We're still pouring over the transcripts from today's Schwarzenegger vs. EMA case, and as we discussed it, we decided our enthusiasm for the judges' utter contempt for the Schwazenegger side's argument could only be summed up with quotes from NBA Jam announcer Tim Kitzrow.
#nbajam
Well, that's what we get for trusting a retailer listing. GameStop said NBA Jam on the Xbox 360 and PS3 was due Nov. 16; today, EA Sports' formal announcement says the game hits shelves Nov. 17 - a Wednesday. More »
EA has finally revealed the launch details for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of NBA Jam, originally to be given away with NBA Elite '11. The arcade basketball title will slam dunk into retail on November 17, for the same $50 price point as the Wii version. Effectively, it replaces NBA Elite '11 as EA's holiday basketball game. In fact, we're pretty sure someone at EA is desperately trying to perform a Jedi mind trick on us now, to convince us that there was never anything called NBA Elite, and Jam has always been the plan.
You'll be able to play Classic 2-on-2 mode online on day one, but EA plans to add several additional online features in a December title update -- features like various "Remix Games," four-player Jam Party mode, and an Online Progression mode in which players build their character by taking them through a series of online challenges. The fact that all the online features aren't ready for launch adds more credence to the idea that EA is using this to plug an Elite-shaped hole.
#rumor
GameStop today listed the Xbox 360 and PS3 version of NBA Jam for $49.99 with a street date of Nov. 16. The game will feature all of the content available in the just-released Wii version, plus online multiplayer. More »
#rumor
GameFly has listed NBA Jam's PS3 and 360 version for release Nov. 18 and while that's most likely a placeholder date, the fact a rental service listing the game indicates it will be a retail disc release, not a download. More »
#nbajam
NBA Jam's Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, originally meant to be a free digital download included with the now-delayed NBA Elite 11, will be a retail disc release, an EA Sports representative told Kotaku. More »
#boomshakalaka
Who's a better dunker, Obama or Clinton? Can Tim Kitzrow, Mr. Boom-Shakalaka, throw down on Mike D from the Beastie Boys? And was it really necessary to give all of the Republicans an 8-out-of-10 rating in "steal"? More »
#review
The greatest names from the twilight of the coin-op days demanded your money like you were late with the rent. NBA Jam, the landlord of the arcade, is back, and wants to know if you got paid last week. More »
The Democrats (Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, and Hilary Clinton)
How to unlock: At the “Press A to Start” screen, press Left 13 times, then plus. A tone will confirm correct entry. On the team select screen, press the plus button and the hidden teams will be revealed.
The Republicans (John McCain, Sarah Palin, George Bush, [...]
#hate
Trey Smith, the creative director for the recently released NBA Jam, would like to see a kinder, gentler gamer culture. "If the people of PAX ran the world, it would be a much better place," he told MTV Multiplayer. More »
At journalism camp, we all learned to ask "the hard questions." For your pals at Joystiq, given the opportunity to chat with Peter Moore following EA Sports' last-minute delay of NBA Elite 11 and the subsequent rush to make NBA Jam on Xbox 360 and PS3 a fully featured product in and of itself - we'd have had no shortage of questions. "How are you going to bring the HD versions of the game up to feature parity with the Wii this year?" "With NBA 2K 11 gathering accolades, are you concerned that changing the NBA Live formula and then delaying it is ceding ground to the competition?" And the list goes on.
Fox News' Jenna Lee, given the same opportunity, asked the hard hitting question that we - perhaps because of our single-minded focus on video games or perhaps because of our shortage of political acumen - never thought to ask: "Is this a bipartisan game though, Peter?" You see, President Obama, in addition to actually playing basketball, not being ancient, and being president of the country, has some special moves in the game, clearly illustrating political bias on the part of the liberal fatcats at EA. In the interest of defusing this tense political standoff, we'd like to point out that Ms. Palin appears to have her own special move: playing men's basketball.
#politics
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.comEA Sports president Peter Moore appeared on Fox News earlier this day to talk about the unlockable political celebrities in NBA Jam, out now for the Wii, and artfully fielded a question that sounds loaded, considering the source. More »
What, you expected any less? Yes, of course various political and cultural icons will be showing up in EA's just released reboot to NBA Jam. ESPN revealed as much in a recent interview with the game's creative director, Trey Smith, who said not only is former President Bill Clinton a playable character, but also the Beastie Boys, President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former VP Al Gore.
A team of republicans is helmed by Miss Wasilla 1984 herself, Sarah Palin, with former President George W. Bush, former VP Dick Cheney and Arizona Senator John McCain backing her up. "Secret characters were on the list from day one," Smith said, adding "these secret characters and the element of surprise is something we hung our hats on very early." EA wouldn't reveal how said characters are accessed, but considering the game was released today for Nintendo Wii (with 360 and PS3 versions coming "in time for the holidays"), we'd suggest you start pounding away at buttons on that character selection screen right now.
Let's acknowledge something you've probably already realized if you've been keeping up with the numerous trailers and previews for EA Canada's reboot of the NBA Jam franchise: Your enjoyment of the game will be exponentially enriched if you're familiar with the culture of the original. Midway's NBA Jam didn't just introduce standards that most modern basketball games still include in some manner or another -- it created a language which only the game's players could fully comprehend.
There's nothing wrong with the fact that EA Sports clearly targeted this community with the new NBA Jam by acknowledging the catchphrases, over-the-top maneuvers and arcadey gameplay of Jam the First. In fact, it's a testament to the undying strength of that original formula that EA Canada's attempts to tack new material on to it largely fall flat.
"We got this bomb dropped on us just a couple days ago, as well," NBA Jam creative director Trey Smith told Toronto sports radio show Got Game (interview begins as 00:15:38 mark), about EA's last-minute decision to turn the HD console version of the game into a standalone retail product. "So we're shuffling to get everything together, but we got a great team; we got a lot of stuff up and working; we're gonna polish it up; we're gonna get it out there before holidays."
Smith and his team at EA Canada have completed the full-featured Wii version of NBA Jam (which will be released tomorrow) and "had online up" -- Smith characterized it as a "really basic online feature set" -- for the planned stripped-down, digital release of Jam on PS3 and Xbox 360. This bonus downloadable version, which was to be included with new copies of the now delayed NBA Elite 11, was to include just the Play Now, Classic Campaign and Online Vs. modes -- "we're trying to blow that out," Smith stressed.
The Wii game includes the Remix Tour, which encompasses a number of new modes and takes EA Canada's "best testers" 38 hours to complete, according to Smith, who also confirmed "you get Remix" in the PS3 and Xbox 360 version, as well. At least, that's the new plan. "We're doing everything in our power to get as much on there as possible," Smith assured. "We're trying to throw it all in there."
#breaking
The creative director for NBA Jam has said the Xbox 360 and PS3 version of the game will now have as much of the Wii version's content as possible. Previously, 360/PS3 Jam was to lack the "Remix Tour" mode. More »
