While I love some of the cool, server-side things that can happen in games that are perpetually connected, games that use online connectivity for single player purposes get right up my nostrils. There’s a good reason for that; once the servers go away, your singe player progress is gone. One such game is NBA 2K14, which uses servers to keep track of your single player career. Those servers are now gone – along with your career progress.
2K announced that the servers were being disconnected last month, but insisted that online games would be converted to offline ones. “Online files will not disappear, but rather they will turn to offline saves and earn skill points as opposed to VC (The game’s virtual currency),” 2K said at the time.
Turns out that didn’t quite happen – and instead saved games have disappeared in to the ether. In a statement provided to Polygon, 2K apologised for the inconvenience.
“This means that if you had created a MyCareer or a MyGM online save file that was once connected to our servers it too sadly has retired and is no longer available for use and it would be necessary to re-create these files as offline saves,” 2K said.
“Sadly this may come as an inconvenience to some of you and if so we truly do understand and can feel for how upsetting this may seem as there always is a special bond that occurs between a player and their MyCareer save but all good things must come to an end and rest assured your MyCareer or MyGM went out while on top.”
Users can still play the game, but they need to create a new offline save – which effectively means starting the game afresh.
“We hope you enjoyed your amazing experience with NBA 2K14?s online services and you can look forward to the continue experience [sic] they provide in NBA 2K15!” the email continues.
That’s a frankly appalling PR response, that highlights the perils of playing games that require online servers, especially for their single player experiences.
Last Updated: April 7, 2015
Admiral Chief
April 7, 2015 at 11:05
They did not even offer some of this:
Sageville
April 7, 2015 at 11:07
Thats not cool, I was hoping to go back to this at a later stage.
SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKSSSSSSSS!
Lardus-Resident Perve
April 7, 2015 at 11:49
Big issue is that the “full” single player experience was locked behind online. Shure, it is still fun to play with a “skill point” MyCareer, but no more farming VC with one character to boost another or buying a new suit etc.
Ir0nseraph
April 7, 2015 at 11:51
Damn good timing traded my game in 2 weeks ago.
Sageville
April 8, 2015 at 15:32
Digital Copy~! *Weeps
Hammersteyn
April 7, 2015 at 11:28
Not really giving anyone an incentive to support them further down the line
Lardus-Resident Perve
April 7, 2015 at 11:48
If only they had a proper transition (like with a final patch) to make the transition smooth, removing/disabling/modifying the online only contents. Still playing it once in a while, but now I will not start a new career. I’ll just take Maverick and Goose to the hall of fame. And while I do that, I will not see the use of buying the new versions on my shiny new *decision of new platform still pending*
Lardus-Resident Perve
April 7, 2015 at 11:44
My problem with this was that I did not know as I do not follow their announcements etc. There was no in-game notification. just a “servers are temporarily not available”. My two “online” SP MyCareer players were on my console, so at least I got to convert them to offline without issue (other than Maverick was busy farming VC for Goose and now can’t transfer it). Problem is probably if you deleted your local copy. What they should have done, is release a last patch that would make the transition easier and actually disable/remove/modify all the online-only content. Like the damn MyPlayer store – now I am stuck with a silly blue suit that doesn’t fit grrrrr!
Lardus-Resident Perve
April 7, 2015 at 11:50
The “full” single player experience should never be locked behind online! FFS!
Dutch Matrix
April 7, 2015 at 12:04
And I just wished to make out with Scarlett Johansson whilst flying on the back of a Unicorn. Whose wish is most likely to come true???
http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-BY925_mag041_OZ_20140318165119.jpg
Lardus-Resident Perve
April 7, 2015 at 12:12
Ja, unfortunately it seems gaming companies expect everyone to live in a first world country these days. I just wish they would give you two profiles that in no way could interact with each other – online and offline both with full features. Sigh, never gonna happen. That is why I keep my “make out wish list” at strippers and porn stars – much more realistic hahaha.
Rock789
April 7, 2015 at 12:20
You lucky sod! Enjoy the trip! 😉 :p Coz clearly that’s more likely to happen than what Lardus is saying! 😉