September 9th saw the release of the latest version of the NBA 2K series. With the release of every new game, there are always new features to discuss. “Rec” is no exception.
NBA 2K23 offers a variety of ways to play its MyCareer mode, but without a doubt, one of the most popular destinations in the ‘City’ or ‘Neighbourhood’ is the ‘Rec.’ It has been a staple of the series for years. The Rec is a five versus five-pickup game mode featuring players’ created My Pros. It has received a lot of popularity from players.
However, there have been many complaints about the Rec game mode. Indeed, Rec has some problems. There is plenty of room for improvement within its confines.
Today, let’s discuss some much-needed gameplay changes for the NBA 2k23 rec center and how to fix the Rec in NBA 2K.
Improve the outdated Matchmaking System
If there is only one thing that NBA 2K could focus on improving in Rec, it would be optimizing Matchmaking. From bad matchmaking to tangling with bad AI teammates to trolls, ball hogs and partner ballers, all these things detract from the experience.
Potential Solutions
- Optimize matchmaking by taking into account the skill level of everyone involved.
- Update the team grading system, penalize players who are selfish, and chase stats without regard for the rest of the team.
- Utilize the ranking system to ensure you’re matched with both teammates and opponents who are roughly just as good as you are.
- Improve Pro-Am matchmaking and incentives so that more squads play Pro-Am.
- Optimized matchmaking to have more balanced teams on both sides in terms of user skills and created player’s abilities
- Everyone can give either a positive or negative review of each of their teammates.
AI Teammates
In the new-gen NBA 2K23, the AI teammates will make up a roster after a set amount of time has passed if there aren’t enough real players. This usually causes the player to back out once or several times, which means it takes longer to get into the game.
Potential Solutions
- Remove AI from REC, or don’t start REC games until both teams are populated with 5 players each.
- Players can choose to play with actual NBA players or an AI. Depending on themselves.
- Allow players to join games that have already started and take AI spots.
Deal With the Quitting Problem
As soon as someone plays a game or two in Rec, they experience the inevitable teammate quits, which can be caused by being behind in the score, slow internet, lag out, etc., which makes the game tedious.
Potential Solutions
- Display ‘USER QUIT %’ instead of WIN %. Display ‘USER QUIT %’ in the rec locker room front and center.
- Each team is only allowed one timeout per quarter.
- taking away postgame rewards of those who quit games
- Penalties are applied to the attributes of those who leave games, which will continue until they have completed a full match in The Rec.
- Each player is only allowed a few timeouts per quarter.
- Display the names of timeout players
- Provide an option for all teammates to place a vote (maybe only starting in the second half) to concede a game that’s out of hand.
- Give postgame rewards to those who are left behind and choose to complete a full game.
Gameplay
The gameplay could also use improvement, NBA 2K23 adds Adrenaline Boosts, which helps to a certain extent, but there are still many gameplay elements that could be improved.
Potential Solutions
- Reduce the personal foul limit to 5 (from 6).
- Increase the size of the courts.
- Allow players to walk into the REC as visitors and watch others play from the sidelines.
- Allow users to see/glance players and opponents attributes and badges before a game.
- Display more stats, such as TS%, shooting percentage on floaters, fade-aways, left hand vs right hand layups, defensive statistics etc.
- Allow opposite teams in REC to speak to each other during free throws.
- Give a 30-second break in between halves.
- Display the Player of the Half between halves.
- Increase the Player of the Half VC bonus to 200.
- Winning team votes on Player of the Game. The PoG gets 500 VC.
- Allow graphic accessories of any color and design (from the City) to be worn in the REC.
- Add a “mute all” button to the scoreboard and have an auto-mute option in your settings.
- Bring back the “fouls to give” indicator on the scoreboard.
- Remove the ability to skip free throw rituals. This will add much-needed breathing room during games. For people to respond to texts and what not.
- Allow teammates to swap defensive assignments.
- Add in-game Quick Chat prompts.
- Add an optional forfeit vote mechanic for teams that are down 25 or more with 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter.
- Those who contribute more to the win than others receive a boost to their status.
- Punish those for not sharing the ball with others
If you do have a different idea, please share your thoughts in the comments section.
