NBA 2K’s Double XP coins are a dirty trick to keep us hooked like meth addicts

by

As a seasoned gamer who’s seen more pixels than I care to admit, NBA 2K has always been my festive companion, a delightful digital present under the Christmas tree. But this year, I decided to dive into the fray on launch day, and boy, did I get more than I bargained for! The grind is real, and with the introduction of the elusive Double XP coin, it’s reached new heights.

Every year, I usually wait until after the holiday season before diving into NBA 2K. It’s a game I often receive as a Christmas gift. Playing MyTEAM, though, requires quite a bit of dedication, almost like having another job. Since it’s related to my real-life work, I opted to begin at the game’s release this time around. The struggle is indeed real, and it has unveiled the sought-after Double XP token for me.

As I unveiled those coins hidden within the Season Pass, it came as no surprise that they granted me double the XP for a solid two hours. After grabbing one and playing a couple rounds of Breakout, I found myself feeling rather drowsy. However, I picked up where I left off the next day because every experience point (XP) item I’ve ever encountered over four decades of gaming adds in-game time, not real-world clock time.

Up until now, I swore I must’ve left my PlayStation on, or something similar, causing my NBA 2K XP coin to expire. After digging around for answers, it turned out that once you cash in an NBA 2K coin, you only have two real-world hours to keep grinding. Guess I better hold my pee, skip meals, and silence my phone! What the heck, NBA 2K?

If the PlayStation service goes down, it’s unfortunate that you spent your coin. But what if something unrelated to gaming occurs in your life?

This tactic, which was once endearing for this franchise, has now resulted in nothing but criticism. I enjoy the challenge of discovering new cards, but I despise being forced to do so. NBA 2K25 seems to discourage taking breaks, even for a bathroom break. While I comprehend that’s become common in gaming, it shouldn’t be.

Read More

2024-11-13 02:57