Rumor: EA Sports creating new NBA Jam

by Alexander Sliwinski on Jan 5th 2010 11:02AM

ESPN reports that Electronic Arts has acquired the rights for NBA Jam and has assigned EA Canada's Vancouver studio to a reboot of the franchise. The game's original creator, Mark Turmell, who currently works at EA Tiburon as a senior creative director, is allegedly collaborating on the project, which, according to ESPN, will "ship to retail exclusively for the Wii."

With no other platforms mentioned in the report, the story sounds a bit off. However, 1UP, which has partnered with ESPN on the sports network's video game wing, has suggested XBLA and PSN versions of a new NBA Jam are also in the works, though that is not corroborated by the original report.

We've contacted EA and Turmell for confirmation and details. EA Sports will allegedly announce the game later this month.

Update: Joystiq has confirmed with Warner Bros. that it did not purchase the NBA Jam license when it acquired elements of Midway. EA's official statement: "We do not comment on speculation or rumor."

Source

Tags: ea, ea-canada, ea-sports, electronic-arts, mark-turmell, nba-jam, Nintendo, Wii

Reader Comments (70)

New NBA Jam? Good.

Wiisclusive? Terrible. Better have a 360/PS3 release.

My initial excitement died a terrible death when I read, "ship to retail exclusively for the Wii."

Yeah, mine too.

*Sticks NBA Jam T.E. into the 32X*

Funny that a Wii game would be ported to Xbox and PS3 on their respective "arcade" networks tho.

Wii exclusive just made me think that the game was shovelware...

Was this the game that had Mike Bibby in it? My friends and I died with laughter after every time he would make a shot from downtown in the game.

"BIBBY!"

Great memories!

Should have been a XBL/PSN downloadable game =(

Why is this man not working at EA!

I would buy that in a heartbeat.... But something tells me they would rather slap a $40 sticker on it and sell it for the Wii instead.

We shall see...

They should release this game next month over All-Star weekend, have a online tournament with prizes, etc. This could have been huge for EA, much like Madden Arcade was last month.

If EA someone how manages to fuck NBA Jam, I swear, I'm going to kill all the orphans in the whole world.

he can't keep a steady job because these damn kids keep summoning him every time they get into some shit.....

You know Chris, you would think having elemental Power rings would be enough for these stupid fucking kids to handle their shit but like that little fuck who lived at the end of your street growing up, they have to call Daddy when shit gets real. I mean, I can understand Ma-Ti always calling, he's just a pussy but for fuck's sake, c'mon.

having the original director on board is a big step to making sure this won't be yet another nostalgia rape-fest, but it would still be best to be wary, until we know what direction EA is really going with this

Cool.

Then the servers will be brought down after a year.

Online play?

You must be joking!

FRIEND-CODE BONANZA OVERLOADS

depends. EA's games on Wii *can* be rather feature-rich (see: PGA Tour 10. All the features of the PS360 versions and more), and this is definitely a game that would benefit from 2-player local co-op online, or just random matches, so it wouldn't be as hindered by WiFi Connection's limitations

1: we need to see if it's real
2: we need to see what direction EA's going with it.

I agree with the first 4 posts!!

Razzle Dazzle!!

BOOM-SHAKA-LAKA!

"He's on Fire!!"

From downtown....

Is it the shoes?

The nail in the coffin!

BASELINE LEANER.

C-C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!!

HE'S ON FIRE!

NO. He's on FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Did you play that XBLA NBA Jam'ish type game? Can't remember what the hell it was called. Oh sweet pancakes it was awful.

I wonder why the Midway license didn't go to Warner Bros....

at any rate I would love for this to go on ALL consoles......

I mean being able to see "He's on FIRE!!!!" in HD would be GREAT!!

and I hope they add in all the crazy cheat codes and stuff.....since Midway is no more and the Mortal Kombat license is gone to WB I suppose their won't be any Noob Saibots running up and down the court, but how about some Commander Shepard, facebreaker people, Peter Moore, and others....

Oh, I bet Peter Moore makes it in, since he was in Facebreaker and all.

Still, if WB is selling licenses, EA, buy the damn Hydro Thunder license and release the original for XBLA/PSN, then do the sequel!

NHL: Hitz.

Nao.

A Wii Exclusive?!?! OUTRAGEOUS!! Quickly everyone, shake your jowls in frustration!!

Considering the largest market for this game is the 360/PS3 demographic, it's a stupid decision.

How do you know where the market for this game is? What market research analysis have you done?

I don't need research. Common sense tells me the Wii market wouldn't be interested in this game. This is targeted at the kids who played in arcades in the early nineties and played the console ports.

Bradwart =/= common sense. Just something I've noticed by reading your million a day posts.

Oh dear. A blind Wii-fanboy says I don't have common sense because I dared say something anti-Nintendo.

Limiting yourself to the Wii, especially in this economy, DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.

Yes Im a blind wii-fanboy who only plays Nintendo games. I've been glued to that 4 player co-op game they put out in November L4D and Im picking up their new game Darksiders on the way home. You hit the nail on the head.

Now you're just in denial. ;)

"A Wii Exclusive?!?! OUTRAGEOUS!! Quickly everyone, shake your jowls in frustration!!"

It's definitely a wasted opportunity, that much is true.

"It's definitely a wasted opportunity, that much is true." Pfff..

PFFFFF

You don't know that. Theres lots of potential here, so very much. if they use the the pointer and/or motion plus. This could be a great local player arcade/party game.

Yeah, I'm sure it'll be a best-seller...not.

"Bradwart =/= common sense."

You just noticed that now? He has a mind of a 6 year old.

"Oh dear. A blind Wii-fanboy says I don't have common sense because I dared say something anti-Nintendo."

"Limiting yourself to the Wii, especially in this economy, DOES NOT MAKE SENSE."

Hey Bradworst, only I'm allowed to call other's fanboys.

Not sure why darth got voted down here, this is a game that will be huge with the "madden" crowd and the old school arcade crowd, the vast majority of which are now the 360/PS3 crowd. This would have sold like crazy as an XBLA/PSN game.

But instead, it'll come out on the Wii, likely sell poorly, and they'll we'll see all kinds of excuses from the Wii crowd about how it was "marketed poorly" or whatever.

They could throw this thing up on XBLA/PSN with absolutely no marketing at all and it would be a huge hit instantly. I'd imagine the reason they're making it a Wii title instead is so they can charge 40-50 bucks for it instead of 10-15.

then*

I just want to point out that Vcize is single handedly responsible for my Florida Gators losing in the SEC Championship game last month.

Who you gonna root for next year now that Tebow's gone buddy?

Seriously, unless you really have Oakland Raiders Air Jordans, go away!

This needs to be done. Make it so.

*puts on top hat, monocle, grabs cane and leaves the room*

Hearing that this is wii exclusive crushed my good mood. Oh well, I'm more of a simulation type guy when it comes to basketball nowadays since a long time has passed since I played NBA Jam. I didn't even really know how to play b-ball that well way back in the 90s.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.

Breaking News

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days

Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 220 comments
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 153 comments
David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 107 comments
Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments
Battleship movie adapted into FPS by Double Helix 93 comments

Rumor: EA Sports creating new NBA Jam

Reader Comments (70)

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:03AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:11AM RanWitScissorz said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:12AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 12:35PM Petebot330 said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 12:40PM PlatinumSkeet said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 2:26PM chicago mafia said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:06AM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:26AM Giggman said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:32AM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:33AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:43AM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:07AM Mr Khan said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:08AM Spike Spiegel Humble Bounty Hun said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:10AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:18AM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:32AM Mr Khan said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:10AM Manifest37 said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:12AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:21AM Giggman said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:44AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:44AM nandokun said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 12:03PM apple4ever said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 12:57PM TheMainProtagonist said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 5:36PM DBuckEye said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:21AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 12:03PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:24AM Dirty said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:45AM MarkezJM said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:24AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:30AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 2:17PM finnith said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:30AM TwEE said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:31AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:33AM Mr Khan said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:34AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:36AM TwEE said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:40AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:43AM TwEE said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:44AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:46AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:50AM TwEE said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:53AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 1:10PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 1:37PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 1:37PM Vcize said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 1:38PM Vcize said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 2:26PM Co said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:30AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:42AM Stubs24 said

Posted: Jan 5th 2010 11:45AM (Unverified) said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Double Fine Kickstarter passes $1 million in under 24 hours, breaking yet another record

Featured Stories

The Joystiq Show - 024: Kingdoms of Double Fine

Shank 2 review: Refined brutality

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier brings information warfare to the front

The most popular postsin the last 7 days

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days