The Friday Five: 5 Ways to Improve MyNBA Eras

September 21st: Top 5 Positives and Negatives in NBA 2K19

My full reviews for NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19 will be out shortly, but before then, I wanted to offer up some more of my initial impressions of this year's games. This time I'm talking about the latest offering from Visual Concepts, NBA 2K19. After really enjoying NBA 2K17, I was quite disappointed with NBA 2K18. It wasn't just the unapologetically greedy approach to microtransactions and the brutal grind, either. I just didn't enjoy the gameplay experience, and thus shelved NBA 2K18 much earlier than previous games, firing it up only to get screenshots for articles.

In a nutshell, I felt that NBA 2K18 was a surprising regression for the NBA 2K series, uncharacteristically stumbling off course. Is NBA 2K19 heading back in the right direction? In some respects, yes, but there are some key areas of concern, and design choices that I'm disappointed in. The team at Visual Concepts clearly did learn a few lessons from last year's game however, and took gamer feedback to heart. With that in mind, NBA 2K19 is - as quite a few people have put it - the game that we should've received last year. At the same time, it's not entirely the game that I was hoping for this year. Let's take a look at the Top 5 Positives and Negatives, at least as I see them.

September 28th: 5 Alternatives to Overall Ratings

If you play basketball video games - and in particular, if you maintain the rosters for them - then Overall Ratings often cause a lot of hassle. I've written not one but two articles on the matter, and since then, the situation sadly hasn't gotten any better. During this past preview season, there was plenty of grumbling when an Overall Rating was revealed and it didn't seem quite right. For their part, players themselves have strong opinions as to what their ratings should be. Of course, many of them feel they should be 90+ Overall; even rookies who still have everything to prove!

Overall Ratings remain a point of contention in basketball games (and sports games in general), but unfortunately, they are a necessary evil. They provide us with a succinct overview of a player's value and standing in the league compared to his peers, which is important when trying to put together trades in the franchise modes. The concept of 99 Overall Ratings also gives us a lofty goal to shoot for in the career modes. As such, Overall Ratings aren't going anywhere. I do think we need them, but what if we were to replace them with a less controversial system? Does such a solution exist? Well, here are five possibilities that I can think of, that might be viable alternatives.

I think the LUT way is a good way to get a quick snapshot of what a player is good or bad at (if they got rid of the fake "overall" number)

October 5th: 5 Weird Moments in Basketball Games

Most video games have their weird moments, mostly because none are immune to glitches. Any game with random events, real physics, or other elements that allow them to be somewhat organic and dynamic will probably yield unusual results from time to time. In basketball games, we can also see weird results with the sim engine or strange moments when the AI breaks down. It's safe to say that we've all experienced those oddities and have some stories to swap. I'm not talking about those kinds of moments, though.

No, I'm talking about the weird moments that were actually intentional on the part of the developers, or are the fallout of something that happened during the development of the game. Even if they're working as intended, they're still weird. I'm also thinking about weird moments that we've been able to create ourselves due to a design quirk that lends itself to an unusual situation. Some of the moments I've listed here are interesting oddities, some reflect a lack of attention to detail, and some are hilariously bizarre. With that being said, please enjoy what I feel are five rather weird moments in basketball video games.

October 12th: 5 Features That Are Older Than You Think

We've seen some really cool features in basketball video games over the past couple of generations. Extensive historical content, brilliant presentation, and innovative approaches to modes, have all continued to push the basketball gaming experience further and further. Not every idea pans out, and there are always some of us who prefer an old school approach when it comes to certain features, but the amount of innovation and creativity is still very impressive. Of course, not all of those concepts and features are necessarily brand new ideas.

As I've discussed in many Wayback Wednesday features, there was an impressive amount of innovation in several early basketball video games as well. Modern tech has allowed developers to push the envelope even further, but it's interesting and sometimes surprising when we look back and see that certain features were attempted many years ago, with varying degrees of success. That isn't a bad thing, as good and creative ideas should be revisited when the technology allows them to be even better, perhaps even the way that they were originally envisioned. Those original attempts do deserve credit though, as they demonstrate that some features are older than we think.

October 19th: 5 Teams to Play With in NBA Live 19 & NBA 2K19

A new season is upon us! If you've been holding off on starting your main Franchise, MyLEAGUE, or MyGM game until opening night rosters are finalised, the time has come. Many of you probably have the perfect team in mind already, but if you're like me, you may be mulling over a few possibilities. One of the most frustrating moments you can have in basketball gaming is to get about ten games into a franchise game, and realise that you don't enjoy playing with the team you selected. That's not too far in to start over, but it's better to pick a suitable team the first time around if possible.

So, who to pick? I'm sure that the Golden State Warriors will be a popular choice once again, especially online. Their new starting lineup of five All-Stars - at least once DeMarcus Cousins is healthy again - will be quite a quintet to run with. They are a little cheap on the virtual hardwood though, and a stacked team isn't to everyone's liking when it comes to franchise modes. A few teams have shaken up their rosters and made big acquisitions this offseason, and while it remains to be seen how well they'll fare in real life, they should be a lot of fun to guide to victory in NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19. Here are five teams to consider this year.

October 26th: 5 Outmoded Features in Basketball Games

Something I've really enjoyed doing with my Wayback Wednesday articles this year is to look at specific features in old basketball games. I do want to get back to doing some full retrospectives on older titles, but I feel that it's interesting to look back on older features, options, and gameplay mechanics that hoops games used to have. As I've mentioned on more than one occasion, there are certain aspects of those older games that I'd love to see implemented once again in future titles. In some cases of course, the basic concept would have to be updated and reworked a little.

On the other hand, there are certain features and functions that can definitely stay in the past. They aren't necessarily bad or beyond being reworked into a newer concept, but they've become outmoded. There simply isn't the need for them that there used to be; either another feature or function does the job better, or advances in technology and game design have rendered them largely useless. They are nevertheless important parts of basketball gaming history though, and it's interesting to see how some of them have evolved or been replaced over time. To that end, let's take a look at five outmoded features that no longer need to be staples of basketball games.

November 2nd: 5 Ideas for Basketball Games from Other Genres

Basketball games, like all sports titles, differ from other genres of video games when it comes to their nuances and our expectations. In many video games, there are several breaks from reality that are not only acceptable, but desirable. The lack of realism in specific aspects of gameplay doesn't break our sense of immersion the same way it will in a game that is attempting to accurately depict a sport. To that end, certain features, functions, and concepts that we find in other genres of video games aren't necessarily a good fit in basketball titles.

At the same time, while Da_Czar's famous catchphrase of "Don't play video games; play basketball!" is a great philosophy for developers and basketball gamers alike, the fact remains that basketball games are still video games. There are aspects of real life, such as commercial breaks, that they don't need to replicate. Similarly, there are good ideas for features, functions, and even content that can be utilised by a wide variety of genres. Even though the concepts aren't basketball-centric in and of themselves, they could still greatly enhance future NBA Live and NBA 2K releases. Here are five such ideas that basketball games could stand to borrow and make their own.

November 9th: Top 5 Developer Cameos in Basketball Games

The first video game Easter egg dates back to 1979, when Warren Robinett added a means of accessing a hidden screen in Adventure for Atari 2600, which displayed the message "Created by Warren Robinett". At the time, Atari did not give credit to any of their developers for fear of having to negotiate expensive salaries for well-known and highly regarded designers, and Robinett's Easter egg was his response to that policy. Since then, video games have come to credit their design teams, and these days, key developers are well-known to gamers, and often interact with us.

Of course, the credits screen isn't the only place that developers have had a presence in their own games. Several basketball games have included secret unlockable bonus teams featuring members of the development team, though the practice has largely been phased out in recent years. We still see developer cameos in other areas of the games though, as they lend their names (and sometimes faces) to fictional coaches, NPCs, and generated rookies. They'll also pop up in a few other places outside of the credits. Playable or not, developer cameos have provided some amusing moments in basketball games, and this week, I'm counting down my picks for the top five.

November 16th: 5 Games That Felt Like Backwards Steps

Ideally, each release in an annual basketball game series should improve upon the title that came before it (and indeed, all previous games in its lineage). That's not always feasible, and missteps will happen from time to time when new ideas and technology don't pan out as intended, so it's always welcome when a new release is able to build upon the success of its predecessor or bounce back after a disappointing game. I feel that this is a good year for basketball games, with NBA Live 19 continuing a steady improvement for NBA Live, and NBA 2K19 addressing many of NBA 2K18's issues.

We're not always so lucky. As much as sports games are often criticised for seemingly releasing the same game every year with new art and rosters, there are times when a new title leaves us wishing that that was indeed the case. It's impossible to live up to everyone's expectations, and whether or not certain changes are for better or worse is often subjective, but there have been basketball games that were definite backwards steps for one reason or another. Let's take a look at five prominent examples and the ways in which they can be considered backwards steps when compared to the games that came before them.

November 23rd: 5 Times Games Messed Up Player Appearances

Developing basketball games - or any video games, for that matter - is harder than a lot of people realise. It bears mentioning, as some gamers do go overboard in their criticism and suggest that making a flawless game is a simple task. In our modding community, we have a bad habit of denouncing the art teams in particular. It should be noted that it's a lot easier to mod a finished game than it is to create one in the first place, and that individual modders aren't under the same restrictions when it comes to spending a lot of time on a single player face, or other art assets.

With that being said, there are times when there have been notably unusual mistakes or unimpressive results, particularly when it comes to player appearances. I'm not just referring to player faces that don't look as realistic as we'd like, though there certainly have been some noteworthy examples in that vein over the years. However, there are times when player appearances have been messed up in ways that go well beyond a cyberface that looks a little off. Be it an oversight in development, some kind of technical limitation, or another cause entirely, here are five times that we looked at a player in a hoops game and noticed that something definitely wasn't quite right.

November 28th: 5 Ways NBA 2K Pushes Microtransactions

As much as I've criticised microtransactions in previous articles, I have to admit that I'm guilty of partaking in the practice. On some occasions, I've been more willing to drop some spare change on content because I've been enjoying the game so much. At other times, it's been through gritted teeth because the grind has been so painful, and I've wanted to play online sooner rather than later. I've never broken my budget with microtransactions, but simply out of principle, this year it's been my goal not to spend any real money on any form of virtual currency (in particular, Virtual Currency).

So far, I've made good on that resolution. The only VC that I didn't earn in-game was the 5000 VC pre-order bonus for the standard edition of NBA 2K19. I'm currently 73 Overall, and I would have to say that grinding up the hard way has been a rewarding journey. It is most certainly a grind though, especially now that ratings upgrades are getting more expensive. You really notice how actively (and sometimes, aggressively) 2K pushes microtransactions when you're trying to avoid them! Metaphorically, it's gone from a gentle nudge to a firm hand shunting you in the small of your back. Here are five ways that NBA 2K games pressure us in the name of "recurrent revenue".

Wow, I had no idea you had to re buy items in different modes. That's just ridiculous.

Its crazy to think that every year they put players into a dilemma of choosing between having fun or paying more money. But wasn't the point of buying the game to have fun? It's almost like you're paying $60 fora trial version and have to pay for the full experience, especially if you're an adult and don't have all the time in the world to grind.

I suppose the thought is you either have the time, or the disposable income. As I said though, if you want to get online and be competitive right away, you either have to order whatever special edition they're doing to get the extra VC, or pay for some to get your ratings up. You still need to grind for Badges (and that's a little easier this year), but just getting your athletic and other key ratings up on Day 1 is a tremendous advantage.

It certainly is getting to the point where you have to work to have fun with the game, at least if you're playing MyCAREER and the connected modes. MyLEAGUE is fun out of the box, at least.

That's the thing though... remember when games were made to be fun right out of the box?

Imagine if in Super Mario Bros you had to collect 100 coins before you could unlock the mushroom to grow into super Mario. Or you could pay $1 to skip that and buy a mushroom with real money

Exactly, and I love that analogy. MyCAREER is obviously meant to be an RPG-like journey with levelling up and whatnot, but it could stand to have a better progression system. It's an area where NBA Live has it right, because your starting ratings do allow you to at least be competent in online play from the beginning. Not so much in NBA 2K.

December 7th: 5 Tips for Managing & Earning VC in MyCAREER

Fighting the urge to buy VC to level up faster in NBA 2K19's MyCAREER? You're not alone, as the game is designed to push you in the direction of microtransactions. Since the situation is unlikely to get better anytime soon, I've decided that it would be more productive to focus on some content that helps gamers rather than critiques 2K's design choices. After all, while microtransactions are strongly encouraged, VC can indeed be gained without spending real money. With that in mind, I've devised five tips that I hope will be useful for both earning and managing VC.

Before I get to the tips, I should emphasise that it's still going to be a long process. As the push for recurrent revenue is quite aggressive, the grind is very real. Perseverance will pay off, however. Aside from the pre-order bonus for the standard edition, I've not spent any VC that I didn't earn in-game, and as of this writing, I'm sitting at 74 Overall (starting from the base rating of 60). I did skip The Prelude for this player, though as a bonus tip, I would suggest that you play through it in order to get a head start on upgrades and Badges, as well as an opportunity for a higher salary out of the gate. With that being said, let's take a look at some strategies for VC budgeting!

December 14th: 5 Worst Parts of Playing With Randoms

One of the best parts of modern basketball games is that we're able to meet up with a bunch of other people we don't know to play online. Likewise, one of the worst parts of modern basketball games is that we're able to meet up with a bunch of other people we don't know to play online. Snarky echoes aside, online gaming will always be a mixed bag, no matter what the genre. Not everyone is about playing fair, or being cooperative. The experience is usually better if you're teaming up with people that you know, but that isn't always feasible.

That's when you end up teaming with randoms. Again, this isn't unique to basketball games, but hoops games present some unique drawbacks. Since there's only one ball, not everyone can take an active role at all times as they might in other genres, such as a shooter. Everyone is used to being Player One, and is therefore unwilling to defer to teammates they don't know. In all fairness it isn't always a nightmare, and it's better than not being able to play at all, especially with the new restrictions on team Pro-Am. Nevertheless, it's often a less than ideal basketball gaming experience. Here are, in my opinion, the five worst parts of being in that situation.

The NBA Live subreddit is full of people complaining about ballhogs online. They fail to understand that, much like in real pickup basketball, people tend to only think of themselves

That's why we need online squads in NBA Live (and why 2K needs to bring back the three user minimum in team Pro-Am). Changing people's Player One mindset when they're playing with randoms is tough, but it's less of an issue when we can easily team up with friends on the regular.

December 21st: 5 Weird Trades in My NBA 2K19 MyCAREER

One of the things I love about franchise modes in basketball games is the ability to control everything. You get to assume control of every player on the team, call the shots as the coach, and make roster moves as the GM. At the same time, I've also enjoyed not having as much control in the career experiences. I've come to like the challenge of only focusing on what I can control - developing my player and playing the role that's required of me - and trusting the AI to take care of the rest. Obviously, that includes making the right moves to build a winning roster.

I would make a joke here about how that's unlikely since I'm playing for the Chicago Bulls, but I need to save my shots at GarPax for later in the article. Besides, it seems that quite a few of the virtual GMs in my NBA 2K19 MyCAREER have seen fit to pull the trigger on some eyebrow-raising trades. Being a seasoned franchise gamer, I'm no stranger to the CPU making unusual trades, but the career modes do add a further element of surprise when your own team makes deals that are beyond your control. As the All-Star Weekend and trade deadline loom, several such swaps have already occurred in my game. Here are five of the weirdest trades to date.

December 28th: 5 Ways the CPU Messes With You

As we all know, multiplayer gaming has its ups and downs. Whether it's the pain of getting less than ideal teammates online, the frustration of encountering cheesers who spam exploits, or dealing with that one friend who takes things too far messing with you while you're sitting on the same couch, there are times when you'd prefer to be enjoying single player gameplay. Of course, the single player/offline experience isn't immune to such chicanery, as games will pull some dirty tricks in order to prevent you from beating them. CPU opponents in basketball games are no different.

To some extent, this is a necessary evil. As far as basketball games have come, they still have limitations. Gameplay is now more realistic with CPU opponents that are bolstered by AI that is smarter, but it still can't match the creativity and cleverness of a human brain. Tilting a few aspects of the game in the CPU's favour and including comeback mechanics allows it to be competitive and challenging, though can feel like artificial difficulty. There are also moments that are more benign and don't necessarily stand in the way of winning, but nevertheless feel like the CPU is messing with us. Here are five examples of the CPU thumbing its nose at us on the virtual hardwood.

January 4th: 5 Most Significant Years in Basketball Gaming

2019 is upon us, and as always, I'm hoping that it'll end up being a fantastic year for basketball gaming! Hopefully, we'll be able to get a lot of enjoyment out of the 2018 releases for the next eight or nine months, and then get our hands on even better titles to close out the year. While the success of basketball games ultimately rests with their respective developers, we shouldn't underestimate the impact that we can have as a community. As such, it's important that we speak up with constructive feedback, so that we can do our part in making 2019 a big year on the virtual hardwood.

There have been quite a few milestone years for basketball video games over the past three decades. They've marked significant improvements within the genre, through the release of many memorable games that have gone down as classics. Of course, there are also years that have been significant in terms of basketball gaming for far less positive reasons. As we tip off a new year and hope for the best when it comes to the future of basketball gaming, I feel there's value in looking back at the road that hoops games have travelled. After all, it's essential that forthcoming games not only build upon the success of their predecessors, but also avoid some of their pitfalls.

January 11th: 5 Stages of Playing Through a Season

As I write this, I'm approaching the end of the regular season in my MyCAREER game in NBA 2K19. Once again, not a bad effort for someone who was supposedly burned out on career modes! Having sufficiently levelled up my player for the online experiences, I am in a position where I can take a break from MyCAREER, but I also feel compelled to at least play through to the end of the first season. After all, I'm potentially less than thirty games away from cleaning up in the regular season awards, and leading the Chicago Bulls to another (virtual) championship.

I've played through at least one full season in multiple basketball games, including NBA Live 2004, NBA Live 06, NBA 2K13, and NBA 2K17. There's definitely a sense of accomplishment in doing so, and if you're really into the game, then the season does go by much quicker. It still takes some time though - especially if you're playing twelve minute quarters - and there are undoubtedly moments where you must push yourself to complete the journey, particularly if you aren't simulating any games. You'll probably end up experiencing the five stages of playing through a season: a list that I'm making up, but one that I believe will resonate with many basketball gamers.

January 18th: 5 Ideas NBA Live Should Borrow from NBA 2K

Since we're in the process of compiling feedback for our NBA Live 20 Wishlist, I feel like discussing some of the improvements that I believe would take the game to the next level. In particular, I'd like to discuss some ideas and concepts from NBA 2K which NBA Live should be looking to borrow. After all, when it comes to good ideas and features that an NBA video game should have, it doesn't matter who did it first. The important thing is that games find a way of implementing those ideas and making them work. It never hurts to look at what the brand leader is doing, either.

Glancing at Twitter as of late - a foolhardy thing to do, some might say - I have seen some divided opinions when it comes to the matter of NBA Live's approach, identity, and the notion of borrowing ideas from NBA 2K. A lot of younger and admittedly passionate fans are downplaying the concerns and suggestions of "old heads", their point being that it's a new day and we're hung up on the past. Respectfully, I must disagree. While it is easy to get caught up in nostalgia, we long-time virtual hoops enthusiasts do know a thing or two, including what the game was like it in its heyday. To that end, NBA Live would benefit from borrowing these NBA 2K concepts.