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'NBA 2K20' Archetypes

Are you ready for what could turn out to be the hottest debate this NBA 2K20 MT Coins season? It seems 2K is hinting at the return of archetypes in NBA 2K20. You can take this recent Ja-Morant-themed tweet as a bread crumb, or a joke, but I'm inclined to believe it's the former.

Why is this going to be a hot-button issue? It's simple. Back in 2015-16 with the release and life cycle of NBA 2K16, there were rampant complaints about what the community called "Demigods." To put it plainly, a demigod in 2K speak is an overpowered character. Some users were creating players well over 7-feet tall with skills never before seen in NBA stars that size.

The outcry caused 2K to adopt the inside-outside balance system that we see now, and that is also prevalent in the NBA 2K League. Here is the trouble with the inside-outside system: it's just not as fun to play. I'm a simulation guy, but I've found the parameters of categories like Pure Lockdown, Pure Sharpshooter, and Playmaking Shot Creator a little too limiting, and it doesn't give the player options, or enough creativity.

Creating players is supposed to be fun, and I've always felt the inside-outside system curtailed that a bit for the sake of the competitive 2K community, which at this point, only makes up a small portion of the game's enormous fanbase. I am a fan of the return to an archetype system, but not in the form of a complete free-for-all that allows people to make players as tall as Manute Bol, as strong and athletic as Zion Williamson, who shoot like Steph Curry, and who also handle like Tim Hardaway.
That's not the answer unless 2K made it almost impossible to attain such status–but that's a subject for another time.

Hopefully, the new and improved archetype system will allow players to create whoever they want, but with some respect to the history of professional basketball. There should be 20 or so archetypes. 2K should base each one on distinct player styles from guys throughout NBA/ABA history.

For example, there is no reason you shouldn't be able to create a player whose attributes are on par with Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Bol, Curry, or any other player who has ever existed. I think the problem comes in when gamers create alien players who are 7'6" 350 pounds, quick, with handle and a wicked jump shot. That's breaking the game, and it commits the cardinal sin of disobeying the foundation and history of the sport 2K is emulating.

Players shouldn't start their journey with all of the skills necessary to reach the top half of their arch's potential. After all, Jordan, Durant, and others didn't come into the NBA as the finished product. They had to work on their games, hone and add skills to become Hall-of-Famers. Through badge acquisition, attribute upgrades, and more, 2K can simulate that upward arch toward reaching their potential. Maxing out shouldn't be automatic. There needs to be some skill involved. If maxing out is based purely on grinding a ton of time and spending virtual currency, it defeats the purpose.

Reaching the max of your archetype should be an accomplishment that only the best and most dedicated 2K players can attain. It would be satisfying to know that I built my MyPlayer to a point where he's now a clone of Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal or Wilt Chamberlain. Attaching these historic player's name to the arch would be an excellent way to pull on the star appeal that comes with acquiring all of the licenses.Read More