NBA 2K14 Fouls Players For Real-World Swearing

[Fanghawk]

NBA 2K14 Fouls Players For Real-World Swearing

NBA 2K14 players are learning that Kinects and PlayStation Cameras will happily penalize your cuss-filled potty mouth. (WARNING: Video contains naughty language).

Quick show of hands: Who here is at their most profane when playing videogames? I'm not just talking about <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/123615-Riot-Games-Seeks-Reform-for-League-of-Legends-Trolls>the insults and slurs hurled about in online games either. Even offline games, played in living rooms with no judgmental ears, will prompt profane outbursts if <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/8390-Batman-Arkham-Origins>Batman is swarmed by armored goons for the hundredth goddamn time. But so what? It's not hurting anybody, and who's going to punish you for swearing in the comfort of your home? Actually, the developers of NBA 2K14 will, at least if a Kinect or PlayStation Camera is attached while you're playing.

YouTube user randomfrankp discovered this minor detail while playing an Xbox One, which you'll note, <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/124281-Kinect-Causes-Trouble-for-Viewers-During-Xbox-One-Reveal>uses the Kinect as a mandatory peripheral. After throwing some choice words at NBA 2K14, the in-game referee promptly called a technical foul, awarding the opposing team a free throw. As you might imagine, randomfrankp was noticeably unimpressed with the punitive measures against his choice of language.

According to 2K Sports, this feature is meant to encourage more courteous manners between players taking part in online games. "This was a feature we incorporated [in] NBA 2K13 that we felt brought both realism to the game, and a more civilized online environment for our players," a representative said. "The result was so positive we have continued it in NBA 2K14." When asked which words will trigger fouls, the rep answered "the obvious ones are there", presumably while blushing.

If you're concerned about this intrusion from the 2K manners police, all you need to do is disable voice controls in NBA 2K14's options menu. Personally though, I find myself rather liking the idea, especially since it applies perfectly to a professional basketball environment.

Who knows, maybe voice controls can be used to curb harassment in other games. If the Kinect is going to be mandatory, let's have it call up a drone strike every time Call of Duty hears racial and sexist slurs.

Source: <a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5okb9Vc8SY>YouTube, via <a href=http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/4/5176206/nba-2k14-profanity-technical-fouls-ps4-xbox-360-one-kinect-playstation-camera>Polygon

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[Legion]

As mentioned in the article, you can turn the feature off, so this isn't in any shape or form going to encourage people to stop swearing. Even if it wasn't able to be turned off, it wouldn't stop people insulting one another, they'd just get more creative about it and find ways to do so using other words and phrases.

Although my favourite one of these kind of thing was a TF2 server that was themed like MLP (not visually). Every swear word was replaced with "Pony".

A lot of fun was had with that.

 

[antidonkey]

I find this equal parts ridiculous and hilarious. Good to know you can turn it off. Admittedly, all this has done, other than provide a laugh, is make me want a Xbone even less.

 

[cerebus23]

I think it near awesome cursing at the game will get you a foul, it got me threats of calls and nasty glares when i played the game and i was ready to give it to the ref.

Sadly however i have yet to see a sports game that does not make wtf calls, or just bug out and elicit a response that would net me a technical foul in my living room.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

That's next-gen innovation, right there. It's what we've all been waiting for.

 

[BX3]

Am I the only one that finds this kind of awesome?

I think it near awesome cursing at the game will get you a foul, it got me threats of calls and nasty glares when i played the game and i was ready to give it to the ref.

Whoops, posted too soon. Didn't read all of the comments.

But yeah, I think it's a nifty feature and a pretty decent use of the hardware.

 

[mysecondlife]

In NBA, even swinging fist in air our of frustration will get you a technical foul (two technical fouls mean ejection from the game and cumulative of about 16 technicals mean you're ejected from the next entire game.


So yeah. As a basketball fan, I find it pretty interesting. And no, I won't buy PS4 camera just for that.

EDIT:

They should have motion sensors that detect those movements as well. Swinging fists, tossing controllers in anger, etc..

Might as well go all the way while they're at it.

 

[Dark Knifer]

So the xbone has even managed to piss of their core demographic of swearing teenagers?

Genius.

 

[Dogstile]

Brilliant, games that dictate the way I talk in my home.

Fuck that.

 

[Strazdas]

Say fuck you to refereee in real life - nothing. Say fuck you to your TV while playing a game - technical foul.
why microsoft, why? what do you have to gain from this other than beign shamed for doing the most retarded thing you could?

 

[Balimaar]

Say fuck you to refereee in real life - nothing. Say fuck you to your TV while playing a game - technical foul.
why microsoft, why? what do you have to gain from this other than beign shamed for doing the most retarded thing you could?

really? it hasnt been my experience.

i say good job 2K. keep it coming!

with all the stuff that next gen console peropherals were going to be able to read from a player (or listen to) did you all seriously think it would NOT be used?

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

And Sony's doing it too! Then again, considering they censor words like 'bitte' in the fucking text chat I'm hardly surprised. If I used either of those devices or had any interest in the game I'd be more than a bit annoyed at games manufacturers trying to police my speech. In a sports game you're not the fucking player, you're a disembodied strategist. Your actions and word choice shouldn't even get to the referee.

 

[SSJBlastoise]

Say fuck you to refereee in real life - nothing. Say fuck you to your TV while playing a game - technical foul.
why microsoft, why? what do you have to gain from this other than beign shamed for doing the most retarded thing you could?

Obviously you've never played basketball before because that is an outright lie.

OT: Why is this being reported as news? This was possible in 2k13 on the 360, it's not exactly new news (which is mentioned in the OP) so why is it suddenly a problem?