Monday Tip-Off: The Upper End of the Demographic

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Start your week here at the NLSC with a feature that’s dedicated to opinions, commentary, and other fun stuff related to NBA Live, NBA 2K, and other basketball video games. This week, I’m tipping things off with some reflections on being at the upper end of the basketball gaming demographic.

For all the criticism that The Simpsons receives for staying on the air as long as it has, it continues to be referenced in memes. Such is its impact on pop culture, and online discourse. There are two references to The Simpsons that are frequently trotted out to comment on age, and not surprisingly, they both involve that lovable curmudgeon, Abraham Simpson. In a flashback where a young Homer mocks Abe for being out of touch, Abe very ominously warns that when it comes to no longer being “with it“, it’ll also happen to Homer one day. Abe is also the infamous old man yelling at a cloud.

Now that I’m around Homer’s canonical age, I have to admit that I’m starting to feel what he felt in that episode. At the same time, I also relate to what Abe was talking about. Even though we Millennials are still copping flak from older generations, to Gen Z, we’re “old heads“, too. We grew up admiring different players, and the video games we played didn’t have microtransactions. Our expectations are therefore quite different, and it’s apparent that many features are not aimed at us. As I said, I’m far closer to Homer in age than I am to Abe, but as I find myself at the upper end of the basketball gaming demographic, Grampa’s warning thus feels increasingly apt.

First and foremost, there’s the realisation that the games aren’t being marketed to me and other gamers my age. I’m not interested in all the different clothing items and premium brands that are on sale in MyCAREER, and I’m more inclined to roll my eyes when I see the official NBA 2K social media accounts hyping them up. To be fair, I’m sure there are a lot of younger gamers who feel the same way, but it’s hard not to feel like a grumpy old man in my grumbling. Concepts like The Neighborhood, and its successor The City, fail to excite me. I can appreciate the creativity and effort that goes into them, of course, but I can’t help seeing them as unnecessary padding.

Again, judging by some comments I’ve seen on the official NBA 2K subreddit from gamers who are younger than I, this view isn’t exclusively held by those of us at the upper end of the demographic. Nevertheless, I do get the impression that the concept of a hub world is far more exciting for younger basketball gamers, as they’re more likely to view a menu-based approach as old fashioned and lacking in innovation. “Go play NBA 2K13 if you just want to use menus, old head!” Alright, no one has actually said that to me – yet – but I do feel confident in saying that NBA 2K gamers that love The Neighborhood and The City tend to skew younger than my demographic.

Then there’s the experience that we seek, from modes to gameplay style. Younger gamers do play franchise modes, but there’s still that reputation that they’re something for older gamers who “can’t handle” the competitive online scene. As for the style of play in MyCAREER’s connected modes, there seems to be a desire for OP builds and tactics that have little to do with basketball strategy. There’s a pushback against that and it’s not all from people my age, but the notion of hardcore basketball gamers demanding more and more realism from sim titles seems antiquated. We definitely seem to be outvoted – or at least, frequently and loudly shouted down – in that regard.

On top of the age difference, I do believe that the widespread popularity of NBA 2K is a factor here. Basketball games have long been popular, but the sim titles have been more niche because their dedication to realism meant that they weren’t necessarily pick-up-and-play. The broader audience that NBA 2K now enjoys also means that the game is trying to appeal to gamers beyond the hardcore sim heads, which I’d suggest are largely comprised of the older demographic. Mind you, saying that makes me sound even more like a grumpy old man on top of a gatekeeper, and I don’t want to be either of those things. In particular, I loathe gatekeeping in gaming and other hobbies.

My level of enthusiasm vs my level of cynicism during the preview season is also a clear sign that I’m at the upper end of the basketball gaming demographic. I still enjoy the hobby, I’m interested to see what’s in store for the upcoming release, and I do hope for the best. I’ve been playing basketball games for over 25 years, though. It’s difficult not to be critical and sometimes cynical when I’ve experienced the ups and downs of great and disappointing releases, broken promises, and changing trends that aren’t always for the better. I stand by my criticism, but I fully admit that it can be difficult to express without sounding like a grumpy old head that doesn’t want to enjoy things.

Because I didn’t grow up with games where microtransactions were standard, I’m far less willing to accept them as the way of things. To me, they’ll always be a sign of how video games have lost their way, and traded creativity and artistic integrity for grubby moneymaking mechanics. To a younger gamer – especially someone with less financial responsibilities and parents who are willing to buy VC for them – it’s just how it is; again, get with the times, old head! Even if we’re talking No Money Spent and simply grinding for VC and MyTEAM rewards, there’s a fatigue and sense of impatience that comes with age, and several years of playing basketball games.

From the way certain gameplay mechanics work to accuracy in the rosters, there are many issues that I’m more inclined to care about now that I’m at the upper end of the demographic, and focus has changed. In recent years, it’s felt like there’s been a big backlash against nostalgia and the history of basketball in general. Growing up in the 90s, there was more emphasis on appreciating the previous generations of players and giving them their due. That feels unfashionable now, which means caring about the inaccuracies in the retro teams in NBA 2K makes me a dinosaur. The same goes for MyTEAM cards that are unrealistic, as many gamers seem to enjoy the OP players.

Once again, I must stress that it isn’t just older hoops gamers like me that notice these issues and care about them. I’ve seen younger gamers point out these problems as it’s quite apparent when OP cards upset the gameplay balance, or a lack of matchmaking ruins the online experience. This isn’t some ageist old man grumbling that kids these days know nothing and are wrong about everything, while my generation knows it all and is always right. I do think that those of us who now find ourselves at the upper end of the demographic are crankier about these issues, though. After all, it’s another reminder that we’re getting older, and the stuff we like or care about isn’t in vogue.

To that point, I can make an apt comparison to music. Here in Australia, there’s a radio station called Triple J (or triple j, as it’s officially stylised). Although it’s still very popular with people my age and older, there’s no doubt that its focus is on a younger demographic and the music that appeals to them. They’re not going to play songs that I remember from my teenage years in the late 90s and early 2000s, or anything older for that matter, with any kind of frequency; not unless it’s a new cover of an old song. This doesn’t stop older listeners from complaining about the new songs and lack of old favourites, or no longer being the station’s target demographic.

Indeed, you’ll hear those complaints about the music in basketball video games, too. The soundtracks of new NBA 2K games are going to try to appeal to younger gamers in the core demographic, with contemporary hits and artists that are currently popular. 2K has experimented with some older songs here and there because the hits do tend to transcend generations, but the soundtracks are mostly comprised of songs that an older gamer like myself may not be as familiar with. That usually doesn’t bother me as I have an eclectic taste, and I either find something I enjoy, or the songs just fade into the background. Still, it’s another sign that I’m no longer part of the young crowd.

What we’re nostalgic for is another telling sign of how long one has been virtually hooping, and whether you’re getting into the upper end of the core demographic. If we’re referring to the games I grew up with and am very nostalgic for, we’re talking about titles like NBA Live 95 and 96, and NBA Jam Tournament Edition. Games of the early 2000s also hold a lot of nostalgic value as my favourites from when I was a newly minted “veteran” of the hobby. Nothing makes you feel older than someone mentioning that their first basketball game was NBA Live 2003 or 2004; except, of course, when someone else talks about how NBA 2K11 or 2K12 was their childhood!

Since I’ve spent this article wallowing in self pity about the problems of being at the upper end of the basketball gaming demographic, allow me to point out that it’s not all bad. Aside from the annoyingly common and persistent stigma against adults who play video games in their spare time, there’s nothing that says we can’t still enjoy hitting the virtual hardwood. We just have to accept that we’re not the ones that are going to be catered to, as well as the fact that some things have changed and are unlikely to ever change back. It doesn’t mean we can’t criticise or make suggestions. We just have to keep in mind that we may now be the minority who feels that way.

Furthermore, we’re generally more willing and able to stick with (or return to) an old release, due to a combination of nostalgia for a specific title, and a time when games weren’t all about online play and live service content. If we’re careful with our save files, we can dust off an old favourite and pick up where we left off. In recent titles, that’s much harder to do. If nothing else, we have years of fond memories playing basketball video games, so even if we virtually hoop less than we used to, we’ve still found satisfaction on the virtual hardwood. Being in the upper end of the demographic can lead to some grumpy old man moments, but it needn’t mean that the fun is over.

Whether that means getting with the times or sticking to what you like is your choice. I like to do both. If a new game leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I’ll cleanse my palate with an old favourite. At the same time, I’m interested in future releases, and will always advocate for improvements I believe will be beneficial. No one should aspire to be the old man yelling at clouds, but there’s wisdom and perspective that comes with age, too. In some ways, I may not be “with it” anymore, and it’d be a major case of “How do you do fellow kids?” to pretend I am. No matter. Even in the upper end of the demographic, if you still have passion for basketball gaming, then it’s still for you.