Monday Tip-Off: In Defense of Single Player Experiences
We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with a defense of single player experiences.
There are many different ways of playing basketball video games. There’s exhibition play, which I believe has become underappreciated. You can play a single season in the NBA, or guide a team through multiple seasons in a franchise mode. The card collecting/team building modes are great for gamers who like to build fantasy squads. The career modes allow us to step into the shoes of an NBA player, or take an avatar online for competitive team play. Single player, local and online multiplayer…the best games facilitate all ways to play, and make them a lot of fun.
To that point, there’s no wrong way, or for that matter right way, to play basketball video games. You are no less of a basketball gamer for preferring one mode or style of play over another. I realise that tribalistic factions exist within almost all fanbases, and hey, if people are going to judge each other over their choice in preferred camera setting, there’ll be gatekeeping over modes as well! Over the years however, I’ve noticed more and more disdain for offline and single player experiences. I don’t expect to put an end to that chatter or change everyone’s mind, but I’m compelled to advocate for single player experiences, and explain why many enjoy and prefer them.
First of all, this has nothing to do with my ignorance of, or inexperience with, the online scene. I’ve played many online games of NBA 2K over the years, which is why I’ve suggested ways the scene can be improved (including proper matchmaking). I’ll never claim to be an elite or unbeatable basketball gamer, but I’ve played well as part of an organised squad in 2K Pro-Am, and received compliments from strangers in The Rec. In other words, I don’t hate online play because I suck at it. In fact, I don’t hate it at all! I’m disappointed that the online scene in NBA 2K isn’t as good as it could and should be, and am discouraged from partaking in it, but I know it can be really fun.
Indeed, my defense of single player experiences is not that online sucks as a concept and offline is where it’s at. Rather, it’s that there’s value in single player, and there are reasons one may prefer it to the online scene, and sometimes even local multiplayer. It wouldn’t say much for single player modes if I had to tear down the other experiences by pretending that they’re all awful. Lowering the bar doesn’t make whatever you’re championing look stronger (incidentally, people participating in the GOAT debate could stand to learn that as well). There are strengths and weaknesses to single player and multiplayer alike, and to an extent they’re complementary gaming experiences.
If you relish the challenge of competitive play against other gamers, the idea of taking on CPU opponents undoubtedly sounds unappealing. It isn’t necessarily the toughest or most compelling challenge, though with the AI’s ability to pull the strings, it can still be stimulating. Of course, the CPU tends to be a better sport when it does lose! It doesn’t ragequit to rob you of victory, or send you abusive messages. It’s always ready to play, and your CPU teammates won’t quit before a game can begin, or sabotage you out of spite. There’s a consistency to the quality of the single player experiences, as you’re not relying on the sportsmanship, skill level, and availability of other gamers.
Besides, as I noted, enjoyment of virtual basketball comes in many forms. In online play, that thrill comes from proving your mettle against other gamers, and working as a team. That competitiveness is a key element of local multiplayer too, while co-op is all about developing chemistry and dominating. Obviously the goal of single player experiences is to win as well, but there are other aspects too: role-playing, fantasy scenarios, and immersion. Stepping into the role of a GM, controlling some of your favourite players, playing through an NBA career with your own avatar, and just enjoying a virtual representation of basketball, is what makes those modes appealing.
Again, winning games and mastering stick skills is still a necessary and enjoyable part of the experience. Generally speaking, you don’t enjoy losing in single player modes any more than you do against another gamer! Then again, losing in a franchise mode may mean a better pick in the forthcoming Draft lottery. Although I’ve spent a lot of time with MyCAREER in recent years – in part because of the connected experiences of 2K Pro-Am and The Rec – I’ll always be a fan of franchise play. If you’re an ardent NBA fan, there’s almost certainly been a point where you’ve wished that you could be running your favourite team, and making deals that would help them win a ring.
It may be impossible to truly appreciate the depth and overall concept of franchise modes if you didn’t grow up playing games where a basic single season was the flagship experience. They were still a blast in their day, but once we had the ability to negotiate trades with the CPU, take part in free agency, draft rookies, and manage our roster through multiple seasons, there was no going back; not for me, anyway! It’s not just about management tasks in the frontend, either. You need to assemble a team that’s fun to play with, and capable of winning on a suitably challenging difficulty level. It indulges a love of the NBA with a comprehensive simulation of the league.
The same goes for the NBA side of career modes. These days, the NBA portion of MyCAREER is frequently looked upon as a way of grinding up a player for online play; a means to an end. It certainly is useful for that, but it’s capable of being so much more. Playing through multiple seasons of MyCAREER in NBA 2K14 has reminded me of how fun it was when the mode was focused on the NBA. The stories have been hit and miss, but when they’ve been more entertaining and less intrusive – or once they’re behind you – the journey to superstardom can be a fun ride. There’s also a challenging aspect to career modes, even after you’ve levelled up your player.
As with any player-locked gameplay, there’s only so much that you can control. You need to make things happen, but trying to do too much – or being too concerned about getting your stats – can lead to embarrassing losses. There’s also a personal connection to your avatar, especially if you give them your name and likeness (or a close enough approximation, in the case of the latter). I’d suggest that most of us fantasised about playing in the NBA when we were younger, and career modes absolutely indulge that fantasy. And no, it’s not about broken dreams, or living in the past. It’s just fun to take on the starring role in any games or modes that are built around such role-playing.
Card collecting/team building modes such as MyTEAM and Ultimate Team remind me of collecting trading cards as a kid, as well as playing with custom teams in old games. Although they have competitive play, I prefer to keep them as single player experiences. That way, I avoid the pay-to-win mechanics, since I’m not going up against gamers who have spent money to rip open pack after pack in order to stack their team. There’s plenty of single player content in MyTEAM, and to me that variety and assembling a squad of favourites at my own pace is more enjoyable than aiming to be the best online. There’s nothing wrong with striving for that; it’s just not for me.
While I appreciate (and sometimes miss) the competitive and social aspects of the online scene, playing basketball games solo is a way for me to unwind; it’s “me time”. In that respect, it’s like many other hobbies one may partake in: fishing, crossword puzzles, crafts, and so on. We don’t even have to leave the realm of video games, as some of the best and most influential titles over the years have been single player. As a fan of stories, world building, immersive experiences, and completion, I can have a great time when it’s just me and the game. I enjoy playing with and against others too, and that’s a nice change of pace. If no one else is around though, I can still have fun.
That is a key component of single player experiences, and why it’s important that they’re robust. You don’t have to rely on anyone else to partake in or enjoy them. There’s no meeting any quotas with squad members, which does get tougher as you grow older and gain more responsibilities, or people lose interest. The quality of the experience doesn’t depend on whether the teammates and opponents you’re randomly matched with are team players and good sports. There’s no way that anyone else can make your gaming session frustrating and unpleasant. Likewise, you don’t have to deal with technical issues such as lag, or design problems like an undesirable meta.
One of the biggest knocks on single player experiences that I absolutely disagree with is that they’re boring. While online play can be more dynamic, it can be hit-and-miss because of the toxicity and fluctuating quality of play. If nothing else, single player tends to be more consistent. It can also be kept fresh through facing different teams and players through the course of a season, switching modes, or using mods. Between the difficulty levels, sliders, and self-imposed challenges, it’s hardly boring! It doesn’t come with the same bragging rights as competitive play, but that’s not the be-all, end-all of basketball gaming. Some of us are just hoop heads who like to play virtual ball.
At the end of the day, any disrespect towards single player experiences doesn’t impact my enjoyment of them. You shouldn’t let anyone’s tribalistic disdain for your mode of choice get in the way of your fun. I also realise that when people ask “How can you enjoy that”, it’s seldom asked in good faith, with any interest in an actual answer. All the same, I want to speak out in defense of single player modes and gameplay, if only to remind people who may be weary of the online scene that there are fun alternatives. It’s great when you can make basketball gaming into a social activity, and I’ve enjoyed doing that before. However, games can still be a blast when it’s just you and the CPU.
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