NBA 2k13: Why Absence of Crew Mode Doesn't Hinder Game's Outlook
Crew Mode has taken on cult status in the NBA 2K community. Therefore, when it was recently announced that the mode would not be returning to the series this year, there was some disappointment.
Ronnie Singh, 2K Sports Digital Marketing Manager, said (via Twitter):
"Erick Boenisch confirms no Crew mode in #NBA2K13 - ussportsdownunder.com/nba/play/nba-2…
— Ronnie 2K 2K13 (@Ronnie2K) September 18, 2012"
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"My thoughts- I played Crew mode a lot in #NBA2K11, really love that mode. But it was broken & if dev doesn't think it's ready, then it's not
— Ronnie 2K 2K13 (@Ronnie2K) September 18, 2012"
"Dev completely rebuilt online 2K12 & you can see progress. Hoping to take another step this yr. We can't put out a broken crew mode again
— Ronnie 2K 2K13 (@Ronnie2K) September 18, 2012"
"All the dev guys love that mode and know you do too. I am sure it'll return eventually, but dev determined it was simply not ready this year
— Ronnie 2K 2K13 (@Ronnie2K) September 18, 2012"
The game has far-reaching appeal because of the the way it brings cyber-ballers together.
For those that are unfamiliar with the mode, it last appeared in NBA 2K11, and essentially allows gamers to use their My Players together on one team.
Gamers could form a crew to compete online against other online crews.
Here's an example of a Crew Mode game from NBA 2K11:
The concept was a big hit, but the execution was admittedly flawed. The servers were a bit problematic, and 2K Sports apparently hasn't worked these issues out to their satisfaction. Therefore, they wisely chose to hold off the return of the mode.
Gamers can clamor for this or any other mode, but I'd prefer a developer keep a feature off the market as opposed to releasing it with poor functionality. That genuinely equates to false advertising, and I applaud 2K for taking a different approach.
Even without Crew Mode, NBA 2K13 is shaping up quite nicely. The first ever full game was streamed live on Wednesday, and it showed off fluid and realistic gameplay.
You can see the game below. The action starts at 4:27:
There are tons of options available this year, including:
- Team USA and the 1992 Dream Team,
- Full All-Star Weekend available through pre-order and or DLC,
- The evolution of My Player to My Career,
- The My Team mode which is a basketball spin on EA Sports' Ultimate Team concept.
Similar to Crew Mode, the game includes a three-on-three Blacktop option, in which you can invite friends to play. The mode allows you to use your My Player.
It's a scaled back version of Crew Mode, but essentially the same concept.
Offline players will easily shrug off the omission of Crew Mode, as they depend on Association and My Player/Career for their enjoyment. However, the online community that really valued the ability to link up with fellow NBA 2K players will certainly feel the absence.
Even so, both gamer types should have a bevy of options to keep them satisfied. If NBA 2K13 delivers the goods on what we've seen thus far, the game will be great.
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