You may not know the name, but you know Tim Kitzrow’s voice. He’s the iconic announcer blaring “boom-shakalaka” throughout the NBA Jam series, and this Saturday he’ll be belting out his massive collection of catchphrases at the Clippers-Kings game for “NBA Jam Day.” His appearance is part-celebration of NBA Jam‘s 25th anniversary, part-lobbying tour to get another version of the game made for its silver anniversary.
We're celebrating #NBAJam Day! Enter to win a 4-player NBA JAM Arcade game Courtesy of Vintage Arcade Superstore in Glendale, CA: https://t.co/K8w1zxvZKr.
🗓: Jan 13th 🆚 SAC
🕧: 12:30PM PTVisit the link below to vote for @TeamLou23 | #NBAVote
🗳 https://t.co/0fcbxHA1ee pic.twitter.com/5IdJYaYjhK— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 12, 2018
According to ESPN, who spoke to Kitzrow and original programmer Mark Turmell, things are in motion between Microsoft and EA, who holds the rights to the series, on another potential reboot of the franchise.
“I can’t speak anything to the specifics,” Kitzrow said. “But, I can tell you there is movement in the works to get it done for the 25th year. So I’m hoping that we get a remake that does justice to the original.”
Mark Turmell, one of the original creators of NBA Jam (who also infamously programmed the Bulls to brick shots against the Pistons in the first game), believes the game is an important milestone in the NBA’s culture, and there needs to be another game. He was part of EA’s reboot in 2010 before leaving for Zynga in 2011.
“I helped on the reboot of the franchise. They did a pretty good job. But there’s so much more that can be done. It’s really sort of an untapped category, to have that over-the-top NBA action with the official license. It’s a great brand.”
NBA Playgrounds is kinda-sorta scratching the huge dunk itch with past and present NBA stars, but it’s still missing that pure NBA Jam feeling. A lot of that is Kitzrow’s commentary, and some of it is the charming characters and ridiculous-but-clean gameplay you can’t get anywhere else.
If it does get rebooted, good luck whittling down a certain few teams down to just two or three players. And will we ever get an NBA Jam with Jordan in it?
(Via ESPN)
