Hey guys, I’m Yaw (pronounced as “yao” like Yao Ming) and I’m the NBA Community Manager from Electronic Arts Canada. I work alongside the EA SPORTS: NBA ELITE and NBA JAM development teams. We have exciting news to share with all of you today — three modes of NBA JAM will be included with your purchase of NBA ELITE.
This year, our team at EA SPORTS wanted to create the ultimate basketball experience for PS3 owners. If you’ve been following all the news and updates on NBA ELITE, then the first thing that you’ve seen is the game is no longer called NBA LIVE. So why the name change?
Well, we believe that NBA ELITE will revolutionize the way you think, feel and play basketball video games — forever. The dev team is driving never seen before innovation in the form of a number of features that are radically different than what you have seen in previous NBA games. The first change you will see is in the revised control scheme: Hands-On Control. This year you have full control over everything in the game; from offense to defense. Your shooting is based on skill (not on the dice roll of hitting a button and letting the AI determine your success.) Dribbling is one-to-one movement, you can link moves together seamlessly like; euro-steps, dunk adjusts, spins-moves and so much more.
The second major revolutionary innovation you’re going to see is the inclusion of real physics driving the game. We’re leveraging the physics animation technology that drove NHL, FIFA and even Fight Night into the upper echelons of sports video games and applying it in way that works specifically for basketball.
People that we’ve shared the game with to date have told us that they are impressed (even amazed) at how NBA ELITE is the first game to “play and feel like real basketball.” We feel this comes down to all the little things you are able to see in this year’s game, such as unique ball deflections every time you play the game and various player collisions that make NBA basketball as exciting as it is. Look for more details to come on real physics, killer new modes, and more about our revamped in-game presentation centered around ESPN and their lead commentary team of Breen, Van Gundy, and Jackson.
With all the new additions that have gone into NBA ELITE 11 — we really feel that we’re doing everything to blaze a new path for basketball games — and we want you to play the game to see for yourself. To make NBA ELITE the ultimate basketball experience for you, we will be including three modes of NBA JAM for FREE with NBA ELITE 11. That’s right, not only will you be getting NBA ELITE 11 when you buy the game, but you will also have NBA JAM available as well — so for the price of one game, you’re getting two full NBA experiences. Another important note to share with all of you — the ONLY way you will be able to play NBA JAM for the PS3 is to buy NBA ELITE 11.
With NBA JAM on the PS3, the team is bringing you the classic two-on-two experience that you once knew from the original arcade game but this time with updated teams, and of course all in glorious HD. The controls are very easy to pick up and once you start throwing down monster dunks or begin heating up, it’s going to be hard to put down the controller. The game stays true to the original game but at the same time it offers a brand new take on the classic, with updated graphics and new game-play mechanics.
We’re very excited to be able to share the news with all of you, I know talking with a number of people in the community; everyone has wanted to see NBA JAM on the PS3. I can finally let you all know that your wish has become reality. I’m definitely curious to hear your thoughts about all of this. Be sure to comment below and let us all know what you think of the news.
Pencil mid-to-late September into your calendars for the NBA ELITE downloadable demo on PSN. We really believe that once you play the game for yourselves, you will see the revolutionary change that we’ve been talking about. For more information, join us on Facebook at EA SPORTS NBA, or you can follow me on Twitter @blackflash83.
BOOMSHAKALAKA!!
I’ve been more and more impressed with Live (or Elite, now) each and every year and I feel like this year, it’s going to really contend with 2k’s NBA game. The problem with 2k basketball is that they aren’t bringing much to the table each and every year; it’s been the same thing, “been there done that” kind of feeling for the past three years or so.
I’m happy to see you’re taking a cue from your other sports titles, especially NHL, for the physics engine. Great to hear.
NBA Jam question for you: can my brother, who is playing on another PS3, and I play a game together against two other people?
Please give NBA Jam its own disc version. I loved playing NBA Jam on the Genesis. I would gladly pay 60 for a disc version of NBA Jam. So please think about bringing NBA Jam out by itself. Because if you do it will sell like crazy.
Dear EA, kiss my rear. I’m not buying your yearly roster update to play the new NBA Jam. What a completely awesome way to let a publisher screw over your loyal customers Sony. I was totally psyched for NBA Jam, now it’s just another reason for me to avoid EA’s games.
Even if I was into NBA”Elite”, I would boycott it out of principle.
This will be the first sports game I have bought since NBA Jam for the Sega Genesis. Sweetness!
I have no interest in a sports game. But I still wanted my NBA Jam.
So congrats I won’t be getting my NBA Jam now.
I thought I’d leave my thoughts to EA as well, if they even care.
I have ZERO interest in NBA Elite 11. ZERO. Is that clear?
I have a FIRST DAY PURCHASE-ing interest in NBA Jam. Is that understood?
See if you can understand this, as well: Because of a lame attempt to grab more sales to a game that (apparently) cannot stand on it’s own, you will be getting ZERO dollars of my money. Yep, it’s amazing how that correlates with my interest in your NBA Elite title.
LOL damn you guys are ruthless with the comments, and I don’t blame any of you.
These companies need to know what we do and don’t like instead of constantly going ways just to make a quick buck for a lazy job.
How is this lazy? Giving you two unique basketball experiences for the price of one is anything but lazy. It’s about trying to give you guys as good a basketball experience as you can get.
We’re not trying scam anyone, it’s about giving you guys a great basketball experience with both JAM and ELITE.