NBA Jam is back like it’s 1993

If you were a kid in the early Nineties like me, you’ll know what I mean when I say, it was like the whole world was created just for you. Baywatch, Hammer, Zubaz pants and the return of the McRib sandwich – these things only come together once in a lifetime folks.

Add the now classic Nintendo game, NBA Jam, to this esteemed list. It’s a game that seemingly only came around once. That is, until EA Sports teamed with Wii to reboot the basketball gem for release. Take a look back at the promotional video and if the hairs on your neck don’t whip upright, or you don’t have a sudden urge to dig up your old pink and lime green zubaz, please, call me. We need to talk.

World Cup 2010 gets real on EA game

World Cup soccer is closing in fast – 42 days until kick-off to be exact. While diehards practice their face painting and team songs, gamers are limbering up for the new football release from EA Sports. FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 on PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 includes a special “Story of the Finals” feature that allows gamers to relive big moments from the actual tournament, hours after games are played. The free service (sponsored by Coke) connects players in virtual matches which tackle the very same challenges their heroes actually faced in the tournament. Sounds eerily real.

Classic football game review

Madden might own football gaming right now, but back in the day it was all about 10-Yard Fight. Sure, there was Tecmo Bowl and John Elway’s Quarterback, but 10-Yard was always our favourite. Yes, it was slow and rigid, with no play calling and a strange vertical view. Tackling was clunky and no variation on throws made life as a virtual QB tough. But that was gaming back then – basic, direct and as 2D as you’ll ever get. Younger gamers might scoff, but think about it: when the precursor was Pong, Nintendo’s first batch of sports games was a revelation. They were wonderfully colorful with warm sound effects and cartoonish designs. Life was less complicated and the games reflected this: run, pass and tackle. It was football essentials only. We saw the original arcade version available on Ebay recently for a cool $399. Bargain.