Summer School: What Arcade Titles Could Learn from NBA Jam

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  • RaychelSnr
    Executive Editor
    • Jan 2007
    • 4845

    #1

    Summer School: What Arcade Titles Could Learn from NBA Jam

    Ryan Spencer checks in today and offers up a bit of a summer school lesson for arcade sports game developers on what exactly constitutes a great arcade sports title. He uses the holy grail of arcade sports titles, NBA Jam, as his guide. Check out Spencer's article, Summer School: What Arcade Titles Could Learn from NBA Jam.

    "Perhaps no one is more in need of summertime schooling than makers of arcade sports video games. Recently, arcade publishers have been flunking test after test. Midway’s NBA Ballers: Chosen One was an absolute bomb (which is much different than being “Da Bomb”) and EA Sports’ NFL Tour was equally as bad."
    OS Executive Editor
    Check out my blog here at OS. Add me on Twitter.
  • distauma
    Rookie
    • Apr 2008
    • 28

    #2
    NBA Street wasn't too shabby of a series, keeping it pretty simple. But the game breaker, though innovative, I agree makes the game play very narrow after a while.

    NFL Blitz 2000 and NHL Hitz 2002 were amazing games though...

    Comment

    • Complex
      MVP
      • Oct 2005
      • 2494

      #3
      I think the KISS method is the biggest key. The abilty to pickup n play these types of games is crucial to attract a wide audience. If the game is too compolex it will turn casual gamers off. There are some games that I prefer to keep very simple.
      Follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/complex219

      Comment

      • rspencer86
        MIB Crew
        • Sep 2004
        • 8807

        #4
        Re: Summer School: What Arcade Titles Could Learn from NBA Jam

        Originally posted by distauma
        NBA Street wasn't too shabby of a series, keeping it pretty simple. But the game breaker, though innovative, I agree makes the game play very narrow after a while.

        NFL Blitz 2000 and NHL Hitz 2002 were amazing games though...
        Blitz 2000 and Hitz 2002 are my next two favorite arcade sports games behind NBA Jam. Definitely had a lot of fun with those.
        Ryan Spencer

        University of Missouri '09
        Twitter: @RyanASpencer

        Royals / Chiefs / Kings / Mizzou / Sporting KC


        PSN: MizzouTigerrr
        XBox: MizzouRhino

        Comment

        • rspencer86
          MIB Crew
          • Sep 2004
          • 8807

          #5
          Re: Summer School: What Arcade Titles Could Learn from NBA Jam

          Originally posted by Complex
          I think the KISS method is the biggest key. The abilty to pickup n play these types of games is crucial to attract a wide audience. If the game is too compolex it will turn casual gamers off. There are some games that I prefer to keep very simple.
          You are absolutely right. Arcade games need to remember their roots: in video arcades, where players didn't have the time (or the quarters) necessary to figure out complex control schemes or game mechanics. Sim sports games have the "complex" market cornered anyway, so the focus should be on pick-up-and-playability.
          Ryan Spencer

          University of Missouri '09
          Twitter: @RyanASpencer

          Royals / Chiefs / Kings / Mizzou / Sporting KC


          PSN: MizzouTigerrr
          XBox: MizzouRhino

          Comment

          • BlyGilmore
            Have you seen my baseball
            • Nov 2007
            • 561

            #6
            yeah the gamebreaker stuff is just out of control. all of those street games end up boiling down to who can get the most and that becomes the entire focus of playing.

            IMO you should never have a game where you have to think to yourself "should I try and score here? or just keep hotdogging up around the center court line."
            If you can read this, you don't need glasses.

            Comment

            • seawolves9
              Rookie
              • Dec 2006
              • 346

              #7
              Hitz 02 was extremely fun. Especially when you played with a friend on the same team. The game was just a blast. I don't really remember NBA Jam, but I do remember it being fun as well.

              Comment

              • acarrero
                Pro
                • Nov 2004
                • 432

                #8
                The last arcade game I remember playing significantly is NBA Jam. Best arcade sports game ever. Good article, I agree 100%.

                Comment

                • ddtrane
                  Pro
                  • Jul 2003
                  • 633

                  #9
                  I hope Hitz somehow makes it back in rotation. I really miss that game.

                  Comment

                  • LingeringRegime
                    Hall Of Fame
                    • Jun 2007
                    • 17089

                    #10
                    Re: Summer School: What Arcade Titles Could Learn from NBA Jam

                    It would be nice if they remade NBA Jam for next-gen consoles. If they did it right, it would be very profitable.

                    Comment

                    • DC
                      Hall Of Fame
                      • Oct 2002
                      • 17996

                      #11
                      Re: Summer School: What Arcade Titles Could Learn from NBA Jam

                      NBA Jam is the devil. The reason why so many folks cheese till this day
                      Concrete evidence/videos please

                      Comment

                      • duke776
                        MVP
                        • Nov 2006
                        • 3044

                        #12
                        Re: Summer School: What Arcade Titles Could Learn from NBA Jam

                        Originally posted by DCAllAmerican
                        NBA Jam is the devil. The reason why so many folks cheese till this day
                        I always thought that people would just cheese to win and get a high ranking online.

                        Comment

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