White Men Can't Jump (video game)
White Men Can't Jump | |
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multiplayer |
White Men Can't Jump is a 1995
In 1993,
Gameplay
White Men Can't Jump is a two-on-two half court basketball game. It is described as a simulator of streetball, a variation of basketball with loose rules, similar to NBA Jam and Jammit.[1][2][3][4]
Players compete against each other or computer-controlled opponents, selecting between two modes of play: Versus and Tournament.
Players can pass the ball, fake a pass, jump and shoot. The player can also punch and knock down their opponents, or spend energy to increase speed. The more energy a player has, the more likely they are to pull off a special slam dunk at a distance from the basket.[2][5][7] During gameplay, the camera perspective pans and zooms based on the action.[1][5][8] In single-player mode, the player can switch between the two team members, with the AI automatically controlling the other team member.[2][7] There are fifteen two-person teams, each with unique statistics and slam dunks.[2][4][5][6] The game also features four different courts to choose from.[1][2][4] Matches are ended by either a time limit or point limit.[3][5]
Development and release
White Men Can't Jump for the
The game was co-produced by Allen Edwards and Kevin Hunt, with Adisak Pochanayon doing all the programming.[8][18] The cover was illustrated by Damion Davis,[7] as his first work in the video game industry before becoming lead artist at HVS.[19] According to programmer Scott Corley, HVS hired the Jesse White Tumbling Team to perform movements of the game's characters, and their motion captures were digitized in Deluxe Paint.[18]
White Men Can't Jump for the
Reception
Publication | Score |
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Ultimate Future Games | 35%[40] |
White Men Can't Jump for the Atari Jaguar received mixed reception from critics.[41] The multiplayer aspect with the Team Tap multitap earned praise.[3][6][40] Game Players' Patrick Baggatta considered it the definitive way to play it.[1] Mega Fun's Timur Özelsel criticized the single-player AI, feeling that the game is fun with more players.[35] Next Generation also remarked that multiple players are required to fully enjoy it.[36]
Reviewers were divided regarding the gameplay and controls.[3][32][34] Baggatta approved of the game's simulation of streetball, while Next Generation praised the game's balance and intense violence.[1][36] GamePro's Jon Robinson said that the controls often fail to respond and shots tend to miss even when the player is next to the basket.[9] MAN!AC's Martin Gaksch wrote that "White Men Can't Jump is just as far removed from the sophisticated controls of an NBA Jam".[8] ST Magazine's Marc Abramson stated that the controls take time to get used to, while Video Games' Jan Barysch felt that the fun factor was undermined by poor controls and frustrating AI.[2][39]
The graphics and camera drew criticism.
Retrospective coverage
Retrospective commentary for White Men Can't Jump has been equally mixed.[42][43][44][45] Writing for MyAtari magazine, Robert Jung highlighted the game's modes, teams, and flashy dunks, but criticized the quality of the art and graphical technology.[42] Author Andy Slaven appreciated the fast arcade-style gameplay, but found the visuals to be bland.[43] The Atari Times' Dan Loosen lambasted the game's plot for absence of connection with the film, as none of the film's characters appear or are mentioned in-game and the tournament mode for its abrupt ending. He said: "Don't be fooled by the graphics, sound, control or initial thoughts of the game. Avoid this game like the plague."[44] Writer Seanbaby placed it as number 8 in his "20 worst games ever" feature,[46] while The Evening Tribune identified it as one of the "worst games in history".[19]
References
- ^ Imagine Media. p. 56.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Abramson, Marc (September 1995). "Cahier Loisirs / Jaguar: Chroniques Estivales". ST Magazine (in French). No. 98. Pressimage. pp. 46–49.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Santora, Mark (2001). "AGH Jaguar Review: WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP". Atari Gaming Headquarters. Archived from the original on 2001-03-03. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Future Publishing. June 1995. p. 28.
- ^ All Media Network. Archived from the originalon 2014-11-14. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
- ^ a b c d e f g Froehlich, R. (October 1995). "Software - Jaguar: White Men Can't Jump". ST-Computer (in German). No. 109. Heim-Verlag, Maxon Computer. p. 111. (Transcription by Computer-Magazin-Archiv. Archived 2016-08-20 at the Wayback Machine).
- ^ a b c d White Men Can't Jump (Game Manual) (International ed.). Atari Corporation. 1995.
- ^ a b c d Gaksch, Martin (October 1995). "Spiele-Tests: White Men Can't Jump (Jaguar)". MAN!AC (in German). No. 24. Cybermedia. p. 77. (Transcription Archived 2021-01-21 at the Wayback Machine).
- ^ a b Robinson, Jon (December 1995). "The Sports Page: White Men Never Gets Off the Ground - White Men Can't Jump (Jaguar)". GamePro. No. 77. IDG. p. 120.
- ^ Golianopoulos, Thomas (August 21, 2012). "You Either Smoke or You Get Smoked — An oral history of White Men Can't Jump". Grantland. ESPN. Archived from the original on 2014-02-28. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ "Atari Jaguar Development". High Voltage Software. 1996. Archived from the original on 1996-11-05. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- Imagine Media. pp. 56–75.
- Gamasutra. UBM Technology Group. Archived from the original on 2011-09-23. Retrieved 2023-12-31. (Transcription by Game Developer. Archived 2021-08-27 at the Wayback Machine).
- ^ Larino, Jennifer (December 18, 2014). "Illinois video game developer to open New Orleans studio, hailed as economic development win". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Georges Media Group. Archived from the original on 2020-12-15. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ Moskowitz, David S. (June 1993). "News Bits: Trimark Goes Interactive". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment. No. 53. Larry Flynt Publications. p. 20.
- ^ a b Worley, Joyce; Chamberlain, Ross (August 1993). "EG Hotline: White Men Can't Jump In Carts Either". Electronic Games. Vol. 1, no. 11. Decker Publications. p. 11.
- ^ a b "ProNews: At the Deadline". GamePro. No. 55. IDG. February 1994. p. 187.
- ^ a b c Corley, Scott (gpumgr) (July 15, 2014). "Hello again from Scott". 3DO Zone Forums. Archived from the original on 2015-09-20. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ a b Haas, Kevin (June 23, 2009). "High Voltage Software takes aim at breaking ground on the Wii". The Evening Tribune. Gannett. Archived from the original on 2023-12-31. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ Scamps, Olivier; David (July 1994). "Dossier CES - Jaguar: Living On The Edge". Player One (in French). No. 44. Média Système Édition . p. 56.
- ^ "1995 Video Game Preview Guide - All The Latest Games From The Summer CES: Jaguar". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 61. Sendai Publishing. August 1994. p. 161.
- EGM2. No. 6. Sendai Publishing. December 1994. p. 203. Archivedfrom the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ "WCES Special: Winter CES '95 - Atari". GameFan. Vol. 3, no. 3. DieHard Gamers Club. March 1995. p. 109.
- ^ "Special ECTS Show: ECTS Spring '95 - Atari". Mega Fun (in German). No. 32. Computec. May 1995. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Guy, Travis (producer) (1995). AEO at E3 1995. Atari Explorer Online (VHS). United States: Subspace Publishers. Event occurs at 17m12s. Archived from the original on 2020-08-11. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ "Jaguar Online STR InfoFile: Online Users Growl & Purr! - ATARI PRESENTS NEW SOFTWARE TITLES AT "FUN 'N' GAMES" MEDIA DAY". Silicon Times Report. No. 1125. STR Electronic Publishing Inc. June 23, 1995. (Transcription by AtariArchives.org. Archived 2004-11-10 at the Wayback Machine).
- VideoGame Advisor. Vol. 1, no. 3. Cyberactive Publications. pp. 18–20.
- ^ Wise, Carey (September 1995). "Special Feature: Gamer's Day at Atari". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 74. Sendai Publishing. pp. 64–66.
- ^ TheFreeLibrary.com. Business Wire. August 1, 1995. Archived from the originalon September 5, 2018. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Piedvache, Hervé (September 1995). "Actus Actualités: C'est la rentree!". STart Micro (in French). No. 31. JD Press. pp. 4–6.
- ^ Rat, The Lab (February 1996). "GamePro Labs - Player's Guide to Power Peripherals: Feline Friends". GamePro. No. 79. IDG. p. 22.
- ^ a b c Cowboy, Video; ICEMAN, The (October 1995). "Team EGM - Box Score: White Men Can't Jump (Jaguar) by Atari". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 75. Sendai Publishing. p. 124.
- ^ The Electric Playground. Hip Interactive. Archived from the originalon 2000-12-05. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
- ^ Future Publishing. p. 59.
- ^ a b c Özelsel, Timur (October 1995). "Test Jaguar: White Men Can't Jump — Trimark Interactive präsentiert hier eines der interessantesten Street-Basketballspiele". Mega Fun (in German). No. 37. Computec. p. 78. Archived from the original on 2023-12-30. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Imagine Media. October 1995. p. 114.
- ^ a b Adloff, Denis (February 1996). "Vite Vu – Le Zone de Vite Vu: Jaguar - White men can't jump". Player One (in French). No. 61. Média Système Édition . p. 115.
- ^ a b Campbell, Stuart (February 1996). "Jaguar - Game Reviews: White Men Can't Jump". ST Format. No. 79. Future plc. p. 39. Archived from the original on 2013-12-09. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ a b c Barysch, Jan (September 1995). "Reviews - Atari Jaguar: Halt' ich für'n Gerücht - White Men Can't Jump". Video Games (in German). No. 46. Magna Media. p. 90.
- ^ Future Publishing. October 1995. p. 75. Archivedfrom the original on 2023-12-30. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ N., M. (September 1995). "Recenze - Atari Jaguar: White Men Can't Jump". Level (in Czech). No. 8. Naked Dog, s.r.o. p. 39. Archived from the original on 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ a b Jung, Robert (January 2001). "Reviews: White Men Can't Jump". MyAtari. No. 4. Archived from the original on 2011-12-13. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ ISBN 9781553697312. Archivedfrom the original on 2023-02-11. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
- ^ a b Loosen, Dan (April 2004). "Jaguar Reviews: White Men Cant Jump — One of the worst games ever". 2004 Compendium. The Atari Times. pp. 1–102. Archived from the original on 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Ridgeway, Chad (2001). "Jaguar Reviews: White Men Can't Jump". Jaguar Front Page News. GameSpy. Archived from the original on 2002-11-04. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ Seanbaby (January 2002). "EGM's Crapstravaganza: 20 Worst Games Ever". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 150. Ziff Davis. pp. 154–166. (Transcription. Archived 2002-08-06 at the Wayback Machine).