By Ousmane Kebe
– Published on 06 Jan 2023 at 18:28
Basketball connoisseurs will agree, NBA2K is a graphical sports simulation gem. It is attractive, beautiful and nothing is forgotten to convey to gamers all the atmosphere of the North American league. So much so that the technique is favored. One can ask the question if it is to the detriment of the player?
Basketball: complex and evolving rules
Basketball is a sport where technique is essential to claim to be a practitioner. You should know that unlike other sports, you spend a lot more time refining your technique. Throughout his career, we review his ranges because nothing is certain and everything remains to be improved. And as the saying goes: ” perfection does not exist “.
The rules are multiple and complex, such as:
- The Double Step : shot at the basket after two steps without dribbling, which put the player in a position to jump near the basket when shooting.
- the market : in possession of the ball the player must dribble in motion otherwise he walks. This constitutes a violation of the rules.
- The 3 seconds: you cannot stay more than 3 seconds in the racket.
- Mistakes : different categories of faults, flagrant type 1 (normal) or type 2 (damage to physical integrity).
- The scope : which literally means carrying the ball in the palm of the hand on the move without performing dribbles.
- The Illegal Cons: during a shot, if the ball is in a downward phase, we cannot deviate its direction.
The rules set out above are only the basic rules and hide a multitude of other standards that enhance this sport. You should know that in NBA other rules are added. They are often established in order to smooth the game and favor the attack (we like the show there). They often conflict with the international basketball rules dictated by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
I spare you the other rules around the game, it would make understanding even more difficult. Indeed, we can say that at first sight, this sport is unplayable. Which is false (I myself am a witness). Nevertheless, incorporating all of these rules into a video game can be likened to the twelve labors of Hercules.
NBA 2K Forward
For people who don’t know, an estimated 19 licenses have been released and nearly 200 basketball games (according to Xboxygen4.0). VS’is surely due to these complex rules that the first games were essentially arcade games. NBA JAM, the most famous basketball game, was fun. We go straight to the point, dunk, shoot and phantasmagoria to spare: basket on fire, interstellar jump… But that’s what we like!
However, we are not in a simulation strictly speaking. This does not prevent the series from being a notable success. Let’s jump back in time and go back to when NBA Live reclaimed the lead in the basketball game market. We can estimate that with 35 million copies sold (according to VGchartz) for the entire series, NBA Live has been the reference for a very long time. in terms of the game of basketball. The arrival of NBA 2K in 1999 did not bode well for a future hegemony. Since around 2010, NBA 2K, the license of Visual Concepts, reigns supreme over basketball simulation games. That’s the problem in my opinion. It is not only necessary to be up to date on the new NBA rules but also to continue to make the game attractive while adding new elements, often very technical. And ordinary players don’t necessarily find their way there…
Too much technique kills technique
Over the years, NBA 2K has amazed us: breathtaking graphics, identically reproduced floors, gameplay innovations, even down to the perfectly modeled sweat drops on the players. We all get our money’s worth and the capabilities of our console (or PC) are pushed to their limits.
Having said that, we often forget an essential facet: the accessibility of the game. For a basketball aficionado, he will find everything he is looking for in order to embody his favorite player in his favorite team. This statement remains less certain for a novice. He will realize after only a few minutes that he is solving a Schrodinger equation (as you wish), than making even one valid shot. So much so that on Youtube, the number of tutorials abound to explain to us how to shoot well 2k.
One wonders if all these videos don’t appear because the game’s tutorial is just stodgy. It would have to be repeated in a loop to feel the satisfaction of being able to perform a correct action. You will agree that it takes too much time, dexterity and practice when we just want to play quietly and have fun.
Each year, the series evolves with new additions to stick perfectly to the big league and graze with realism. This basketball simulation that is NBA 2K would, in my opinion, be much closer to a US football game like Madden where many get lost in the complexity of the tactical schemes. By comparison, football games like FIFA or PES (now eFootball) were easier to learn because they were more arcade-like. There’s no point imagining it for NBA 2K. Some of you will even say to me: And the fun in all of this? What interest ? »
NBA 2K: The Death of Fun
The purpose of a video game in an ideal world is to provide fun and a good time. By dint of adding all these small details in NBA 2K, we lose the primary notion of the video game, namely the “game”. The satisfaction of the simulation is no longer based on the ludic effect but more on the spirit of success and accomplishment. So, yes you need this state of mind on any game, especially sports. Nevertheless, it should not overshadow the nature of a video game which is to entertain.
We could say that we immerse ourselves in the state of mind of an athlete where success and victory are the values inherent in the practice of sport. This game is more for series regulars and basketball enthusiasts. Yes there are pro players but we are not all destined to be. I pray that the next NBA 2K will be much more about fun and less about technique. It will then become (for me) the best basketball game of all time!
PS: [Spoiler Alert ] The New York Knicks will be champions this year!!
