Monday Tip-Off: Don’t Let Imperfection Stifle Fun
We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some advice to not allow imperfection get in the way of having fun on the virtual hardwood.
When it comes to sim basketball games – or sim sports titles in general – accuracy is obviously the name of the game. Inaccuracies, whether aesthetic or gameplay-related, stick out like a sore thumb. We have a similar philosophy when it comes to modding. Missing or incorrectly assigned art updates, inaccurate ratings, or some other mistake, will not go unnoticed. Perfection is a lofty and indeed impossible goal, but developers and modders alike strive to come as close to it as possible. At some point of course, we do need to make peace with some level of imperfection.
In fact, it’s important to not let imperfection stifle or stand in the way of fun. Again, this isn’t to say that accuracy isn’t important or something to aim for. However, by focusing on imperfections or allowing limitations to shoot down an otherwise good idea, you’re robbing yourself of a good time on the virtual hardwood. You can and certainly should point out errors, and constructively criticise aspects of games and mods that could stand to improve. There are undoubtedly times when an imperfection will detract from the experience. With that being said, as the saying goes, perfection is the enemy of good, and the pursuit of it can often stand in the way of our enjoyment.
Before I get into the modding side of things, let’s talk about letting imperfections in the base game slide. As I’ve mentioned on a few occasions – including an in-depth Wayback Wednesday feature – in the PC version of NBA Jam Tournament Edition, Kevin Edwards is using Blue Edwards’ portrait. It’s a mistake left over from a beta version of the home port, one that I somehow overlooked for more than twenty years! To that point though, that error didn’t prevent me from enjoying NBA Jam TE. The fact that I can’t help but notice it now doesn’t stop me from loving the game today. It doesn’t dissuade me from using the New Jersey Nets. If anything, it’s a fun flub!
If we want to count notable inaccuracies with outdated rosters as an example of an imperfection, then Hakeem Olajuwon still being on the Toronto Raptors in NBA Inside Drive 2003 didn’t stand in the way of Dee and I having one of the most epic games we’ve ever played on the virtual hardwood. We knew it was inaccurate due to The Dream electing to retire in 2002 rather than playing out his contract, and sure, it might’ve been fun to quickly update the rosters for a true-to-life showdown. It wasn’t necessary, though. I’d even argue that that incredible comeback victory was actually more enjoyable thanks to playing with an outdated “what could’ve been” roster.
NBA 2K’s classic teams are another example here. Between absent starters and thin benches, some of the retro squads are absolutely lacking. It’s unfortunate, especially in a game like the PlayStation 4/Xbox One version of NBA 2K14, which doesn’t include a Create-a-Player function or support external modding. That hasn’t stopped me from having a blast playing games for the NBA 2K14 Retro Series, especially when I can put together some makeshift alternate classic teams that have their own limitations. Don’t get me wrong. I’d rather see those players in the game, and mods on PC step up where official rosters fall short, but the default classic teams are still really fun to use.
To that point, the classic teams in NCAA March Madness 08 and NCAA Basketball 09 – both the historically significant throwback squads and the All-Time Teams – are perhaps the perfect example. The players have no real names or faces, and while we can add their names, we’re limited to a selection of preset faces to assign. As such, those historical players are only ever going to look kind of like who they’re meant to be at best. Has that discouraged me from using those teams? Not in the slightest! It would be awesome if they were accurate, or the games were on PC and could be easily modded, but those imperfections don’t prevent me from enjoying that content.
That brings us to modding, both major and minimalist. Let’s talk about big projects first. Once again, making them as accurate and detailed as possible is generally the goal, and it’s fantastic when a mod is so well-made that it feels like official content. At the same time, if you’ve got a 1998 season roster and Keith Booth has a generic placeholder face that sort of resembles him in a pinch and from a distance, then in my book, that’s not a ruinous imperfection. After all, while accuracy demands that he appears on the Chicago Bulls’ roster, he played 2.8 mpg in all of six games for them. It’s OK if he doesn’t have a proper face, especially in the initial Version 1.0 release!
This isn’t to say that a big retro roster mod can’t have a long-term goal of including accurate faces for everyone, but the prospect of placeholders on the deep bench shouldn’t derail a project. Likewise, if you’re downloading and using someone’s otherwise incredibly detailed 1998 roster, getting mad about Serge Zwikker not having a real face is to be way too upset about something inconsequential! I’d also suggest that encountering placeholder faces in a roster mod should be an invitation to other modders in the community to step up and contribute faces to the project. The huge roster mods we’ve seen wouldn’t have ever happened without collaboration.
Meanwhile, by definition, minimalist modding is all about accepting imperfections to focus on creating something fun. Rolling the rosters of a game back a year to play the previous season with updated gameplay, or cobbling together makeshift teams, often means putting up with an imperfection here or there. If a player has grown out his beard or changed his hairstyle, the new face may clash with the old roster. Similarly, a team may have updated their branding, and the old jerseys may not be included in the selection of retro uniforms. Teams may be missing a player here and there. Whether due to limited content or desire for a minimalist approach, there are inaccuracies.
And sure, that can be distracting. You wouldn’t want that level of imperfection in a detailed mod on PC. When it’s a minimalist project that you’re throwing together for your own enjoyment, though? Don’t let imperfection stifle your fun by shutting down an interesting idea! If you can repurpose some default assets to create an appealing scenario – such as an historical showdown or a famous What If – in a game that you like, then so what if a couple of details are inaccurate? The core experience is what’s paramount, so while it’s always satisfying to assemble something through minimalist modding that’s surprisingly accurate, much of the appeal is in its makeshift nature.
Accepting that there are limitations with minimalist modding, and then working out a way to achieve as much as possible within those parameters, can be a very stimulating challenge. When it all comes together and you’ve got something fresh and fun to play with, it’s extremely gratifying! The lack of depth in Create-a-Player, particularly in much older games, is a prime example of that. Even with some sculpting tools, it’s tough to create a realistic and recognisable face that blends in with original players when viewed up close. Therefore, the goal is to get as close as possible, so that your created player can stand in for their absent counterpart at a glance during gameplay.
I’m reminded of when I discovered a minimalist classic team roster among my files for NBA Live 08 on Xbox 360. I still don’t know where it came from, but it was a fun discovery that I had to share. When I did, I received a couple of comments about how bad the created historical players looked. And, to be fair, they weren’t great; again, that’s often how it is with created players. However, focusing on that was missing the big picture. Beyond the intrigue of the discovery, it was an admirable effort to make the most of the in-game customisation tools to create something new. It wasn’t ever going to look much better, and the jerseys were wrong, but I enjoyed playing with it!
I kept this in mind when I was on my kick with NBA Live 06 for Xbox 360, during which I ended up creating the 1998 Bulls and 1998 Lakers. I couldn’t get Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Rick Fox, or the other missing players to look quite right, much as I tried. The game also infamously lacked the retro jerseys that were in the PC and prior gen console versions of NBA Live 06. I was very much aware of that, and ultimately, I didn’t care. I had a great time messing around with the game’s Create-a-Player to do the best that I could, and then enjoying the fruits of my labour. If I wanted accuracy, then modding the PC version was always an option.
Sometimes though, you just want to quickly throw together a fun idea in a game that you’re currently enjoying. When that temptation strikes, don’t let the prospect of some imperfections stop you! While I’ve given preference to teams with the appropriate jerseys and a sufficient number of readily available players when brainstorming ideas for makeshift classic teams in NBA Live 10, there’s no reason that I can’t create some missing players and ignore a few inaccurate jerseys for an even better sandbox roster. Imperfection needn’t be an insurmountable barrier. It’s why I ended up playing with a created MJ in NBA Live 18, when I’d originally only made him for some screenshots!
If you’re making a major mod for public release, then attention to detail is vital. If it’s just for your own enjoyment though, then “good enough” can absolutely be good enough! As for the historical and bonus content in official rosters, while it’s a shame they have some shortcomings, don’t sleep on how fun they can be despite an absent player, or a handful of placeholders. Don’t get so caught up in the idea of perfection that you can’t let loose and have some fun on the virtual hardwood if you encounter a few mistakes, or the customisation features are limited. A creative and imaginative mind will not trip over imperfection on the way to an enjoyable gaming experience.
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