Topic: No Online Play for NBA Jam on Wii

[NWR_Neal]

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 version that comes with new copies of NBA Elite 11 will have online play, though.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/23990

There will be no online support for NBA Jam on Wii, according to a Twitter post from EA Sports Community Manager Alain Quinto.

This follows the development team's comments about how they would only have online if they could get it working well. Various progress reports said they couldn't get it running at 60 frames per second, which is something Creative Director Trey Smith was adamant about maintaining in online play.

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 version of the game, which comes with new copies of NBA Elite 11, will feature online play, along with exhibition and the classic campaign.

NBA Jam is set for an October 5 release date, and is currently listed for $49.99 at most retailers. In addition to the classic campaign, it will also feature a robust Remix mode that adds boss battles and more brand new modes.

[Retro Deckades]

Wow.

[BlackNMild2k1]

If they could have locked a solid 30fps, that would be better than no online.

so as I said in the other thread earlier, this better be a $30 release.

[NWR_Neal]

so as I said in the other thread earlier, this better be a $30 release.

Part of the reason why I point out that it's still listed as $50 in the news story.

I'm still excited for the game, and I have faith in the Remix mode and cadre of unlockables that are exclusive to the Wii version (I think/hope), but this might leave a bad taste in the internet fan base's mouths. I might still be there day one, and our man Andy will most certainly be there to review it, but this does kind of suck.

[MegaByte]

I have to wonder just what aspect of the system is making it so they can't hit their mark.  Is it Wii system resources or the network code?

[BlackNMild2k1]

what burns even more than the no online on the Wii version is the fact that they are giving the online version away for free with NBA Elite on PS360 yet the Wii version is still listed @ $50 retail.

that price HAS to come down.

[Flames_of_chaos]

I really think EA is just being lazy considering that a majority of EA Sports games on Wii have online functions.

[NWR_Neal]

I really think EA is just being lazy considering that a majority of EA Sports games on Wii have online functions.

I highly doubt that, especially since most of those EA Sports games have really terrible online (not in terms of lag but in terms of content)

[broodwars]

I really don't know why this should be a surprise to anyone.  Considering the Wii's weak online infrastructure and the lack of Wii owners taking their Wiis online (as Nintendo has openly admitted), I wouldn't have expected online support for NBA JAM.  It's disappointing considering it's a functionality that the HD consoles are getting for free, but considering the technical problems with Wii online play I'm not sure it could have been avoided or desired.

NBA JAM has a lot to live up to on Wii now.  Most of the features anyone cares about are going to be available for free (with the purchase of NBA Elite), so a lot rests on the game's pricing and the strength of the Wii-exclusive Remix mode.

[Mop it up]

I have to wonder just what aspect of the system is making it so they can't hit their mark.  Is it Wii system resources or the network code?

I think it's just general incompetence. Mario Strikers Charged has a setup pretty similar to NBA Jam, in that it has a field/court which doesn't move much, and probably the same number of moving characters, and it runs pretty smoothly online. It is region-restricted, sure, which may help it run better, but I don't think anyone really cares that much about that.

Considering the Wii's weak online infrastructure

It's only as weak or as strong as the developer chooses it to be.

[broodwars]

Considering the Wii's weak online infrastructure

It's only as weak or as strong as the developer chooses it to be.

Quite true, but Nintendo didn't do anyone any favors when it designed the Wii's online features.

At the moment, I'm not sure which version of the game I'll play.  If the version that comes with Elite lets me take my dream team of John Stockton and Karl Malone (with Deron Williams playing backup) against Jordan and Pippen (with Rodman playing backup), I'll go with that since it's free.  If only the Wii version lets me do that, I'll get that one.  I'm still somewhat indifferent about NBA Elite, so that's not a huge deciding factor.

[BeautifulShy]

I really don't know why this should be a surprise to anyone.  Considering the Wii's weak online infrastructure and the lack of Wii owners taking their Wiis online (as Nintendo has openly admitted), I wouldn't have expected online support for NBA JAM.  It's disappointing considering it's a functionality that the HD consoles are getting for free, but considering the technical problems with Wii online play I'm not sure it could have been avoided or desired.

NBA JAM has a lot to live up to on Wii now.  Most of the features anyone cares about are going to be available for free (with the purchase of NBA Elite), so a lot rests on the game's pricing and the strength of the Wii-exclusive Remix mode.

Got a link to that statement Broodwars?

[Jonnyboy117]

This is a PR nightmare. The average dumbass holiday shopper may still buy the Wii version for $50, but gamers will not. It just breeds contempt for the company, of which EA could already use less.

[broodwars]

I really don't know why this should be a surprise to anyone.  Considering the Wii's weak online infrastructure and the lack of Wii owners taking their Wiis online (as Nintendo has openly admitted), I wouldn't have expected online support for NBA JAM.  It's disappointing considering it's a functionality that the HD consoles are getting for free, but considering the technical problems with Wii online play I'm not sure it could have been avoided or desired.

NBA JAM has a lot to live up to on Wii now.  Most of the features anyone cares about are going to be available for free (with the purchase of NBA Elite), so a lot rests on the game's pricing and the strength of the Wii-exclusive Remix mode.

Got a link to that statement Broodwars?

Not a new one, no.  It's just something that's come up from Nintendo whenever they've discussed the Virtual Console and WiiWare (remember the program they initiated to try to get people to bring their friends online via promotions with the Wii Shop Channel in Europe?).  Unfortunately, that's as far as I can discuss the matter.

[Mop it up]

Just because as many people as Nintendo would like aren't using the Shop Channel doesn't show who is and isn't playing games online. Unfortunately there aren't very many facts out there on the matter, so a lot of it is conjecture. I would point out that the best-selling online-enabled game of all time is on Wii (Mario Kart Wii), but there's no way to know exactly how many people play it online or purchased it for that purpose.

[Retro Deckades]

At the moment, I'm not sure which version of the game I'll play.  If the version that comes with Elite lets me take my dream team of John Stockton and Karl Malone (with Deron Williams playing backup) against Jordan and Pippen (with Rodman playing backup), I'll go with that since it's free.  If only the Wii version lets me do that, I'll get that one.  I'm still somewhat indifferent about NBA Elite, so that's not a huge deciding factor.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no way that Jordan will be in this game. As far as I recall, Jordan has never been in a basketball video game that I have played (and no, Chaos in the Windy City does not count). Besides, the big deal about NBA 2K11 is that Jordan IS in that game, isn't it?

[FZeroBoyo]

Losing Wii-exclusive status, now losing online play. It seems that fans of the original would say that this title has lost significant value. 

[BlackNMild2k1]

At the moment, I'm not sure which version of the game I'll play.  If the version that comes with Elite lets me take my dream team of John Stockton and Karl Malone (with Deron Williams playing backup) against Jordan and Pippen (with Rodman playing backup), I'll go with that since it's free.  If only the Wii version lets me do that, I'll get that one.  I'm still somewhat indifferent about NBA Elite, so that's not a huge deciding factor.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no way that Jordan will be in this game. As far as I recall, Jordan has never been in a basketball video game that I have played (and no, Chaos in the Windy City does not count). Besides, the big deal about NBA 2K11 is that Jordan IS in that game, isn't it?

If I remember correctly, and I think it was mentioned in the NBA Jam thread, but Jordan was in an Arcade version of NBA Jam back in the day. But I doubt he'll be in this version since he just signed to be on the cover of some 2K Sports BBall game.


edit:

A little piece of trivia Jordan was in the arcade version of NBA Jam back in the day but it was like the early version of NBA Jam.

[Dasmos]

Ugh. I'm probably just going to get the PS3 version now.

[Jonnyboy117]

Dasmos, your avatar is scarier than BnM's, and that's saying something.

[Dasmos]

You don't like Kirby?

[BlackNMild2k1]

Dasmos, your avatar is scarier than BnM's, and that's saying something.

Do buff black men scare you?

[Flames_of_chaos]

I still think this is hilarious since EA typically doesn't even use Nintendo Wi-Fi, they use EA Nation.  It's even funnier that Konami recently came out swinging with how they are improving PES 2011 on Wii and one of their improvements this year is improved Nintendo Wi-Fi support. I know it's different sports but Wii is more than capable of providing a good online experience if the developers put effort into it.  Just look at the stuff Capcom did with Monster Hunter Tri, that game has arguably one of the best online modes on Wii period.


Seriously though, EA needs to stop being lazy on Wii.

[Pale]

EA are masters of making online work for sports games. They've done it for years.


They have online working in the PS3/360 versions.


It doesn't work on Wii.


We constantly hear stories about online sucking on Wii.


Nintendo as a first party has even had failures (Smash Bros.).


How exactly are we making the logical leap that this is somehow because EA is lazy?

[that Baby guy]

EA are masters of making online work for sports games. They've done it for years.


They have online working in the PS3/360 versions.


It doesn't work on Wii.


We constantly hear stories about online sucking on Wii.


Nintendo as a first party has even had failures (Smash Bros.).


How exactly are we making the logical leap that this is somehow because EA is lazy?

I have to wonder just what aspect of the system is making it so they can't hit their mark.  Is it Wii system resources or the network code?

I think it's just general incompetence. Mario Strikers Charged has a setup pretty similar to NBA Jam, in that it has a field/court which doesn't move much, and probably the same number of moving characters, and it runs pretty smoothly online. It is region-restricted, sure, which may help it run better, but I don't think anyone really cares that much about that.

Considering the Wii's weak online infrastructure

It's only as weak or as strong as the developer chooses it to be.