Home Gaming NBA 2K18’s predatory microtransactions tweaked after backlash

NBA 2K18’s predatory microtransactions tweaked after backlash

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NBA2K

NBA 2K 18 is out, and as a basketball game, it’s pretty damned good. As a way of extracting money from the customers who’ve already paid for the game, it’s even better. The game’s single player mode is riddled with microtransactions, affecting everything from player stats to simple things like haircuts. Yes, you can earn the virtual currency (VC) to level up by playing the game, but it’s a terribly slow grind. Instead, the game keeps suggesting that you shell out real cash for the fake stuff. And it doesn’t come cheap, either.

There’s been a fair bit of backlash on Reddit and other communities. Levelling up your player without spending cash is more than just time consuming, it’s a drag. Says Reddit:

“You will need about 240 NBA games to get to 86 overall and that’s if you get A+ every game, C grade is about 360 games and B about 300.”

That’s a lot of basketball. For most players, a single game would net around 500 VC. Some haircuts cost as much as 1500 VC, so you’d need to play three games just to change a simple aesthetic on your player. Kotaku perfectly outlined how ludicrous the situation was.

Thankfully, some semblance of sanity has prevailed. A little. 2K has slashed the VC pricing of its customisation items, with Haircuts, colouring and facial hair now going for 100 VC. It’s a little better, but the game is still predatory in how it handles microtransactions. The game expects you to spend at least a third of the sticker price of the game (currently R999 on the PlayStation store) just to get your character to a decent level.

I’ll always defend the idea of microtransactions when it comes to completely optional character customisation, but when not paying more affects your enjoyment of the game to this degree, it’s just downright sleazy.

Last Updated: September 21, 2017

4 Comments

  1. Original Heretic

    September 21, 2017 at 08:42

    The only time I will defend microtransactions is on an F2P game. If you shell out cash for stuff there, you’re supporting the guys who are giving you a great gaming experience.
    If I pay for a game, I want to be able to access ALL the content (excluding a full expansion, a la Witcher 3, of course).

    Reply

  2. Ottokie

    September 21, 2017 at 08:45

    This is what I like to see. People just need to keep making fire under these paid for games with MT’s and gambling boxes.

    http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/yTG0R.gif

    Reply

  3. For the Emperor!

    September 21, 2017 at 10:39

    Career mode since 2K14 has been a big reason why I have not updated. The other two reasons?
    1 – Servers going offline after a year and a half, meaning you cannot transfer VC or “skill points” between your characters anymore, or spend VC on anything that requires it, like dunks for a new created player.
    2 – More and more things locked behind VC. You know that default hairstyle you used last year? Now you pay for it. That dunk package? Moar moneys please.
    Pffff.

    Reply

    • For the Emperor!

      September 21, 2017 at 10:42

      Wait wait wait! You need to purchase Skinhead/Bald(thanks genetics) as a hairstyle? Man I do that shit at home for myself!

      Reply

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