Slam 'N Jam '95

Slam 'N Jam '95^[a] is a sports video game developed by Left Field Productions and published by Crystal Dynamics for the 3DO. It was followed by a sequel, Slam 'N Jam '96 featuring Magic & Kareem, released for PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and MS-DOS the following year.

Slam 'N Jam '95
North American cover art
Developer(s)	Left Field Productions
Publisher(s)	Crystal Dynamics
Producer(s)	Bill Mitchell
Designer(s)	Andy Trapani Lyle Hall Sam Player
Programmer(s)	John Brandwood Michael Lamb
Artist(s)	Jeff Godfrey Russell Truelove
Writer(s)	Mark T. Sneed
Composer(s)	Burke Trieschmann Steven Henifin
Series	Slam 'N Jam
Platform(s)	3DO
Release	NA: 1995 EU: 1995 JP: 30 June 1995[1]
Genre(s)	Sports (basketball)
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

Slam 'N Jam '95 is a basketball game, but is not licensed by the NBA.^[2]

Development

Slam 'N Jam '95 was the first game developed by California-based studio Left Field Productions. The company was founded in 1994 by gaming industry veterans Mike Lamb, John Brandwood, and Jeff Godfrey.^[3][4] While Lamb and Branwood served as programmers on Slam 'N Jam, Godfrey was its lead artist. According to Scott Steinburg, marketing director for the game's publisher Crystal Dynamics, the design chose a "revolutionary approach" with new 32-bit technology rather than trying to evolve what was already on the market. This meant having the camera follow the ball; large, rotoscoped sprites; and CD quality music and sound.^[5] CNN sports broadcaster Van Earl Wright lent his voice to the game's play-by-play commentary.^[6]Van Earl Wright was the announcer's voice for the game.^[7]

Reception

Reception

Review scores

Publication	Score
Computer and Video Games	92/100[8]
Edge	7/10[9]
Electronic Gaming Monthly	16.5/20[10]
Game Informer	8.75/10[11]
Game Players	90%[12]
GameFan	95/100[13]
GamePro	[14]
Hyper	70%[15]
Next Generation	[2]
3DO Magazine	[16]
Dimension-3	95%[17]
Flux	A[18]
Game Power (IT)	82/100[19]
MAN!AC	81%[20]
Mega Fun	82%[21]
Player One	92%[22]
Play Time	82%[23]
Power Unlimited	53/100[24]
Super GamePower	3.5/5[25]
Ultimate Future Games	79%[26]
Ultimate Gamer	7/10[27]
Video Games (DE)	82%[28]
VideoGames	8/10[29]

Next Generation reviewed the 3DO version of the game, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "The pace is lightning fast, and when you hear the roar of the crowd, it's bound to give you chills. If you have any interest in the sport at all and own a 3DO, this is a must-have."^[2]

Joel Easley from the Kokomo Tribune reviewed the game and stated, "Overall, Slam 'N Jam '95 is a solid two-player title for someone with an acquired athletic taste.^[7]

The game won "3DO Sports Game of the Year" for the 1995 3DO Awards, which were conducted through a survey of industry professionals and hardcore gamers.^[30]

Notes

1. Also known as Slam 'N Jam '95: 3D Basketball (Japanese: スラムジャム: 3D バスケットボール, Hepburn: Suramu Jamu: 3D Basukettobōru) in Japan.