If you're like me, you felt at once excited and disappointed upon seeing EA Sports' announcement that it was bringing back NBA Jam. I was elated that one of my all-time favorite sports games was being brought into the 21st century, but as someone who doesn't own a Wii, I was hoping against hope that EA would eventually bring the NBA Jam revival to the PS3 and 360. While we've seen rumors of an HD console version before, there hasn't been any official confirmation from EA of its existence ... until now.
This morning, EA Sports announced that a scaled-back downloadable version of NBA Jam will be bundled with every new copy of NBA Elite 11, the publisher's reboot of its long-running basketball simulation franchise formerly known as NBA Live. Just as with the EA Sports Online Pass, new copies of the game will include a one-time-use code redeemable for the game. Buying NBA Elite 11 will be the only way to get NBA Jam in high definition -- EA won't be selling the game on the PlayStation Store or Xbox Live Marketplace, which makes its inclusion in NBA Elite 11 a powerful incentive to buy the game.
And playing NBA Jam on the Wii will still be the only way to get the full experience, since the PS3/360 version will only come with three modes: Play Now, Classic Campaign (the traditional ladder-style tournament), and four-player Online Play (which remains unconfirmed for the Wii version, with only two months to go before launch). This keeps the all-new Remix Tour mode -- which includes boss battles against NBA legends such as Magic Johnson and comprises "about 20 hours of gameplay," according to EA Sports marketing VP Jordan Edelstein -- exclusive to the Wii version.
It's really a devilishly clever stroke on EA's part, when you think about it: many of the folks who want to play NBA Jam were likely planning on holding out for a PS3/360 version -- I know I was -- and now, they'll only be able to get it by spending $60 on NBA Elite 11, which comes out on October 5th (the same day that NBA Jam launches for the Wii). As it stood, EA had a long way to go in trying to convince gamers that Elite was worth checking out, and now, nostalgia will do much of that work for them. They're basically pulling a Crackdown, with NBA Jam playing the part of the Halo 3 beta.
So what say you, readers? Whether or not you care about simulation basketball and NBA Elite 11, are you willing to pay $59.99 in order to play a somewhat gimped version of NBA Jam in HD (and with online play on consoles that actually facilitate it)?
'NBA Elite 11' to include free downloadable version of 'NBA Jam' [ESPN]
Contest:
5:30 AM on 08.03.2010
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MOST OF US COULD CARE LESS ABOUT BASKETBALL GAMES!!! Thats why NBA Jam is so important, its an arcade game that we all can get into.
Bring it to the marketplaces already@!
i have to say, xbla and psn are both full of shitty games that were released or re-released due to milking on people's nostalgia
RELEVANT: This is a pretty damn smart move on EA's part. I can imagine one of those comically drab pitch meetings, where everyone around the table is plum out of ideas - until one guy stands up, bursting with this clever plan. Shame for anyone who wants this game next year, or even later in the future. I guess they'll have to get it on the Wii. And while the online is tempting, the fun I'm expecting to have playing NBA Jam is like the fun I have with any game I play these days - face to face, ass to couch, with friends.
Oh EA!
BigMoose85: Even though your statement is complete fanboy bullshit, I must ask: what is NBA Jam if not nostalgia? And please try to pull your head out of your ass before you answer, it's hard to hear you in there.
Step 2: Redeem NBA Jam Code.
Step 3: Take advantage of EB Games 7 Day Return Policy
Step 4: Triumph
Are there any stores that will allow you to return opened video games? CUs it looks like I'm either doing that, or buying NBA Elite, and trading it into gamestop the very next day.
that's only on used games.
Well I'm out.
just play NBA street. at least that ones fun.
Oh, fanboys. One day you'll be able to own all the consoles and you'll realize how stupid you sounded.
In this topic: idiots misuse idioms, intelligent onlookers realize they couldn't care less.
I'm definitely gonna start with the Wii version and if I like what I see buy Elite 11 to play with my old friends across the country. Because talking shit to nobody isn't as fun.
I can understand why people in my situation would want the full version online and in HD (not that I personally care about HD) but given that (imo) Wii owners don't have a lot to crow about these days, it's definitely a much-appreciated feather in the console's hat.
Personally, I'd rather pay for NBA Jam on Wii than purchase NBA ELite 11 with a watered down version of NBA Jam. I just have no interest in realistic sports. I'd probably just give it to my dog for her to chew on. Remix mode with boss battles interests me more than online play.
I wonder if the HD version of the game will include the unlockable content.
Fuck you EA
Anyway, it's amusing to watch HD gamers hate on anything exclusive to the Wii and watch them cry about it.While Wii owners are a bunch of hypocrites ( constantly begging for core titles yet failing to largely support them) 360 and Ps3 owners are a bunch of spoiled brats.
Anyways im not in a hurry to play NBA Jam. I was planning on picking up 2K11 and if EA eventually decide to release Jam on PSN or XBLA ill probably get it. But these jerky tactics cartainly wont have me picking it up any time soon.
I don't like the sport of basketball really, but some of the fondest memories playing videogames in the history of my life is BATTLING me and my friend vs my younger brother and cousin on the Dreamcast.
HD is awesome but the full version is also awesome.
FUCK.