How did NBA Jam overcome a rocky launch and become one of the arcade era's all-time biggest hits? How did its developers move past a serious 'digitization' screw-up? And where's the legendary original version featuring Michael Jordan and Ken Griffey, Jr?
On the eve of NBA Jam's latest home release—this time as an Arcade1Up cabinet (Best Buy, Walmart) featuring the series' first three arcade versions—we asked series lead programmer and designer Mark Turmell to join us from his home to answer these questions and more. The result is our most 'on-fire' War Stories video yet, complete with original development footage provided by Turmell himself.
“Geeking out on digitized graphics”
Ken Griffey, Jr. #24 of the Seattle Mariners watches the flight of the ball as he follows through on his swing during a 1994 MLB season game. Ken Griffey, Jr Centerfielder Ken Griffey Jr. And where's the legendary original version featuring Michael Jordan and Ken Griffey, Jr? Including the game's 'big head' cheat code as a clear indicator of which NBA star was being controlled. For Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball on the Super Nintendo, GameFAQs has 2 cheat codes and secrets. To play as Ken Griffey, Jr. In the Home Run Derby, press and hold down the R button while selecting a character in the aforementioned mode. To view the credits, press B, A, Down, B, Up, B, B, and A at the title screen. The game was scaled down tremendously to work on the Game Boy though it worked similar to the rest of the series. Since it was released in 1997, it had the 1996 roster instead. The game occasionally had slowdown too and there was only one stadium to.
As he explains in our interview, Turmell's game development history began with early consoles and home computers before he 'shifted to the coin-op business' in 1989 with Williams, a Chicago arcade game and pinball manufacturer. (Two years later, the company's arcade division was re-branded 'Midway,' since Williams had bought Bally/Midway in 1988.) Shortly after his hire, the company began focusing on a trend that would eventually define many of its hits: 'We were geeking out on the digitized graphics concept, the new technology, if you will,' Turmell says.
But that meant figuring out a whole new way to represent video game characters, and Turmell explains some of the biggest development headaches that came as a result. In one example, he describes a pivotal video-capture session that revolved around actors playing basketball in front of a blue screen. Uniforms were supposed to arrive in a bland, gray color, but 'the uniforms came in and they were blue,' Turmell says. 'We had no time to repaint. We were paying for studio time.' The development team had to carve 'every single frame' by hand to import them into the game, instead of neatly blocking out a bright color like green.Another issue came from the game's early version confusing testers, in terms of having four similar-looking NBA stars cluttering a single screen. As Turmell explains, one young player at a live testing location posted up on the 'player 3' position of a cabinet, even though he had pressed start on 'player 2.' The developers were standing by to examine how players responded to the game's in-development version, and they were stunned to learn that this player, even after being told he was controlling the wrong character, shifted back to the P3 controls (which didn't actually affect the game) because he thought he was playing better that way. 'He was not interacting with the game at all and preferred that, so that was a big red flag for us,' Turmell says. He eventually explains some solutions, including the game's 'big head' cheat code as a clear indicator of which NBA star was being controlled.
Advertisement ![Griffey Griffey](https://miro.medium.com/max/680/1*JNPMVRg9d2izPcvKCUya1Q.jpeg)
Ken Griffey Jr Video Game
Turmell goes into detail about other development experiments, including 'rubber-banding' of the game's under-the-hood stats and how the developers sourced images of real NBA players. We tried—once again—to convince Turmell to provide us with the legendary Michael Jordan EPROM, which he again confirms was used in a select few special cabinets provided to celebs like MJ himself. Though Turmell says that this rare EPROM is in the wild, we haven't been able to find it as of press time, though Turmell himself has claimed that he still has a copy of it somewhere. Game dev story ios cheats. (Our video instead includes fan-created ROMs for the Sega Genesis version with MJ inserted.)
Mark, please: We know you're a lifelong Detroit Pistons fan, but after a stunning documentary series like ESPN's The Last Dance, we think it's time to deliver the real 23 to NBA Jam's fans.
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Get the latest Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr. cheats, codes, unlockables, hints, Easter eggs, glitches, tips, tricks, hacks, downloads, hints, guides, FAQs, walkthroughs, and more for Nintendo64 (N64). CheatCodes.com has all you need to win every game you play!
Use the above links or scroll down see all to the Nintendo64 cheats we have available for Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr.
See The Opposing Pitching Staff
While looking at your pitching staff, press Cdown and you can see your opposing pitching staff.
See The Other Team's Batting Order
While looking at your lineup press C down and you can see the other team's batting order.
Home Run Rob
If someone on the other team hits a shadow ball(a hit that shows only a shadow that slowly movesto the outfield fence), move your player to theyellow circle at the base of the wall. Let go ofeverything. Your outfielder will slowly fade itothe wall and the circle will turn red. When theball lands, it will be on your outfielder'sglove.
Hit A Homerun
While in the batter's box with Ken Griffey Jr., press Left(2), Right(3), Left(2) before the pitcher winds up to throw the ball. If you entered the code correctly, Ken Griffey Jr. will point his bat in the direction where the ball will be hit. Then, successfully connect with the ball to automatically hit a homerun. Note: This code does not work in Home Run Durby mode.
View Fireworks
Select exhibition mode. Then at the stadium selection screen, press Z to enter 'View Stadium' mode. Then, press R + Z to shoot fireworks near the home plate section of the stadium.
No-hit Pitch
Place the crosshair anywhere outside the yellow batting circle and hold it there. Then, hold Z and press C-Up, C-Left, or C-Right to look at one of the bases. Now release Z, then release the other button. The crosshair will disappear from the pitching screen. Select and throw any pitch, which will always be a strike or a ball.
Easy Hits
While batting, hold B to move the cursor to where the ball will be pitched. Now release B as soon as the ball is thrown and swing.
View CPU Pitcher Status
On controller two while the CPU is pitching, press R.
Control Title Screen
At the title screen, hold Z to stop the spinning baseball. Then while holding Z, press the Analog-stick to control the baseball's movement.
![Ken Ken](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oq0YieJeW1I/hqdefault.jpg)
Flying Outfielder
Wait until a pop fly to the outfield is hit by your opponent. Allow the ball to drop, then pick it up. Hold Z and press C-Up to run into the infield with the ball. Then, press C-Right, C-Up, C-Left, C-Down, C-Left, C-Up, C-Down, C-Right, C-Up, C-Left, C-Down to throw the ball to various bases. If you entered the code correctly, the crowd will boo. Then, intentionally ignore the next ball that is hit into the outfield, and repeatedly tap A or B to fly.
Start A Fight
Hold C-Left + C-Right + C-up + C-down and press Z after your batter is hit by a pitch.
Ken Griffey Jr N64 Game
Automatic Homerun (only For Ken Griffey Jr.)
When Ken Griffey Jr. is up to bat hit start and on the d-pad move left, left, right, right, right, left, left and if you swing and have contact on the ball you will hit it over the left field wall.
Bonus Teams
Highlight the 'Exhibition' option and repeatedly tap C-Left + C-Right + C-Up + C-Down. If you entered the code correctly, you will hear a sound. Then, select the 'All-Star teams' option to access the Nintendo and Angel Studios teams.
Exploding Batter
While in the batter's box, press Right, Left, Down, Right, Left, Up, Right, Left, Down. Then your batter will explode and reappear after the next pitch.
Dancing Batter
While in the batter's box, press Up(2), Down, Left(2), Right(2), Left(2), Down, Up(2).
Dancing Pitcher
While on the pitching mound, press Up(2), Down, Left(2), Right(2), Left(2), Down, Up(2).
View Ending Sequence
Select exhibition mode, and choose the same team as home and visitor. Then at the stadium selection screen, press C-Left, C-Right, C-Left(2), C-Right, C-Down, C-Up, Z. If you entered the code correctly, you will hear a sound.
Alternate Uniform Color
Select exhibition mode, then at the team selection screen, repeatedly tap C-Left + C-Right + C-Up + C-Down.
We have no unlockables for Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr. yet. If you have any unlockables please submit them.
We have no easter eggs for Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr. yet. If you have any unlockables please submit them.
We have no glitches for Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr. yet. Slow down game with cheat engine. If you have any unlockables please submit them.