Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

[sammcculloch]

Why were they more willing to spend money on a Wii exclusive game when this, in my mind, was the best EA sports game of the year

[ehh]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

$

[Behindshadows]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

Who knows, bad priorities and trying to revive old game names. No one cares about NBA Jam anymore. Especially not people who have Wii's.

You would think the 360 and PS3 would have gotten the game, considering the adults who grew up playing NBA Jam would have respected the game more. Either way, canceling this game was jacked up and again we all lose in this poor decision.

[ianlast]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

$

This.

NBA Jam will just flat-out be more profitable. Poor sales + expensive licensing costs and production = death sentence for a game.

[kcxiv]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

cheaper to make and they believe it will sell better on the wii then ncaa did on the ps3 and 360.

they are in it to make money not lose money. I am guessing they lost some nice change in ncaa hoops this year.

[whittleboy615]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

This.

NBA Jam will just flat-out be more profitable. Poor sales + expensive licensing costs and production = death sentence for a game.

I highly doubt it. The Wii just isn't a good console for basketball games.

It could be that there is some kind of clause in EA's contract that an NBA game needs to come out for every console. I know Madden has a clause like that.

Edit:
Or maybe you are right now that I think about it. NBA Jam definitely won't sell more copies than NCAA Basketball, but its license is already paid for with Live's contract, so it won't be an extra financial burden that way.

[wrigleyville33]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

I highly doubt nba jam will sell more then ncaa. Nba jam is ONLY on the wii, and do you think little kids would know to ask their moms to buy the game for them if they don't even know if its coming out?... If ea marketed ncaa, it would have sold much more copies. It's a shame because my friends and I have a great time playing each other in this game. It had so much potential. It's also frustrating that ea is putting efforts into 3 fighting games. Who cares about fighting games? One mma game is enough, who would want a slimmed down second one?

[mrclutch]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

You got it right on the marketing. Has anyone seen a commercial (or any advertising) for this game in the last 3 months.

Hmmm...when would be a good time to market this game?
Seems like I heard about a tournament. When was that, March?

I haven't bought the game yet. Just waiting on a commercial to light my impulse fire.

[ianlast]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

I highly doubt it. The Wii just isn't a good console for basketball games.

It could be that there is some kind of clause in EA's contract that an NBA game needs to come out for every console. I know Madden has a clause like that.

Edit:
Or maybe you are right now that I think about it. NBA Jam definitely won't sell more copies than NCAA Basketball, but its license is already paid for with Live's contract, so it won't be an extra financial burden that way.

Also, you've got to consider the marketing aspects. I'm choked that they're ditching NCAA and "replacing" it with NBA Jam. But then I think of all the people who have never sat through an entire b-ball game in their life, but who would love to get their hands on NBA Jam as a fun party game, and also because of the name brand recognition.

It's just the realities of the market. EA Sports can't afford to make niche games anymore, they've got to go with recognized brands and mass appeal.

[grunt]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

I remember EA college basketball game use to come out closer to March Madness. I remember the PS1 college game when Tim Duncan was on the cover.

[GHUGHES]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

Its safe to say Top men at EA aren't making very smart moves right now NCAA 10 is a very good game IMO. Oh well he is on fire

[whittleboy615]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

Also, you've got to consider the marketing aspects. I'm choked that they're ditching NCAA and "replacing" it with NBA Jam. But then I think of all the people who have never sat through an entire b-ball game in their life, but who would love to get their hands on NBA Jam as a fun party game, and also because of the name brand recognition.

I doubt there are that many people who want NBA Jam as a party game. Those types of casual gamers really aren't going to recognize its name from the SNES days. From the looks of it, I think it will market more to kids with a Wii who want an arcade basketball game.

It's probably just a cheap title to produce and a good way to maximally utilize EA's NBA license. And its very possible that a Wii NBA game was mandatory to fulfill a contractual obligation.

[whittleboy615]

Re: Why did they cancel this for Wii exclusive NBA Jam

You got it right on the marketing. Has anyone seen a commercial (or any advertising) for this game in the last 3 months.

Hmmm...when would be a good time to market this game?
Seems like I heard about a tournament. When was that, March?

There is little reason to actively market a dead game with no future. Commercials on national TV are expensive.

Anyway, I'm sure it will get some plugs by ESPN announcers sometime during the tournament. They usually do a few EA Sports simulations.