Wayback Wednesday: MyCOURT in NBA 2K17
This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at the three locations for our MyCOURT in NBA 2K17.
Look, I’ll be one of the first to agree that MyCAREER, and career modes in basketball and sports video games in general for that matter, doesn’t need an open world. As I’ve explained before, it misses the point of the open world approach, essentially being a glorified loading screen and vehicle for advertisements rather than a true extension of gameplay. Conversely, I will advocate for and admit to enjoying having MyCOURT as a player hub. Sure, I scoffed at it when it was announced for NBA 2K15, but it’s now something that I really miss when I’m playing MyCAREER in NBA 2K14!
It was MyCAREER in NBA 2K17 that really sold me on MyCOURT. I’d spent quite a bit of time on MyCOURT in NBA 2K16 – both mine and my friends’ – as it was the method of squadding up for 2K Pro-Am games. It was fun shooting around during those sessions and customising the area for our mutual enjoyment, but I truly came to appreciate MyCOURT during my playthrough of NBA 2K17 MyCAREER. From its integration into the story and overall journey, to the different courts that we could unlock, it absolutely added to the experience. Let’s take a look back…way back…
Before I profile the three MyCOURT environments that can be found in NBA 2K17 MyCAREER however, please allow me to explain why I enjoy what might seem like a gimmicky concept. Unlike the open worlds of The Neighborhood and The City, MyCOURT has a practical use as far as sharpening stick skills and testing out new animations. Over the years, we’ve been able to grind extra VC by performing different tasks while shooting around in between NBA games. It can play host to games with friends, and even NBA teammates. Not to belabour a point or overuse a phrase, but it’s not just a glorified loading screen that pushes ads and pumps up playtime figures!
Even the less useful features, such as the ability to customise the floor, backboard, nets, scoreboard, and other aspects of the court, are still enjoyable. It’s kind of like the locker rooms in the PlayStation 2-era Smackdown vs. RAW games, or the various safehouses in Fallout and Grand Theft Auto titles. They’re immersive and cosy, especially when you can decorate, customise, and craft with them. Granted, it’s a basketball game and not an interior decorator sim – or indeed, a Barbie Dress-Up game – but it’s still nice to have your own well-designed virtual space to display your accomplishments, celebrate your favourite team, and again, practice techniques.
MyCOURT in NBA 2K17 also plays a more active role in the mode. It’s included in the “Doin’ Work” mechanic: a meter that’s filled by taking part in shootarounds on your court, and training sessions at the team facility, in order to unlock the next cap breaker. NBA 2K17 is the only game it appears in, which is a shame as it was a good idea that wasn’t tied to an online rewards system. Some of the story cutscenes also take place in your MyCOURT, including the one where Pres and Justice Young come up with the “Orange Juice” moniker. Players will visit your MyCOURT to train and play games, keeping things fresh and helping to fill the “Doin’ Work” meter faster.
For me, it was also a chance to role-play. Although I’m a long-time diehard Chicago Bulls fan, I initially customised my NBA 2K17 MyCOURT with Denver Nuggets trappings, as that’s who I played for in my rookie season. I ended up switching to Bulls decorations however, which got me thinking about leaving for Chicago at the end of the year (and I ultimately did). And of course, the inclusion of unlockable new locations for MyCOURT made the connections and off-day events aspect of NBA 2K17 MyCAREER worthwhile. With that being said, let’s take a closer look at the three different spaces that could house your MyCOURT way back in NBA 2K17!
Warehouse
At the beginning of MyCAREER in NBA 2K17, the only MyCOURT that’s available is the Warehouse. Converting former warehouses and other industrial buildings into apartments is certainly not uncommon, so this “starter” MyCOURT tapped into what has become a popular aesthetic. Now, your average warehouse apartment probably isn’t big enough to house a basketball court – even one that isn’t quite full-sized – but remember: you are making NBA money! The space you have would most likely be converted into multiple apartments, and between the double doors and garage doors, it’s a little too accessible to visitors. Thankfully, nothing bad ever happens to you!
As it’s striving for that “industrial chic” fashion, if not for some couches and a TV, a pinball machine, a pool table, and your personal court, the space still looks as though it’s set up for its original purpose. It’s all bare steel, wooden panels, concrete floors, and corrugated iron walling. Light shines in from clerestory windows, as an industrial fan spins high above the makeshift kitchen area. It comes off as grimy without being dirty, if you will. The corrugated iron walling is faded, and the wooden panels bear stains and printing from their manufacturer. I’m also guessing that we sleep on the couch and shower at the gym. No two ways about it: we live and ball in a warehouse!
Judging by an old post on the official NBA 2K subreddit, not everyone particularly enjoyed the Warehouse MyCOURT. Honestly though, I’ve always liked it! Maybe it’s simply because I saw it so often playing so much of MyCAREER in NBA 2K17 that it feels cosily familiar, but I do think it stands out. I really enjoy the metal posters of retro NBA logos, as they fit the industrial chic vibe. Displaying your shoe collection underneath the benches running along the walls, and your trophies on top of them, admittedly isn’t the safest or most responsible idea. It sure looks cool though, as does hanging your Player of the Game and Week awards on the walls around your court.
Once players start gifting you their jerseys, they’ll begin to cover up the bare wooden panels. The ability to zoom in and view your shoe, trophy, and jersey collections is another nice touch, allowing you to re-live some fond memories in a more visually appealing way than stats and records screens. There isn’t much else to interact with beyond sitting on a stool and drinking a Gatorade, lazing on the couch, and opening the fridge to look inside. They’re fun interactive Easter eggs, and basketball should be the priority anyway, but it still would’ve been nifty if the pinball machine and pool table were playable mini-games, like darts and air hockey in The Crib in older games.
This has arguably been a shortcoming of MyCOURT in general, not just in NBA 2K17. The environments have been creative and wonderfully-crafted, but much of it is just decoration. There could’ve been more mini-games and other fun activities that impact your MyPLAYER, or could just kill some time. Nevertheless, I do still enjoy the Warehouse MyCOURT, and all of the details that you can find as you explore it. It isn’t the fanciest digs the game has to offer, but that makes sense for your journey. As more money rolls in and you make connections, you’re naturally going to acquire a swankier place to live, work on your game, and store all of your hoops memorabilia.
Lodge
That brings us to the Lodge, the MyCOURT that you’ll most likely unlock next in the course of NBA 2K17 MyCAREER. When the game was new, there was confusion and conflicting information as to how to obtain it. As it turned out, the quickest route to a fancy new MyCOURT was to win the championship in your rookie season, and proceed to Year 2. After your first game, you’ll receive several messages, one of which is from football (as in soccer) legend, Thierry Henry. After accepting his offer to hang out, Henry will gift you a charming chalet in the woods. At this point, you can switch between the Warehouse and Lodge MyCOURT in the customisation menu.
I know I’ve already used the word “cosy” to describe the Warehouse MyCOURT, and as I mentioned above, I do feel that there is a sense of cosiness to player housing and hubs in video games in general. However, out of all the MyCOURT environments in NBA 2K17, the Lodge is undoubtedly the cosiest! The warm colours of the wood and brickwork, the glimpses of lush woods and green grass out of every spotless window, and the (sadly inaccessible) lounges and fireplace upstairs, all make for a picturesque virtual home. You know how people talk about video game worlds that they’d love to live in? The Lodge MyCOURT in NBA 2K17 would definitely be on that list for me!
In fact, it actually reminds me of a house that my friends and I rented for a New Year’s getaway some years back; minus the basketball court, though it did have an absurdly deep pool! Getting back to the Lodge though, while the layout is different in many ways to the Warehouse, there’s still a kitchen counter with a stool you can sit and drink Gatorade at, a fancier fridge that you can look in, and places to sit. Your shoes are now displayed in a case behind the kitchen counter as well – much better than lining them up underneath a bench – and there are trophy cases along the back wall with your chosen mural, displaying your awards and other accomplishments.
Your collection of framed jerseys is now hung on the walls around your court, where they’re more easily admired compared to the Warehouse which displayed them much higher up. During my playthrough on PlayStation 4 all those years ago, I seemingly encountered a bug that duplicated Russell Westbrook’s jersey, as I ended up with two hanging on my walls. I’m not sure how common that was – sometimes bugs will occur under rare circumstances that are difficult to replicate – but in any event, it didn’t ruin the Lodge for me. As much as I enjoyed the Warehouse and consider it a creative first home in NBA 2K17 MyCAREER, once I unlocked the Lodge, I never switched back.
Not only does the Lodge bring to mind a place I once vacationed, but also memories of other video games. I can’t gaze out the windows at those trees without thinking of the forest levels in the original Lemmings for Acorn Archimedes, and the music that accompanied them. I’m also reminded of the Alpine track in the original Need for Speed, more specifically the greenery of the first couple of legs. As I reflected upon in my article on Fallout 3 and NBA Live 09, it’s interesting how our nostalgic memories of video games are often interwoven somehow, even if it’s just something about the vibe and aesthetic. The Lodge is absolutely one of my favourite video game spaces.
High Rise
Unfortunately, despite all the time I spent with MyCAREER in NBA 2K17 – I believe I have close to 3,000 hours played in the PS4 version alone – I didn’t ever unlock the High Rise MyCOURT myself. That’s probably due to my playthrough of the NBA side of MyCAREER petering out early on in Year 2, as I instead spent more time playing with NLSC THRILLHO in 2K Pro-Am, and occasionally The Park. Once again, there was a ton of misinformation out there; it is an unlockable in a video game that’s being discussed online, after all! As it turns out, the method is simply to impress Michael Jordan and receive an invitation to an event, after which it will be unlocked.
Fortunately, zzcoolj21 played far enough into MyCAREER to unlock the High Rise, so I was able to visit him, explore it, and snap a few screenshots. As the name would imply, the High Rise MyCOURT is a massive penthouse suite overlooking a city, including a balcony furnished with some very comfortable-looking couches. Your plaques, jerseys, and artwork adorn the brick walls, and there’s even a statue in the mezzanine. A stocked bar sits behind the kitchen counter, and the stools have been replaced by chairs. Interestingly, despite being a gift from His Airness, the High Rise penthouse doesn’t feature the Jumpman logo, or any other such branding anywhere.
There’s a den area that contains the pool table, as well as shelves for your shoes and two trophy cases to fill. The same pair of trophy cases appears in the loft apartment that houses MyCOURT in NBA 2K18, though thankfully there’s no B-Fresh to bother us in NBA 2K17! Appropriately for the third and final unlockable MyCOURT, it’s the biggest and most luxurious home for your MyPLAYER. It also reminds me of another place that I stayed in real life: a penthouse apartment in Sydney that was owned by the company one of my friends used to work for. We booked it out a couple of times for getaways to the big smoke, which included some rooftop retro gaming under the stars.
The High Rise MyCOURT in NBA 2K17 isn’t quite as exciting as real life adventures with friends, but it is nevertheless a cool place to shoot around in, as well as play host to pick-up games and MyCAREER cutscenes. Its opulence is befitting of the success you’ve had once you’ve unlocked it. Again, as much as I enjoy the Warehouse, being the huge fan of The Simpsons that I am, it evokes memories of Frank Grimes living in a single room above a bowling alley, and beneath another bowling alley! A rich and successful NBA player would naturally opt for a more upmarket abode. If you’ve got a few trophies for those cases, then the High Rise MyCOURT is the logical choice.
However, in some ways, I prefer the Lodge to the High Rise. That may just be due to the fact that I never unlocked the latter location, but I quite enjoy the cosy atmosphere of the chalet in the woods. Yes, the High Rise has a fine view and luxurious décor, but there’s something about the brick walls that feels sterile compared to the woodwork of the Lodge. It may also be that later games had a better take on the luxury apartment aesthetic, whereas the Lodge – and for that matter, the Warehouse – give MyCOURT in NBA 2K17 a couple of unique designs to choose from. At the same time, there’s no doubt that the High Rise was an undeniable indication of success in our MyCAREER.
The Novelty of MyCOURT in NBA 2K17 & Beyond
Not to harp on the point, but in addition to the practical uses for MyCOURT in NBA 2K17 and other iterations of MyCAREER, it does serve an important purpose. The vibe and aesthetic of games and their modes are vital factors in our enjoyment, and end up becoming a significant part of our nostalgia. Obviously, excellent gameplay is paramount, as bells and whistles will ultimately fail to enhance a game that simply isn’t any fun to play. With that being said, the feeling you get when you fire up a game and enter your mode of choice should be a positive one. Everything about the mode should feel welcoming, and a consequential part of the overall experience.
I believe that this essential ingredient has been missing in The Neighborhood and The City, even with the return of MyCOURT in NBA 2K25. As I’ve explained, neither makes proper use of the open world concept, feeling more like busywork than a true extension of gameplay. It doesn’t help that they’re so heavily commercial, introducing stores to shop at, and plastering advertising everywhere. I don’t want to downplay the creative designs or the ambition of expanding the game world beyond a single screen as in MyCOURT, but in my view, The Neighborhood and The City haven’t been a net positive for MyCAREER. They’re beautiful, but there’s just too much empty space.
MyCOURT has been light on interactive elements at times – though later titles have added more mini-games, a ball return for shooting practice, and a mini-basketball arcade machine – but when it was the sole player hub, there was so much less running around just to perform basic tasks. At the risk of overusing the word to the point of meaninglessness, it was much cosier! It was a good way to add more interactivity and immersion between games in MyCAREER, rather than an attempt to branch out too far in an attempt to copy and compete with other genres. Put it this way: when all we had was MyCOURT, we weren’t trying to start a rap career, or attend fashion shows!
Furthermore, it facilitated an offline version of MyCAREER that we can no longer enjoy in more recent titles. While the server shutdown did strip a lot of content away from NBA 2K17 MyCAREER, the story is still playable and MyCOURT is still there to enjoy, though we can no longer customise it. With that in mind, and considering the year-to-year decline in the depth of the offline MyCAREER experience, the writing was undoubtedly on the wall. Given the rise of online play and the need to expand on concepts like MyCOURT, it’s no surprise that an open world was next. It’s divisive, but at this point, it’s impossible to see The City being abandoned in future games.
On the bright side, at least MyCOURT is back! It may not have the charm that it did back in NBA 2K17, when it was the sole hub of MyCAREER and featured a trio of memorable environments, but its practical use remains. As for MyCOURT in NBA 2K17, thanks to those appealing designs and being the landing spot for the mode, it’s as much a part of my nostalgia for that iteration of MyCAREER as the story and dual controls of Orange Juice, a successful season with the Nuggets, and 500 games of 2K Pro-Am with NLSC THRILLHO. The virtual basketball is what ultimately matters the most, but flavour content that also serves a purpose can make you feel right at home.
The post Wayback Wednesday: MyCOURT in NBA 2K17 appeared first on NLSC.