NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC

NBA Showtime
Developer(s)	Midway, Eurocom
Publisher(s)	Midway
Platform(s)	Arcade, PlayStation, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color
Release date(s)	1999
Genre(s)	Sports
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

NBA Showtime is a basketball video game by Midway. A descendant of NBA Jam and NBA Hangtime, Showtime is modeled after the NBA presentations on NBC. The original arcade version features team rosters from the beginning of the 1998-99 NBA season, while the console versions features team rosters that were accurate prior to the 1999-2000 NBA season. A newer "Gold" version for arcades features another roster update from later in the 1999-2000 season.

Overview

Rather than 5 on 5 action like professional play, this game features 2 on 2 play with the ability to pick two players from any NBA team's starting line-up for the first half and can choose again for the second. In addition, after a player makes 3 consecutive shots he becomes "on fire", which allows him to easily make shots from almost anywhere, as well as goaltend without penalty and push opponents without being charged a foul. Play otherwise is similar to NBA rules. The arcade version accommodates up to 4 players, as do the home versions produced for the Nintendo 64, (Except for the PlayStation version as it only has 2 controller ports) and Dreamcast.

The players featured in the game included many of the most popular players of the particular year and era of the NBA season. But, like the previous games in the arcade-style basketball series—many players were left out and each team has a limited amount of players per position to choose from for the 2 on 2 gameplay.

As with the previous NBA Jam and NBA Hangtime games, the game contains many secret characters. The arcade version features the Universal Monsters Frankenstein's monster, Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolf Man and Creature from the Black Lagoon as secret characters.

Several Midway Games employees are also playable characters. Some of the available players include Mark Turmell, Rob Gatson, Mark Guidarelli, Dan Thompson, Jeff Johnson, Jason Skiles, Sal DiVita, Jennifer Hedrick, Eugene Geer, Matt Gilmore, Tim Bryant, Jim Gentile, John Root, Jon Hey, Andy Eloff, Mike Lynch, Dave Grossman, Larry Wotman, Tim Moran, Willie Morris, Greg Cutler, and Chad Edmunds.

The game-time commentary is particularly varied and colorful for basketball games of that period, featuring such phrases as "The dejection of the rejection!" "He just flat-out leveled him!" as well as "With the silky smooth move!" and "Look Ma, no rim!"

The original announcer from NBA Jam, Tim Kitzrow, returned, after Midway used the Bulls radio announcer Neil Funk in NBA Hangtime. Jon Hey produced all the sound, music and script save for the NBC basketball theme Roundball Rock by John Tesh. At the time, the music was influenced by 2Pac and Dr. Dre's California Love and Master P's Make 'em say uhh and previous NBA Themes written by Jon Hey for NBA Jam and NBA Hangtime.

The N64 version of the game received mixed reviews, receiving a score of 6.8 on GameSpot.com ^[1]

Rosters

• Atlanta Hawks: Steve Smith, Mookie Blaylock, Dikembe Mutombo, Alan Henderson, and LaPhonso Ellis
• Boston Celtics: Kenny Anderson, Antoine Walker, Ron Mercer, Dana Barros, Tony Battie, and Paul Pierce
• Charlotte Hornets: Eddie Jones, Anthony Mason, Bobby Phills, Derrick Coleman, and Elden Campbell
• Chicago Bulls: Toni Kukoc, Ron Harper, Brent Barry, Andrew Lang, and Kornel David
• Cleveland Cavaliers: Shawn Kemp, Brevin Knight, Bob Sura, Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, Wesley Person, and Johnny Newman
• Dallas Mavericks: Michael Finley, Cedric Ceballos, A.C. Green, Shawn Bradley, Steve Nash
• Denver Nuggets: Antonio McDyess, Nick Van Exel, Bryant Stith, Chauncey Billups, and Danny Fortson
• Detroit Pistons: Grant Hill, Lindsey Hunter, Christian Laettner, Bison Dele, Jerry Stackhouse, and Joe Dumars
• Golden State Warriors: John Starks, Donyell Marshall, Erick Dampier, Bimbo Coles, and Muggsy Bogues
• Houston Rockets: Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, Eddie Johnson, and Matt Maloney
• Indiana Pacers: Reggie Miller, Dale Davis, Jalen Rose, Sam Perkins, Mark Jackson, and Chris Mullin
• Los Angeles Clippers: Maurice Taylor, Darrick Martin, Stojko Vrankovic, Lamond Murray, and Rodney Rogers
• Los Angeles Lakers: Shaquille O'Neal, Glen Rice, Kobe Bryant, Rick Fox, and Travis Knight
• Miami Heat: Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Voshon Lenard, Terry Porter, and P. J. Brown
• Milwaukee Bucks: Glenn Robinson, Ray Allen, Ervin Johnson, Sam Cassell, Chris Gatling, Tim Thomas, and Dell Curry
• Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Garnett, Terrell Brandon, Dean Garrett, Joe Smith, Bobby Jackson, and Malik Sealy
• New Jersey Nets: Stephon Marbury, Keith Van Horn, Jayson Williams, and Kendall Gill
• New York Knicks: Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell, Larry Johnson, Charlie Ward, and Marcus Camby
• Orlando Magic: Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson, Horace Grant, Bo Outlaw, Danny Schayes, Darrell Armstrong, and B.J. Armstrong
• Philadelphia 76ers: Allen Iverson, Theo Ratliff, Aaron McKie, Matt Geiger, and Tyrone Hill
• Phoenix Suns: Jason Kidd, Tom Gugliotta, Rex Chapman, Danny Manning, and Luc Longley
• Portland Trail Blazers: Damon Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace, Arvydas Sabonis, Isaiah Rider, Jim Jackson, and Walt Williams
• Sacramento Kings: Chris Webber, Jason Williams, Corliss Williamson, Vlade Divac, and Lawrence Funderburke
• San Antonio Spurs: David Robinson, Sean Elliott, Tim Duncan, Will Perdue, Steve Kerr, and Avery Johnson
• Seattle SuperSonics: Gary Payton, Vin Baker, Detlef Schrempf, Dale Ellis, and Billy Owens
• Toronto Raptors: Vince Carter, Charles Oakley, Doug Christie, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Willis, and Dee Brown
• Utah Jazz: John Stockton, Karl Malone, Greg Ostertag, Jeff Hornacek, and Bryon Russell
• Vancouver Grizzlies: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Bryant Reeves, Tony Massenburg, Cherokee Parks, Doug West, and Mike Bibby
• Washington Wizards: Juwan Howard, Rod Strickland, Calbert Cheaney, Mitch Richmond, and Tracy Murray

References

1. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/n64/sports/nbashowtimenbaonnbc/index.html?tag=result;title;1

External links

• NBA Showtime at Eurocom
• NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC at MobyGames