NBA Jam Wii Edition Loses Online

If EA's twitter account is correct, the Wii version of NBA Jam will not have online multiplayer, despite a small team working on providing it since E3 this year.

One factor that was originally of concern by consumers for the Wii retail release was the existence of an online multiplayer mode. The game's producers stated that the game would only have that mode if the team could produce the same framerate and effectiveness as the main game. Today, a twitter post from EA's account finally sealed its fate:

@rubberducky00 not on the Wii. It will on XBOX 360 and PS3

This means that if you are willing to play online multiplayer, you must purchase NBA Elite 11 and get the packed-in NBA Jam for free. Wii owners will still be able to play the game's offline multiplayer and the rest of the game's main modes.

NBA Jam is a revival of the series of the same name, focusing on a much more arcade, 2-on-2 basketball experience. The game was originally announced as a Wii exclusive, but last month it was discovered that a version for HD consoles was also in the works, specifically as a pack-in game for those who purchase NBA Elite 11. The HD versions lack the Wii's Remix Tour, a special single-player experience with boss battles of famous basketball players, but they will have full online multiplayer.

NBA Jam is slated for release next month, as well as NBA Elite 11.

SOURCE: Nintendo World Report

NBA Jam Bundled with HD title: NBA Elite 11

At E3 2010, Nintendo gave a bit of time to highlight NBA Jam as an upcoming exclusive title to the Wii this holiday season, and 3RM has learned today that Nintendo was only half right.

Electronic Arts today announced that a version of the new NBA Jam title will be available for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 this year but only has an additional title to the purchase of NBA Elite 11, a new NBA title from EA Sports to fight back against 2K Sports' titles.

With each purchase of NBA Elite, players are given a download code for a version of NBA Jam specific to HD consoles. This title will have three specific modes: Play Now, Classic Campaign, and Online. The third mode there is interesting, as the Wii version's online system has not yet been finalized and may, very well, be removed by its release later this year. Jordan Edelstein, Vice President of Marketing for EA Sports, emphasized:

"...the only way to play 'Jam' on the 360 and PS3 is by picking up 'Elite'. There's a one-time use code that will be in every copy of 'Elite', so you just go online and redeem it. We're not selling 'Jam' on PSN or Xbox Live."

The Wii version has a new Remix Tour, which includes new special modes including Boss Battles with some of the greatest basketball players around the NBA. While the pricing is not set in stone, it would be wise to assume the title's price around 40 to 50 bucks when it arrives.

With no online play yet realized on the Wii version, the appeal of NBA Jam is starting to lean toward the other consoles. Hopefully that will be rectified before release.

SOURCE