Topic: NBA JAM - BOOOOOOM-SHAKA-LAKA - He's... stopped, dropped and rolled!!!!!

[nickmitch]

I don't think they'll put the HD version on a disc unless they add features from the Wii version. If it's download size, then the disc is just added costs.

[Retro Deckades]

Wow, what mismanagement.

[broodwars]

One thing's for sure: if I'm supposed to pay for the HD version of JAM rather than just getting a glorified demo with NBA Elite, I fully expect to get all the content now.  That's all the features from the Wii version + online content.  They can reprice the Wii version accordingly.

[Adrock]

PS3 version here I come. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow comes out next week. NBA Jam was getting bumped for that reason alone anyway. I just don't have time to devote to more than one game at a time. It might even have gotten bumped past Epic Mickey and Donkey Kong Country Returns. I expect December will likely be when I purchase NBA Jam and it'll probably be out for PS3 by then. Everything is coming up Milhouse.

[Sarail]

Yep. I'm sold on the PS3 version now. If it's gonna be a standalone game, AND I'm going to have to pay for it, you can be pretty sure that the extra content is going to get added in and sold as a retail game.

EA's not dumb enough to put a weaker version of the game out on the HD consoles in comparison to the Wii effort. That's business. I expect the HD version to be sold for $49.99, while the Wii gets its Jam on for $39.99.

[Nemo]

I pre-ordered NBA Jam for Wii today. (Had a $20 credit at amazon.com, so it was only $29.95 for me.)

I don't have a 360 or a PS3, so this is literally my only option.  I loved NBA Jam T.E. for Super Nintendo back in the day and I'm happy that they're even making the game for Wii. It looks like it'll be a fun game, even if the rosters can't be updated and there's no online. I'm glad that I even have the option of getting it. I wish I had that option for Resident Evil 5... and many other games.

[Adrock]

I pre-ordered NBA Jam for Wii today... I don't have a 360 or a PS3, so this is literally my only option.

It's not like we could play against each other online anyway. Lulz.

[Ian Sane]

I'm glad that I even have the option of getting it. I wish I had that option for Resident Evil 5... and many other games.

That's kind of sad.  Originally this was going to be a Wii exclusive and now the bright side of the situation is that at least Wii owners have the option of getting it.  There's just this melancholy defeatism in the whole thing.  Being treated like dirt by third parties is expected.
 
If they expand this to a retail release for the PS3 why would I bother getting the Wii version?  We went from having the only version to potentially having the WORST version.  I'm still interested but I don't want to give EA my business either way.  If I buy the Wii version I'm supporting half-baked Wii versions with missing features.  If I buy the PS3 version I'm giving EA the impression that the Wii is not worth supporting.  If you wanted to rig the situation to provide "evidence" to not support the Wii this is what you would do.  The whole thing just looks like a rigged game.
 
Buy it used.  **** 'em.

[Adrock]

As a Wii owner, it's a bummer. As a gamer, I still win because I own a PS3 as well. It's hard for me to be upset about this. I was planning on getting the Wii version despite the lack of online multiplayer since I like owning physical media (I'm making ONE exception next week for Shantae: Risky's Revenge on DSiWare; I've slowly become a big Wayforward fan), but if the PS3 version is just the Wii version with HD and online multiplayer, consumerism ultimately wins out. I'm a fan of value.

[TJ Spyke]

I'm glad that I even have the option of getting it. I wish I had that option for Resident Evil 5... and many other games.

That's kind of sad.  Originally this was going to be a Wii exclusive and now the bright side of the situation is that at least Wii owners have the option of getting it.  There's just this melancholy defeatism in the whole thing.  Being treated like dirt by third parties is expected.
 
If they expand this to a retail release for the PS3 why would I bother getting the Wii version?  We went from having the only version to potentially having the WORST version. I'm still interested but I don't want to give EA my business either way. If I buy the Wii version I'm supporting half-baked Wii versions with missing features. If I buy the PS3 version I'm giving EA the impression that the Wii is not worth supporting. If you wanted to rig the situation to provide "evidence" to not support the Wii this is what you would do. The whole thing just looks like a rigged game.
 
Buy it used.  **** 'em.

The PS3 and 360 versions will be missing big features, the only thing the Wii version might be missing is online (which isn't a big deal). Besides, EA will probably try and put in that idiotic Online Pass system.

[BlackNMild2k1]

If EA is releasing this as a stand alone HD retail product, I'm sure they will put in all the missing features that were once Wii exclusive before.

Online pass or no Online pass, the HD version will likely be the best, but late version of the game.

[BeautifulShy]

I think until we get some real info about the 360 and PS3 anything else is idle speculation.

[UncleBob]

From Kotaku:

Pachter doesn't think the separate availability of NBA Jam on other consoles will seriously harm its overall sales - though it could do damage to the Wii-only figures for those keeping score there. "We expected Jam to do only 500,000 units on the Wii, and the impact from release on other platforms will impact only those households who have multiple consoles, and then only to the extent that they weren't going to buy NBA Elite for PS3 or 360, but intended to buy Jam on the Wii." Pachter told Kotaku, "In short, maybe 100,000 units on the Wii, but more than offset by sales on the other consoles."

[TJ Spyke]

Does anyone care what Pachter says anymore? He is almost never right.

[vudu]

I don't think they'll put the HD version on a disc unless they add features from the Wii version. If it's download size, then the disc is just added costs.

Report - Only 6% of Gamers Download Content

According to a new report by market research firm NPD Group, only six percent of total gamers in the U.S. have downloaded content through home gaming consoles.

How's that for a reason to put the game on a disc?

[broodwars]

I don't think they'll put the HD version on a disc unless they add features from the Wii version. If it's download size, then the disc is just added costs.

Report - Only 6% of Gamers Download Content

According to a new report by market research firm NPD Group, only six percent of total gamers in the U.S. have downloaded content through home gaming consoles.

How's that for a reason to put the game on a disc?

Personally, I find that survey a little suspect.  Where did they survey?  What was their survey size and their age range?  What consoles did those surveyed own?  Does "downloaded content" cover both DLC and digitally-distributed games or just DLC?
 
I'm sure the numbers are low, but I find it unlikely that we would keep seeing all these digitally-distributed games and DLC if those purchasing them really were that low.  I'd also point out that you can make statistics say whatever you want to say, and it's in NPD's best interests to skew a survey against digitally-distributed content because they don't keep sales numbers for digital content.  No one would purchase NPD's services if games were drifting towards digital distribution.
 
As for JAM, PS3 and 360 owners are far more likely to purchase a game digitally than Wii owners and there's no brick & mortar to go through, so I don't see how this "study" would prove that it's not worthwhile to go-digitally only for those versions.

[TJ Spyke]

Yeah, but that number includes people who only own a Wii. Several DLC content packs have sold more than 1 million on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3  For example, both Battlefield 1943 and Trials HD sold over 1 million on Xbox Live Arcade.Let's say EA Sports did the same with NBA Jam and charged $20, that is $20 million. Assuming Microsoft and Sony take 30%, that is still $14 million for EA. Somehow I doubt it cost EA that much to port the game, I bet even 100K copies would make a profit for them.

Maybe they will sell more at retail, but it is more than possible to make a lot of money through digital sales.

[vudu]

No doubt that it's a little suspect.  Later in the article is the following quote:

"Today's gamer might be a hard-core teen-ager playing games online with his friends, a 40-something female playing Farmville on Facebook, or everything on either side of that spectrum," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier.

A 40-something female playing Farmville on Facebook is considered a gamer but there's a pretty good chance she doesn't own a gaming console.

I just posted the link because it shows that the download market isn't as large as the retail market.  Even if you triple or quadruple the 6% figure, it's still a small fraction of the market you'd be able to sell to if the game were on a disc.

[Ian Sane]

I think the decision to release it as a download or a retail release depends on EA's goals here.  Cancelling NBA Elite is going to affect their bottom line.  Maybe the plan is to just salvage something by putting the originally planned NBA Jam download as a standalone download title.  Putting it on a disc involves extra costs and they would have to put those Wii features in the game.  If the plan is to turn this into a multiplatform retail title then that's the ideal way to go.  But if they're just trying to turn lemons into lemonade then just getting the download title out there without spending any more money makes sense.

[DAaaMan64]

Just wait for Mario Sports Mix? It might be better than Jam. Though its not NBA Jam...

[Ian Sane]

Eh, part of NBA Jam's appeal was the style.  The crazy dunks, the announcer yelling "FROM DOWNTOWN", the ball going on fire, wacky secret characters like the President - this was all part of the package.  It isn't just the gameplay.  Mario Sports Mix will not have the style of NBA Jam so it wouldn't be the same.

When I was 12 NBA Jam was super cool.  Nothing seemed goofy or ironic about it at all.  Everything about it was awesome.  As much as I love Mario, Mario has NEVER been cool.

[TJ Spyke]

As much as I love Mario, Mario has NEVER been cool.

When I was a kid, Mario was universally accepted as the coolest character in video games.

[Ian Sane]

When I was a kid, Mario was universally accepted as the coolest character in video games.

When I was a kid Mario was popular in that his games were considered really good but he wasn't cool.  Sonic was cool.  Ryu was cool.  The Doom guy was cool.  Scorpion was cool.  Donkey Kong was cool because of the pre-rendered graphics.     Mega Man and Samus had freakin' GUN ARMS which along with being a ninja was a universal sign of coolness back in 1990.  That and being a cyborg.
 
I think one can be popular and well liked but still not be cool if that makes sense.

[broodwars]

When I was a kid, Mario was universally accepted as the coolest character in video games.

When I was a kid Mario was popular in that his games were considered really good but he wasn't cool.  Sonic was cool.  Ryu was cool.  The Doom guy was cool.  Scorpion was cool.  Donkey Kong was cool because of the pre-rendered graphics.     Mega Man and Samus had freakin' GUN ARMS which along with being a ninja was a universal sign of coolness back in 1990.  That and being a cyborg.

In other words, everything that 90s Kid adores.   

[Nemo]

That's kind of sad.  Originally this was going to be a Wii exclusive and now the bright side of the situation is that at least Wii owners have the option of getting it.  There's just this melancholy defeatism in the whole thing.  Being treated like dirt by third parties is expected.

I totally agree with what you're saying.

Even if the situation were reversed, if a PS3/360 version was announced first with online and HD, followed by the Wii version lacking features... even in that situation, it'd still be an improvement over the "normal" treatment. What do I mean by "normal" treatment? I mean getting side games that are crap, like Soul Calibur Legends (instead of Soul Calibur 3) or more often than not, simply not getting a popular series at all.

So, I'm glad to be getting a premier game from a quality series for Wii, one that's not a side-game or dumbed down to be family-friendly or anything like that.