Mike Wang, a Parkway Central High School alumnus, has become a leading figure in the world of video games as the Gameplay Director for Visual Concepts, a leading video game development company known for creating the popular NBA 2K series. As the Gameplay director, Wang plays a key role in shaping the mechanics and overall gameplay that millions of NBA 2K fans worldwide enjoy, but his journey began in his early life, at Parkway Central.
Wang’s passion for basketball and video games began during his teenage years, and the idea of developing his favorite game genre was only bubbling beneath the surface due to the lack of the career’s resources.
“Like most teens, I spent a lot of time gaming in my free time. But back then, few considered game development a legit career pursuit. They didn’t have game developing classes, programs, or degrees like they do now,” Wang said via an email interview. “I remember loving sports games back then and had just about every basketball video game ever created. Graphics were pretty bad in those days, so we had to use our imaginations to fill in the blanks.”
Several Parkway Central students, like senior Terrel Brown, were surprised to learn that one of their own was behind such a massive and popular franchise.
“When I found out, I was surprised because it’s really cool,” Brown said.
Like Brown, sophomore CJ Hall had a similar reaction.
“I did not know that one of the developers of 2K went to our school. I think that it’s pretty cool that he helps create such a radical game,” Hall said.
As a student, Wang was involved in various extracurricular activities, including being in the volleyball team and playing the trumpet in the school’s band and jazz band. Band Director Doug Hoover was one of the names Wang mentioned as someone who inspired him, along with Wang’s volleyball coach, who no longer coaches at the school.
“Doug Hoover and Susan Dean were both very influential to me. They both saw my potential (for music and athletics respectively) and pushed me to be the best I could be,” Wang said. “Throughout my four years with them, all the encouragement and tough love gave me a lot of confidence and drive that helped me in many different areas of life.”
Hoover remembers Wang fondly, both as a great person and a great leader in the band.
“I think he was a well-rounded person. I think he was a strong academic kid too, but being well-rounded lets you explore and pursue a big variety of different things,” Hoover said. “He was a smart kid, a really good trumpet player, and a leader in the band, a leader in the trumpet section. Super nice guy.”
Wang’s role in shaping the NBA 2K series has gone beyond just gameplay mechanics; he and his team have constantly pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in sports gaming.
“As basketball game developers and lovers of the sport, we’re constantly trying to merge real life and virtual hoops so that the feeling you get when playing NBA 2K mirrors the feeling you get when playing on the actual hardwood,” Wang said. “We have a very passionate team of casual basketball fans, hardcore hoops heads, and everyone in between. I think our team has done a great job listening to all the different voices, taking in all the varied opinions, and creating a product that can appeal to a broad range of players.”
The team’s dedication to the game has not gone unnoticed by the NBA 2K community. Players like Hall have noted how the game has evolved, especially regarding gameplay features.
“The defense in the game has gotten better, and you can pre-pick builds and go off of famous people’s, like YouTubers, builds (to have the same builds) now,” Hall said.
The commitment needed to be a successful game designer is unmatched and is often overlooked.
“A lot of people don’t realize how meticulous game development is and how tedious working on a game can be,” Wang said. “Sometimes even a small detail in a game that might seem trivial to the consumer might take several developers’ weeks of planning, designing, coding, and testing. And sometimes, we’ll spend several man days prototyping a new feature, and it just doesn’t pan out for one reason or another, and it can be frustrating to have to scrap it.”
Wang’s rise in the gaming industry reveals the power and importance of combining passion with perseverance. Hall shares his admiration for Wang’s accomplishments.
“He inspires people, especially PCH students, to create their own games, and it can unlock the motivation of actually putting an idea to play,” Hall said. “Developing is definitely a very cool and creative job, so I respect anybody who does it or tries to proceed with it.”
From taking a hobby and turning it into a profession, Wang is able to benefit from his favorite game.
“The NBA 2K dev team is best in class and I’m privileged to be part of it,” Wang said.
