ESPN is reporting that sources have confirmed to the sports network that Electronic Arts will soon announce it has acquired the publishing rights to the classic Midway basketball game series NBA Jam. Many old-school gamers have fond memories of playing the two-on-two basketball game in the arcades (remember those?). Now EA Sports will reportedly publish a new version exclusively for the Wii.
ESPN also spoke to NBA Jam creator Mark Turmell who apparently has been brought on board to EA's Vancouver studio to help guide the new Jam project. Sources indicated that Turmell will be joined by other former Jam veterans and that Turmell may be working on other sports games for EA too.
NBA Jam was an instant hit when it first arrived in arcades in 1993. Turmell commented, "Jam was making so much money when it first came out. There was so much four-player action at this one arcade in Chicago that the first week they had to shut the arcade down, because there was a huge fight over whose turn it was to play. There was so much money coming in, they had to change the coin-box every day. It was crazy."
It'll be interesting to see how EA Sports, with Turmell's help, will revive the franchise. We also have a feeling that it won't be Wii exclusive for long.
2 Comments
January 5, 2010
I'm fine with that. What I want is NBA Street 4 in the style of NBA Street 2.
January 26, 2010
It needs to retain a classic vibe, and be nothing like NBA Street. Either that, or give me the original NBA Jam on XBLA/PSN. I was actually looking into buying an NBA Jam (or possibly Hangtime) arcade cabinet, but this news may make me wait to see if the original comes to XBLA.