Report Card - 2K Games & 2K Sports
Projects - A
How can anyone forget BioShock, The Darkness or even Prey? 2K Games did magic with the few titles that it had on its plate last year. You have one game in BioShock that made its way to many awards and on many game of the year lists. And you have another in The Darkness that I believe deserves consideration for the sleeper of the year. I reviewed The Darkness so it shouldn’t be a surprise knowing that I really enjoyed it.
2K Sports tried to wage a good war as well with a lineup that included NBA 2K8 and College Hoops 2K8. However, there was this game called All-Pro 2K8 that also released. I’ve made my case on the fruity uniforms and judging from sales, I’d say that plenty of people shared that sentiment. It was 2K5 minus real names to be quite honest. I’m not sure why this was done and I imagine those reasons will never be shared with me.
Sure 2K Sports had some shortcomings with their projects, but 2K Games was a bright light with the amazing experience of BioShock and the gritty ride of The Darkness.
Community - B
The Cult of Rapture community effort around BioShock was done very well along with plenty of sports madness. 2K Games and 2K Sports did a very decent job with their involvement in both big and small community happenings. I’d like to have seen more though considering the fact that they don’t produce many titles but what they’ve done was good.
It’s always a positive in my book when you have a company that doesn’t pretend to alienate any one particular area of the community. I’m glad to see that they make an effort to mix it up with both. There are some rabid fans on the 2K Sports side. How else can you explain the release of All-Pro 2K8?
Extra Credit - C
I had a difficult time figuring out the grade for their extra credit efforts last year. On one hand you have many who embraced the content for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. And on the other hand you have people still trying to figure out why they’re being charged for the Reelmaker. Neither of them were quite enough.
There were the occasional picture packs and uniform downloads but overall their extra credit efforts lacked throughout the year. The new addition to the family, 2K Boston (formerly Irrational Games), helped but it wasn’t a highlight.
Overall Grade
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
another good report card, but personaly I would have gone a tad higher with the extra credit score (maybe a B-) solely for the free DLC for BioShock…
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:14 am
well with the few titles that they have…it could’ve been more ya know…at least that’s what i think.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:34 am
Excellent report card, Deacon. This is pretty much exactly how I look at 2K studios / 2K sports. “Spot on” as they say on the other side of the Atlantic.
Nu
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Good review, I tried the demos of Darkness & Bioshock and both of these games are really well made and highly visual. Only problem is they are too dark for me and just don’t appeal to me. On the sports area, I’m also out, just not much of a Sports gamer as well. Still good to hear your thoughts. Keep it up!
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
The Bioshock DLC wasnt all that great really…1 new plasmid that just knocks targets over, and some decent tonics to buy.
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:17 am
My saddest thing with The Darkness was its replay value. I’ve TRIED to go back and play it again, I just can’t.
It’s a great story, fantastic graphics, and the most original control concept in a decade… but it has no replayability. I was sos saddened by that fact.
Nu
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 am
2K sports is great, I love NBA 2K8 and NCAA 2K8, both much better than EA sport titles.
NHL 2K8 is almost as good as the NHL 08 title from EA. If your into online leagues and tourneys the set-up frpm 2K is much better than EA Sports and it’s free!
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 am
I really hope that the exclusivity contract between EA and Players Inc. doesnt renew in 2009 as I’ve always believed that 2K had the perfect NFL game. Good job Unscripter!
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
hey i do what i can Petey. lol