NBA Jam (Euro, USA)

Sega Megadrive 1993 Arena
NBA Jam is a basketball arcade game developed by Midway in 1993. It is the first entry in the NBA Jam series. The main designer and programmer for this game was Mark Turmell. Midway had previously released such sports games as Arch Rivals in 1989, High Impact in 1990, and Super High Impact in 1991. The gameplay of NBA Jam is based on Arch Rivals, another 2-on-2 basketball video game. However, it was the release of NBA Jam that brought mainstream success to the genre.

The game became exceptionally popular, and generated a significant amount of money for arcades after its release, creating revenue of $1 billion in quarters.

The release of NBA Jam gave rise to a new genre of sports games which were based around fast, action-packed gameplay and exaggerated realism, a formula which Midway would also later apply to the sports of football (NFL Blitz), and hockey (2 on 2 Open Ice Challenge).

NBA Jam, which featured 2-on-2 basketball, is one of the first real playable basketball arcade games, and is also one of the first sports games to feature NBA-licensed teams and players, and their real digitized likenesses.

A key feature of NBA Jam is the exaggerated nature of the play - players jump many times above their own height, making slam dunks that defy both human capabilities and the laws of physics. There are no fouls, free throws, or violations except goaltending and 24-second violations. This meant the player is able to freely shove or elbow his opponent out of the way. Additionally, the game has an "on fire" feature, where if one player makes three baskets in a row, he becomes "on fire" and has unlimited turbo and has increased shooting precision. The "on fire" mode continues until the other team scores, or until the player who is on fire scores 4 additional consecutive baskets while "on fire."

The game is filled with easter eggs, special features and players activated by initials or button/joystick combinations. For example, pressing A five times and right five times on any Sega Genesis controller would activate "Super Clean Floors". This feature would cause characters to fall if they ran too fast or changed direction too quickly. And players can enter special codes to unlock hidden players, ranging from US President Bill Clinton to Hugo the Charlotte Hornets mascot. Early versions of the sequel, NBA Jam Tournament Edition, allows players to put in codes that allow people to play as characters from Mortal Kombat, but the NBA, uneasy over the controversies surrounding Mortal Kombat's levels of violence, forced Midway to remove these characters in later updates. On the arcade machine, there is also a hidden 'tank' game that allows you to run around a 3D wireframe field. In order to access this mode however, you were required to be able to toggle the on/off switch located behind the machine. While the game was powering back on, you would hold Up + all buttons on player 1 and Down + all buttons on player 2.
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Contents of the ROM :

Technical

CPU
  • maincpu 68000 (@ 7 Mhz)
  • genesis_snd_z80 Z80 (@ 3 Mhz)
Chipset
  • YM2612 (@ 7 Mhz)
  • SEGA VDP PSG (@ 3 Mhz)
Display
  • Orientation Yoko
  • Resolution 255 x 224
  • Frequency 50 Hz
Controlers
  • Number of players 4
  • Number of buttons 7
  • Kind of controler joy (8 ways)
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NBA Jam (Euro, USA) Screenshots

NBA Jam (Euro, USA) - Screen 1
NBA Jam (Euro, USA) - Screen 2
NBA Jam (Euro, USA) - Screen 3
NBA Jam (Euro, USA) - Screen 4
NBA Jam (Euro, USA) - Screen 5

Clones of NBA Jam (Euro, USA)

Featured teams and players

The original arcade version of NBA Jam features team rosters from the 1992-93 NBA season and the console versions use rosters from the 1993-94 NBA season. More up-to-date rosters were available in subsequent ports released for the Sega CD, Game Boy, and Game Gear in 1994. Midway did not secure the license to use Michael Jordan's name or likeness (as Jordan himself owns the rights to his name and likeness, and not the NBA), and as such he was not available as a player for the Chicago Bulls or any other team. Other notable absences from the home versions are Gary Payton and Shaquille O'Neal, the latter conspicuous considering his appearance on the arcade version as a member of the Orlando Magic. New Jersey Nets guard Dražen Petrović and Boston Celtics forward Reggie Lewis, both of whom died after the release of the arcade version, were also removed from the home versions.

Note: Some home console versions of NBA Jam were coded later than others, and as a result of real-life roster changes or in the cases of Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal, legal reasons, some rosters differ from version to version.

Eastern Conference


TeamArcadeSNES/GenesisSega CDGame BoyGame Gear
Atlanta HawksDominique Wilkins and Stacey AugmonDominique Wilkins and Stacey AugmonStacey Augmon and Mookie BlaylockStacey Augmon and Mookie BlaylockDominique Wilkins and Stacey Augmon
Boston CelticsReggie Lewis and Kevin McHaleDee Brown and Robert ParishDee Brown and Dominique WilkinsDee Brown and Dominique WilkinsDee Brown and Robert Parish
Charlotte HornetsLarry Johnson and Kendall GillLarry Johnson and Alonzo MourningLarry Johnson and Alonzo MourningLarry Johnson and Alonzo MourningLarry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning
Chicago BullsScottie Pippen and Horace GrantScottie Pippen and Horace GrantScottie Pippen and B.J. ArmstrongScottie Pippen and Horace GrantScottie Pippen and Horace Grant
Cleveland CavaliersMark Price and Brad DaughertyMark Price and Brad DaughertyMark Price and Brad DaughertyMark Price and Brad DaughertyMark Price and Brad Daugherty
Detroit PistonsIsiah Thomas and Bill LaimbeerIsiah Thomas and Bill LaimbeerTerry Mills and Joe DumarsTerry Mills and Joe DumarsIsiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer
Indiana PacersReggie Miller and Detlef SchrempfReggie Miller and Derrick McKeyReggie Miller and Rik SmitsReggie Miller and Rik SmitsReggie Miller and Derrick McKey
Milwaukee BucksBrad Lohaus and Blue EdwardsBrad Lohaus and Blue EdwardsVin Baker and Eric MurdockVin Baker and Eric MurdockBrad Lohaus and Blue Edwards
Miami HeatRony Seikaly and Glen RiceRony Seikaly and Harold MinerRony Seikaly and Glen RiceRony Seikaly and Glen RiceRony Seikaly and Harold Miner
New Jersey NetsDerrick Coleman and Dražen PetrovićDerrick Coleman and Kenny AndersonDerrick Coleman and Kenny AndersonDerrick Coleman and Kenny AndersonDerrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson
New York KnicksPatrick Ewing and Charles OakleyPatrick Ewing and John StarksPatrick Ewing and John StarksPatrick Ewing and John StarksPatrick Ewing and John Starks
Orlando MagicShaquille O'Neal and Scott SkilesNick Anderson and Scott SkilesNick Anderson and Penny HardawayNick Anderson and Penny HardawayNick Anderson and Scott Skiles
Philadelphia 76ersHersey Hawkins and Jeff HornacekClarence Weatherspoon and Jeff HornacekClarence Weatherspoon and Jeff MaloneClarence Weatherspoon and Jeff MaloneClarence Weatherspoon and Jeff Hornacek
Washington BulletsTom Gugliotta and Harvey GrantTom Gugliotta and Harvey GrantTom Gugliotta and Calbert CheaneyTom Gugliotta and Calbert CheaneyTom Gugliotta and Harvey Grant
Dražen Petrović was killed in a car crash between the release of the arcade version and the home ports. NBA Jam is said to be haunted by Petrović, due to a bug causing his last name to be randomly called out by the announcer.

Shaquille O'Neal appears only in the arcade version because his likeness was no longer licensed by the NBA by the time the home console versions were developed, and the cost was too high to include him in the game (much like Michael Jordan).

Western Conference


TeamArcadeSNES/GenesisSega CDGame BoyGame Gear
Dallas MavericksDerek Harper and Mike IuzzolinoDerek Harper and Jim JacksonJim Jackson and Jamal MashburnJim Jackson and Jamal MashburnDerek Harper and Jim Jackson
Denver NuggetsDikembe Mutombo and LaPhonso EllisDikembe Mutombo and LaPhonso EllisDikembe Mutombo and Mahmoud Abdul-RaufDikembe Mutombo and Mahmoud Abdul-RaufDikembe Mutombo and LaPhonso Ellis
Golden State WarriorsTim Hardaway and Chris MullinTim Hardaway and Chris MullinChris Webber and Latrell SprewellChris Webber and Latrell SprewellTim Hardaway and Chris Mullin
Houston RocketsHakeem Olajuwon and Kenny SmithHakeem Olajuwon and Vernon MaxwellHakeem Olajuwon and Vernon MaxwellHakeem Olajuwon and Vernon MaxwellHakeem Olajuwon and Vernon Maxwell
Los Angeles ClippersDanny Manning and Ron HarperDanny Manning and Ron HarperPooh Richardson and Ron HarperPooh Richardson and Ron HarperDanny Manning and Ron Harper
Los Angeles LakersByron Scott and Sam PerkinsJames Worthy and Vlade DivacByron Scott and A.C. GreenSam Perkins and A.C. GreenJames Worthy and Vlade Divac
Minnesota TimberwolvesChristian Laettner and Chuck PersonChristian Laettner and Chuck PersonChristian Laettner and Isaiah RiderChristian Laettner and Isaiah RiderChristian Laettner and Chuck Person
Phoenix SunsCharles Barkley and Dan MajerleCharles Barkley and Kevin JohnsonDan Majerle and Kevin JohnsonDan Majerle and Kevin JohnsonDan Majerle and Kevin Johnson
Portland Trail BlazersClyde Drexler and Terry PorterClyde Drexler and Terry PorterClyde Drexler and Cliff RobinsonClyde Drexler and Cliff RobinsonClyde Drexler and Terry Porter
Sacramento KingsWayman Tisdale and Spud WebbWayman Tisdale and Mitch RichmondWayman Tisdale and Mitch RichmondWayman Tisdale and Mitch RichmondWayman Tisdale and Mitch Richmond
San Antonio SpursDavid Robinson and Sean ElliottDavid Robinson and Sean ElliottDavid Robinson and Chuck PersonDavid Robinson and Dale EllisDavid Robinson and Dale Ellis
Seattle SuperSonicsShawn Kemp and Benoit BenjaminShawn Kemp and Detlef SchrempfShawn Kemp and Detlef SchrempfShawn Kemp and Detlef SchrempfShawn Kemp and Detlef Schrempf
Utah JazzKarl Malone and John StocktonKarl Malone and John StocktonKarl Malone and John StocktonKarl Malone and John StocktonKarl Malone and John Stockton
Some earlier cartridges of the SNES, Sega Genesis, and Sega Game Gear versions have Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson on the Phoenix Suns; however, later versions replaced Barkley with Dan Majerle because Midway lost the rights to include Barkley when Accolade developed Barkley Shut Up and Jam!.

Development

The game was devised after Midway's previous arcade release Total Carnage failed to meet sales expectations. Lead designer and programmer Turmell wanted to develop a game with a wider appeal and decided to mix the digitized graphics of some of Midway's previous titles to create a title similar to Midway's previous basketball game Arch Rivals. Midway was able to procure a license from the NBA, paying royalties of $100 for each unit sold. In Midway's original pitch video to the NBA, they stated that they planned on including various additional features. These included different camera angles, tips from coaches, instant replays and a first-person view on fast breaks. None of these features were included in the final game. The graphics for the NBA players were created from digitized video footage of several amateur basketball players, including future NBA player Stephen Howard. These players were available as secret characters in certain versions of the game.

In 2008, Turmell confirmed a long held suspicion that the game had a bias against the Chicago Bulls. According to Turmell, a Detroit Pistons fan, the game was programmed such that the Bulls would miss last-second shots in close games against the Pistons.

Sequels/spin-offs

NBA Jam Tournament Edition


An update named NBA Jam Tournament Edition (commonly referred to as NBA Jam T.E.) featured updated rosters, new features and easter eggs combined with the same gameplay of the original. Teams now consisted of three players (with the exception of the new "Rookies" team, which consists of five players, all picked in the 1994 NBA Draft) and players could be substituted into the game at half time. The game also featured new hidden teams and hidden playable characters. Early versions of the game included characters from Midway's Mortal Kombat games. Players were also assigned more attributes, including clutch and fatigue levels. In addition, the game also introduced features such as a "Tournament" mode that turned off computer assistance and on-court hot spots that allowed for additional points or special slam dunks.

This version was also ported to the SNES, Genesis, 32X, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Saturn, PlayStation and Atari Jaguar.

Ports and follow-ups


The NBA Jam games were ported to many video game consoles as well as PC, beginning with the original's debut on the highly-publicized Jam Day (March 4, 1994). Console versions were well known for featuring many new secret characters; the home versions of Jam T.E. even allowed the player to use then President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and Atari's Vice President of Software Development Leonard Tramiel on the Atari Jaguar version. Acclaim published the console versions and later ended up winning the exclusive rights to use the NBA Jam name.

Acclaim used the name on NBA Jam Extreme in 1996, a 3D version of Jam which featured Marv Albert doing commentary. The game was a flop in comparison to Midway's version released that same year, rechristened NBA Hangtime. Hangtime added a create-a-player option to the usual batch of new features combined with classic, but refined NBA Jam gameplay. An update called NBA Maximum Hangtime was subsequently released.

In 1995, Acclaim released a collegiate version of NBA Jam for home consoles entitled College Slam. Although the game was created to capitalize on the popularity of March Madness and the subsequent Final Four, it did not enjoy the popularity of the earlier NBA Jam games.

However, the idea was not quite dead as Midway passed it to their other sports games. This included the hockey games 2 on 2 Open Ice Challenge and Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey. Midway produced successors to the series with 3-D graphics, NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC and NBA Hoopz. Acclaim continued to keep the NBA Jam name alive with its console games, although the games were only mildly popular.

After making the switch to develop console games exclusively, Midway used Jam's idea on several other sports, with NFL Blitz, NHL Hitz, MLB Slugfest, and RedCard 20-03. Many of Jam's influences remained in their games including the NBA Ballers series.

On October 5th, 2010, EA Sports released a new version of NBA Jam for the Wii. The game was later ported to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2010. Original NBA Jam creator Mark Turmell was hired to work on this new version in conjunction with EA Vancouver. Following the game's critical and commercial success, a follow-up, NBA Jam: On Fire Edition was released on October 4th, 2011 on PSN and XBLA on October 5th, 2011.

Popular culture

In popular sports culture, the phrases "He's heating up", "He's on fire" and "Boomshakalaka!" are identified with NBA Jam. In the game these catch-phrases describe when a player hit two or three shots in a row. When a player is "on fire", the ball literally catches fire and singes the net. Voiced by Tim Kitzrow, the announcer is reminiscent of Marv Albert and has contributed numerous memorable lines to the basketball lexicon.The NBA Jam script was written solely by Jon Hey.

NBA Jam also incorporated a slogan from Spike Lee's alter-ego in his 1986 film She's Gotta Have It, Mars Blackmon, who was also featured in a Nike basketball shoe television commercial at the time. The NBA Jam commentator asked, "Is it the shoes?" after a player performed spectacularly.

The upbeat, funky music written by Jon Hey was inspired by sports music themes and has been compared to George Clinton's P-Funk All Stars. Funkadelic's 1979 "(Not Just) Knee Deep" shares the most similarity with the music of NBA Jam but was recorded more than a decade before NBA Jam's music was written. The likeness of George Clinton was used as the character "P. Funk" in the console versions of NBA Jam: Tournament Edition.

In July 2009, Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon revealed (on Twitter) that a Mortal Kombat court was to be hidden in a console port of NBA Jam or NBA Hangtime.
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