I can't find PlayGrounds 1 anywhere

[Zoracs]

You already know about the whole "grindy microtransactions" fiasco, which really turned me off from this game for personal reasons.

However I heard the original game, NBA PlayGrounds, was fantastic, so I was looking to pick that one up.

I can't find it anywhere.

I've looked with help from my friends for hours but the store page, the steam forum, even the eShop version of the xBox and switch release are just gone.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/nba-playgrounds/bwd1bsw764rv#activetab=pivot:overviewtab

The PS4 site oddly enough still looks like its purchaseable there, but the fact still remains 2K is removing this game from outlets.

EDIT: I tested it and the PS4 Link doesn't work either.
https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/nba-playgrounds-ps4/

I should have expected a tactic as scummy as this from 2K. This just upsets me they'd make such a manipulative product then chokehold us into buying it. Sure, I don't need to buy this, but I wanted to try out this series. But if this is the new standard I just never will.

[XGalakFlakes]

shut up Xd the game is great and you don't even need real money to get the legends XD

[Terotrous]

It's a little weird that they removed the original game, but honestly, this one is better in every way. The original was still fun and I played it for like 60ish hours, but it's definitely still very grindy if you want all the players. This game has more single player variety, a more interesting player progression system, far better online support, and the mechanics are tweaked in a variety of smart ways. Even if the original was still around, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone over the sequel.

It also might be worth noting that the premium currency in Playgrounds 2 is only for cosmetics, and you can also earn them without it. The process of unlocking the players and levelling them up just requires you to play games, just like the first one.

[Sheekthief]

I checked out humble bundle's store page and you can still purchase the original NBA Playgrounds for $20, if your not familiar with humble bundle they sell steam activated product keys and you would just redeem the key to your account (obviously lol.)

EDIT: I wish i had the $20 to spend myself to get myself a copy but, here is a direct link https://www.humblebundle.com/store/nba-playgrounds

[<=]BdK[-]Auron[=>]

The first part was fastantic indeed, but with a lot of features not included (and they promised include them). Surprise!! these things are now in second part and with 2K I suppose they don't care anymore,thet will sit and wait for the money.

[Piggy]

I love this game, no grind for me. Ive gotten quite a lot of legends now.

[Zoracs]

Originally posted by Terotrous:

It's a little weird that they removed the original game, but honestly, this one is better in every way. The original was still fun and I played it for like 60ish hours, but it's definitely still very grindy if you want all the players. This game has more single player variety, a more interesting player progression system, far better online support, and the mechanics are tweaked in a variety of smart ways. Even if the original was still around, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone over the sequel.

It also might be worth noting that the premium currency in Playgrounds 2 is only for cosmetics, and you can also earn them without it. The process of unlocking the players and levelling them up just requires you to play games, just like the first one.

I suppose I should have clarified that.
I don't own this game but from what I've heard the GamePlay is spot on. Then again, that wasn't my complaint, it's that the publisher, 2K, is doing what they usually do and manipulating players into squeezing our wallets dry. I hate that, and I don't like supporting that kind of business model.

As for the cosmetic only 'loot boxes' (cause that's what they essentially are), that's a long AF discussion I don't want to go into insane detail on, so I'll leave it at, if there's still some cosmetic stuff unlockable through gameplay, then I suppose I can live with it.

Originally posted by ekenwars:

I checked out humble bundle's store page and you can still purchase the original NBA Playgrounds for $20, if your not familiar with humble bundle they sell steam activated product keys and you would just redeem the key to your account (obviously lol.)

EDIT: I wish i had the $20 to spend myself to get myself a copy but, here is a direct link https://www.humblebundle.com/store/nba-playgrounds

Welp, guess I missed a source. Thanks for that.
Although my point still stands that 2K is removing this game from outlets. I'm pretty sure it's a matter of time before even the HB one gets unplugged.

Originally posted by Special Ed:

the grind is fun

Grind is not fun, and nobody thinks Grind is fun. You either tolerate it or you don't like it.
This game would be objectively better if the Grind was removed or lessened.

It's the GamePlay that's fun, not the Grind. If you think the grind is fun then that's perfectly fine.

Originally posted by Piggy:

I love this game, no grind for me. Ive gotten quite a lot of legends now.

Again, Gameplay is what's fun, not Grind, you either tolerate it or don't like it. Although I'm still glad your $30 was put to good use.

I'm just on the fence about this because I don't want this genuinely fun series to get bogged down by Microtransactions that legit halt Gameplay progress like in NBA 2K19.
It isn't that bad now, but if people keep supporting this it very well could be.

[Piggy]

Its 30$, if you want all players its 40$, nba jams for sega genesis was 60$. Its not a grind for me. If you think its a grind then refund and leave cause its just not for you. Ive already opened 7 gold packs and have more players than I can play.

[Zoracs]

Originally posted by Piggy:

Its 30$, if you want all players its 40$, nba jams for sega genesis was 60$. Its not a grind for me. If you think its a grind then refund and leave cause its just not for you. Ive already opened 7 gold packs and have more players than I can play.

I play Hyrule Warriors and JRPGs, I'm no stranger to Grind if the GamePlay is tons of fun.

I'm saying I don't like how 2K is slowing down Cap Gains so they can incentivize players into spending real money.
The Microtransactions are bad and that is my main gripe with this game, even else as far as I know is wonderful.

[Piggy]

But it just visual stuff, it gives you no advantage. Even if u spend 10$ for the extra players its still no advantage...just don't buy it, I didn't and its still fun.

[Piggy]

If you don't like microtrasactions the best thing to do is not buy them.

[XGalakFlakes]

Yeah... you don't need microtransactions at all, i just posted a screenshot, getting lebron for free XD

[Terotrous]

2k didn't slow down the unlock rate in this game. If anything, it's actually quite a bit faster than the first game because you can now potentially earn a ton of money each game by playing very well.

There is, however, much more to unlock in this game compared to the first one, which I think some people are mistaking for the unlock rate being slower. You're still getting new players as fast or faster than before, but there are more of them to get so the total time to get everyone might be longer. On the plus side, there's more to do during that time so the process is far less repetitive.

[Zoracs]

Originally posted by Terotrous:

2k didn't slow down the unlock rate in this game. If anything, it's actually quite a bit faster than the first game because you can now potentially earn a ton of money each game by playing very well.

There is, however, much more to unlock in this game compared to the first one, which I think some people are mistaking for the unlock rate being slower. You're still getting new players as fast or faster than before, but there are more of them to get so the total time to get everyone might be longer. On the plus side, there's more to do during that time so the process is far less repetitive.

I remember hearing from a couple sources that in the first NBA PlayGround, you levelled up as quickly as 1 game, whereas in this game it takes 3-4 games. But since you seem to know a good deal about this game I'll take your word on that. In retrospect that does seem really ridiculous thinking back.

Regardless, how I feel about this game's microtransactions comes down to how I simply don't trust 2K whatsoever. They have proven themselves a greedy, money hungry business that cares more for profits than players, and now that they have this series I'm very worried they will mess it up as well.

Originally posted by Piggy:

But it just visual stuff, it gives you no advantage. Even if u spend 10$ for the extra players its still no advantage...just don't buy it, I didn't and its still fun.

"Give Publishers an inch and they'll take a mile."
The more you and everyone else excuses the scummy things 2K does, the further they'll take these business practices, until even this series becomes a watered down, unfun paywall.

I don't want that, which is why I won't settle for an excuse, a justification, because I'm fairly positive even you know that this game would be better without these card packs. I'm sick of seeing genuinely great games get ruined by aggressive, manipulative in game purchases, and I don't want the NBA PlayGround series to join that trend.

AND AGAIN, to clarify, this game is still amazing even as it is now, but it's a matter of time before 2K paywalls this series at this rate. So yes Piggy, I won't buy the microtransactions, but I can't buy this game in good conscience either.


So even if the original NBA PlayGrounds was "worse in every way", I'd prefer to be a smart consumer and vote with my wallet, so I can have alot more fun down the road, instead of have some instant gratification that screws us all over in the long run. There's a ton of other games out anyway so it's no big deal.

And if the series does get worse as I fear it will, then I'll admit there's no better tomorrow and just buy this game instead. Well, unless 2K removes this from storefronts too.

[Piggy]

Excuse? Just dont buy the extra players, I didn't and Im having a lot of fun. I bought NBA jam for 60$ 20 years ago or more for Sega Genesis and it had only a fraction of players... This game is 30$ lol. Ive gotten at least 20 legends and it doesn't feel like a grind to me.

Sounds like your mind is made up though so just don't buy the game at all and go away, why continue to post on something you don't like? Like u said there are a ton of other games out there so go find one stop wasting your time and everyone elses, no one is trying to make you play this.

[View The Phenom]

The "micro-transactions" are irrelevant, if anything you're able to unlock players faster than the first game as points earned are directly tied to your in-game performance; if you play well you earn points quickly. Regardless of 2k's reputation, they haven't negatively influenced this game at all; you can even earn the cosmetic items by playing.

If you don't like "grinding" for content, then you won't like either game. Unlocking players over-time is how both games approach it, regardless of 2k's involvement. Feel free to pass on it though.