There were jams and rumors of jams, but now it's official - EA is bringing back Midway's classic arcade basketball game this year with EA Sports NBA Jam for the Nintendo Wii.
Midway's NBA Jam took arcades by storm in 1993, it's over-the-top arcade basketball action and colorful commentary packing in the crowds at the arcade. The console port, released on March 4, 1994 (Jam Day!), sold extremely well. Now Midway and sequel creator Acclaim are both dead, but jam is alive and well in the hands of EA Canada in Vancouver, where EA Sports NBA Jam is being developed.
EA's NBA Jam "mixes the old school with the new," with familiar gameplay mixed with new characters, additional game modes, and "gameplay depth."
"NBA JAM is one of the most recognizable franchises in videogame history," said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. "Diehard fans of the original game have been asking for a remake for more than a decade. We're very excited to give them their wish this year with the return of this iconic franchise."
Resurrecting NBA Jam sure seems like an interesting way to bolster the Wii sports game audience, an audience EA Sports seems to have had trouble locating over the past three years. Is it in the shoes? We'll see later this year.