Before you read any of this post, I have but one request: take two minutes out of your life and watch the above video. It’s of a crazy Dwight Howard dunk from the NBA All-Star Weekend Dunk Contest, and you should watch it not only for the dunk — which is plenty insane in and of itself — but also for the over-the-top (yet completely warranted) reaction from NBA on TNT analyst Kenny Smith (you’ll know who I’m talking about if you watch the video). And he mentions the term “video game” thrice!
What does this have to do with anything? Well, Dwight Howard went on to win the Dunk Contest, which just happened to be great press for Midway’s NBA Ballers: Chosen One, a street basketball game in the vein of their classic NBA Jam series. You see, on January 14th, Howard was announced as the cover athlete for the game, so it was pretty convenient for Midway that he won. Midway has gone the opportunistic route — they’re heavily promoting the game using Howard’s Dunk Contest win as the focal point of their advertising campaign.
Midway had a heavy presence at the All-Star Game to begin with, including helping NBA Cares (the league’s social initiative program) to refurbish two basketball courts at a New Orleans grade school. They also had some demo kiosks for the game on hand during the weekend. Finally, the game’s website was launched on February 14th in conjunction with the Search for the Next Chosen One contest, which asks for custom player artwork designs for the game with the promise of some NBA-related prizes.
Five recent screens from the game are posted below, in addition to a promotional composite shot of photos from Howard’s ridiculous dunk and some more screens from the game. NBA Ballers: Chosen One is set for release on April 21 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
LAUNCH GALLERY (6 IMAGES)
Samit Sarkar is a founding Destructoid editor and go-to Sports guy. Samit was the son of the Duke of Knees, rescued from a burning village in the afghan desert by a golden condor. He is an ace Backgammon player and lost both legs in a whaling tour. He lives for free in a nursery in Scotland where he teaches monks how to capture butterflies without hurting them.
Likes
Confuse Ray,
Feel My Blade
A Mabari War Hound,
Snot,
Spiral Arrow,
Argo,
Dan Smith's critical hit bark,
Rolling things up into my life
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
32 comments | showing # 1 to 32
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
11:22 AM on 02.27.2008
| 
2nd: Damn I hate Kenny Smith.
tree: I know there's a 'h' in three
quad: I hope this game doesn't blow and it has nothing on NBA Street: Homecourt.
"He is a video game, he is not a real person!" ha ha ha awesome quote...I wish someone will say that about me someday.
Also, video games.
I still feel that Jamario Moon got robbed. Apparently people in the know say that the dunk he was going to use in the finals was completely out of this world. Hopefully he pulls it off in a game.
Two niggaz in the back...
HE'S ON FIRE!!!
Anyway, after he saw it he goes "I'm going to try and do that dunk in the dunk contest!" and the rest is history.
The game is turning out well. I hope D-Toiders take a minute to give it a try, even if you aren't big basketball fans. It is a really fun smack-talking game.
Nothing like that has ever been done in a dunk contest before afaik...
Massive youTube fail :(