of career, first contract, free agency period(s), some minor\major moments of live etc.)

[tampy]

You can blame Spike Lee for that.

[JWL3]

Why am i being heralded as the next big superstar when i'm rated 59 overall and got drafted 17th? Why am i getting shoe deals when i'm averaging a couple of points per game on an awful FG%? Why is my sister black? #somanyquestions #tooscripted

Don't get me wrong, the work 2k have put in is extremely commendable. But some of the core creative decisions on this mode aren't aligned with eachother. The narrative doesn't make sense. It's too scripted.

Also, it's a small gripe, but the scenes in between games (with the agent, sister, vic, etc) are too long and dramatic. I started to get annoyed after every game.

"Be the story" they said. "Write your own chapter" they said.

Someone at 2k needs to be fired for hiring assmonkeys like Spike Lee and Jay-Z. Last year was great and there was no gimmicky quasi-celebrity nonsense. MyCareer is pretty boring to me now. Even after the storyline bs. I don't like the off-day options.

My player is currently averaging 3 ppg, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover, and a C- rating. But I'm still touted as the next Lebron. As OP and Andrew said, that's the disconnect.

[Andrew]

For example after 1st college year I wish to see projected draft pick that can help me to decide whether I will go to the draft (if I like my ovl or projected team and I think I can learn some stuff sitting on the bench couple of seasons and growing there instead of hanging out in college) or stay for 1 more year in college (even if it will be another 6-7 games), dismiss\hire agent (different agents can give me better contracts but will take digger % from my income).

Agreed, choices need to matter, with a risk/reward factor.

[buzzy]

Gonna sound like a kid, but that's why I still like to use my imagination and ignore MyCareer altogether. The past years I just create a CAP and put me on a team and play Assocation. I have control over my overall, my minutes, don't have to rely on MyCareer's teammate AI and can just play regular 5 on 5 basketball. And the story is in my head. Again, childish, but much more enjoyable than MyCareer because of the reasons you stated.

[Andrew]

I wouldn't call that childish, it's a fun and sensible alternative.

[MaxMBox]

I don't think it's a childish. More than that I'd also played like this, but from 2nd year in MyGM with my rookie PG last year. And in some of previous years (2K12 or 2K13 I guess) I'd add my MC player to the draft class of my Association using REDitor to see how he can handle without me (he was not so good though ).

[JWL3]

I thought last year's Myplayer was pretty good. Would have been more than happy if all they did to improve it was to add more cutscenes after the first 2-3 seasons (when every triggered cut scene became repetitive).

They could also have made it more like the actual player's life by allowing you to make off-court personal life decisions like how much house you bought, car, yacht. You could be totally broke like Spree and MC Hammer or you could end up investing and saving it to earn more VC in the future with business opportunities.

[Andrew]

My biggest issue with last year's MyCAREER was the MyPLAYER's character. He was basically a whiny, egotistical jerk. I couldn't relate to him, I didn't want to see him succeed, I didn't want to assume the role. This year's character is better in that regard, but...well, then there's the other stuff we've mentioned.

[Nightfly67]

One of the first things I heard was "Choose your own agent" which I thought was a sign of things to come. Then when I got the game and found out that you actually cannot choose your own agent, I drastically lowered my expectations for the improvements in MyCareer. I'm sure glad I did, because except for some gimmicks the mode itself isn't any better compared to last year.

[volsey]

My problem with MyCareer the last 2 games has been simple, I don't want to look like a white awkward caveman (seriously, I haven't been able to make a decent looking white guy the last two years), and I didn't want to act like an immature black kid from the streets. In 2k15 I wanted to be the next Jason Kidd, not the next Jason Williams. In 2k15 I'd be doing amazing, and rarely getting any mention in game; from the sounds of 2k16 that's changed to the other extreme which is also a little dissapointing.

I don't want to be an arrogant prick with teammates, and other players in the league. I just want to be a likable character. Why can't you make your player with a KD or DRose kind of attitude instead of a JR Smith or Chris Anderson kind of persona. This is the main reason why I have enjoyed last gen MyCareer probably the most of the last 3 2k's I've played.

[TBM]

The player in 2K16 isn't arrogant at all.

[Andrew]

Agreed. As I said, that was definitely an improvement this year. Unfortunately, there are other issues with the story, instead.

The problem is, MyCAREER is currently trying to be both an RPG-like mode, and a more linear, cutscene driven mode featuring a defined character. It's an odd blend that I don't think is working very well, at least until the story heavy part of the mode is left behind. I can understand wanting to do something new and taking it to the next level with the new generation, but I still think their approach on prior gen was better.