Xbox, Bugs Bunny, and Other Ocean Interactive are teaming up to produce an arcade-style game based on Space Jam: A New Legacy and they're looking for ideas from gamers everywhere. The film will hit theaters in Summer 2021 alongside a one month stay on the HBO Max streaming service.
Back in 1996, video games were in a much different place than they are now, but there was a licensed game based on the original Space Jam all the same. Appearing on the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and MS-DOS computers, the original Space Jam game was published by Acclaim Entertainment. The game used the engine from NBA Jam Extreme for its basketball segments and also included cartoonish mini-games to break up the action. As one might expect from a mid-90s licensed game, the reviews were not kind, with critics saying that the minigames didn't fit in with the basketball action.
In 2020, Xbox and LeBron James want to make a new game that's worthy of the Space Jam name. In a new contest announced via a trailer on Xbox Wire, James breaks down the rules for any interested gamers. Xbox has set up a website where players can choose from a wide range of genres and submit their ideas for the game. The choices go far beyond a mere basketball simulation, including such eclectic combinations as "Strategy Tactics" and "Puzzle Shooter."
The contest site reveals that Other Ocean Interactive will be developing the finished product, and the game will launch into Xbox Game Pass alongside the release of the new Space Jam. The two contest winners will receive their name in the game's credits as well as an exclusive winner’s bundle with signed and authenticated LeBron James memorabilia, Space Jam: A New Legacy merchandise, Nike VIP packs, a personalized Xbox Series S console, a private friends and family screening of the film, and a virtual Microsoft coding workshop for their local community. As part of the promotion with Space Jam, Microsoft Stores across the country will also be hosting coding workshops hosted by actors from the film.
This promotion between Xbox and Space Jam: A New Legacy is a big deal, and a commitment to listening to fans and not just cashing in on the easiest licensed game possible. Licensed games in the last decade have typically lived on cell phones, but there is a movement back towards traditional consoles as games like Fortnite showcase the power of cross-advertising on consoles too. It's been a long time since the original Space Jam released, and gaming demographics have swelled to previously unthinkable numbers in the interim between then and now. It will be interesting to see where Space Jam: A New Legacy on Xbox lands in terms of gameplay and direction as a result.
Source: Xbox Wire