How NBA Jam Achieved Mainstream Success

Today is March 22nd, 1994!

Welcome to Now in the 90s, where we rewind the clock exactly 30 years ago to see what new video games had just released! This week we had NBA Jam, Dark Wizard, Star Trek: The Next Generation!

Writers: Jared Knabenbauer, David Rota, & Dylan Lawrence

Editor: Dylan Lawrence

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~~MUSIC BY WILLIAM BENCKERT & AGST~~

#retro #retrogaming

[Keldroc]

I was in a couple focus testing groups for Dark Wizard at Sega back in the day. They were very concerned about our reactions to the anime art style. My friend and I were two of the only people in the group who even knew what anime was. It was a different time.

[RileyVoorsanger]

I've had the honor of meeting the NBA Jam announcer himself -- Tim Kitzrow, and he was generous enough to sign my copy of NHL Hitz 2002 on GameCube, one of my childhood favorites. He said his favorite game he recorded for was MLB Slugfest... great guy, really made the atmosphere of the Midway sports games come to life. BOOMSHAKALAKA!

[c.argelfraster]

You did NOT just shade my man Miles, the everyman hero! Colm Meaney is a brilliant actor and absolutely made that character.

[WillKeaton]

Don't feel bad, Dylan. I think your segment is the best part of the show. It's less predictable and I never know what to expect.

[DemitriosX]

That Tifa comment let us all know that editor Dylan is a man of culture.

[audiooddities]

I turned 14 on March 28 1994, we were pretty poor when i was a kid. Birthdays were usually small, cheap events. My mom saved up for what must have been months to take me to dinner and bought me Mortal Kombat and NBA Jam for the SNES..
R.I.P. mom, you were and still are the best! ❤

[NateWilliams-hq]

Jared: "Its as boring as Chief O'Brien!"

Me: "YOU TAKE THAT BACK ABOUT MY MAN MILES!!!!"

[dawnofapril]

NBA Jam was one of those games that even people who don't typically like sports games like me tend to love.

[timseguine]

Fun fact: In continental Europe it was called NBA Marmelade

[cappantwan]

As a Mario nerd, I know that one of the red shirts in that Star Trek game is Leslie Swan, who later became the voice for Princess Peach. In fact, I think most of the filler characters are people that were in the video game industry at the time.

[Theycallmetomu]

DARK Been waiting for this game to be covered :D

Easily my favorite Sega CD game, by a pretty wide margin.

[oeldisplayn]

This show is great, absolutely enjoy the back and forth with Jared and Dylan.

[trident]

Good lords, Midway from the mid 90s to the mid 00s was such a vibe. I can't think of any game they ported from arcades that wasn't a certified banger. From Jam to Blitz to Gauntlet, they knew how to get my friends over to my house.

[Arcane_Archer]

One of the most interesting things about this show is the prices! When AAA games went up to $70 from $60 in the last year or so people freaked out (not without reason, inflation sucks). But seeing that some games used to cost $75 or even more, back in the 90's, it feels a little less bad, lol.

[UndeadEggmiester]

Finally someone talks about dark wizard and how amazing it is. Sure, it's outdated, but being one of the earlest trpgs released.

[creativerealms]

Being able to play as Jordan was one of those myths that was all over the place when NBA Jam came out. There were people who claimed they played an arcade version with him, or that a code existed.

[jamesmoss]

I play NBA JAM at the arcade when I was a kid and it's still awesome today. 😀👍🏀🎮

[vashanoid]

OMG DARK WIZARD THANK YOU JARED FOR NOT OVERLOOKING

[cowboyvenus]

This man did not just call the most important man in Starfleet history boring.

O'BRIEN SUFFERED FOR ALL OUR SINS!

[SáviodaSilvaDias]

30 years have passed and NBA Jam is still sitting on the throne of the most cool/badass sports games of all time 🏀