NBA 2K14 Reviews Completely Skip Over Microtransaction Gouging

Gaming Blend writes:
"So I've just wasted my evening reading through countless reviews... well technically, they're enumerable, I'm just not in the mood to list how many I've actually read. Regardless, the point is that I had to read through many different reviews for different platforms of a single game: NBA 2k14. That's right, the golden sports goose from 2K Sports. So why did I have to read through so many reviews for such a highly lauded and highly praised game? Because “Microtransactiongate” has seeped into the new generation of home console gaming in the worst way imaginable."

[4logpc]

Is gaming/cinema blend capable of writing something that doesnt sound like a fanboy foaming at the mouth?

[Welshy]

Regardless of how you see their writing, doesn't it raise a good point? Don't you want reviews to pre-warn you of stuff like this?

Personally i'd be hell'a pissed if... i don't know, IGN for argument sake, gave a game a straight up 10/10 but failed to mention the blatant abuse of microtransactions to slow your advance in the game or unlock new stuff as quick as i would normally or in a previous title of the same game.

It's a matter af journalistic integrity and ticking every box to advise the viewer what they are getting into. To be scared and shade over stuff like this is just dishonest and any kind of fear of a publisher if you give a lower than expected score is just a sign of corruption and abuse.

[theWB27]

NBA2k's myplayer mode has always been piss poor when it comes to progression...I mean terrible. 2K10 didn't have microtransaction if I remember correctly and it's WORSE than it is now despite the MT's.

If the article had picked a valid game I could understand...but 2K is not it based on the history of myplayer's progression actually improving despite the microtransactions being introduced.

I think 2k10 started you off as a player rated in the 40's in the D-league and the ONLY way to advance was to play the games. If you simulated you got even less attributes to put towards the player. Wrong franchise for the war on MicroT's....

[ShinMaster]

Most reviews skipped over microtransaction gouging on Forza 5 too. But it looks pretty though, right?

[sinjonezp]

I personally do not think you need to spend actual money to level up your my player but 2k doest implement an upgrade system that requires an abundance of vc coins. I do hage the fact that you cannot play the my player game offline. Why does a single player experience requires a connection at all times? I like the fact that you can accumulate coins through any game type but some of the thinga they are doing is somewhat questionable. My internet was down for two days last week during the holiday and thay prohibited me from playing my player. No other version requirex such so why now? I think this is jusg thr beginning of how all games will migrate to always online. While i hope not it does seem like the reality.

[cyguration]

@sinjonezp

Yeah and worse yet, what happens when 2K eventually cuts support for the game like EA?

Anyone picking this game up from the bargain bin will have features bricked right out of the box.

[3-4-5]

You don't HAVE to buy these things though.

* That is like getting mad at the car dealership because they offer cars better than yours to other people and that "is not fair ! "..

You don't have to purchase the expensive car, you can get the normal one, nobody is forcing you to pay more.

[Welshy]

@3-4-5

Where your analogy falls down is where you consider that the normal car is advertised as such and a sports car advertised as better at a higher price.

It genuinely ISN'T fair in the gaming scenario because both the "normal" and "sports guy" are being sold what is supposed to be the same thing. One player should NEVER have a huge advantage over another in a PAID game simply because they have more money to spend. That's what a F2P is, not a paid title.

When it comes down to a base game vs a base game plus microtransactions, both are advertised as the same and this "sports car" has to compete with the "normal car" in the exact same race.

If you want to go down that road (pun intended) then not only are you giving false advertising to those who only paid the initial entry, but are dangerously applying a F2P model in a PAID game which is no good for anyone and creates a pay to win scenario.

Either you messed up your analogy or you completely misunderstand what the real issue is and why it's wrong.

[amnalehu]

The MT's are not required to complete the game or unlock all of the content. If someone is willing to pay to get ahead in the game, that's their choice. To me it defeats the purpose of playing a game. I prefer to grind it out and discover all the content through my own time and efforts.

[Starbucks_Fan]

It's good for people who are too busy to unlock everything. Benefits me a bit as I am a bit loaded with college stuff. I bought a couple gun packs in Battlefield 3 which is pretty nice.

I can see why most people hate it though.

[Scatpants]

You're part of the problem

[Welshy]

Huh? No he's not, Battlefield 3 wasn't hindered by the unlock pack and i managed to earn them ingame no problem.

If it doesn't mess with your experience, why not let him buy the guns so he can get the full experience when he doesn't have hours to play like others do?

See my comment below to save myself repeating it and reassess your comment...

[Welshy]

If it's merely a time saver shortcut, by all means go ahead and pay the way, i agree.

Where i get off the microtransaction bandwagon is when a game is purposefully made more difficult or content is just outright not there unless you pay for. I'm cool with them as a shortcut, but if it messes with my base game that i've already handed over my hard earned cash for, we have a serious problem.

Same goes for Day 1 DLC. DLC post release is absolutely fine, but day ONE DLC? There's no amount of PR or marketing spin to justify that, it's literally content that WOULD have been in the game but was cut out for no other reason than "f*ck you give me money" on top of your initial payment.

[lonewolfjedi]

so now reviewers can't see the difference between 720p and 1080 and games including micro transactions with f2p business models in $60 games. this is despicable

[MrPerfect813]

I wish the reviewers would have mentioned that u need to be online for everything frigging thing except quick games.

[RyuStrife]

I think the online DRM is even worse. Can't play certain game modes at all without being online.

[GoPanthers999]

I dont like what they did with VC, it makes MyTeam useless without $. But the graphics and gameplay are insanely better than current gen. You just have to play what they give you and earn and spend the VC wisely. Or get drunk and pull out the Visa.

[Kane22]

they also skipped the part were they didn't tell us there's certain features missing in the next gen versions

[iceman06]

I'm more angry at this than anything else. The MT's were there last year (ability to buy VC to upgrade whatever, whenever.) and it's always been somewhat of a grind. However, I hate that they removed content from the game. Still, it's a good game of basketball. But, it seems like they cut some things out.

[mochachino]

And complete lack of featured/game modes for next-gen versions. It does even allow two people to play on the same team.