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NBA Jam (Boss Fight Books Book 21) Kindle Edition

by Reyan Ali (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 193 ratings
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When NBA Jam dunked its way into arcades in 1993, players discovered just how fun basketball can be when freed from rules, refs, and gravity itself. But just a few years after the billion-dollar hit conquered the world, developer Midway, publisher Acclaim, and video arcades themselves fell off the map. How did a simple two-on-two basketball game become MVP of the arcade, and how did this champ lose its title?

Journalist Reyan Ali dives deep into the saga, tracking the people and decisions that shaped the series. You'll get to know mischievous Jam architect Mark Turmell, go inside Midway's Chicago office where hungry young talent tapped into cutting-edge tech, and explore the sequels, spin-offs, and tributes that came in the game's wake.

Built out of exhaustive research and original interviews with a star-studded cast —including Turmell and his original development team, iconic commentator Tim Kitzrow, businessmen and developers at Midway and Acclaim alike, secret characters George Clinton and DJ Jazzy Jeff, Doom co-creator John Romero, and 1990s NBA demigods Glen Rice and Shaq—Ali's NBA Jam returns you to an era when coin-op was king.
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  1. Book 21 of 31
    Boss Fight Books
  2. Print length
    148 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    22 October 2019
  6. File size
    2908 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Sold by: Amazon Australia Services, Inc.

Product description

About the Author

Reyan Ali is a writer from Columbus, Ohio. He's been published by Wired, Rolling Stone, Spin, The Atlantic, Pacific Standard, and alt-weekly papers across the country. Born in Dallas, he grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, where he soaked up 1990s NBA action almost exclusively through trading cards, Beckett Basketball back issues, and NBA Jam: Tournament Edition on the Sega Mega Drive. His first writing gig was contributing to the Mortal Kombat Netherealm (MKNe), a fan site long lost to time.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07YSZZXVQ
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2908 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 148 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 193 ratings

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Reyan Ali

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4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
193 global ratings

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Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling account of 90s arcade history
Reviewed in the United States on 2 January 2021
Verified Purchase
Framed as an expose on the 90s arcade classic, “NBA Jam” accomplishes much more, documenting the rise, height, and fall of the arcade industry. Boom-shakka-lakka!

Oddly addictive (and not just because of the nostalgia for this 90s kid), the book paints a vivid picture of the arcade revolution and particularly the Chicago-based creators behind classics like NBA Jam and Mortal Kombat at Midway. A cohesive story centers on the basketball game, while chapters occasionally veer off into stories about other related companies, basketball, arcade culture, and the background of the main characters. It’s all compelling stuff, and each sidetrack just adds to the main narrative.

An instant classic in the growing list of video game literature, NBA Jam deserves a place on bookshelves next to Masters of Doom as a snapshot of a key time in gaming history.
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Blair P Farrell
5.0 out of 5 stars Check your mail, you might just find something that's heating up!
Reviewed in Canada on 2 January 2020
Verified Purchase
I started my journey into Boss Fight Books' catalog late last year, and of the titles I've read, NBA Jam is up there with the best, if not the best book I've read from Boss Fight. An amazingly crafted tale that spotlights the rise and fall of the North American arcade industry, as well as Midway, without ever losing focus that the text is celebrating one of the most beloved arcade sports games of all time. I said on social media that this should get turned into a mini-series, and I stand by that.
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Pedro
5.0 out of 5 stars Gran repaso a la historia del juego
Reviewed in Spain on 16 August 2020
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Entretenido libro sobre la creación de un clásico. Buen repaso a lo que supuso el juego, y lo que involucró su creación. Los antecedentes de los creadores y la propia Midway están contados de manera muy amena.
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Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is “ON FIRE!”
Reviewed in Japan on 1 July 2020
Verified Purchase
A very fun and entertaining read, with exclusive interviews that talk about the development of the game, a look inside Midway, and most important, nostalgia. I dislike reading, but I couldn’t put this one down; the author keeps it interesting throughout!
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MikeWho228
5.0 out of 5 stars BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!
Reviewed in Canada on 16 October 2021
Verified Purchase
I'm a quarter of the way through the book. It's a very easy read. I'm really enjoying it so far. highly recommended if you'd like to know more about one of the greatest arcade games of all time.
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