Following widespread speculation, Electronic Arts confirms today that EA Sports is indeed reviving
NBA Jam on the Nintendo Wii.
Widespread media reports indicated that the publisher had bought the rights to an "updated version" of the property from the NBA -- and today's announcement follows
the hiring late last week of
NBA Jam creator Mark Turmell as senior creative director at EA Tiburon.
The new
NBA Jam will feature gameplay "true to the original", promising an updated classic experience that also adds new modes and a re-defined visual style with more realistic body types, physics and "visible player emotion."
NBA Jam got its start in the arcades as Midway's fast-paced, over-the-top interpretation of American professional basketball. The property gained greater notoriety when it came to 16-bit home consoles in the 1990s.
"NBA Jam is one of the most recognizable franchises in videogame history," says EA Sports president Peter Moore. "Diehard fans of the original game have been asking for a remake for more than a decade. We’re very excited to give them their wish this year with the return of this iconic franchise."
The title will be developed by EA Canada in Vancouver, and according to the company, it's being prepared for a 2010 launch.
