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EA Officially Announces NBA Jam

The classic arcade franchise is getting rebooted on the Wii later this year.

Someone get Tim Kitzrow on the phone. 
Someone get Tim Kitzrow on the phone. 
With little more than a logo and some sort of assurance that the final product will mix the old and the new, Electronic Arts has officially announced EA Sports NBA Jam, a revival of the classic arcade basketball franchise started by Midway and later dragged through the mud by Acclaim. Midway then went on to further develop its arcade basketball chops with NBA Hangtime and NBA Showtime before eventually ditching these Jam-based games in favor of the NBA Ballers series.

The released information has very little to say about what the new NBA Jam will be, though it's very careful to point out that it's going to stay "true to the original" and that it "mixes the old school with the new." Here's what Peter Moore has to say about all this:

“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.”

On the game's official site, there's little more than a logo and a pair of guys selecting three-man teams that they'd like to use in the new game. While there's nothing firm out there on the topic, it seems safe to assume that the new NBA Jam will be a three-on-three game. There's also no confirmation on Mark Turmell's involvement. Turmell, who recently joined EA's Tiburon studio, is one of the men behind the original NBA Jam. The game, however, is being developed in Vancouver at EA Canada.

EA Sports NBA Jam is currently in development for the Wii and scheduled to be released in 2010.    
Jeff Gerstmann on Google+

66 Comments

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AgentofChaos

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Edited By AgentofChaos

HELLLLOOOOO!!!

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Dalai

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Edited By Dalai

Man you're all a bunch of crybabies. I think we all like to see it go multiplatform, but did you ever think that NBA Jam is a great fit for the Wii? Besides I didn't hear anything about this being a Wii exclusive. 
 
Anyway, I might get interested in a NBA game for the first time in years. Just give me a big head mode and a playable Obama, that's all. 
 
HE'S ON FIRE!

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PopeAnonymousVII

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Edited By PopeAnonymousVII
@Dalai said:
" but did you ever think the NBA Jam is a great fit for the Wii? "
No, not really.
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Dalai

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Edited By Dalai
@PopeAnonymousVII said:
" @Dalai said:
" but did you ever think the NBA Jam is a great fit for the Wii? "
No, not really. "
Well I never did either until now. I can see NBA Jam working out well on the Wii, but I don't know if it can live up to its glorious past.
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msdss

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Edited By msdss

I've been wanting this since hang time on the 64.... Unfortunately Nintendo is dead to me, so hopefully this will come out on PSN/XBLA...

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Captain_Insano

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Edited By Captain_Insano
@JJWeatherman said:
" BOOM SHACKA-LACKA! "
yes!
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Buttes

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Edited By Buttes

Only for the Wii? EA, why do you hate making money?

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Xandurson

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Edited By Xandurson

Only for the Wii?! They could make so much money if it's on the 360 and PS3 as well. Maybe not as a full disc release but an XBLA/PSN one would be cool. Even if it was just the original one. Oh well, Wii owners, have fun.

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Spongetwan

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Edited By Spongetwan

They had time to let the franchise rest so this could be a good thing. I was definitely fun back in the day but that was also in large part due to popularity of arcades. I am not sure if the home market with jump to this game franchise and raise it back to the popularity it once had. That being said i haven't seen the game yet so we will see.

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nrain

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Edited By nrain

only for the Wii!? EA must you make me cry :(

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somethingsothi1

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Edited By somethingsothi1

You wii haters make a brotha red with rage. Let the Wii have increduble exclusives like NBA jam, tatsunoko vs. capcom, no more heroes 2 and oh yeah ZELDA MOTHA FUCKA

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mosdef

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Edited By mosdef

I hope they add zero ball detection again so I can hear my favorite line "Puts up a brick................... AND SCORES!"

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stealthdf2

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Edited By stealthdf2

excitement turns to sadness when i saw only for the wii!!
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SgtReznor

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Edited By SgtReznor

 this game is going to suck balls. count on it.

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jakob187

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Edited By jakob187

Sooooo...EA is dropping NBA Street and making NBA Jam instead?  Eh, I can dig. 
 
Wii exclusive, however, is a damn disappointment.  Share the love, suckas! 
 
@dyslekt said:

" Is it good or just nostalgia? "
NBA Jam T.E. is still goddamn awesome!
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zzkidzz

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Edited By zzkidzz
@stealthdf2 said:
" excitement turns to sadness when i saw only for the wii!! "
my feelings exactly