NBA Street, Ballers No More
by 
While the NBA once considered giving out an exclusive license they decided against it, instead choosing to keep the competition and have multiple games available. In addition they gave EA and Midway the right to put out arcade style basketball games in alternate years.
For the arcade games that is about to change. Midway is struggling as a company and is now attempting to buy itself out of the licensing deal. That isn’t as surprising as the news that EA Sports is putting the Street series on hiatus.
Jon Robinson at ESPN broke the news on this story and got the official confirmation from Peter Moore. Check out the full details and statement from Moore there near the bottom of the page.
It’s hard to believe that the NBA will be void of arcade offerings so it’ll be interesting to see where things go from here and what comes in to take the place of Street and Ballers.
October 22, 2008 at 11:10 am
i dnt care much of this, except maybe Nba Street. I liked homecourt but it got old QUICK, my fav had 2 b the 1st one it was tight
October 22, 2008 at 11:23 am
whoa I actually liked all da NBA STREET games especially Home Court Last year even though it was weird U couldn’t customize ur Home Court like U could in Vol 3
damn dis sux I was lookin 4ward 2 gettin NBA STREET
October 22, 2008 at 11:26 am
Really? I have thought Nba Live 09 is EA’s arcade serie…
I can not understand this Peter Moore guy, he is a cyberface for Facebreaker, he shows himself on real NBA games promoting the live serie, explaining the benefits of EA games with a crazy flame in his eyes. Producing games is not for men over 50. He is ridiculous.
October 22, 2008 at 11:37 am
I never thought Street was as fun as people made it out to be.
And from what I’ve heard, the last Ballers was kind of weak. The first one was kind of fun, but awfully cheap on the AI.
Maybe this will clear the way for the return of the classic, NBA Jam? That was always the most fun arcade b-ball anyway. I loved nailed people with Dennis Rodman back in the day. We need an arcade basketball game where playing defense is possible (and fun).
October 22, 2008 at 11:38 am
NBA Live 09 plays very much like a sim this year IMO.
As for NBA Street. The game is too short, too much button mashing, and not really fun. I might get a few laughs in the first couple games but there wasn’t enough customization, lack of true depth. Good riddance.
October 22, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Yeah, I mentioned Street as a game that didn’t have the right use of strategy (in my Blitz write-up) because it became frustrating. The whole doing moves and then scoring to build up the bar would irritate me because it was more about doing those things than winning. Chasing around players while on defense who were doing moves for 30 seconds was lame.
October 22, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Did these really sell very well? i can’t imagine they did. I’m usually bored with “street” or “arcade” sports games before I finish the demo.
Blitz: League (original Xbox) was ok because they added so much to it, namely the story mode… but even that game I could only play 1 or 2 before I had to put in a real game because it was driving me crazy.
October 22, 2008 at 12:22 pm
The Street games were always very good sellers. Ballers didn’t do nearly as well though but on the old consoles it was profitable.
Have you ever tried The BIGS? That game had longevity and it wasn’t even fully fleshed out with it’s career mode. They could do some great things with that game. I just don’t understand, since it sold pretty well, why we haven’t seen a sequel yet.
October 22, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I have a funny feeling about this. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling the NBA is going exclusive and EA is positioning themselves.
October 22, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I am not that sad to see this series go. I know it was an arcade game but it was a big over the top.
I would rather EA use the resources to fix the current simulation games….
October 22, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Street was a sick game, but rather have EA work on the live series
October 22, 2008 at 2:30 pm
da day EA & da NBA go EXCLUSIVE is da day NBA gamin DIES a slo terribly painful agonizing DEATH
REAL TALK
October 22, 2008 at 2:41 pm
[quote comment="42864"]Street was a sick game, but rather have EA work on the live series[/quote]
It sounds to me like they’re working on something else. Just won’t be called NBA Street.
October 22, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I like the NBA Street series more than the Ballers series. The problem with the NBA Street series I had was the constant goaltending. Defense became just controlling one player under the basket and swatting any jumpers away. Rebounding was non-existent as the ball either was blocked or a dunk. If they can revamp the series, and make it play like a basketball game, it’ll be great. People have said all the goaltending is ok, because it’s street ball. If you watch a game of street ball, nobody jumps up and goaltends like that.
October 22, 2008 at 4:13 pm
NBA Driveway Hoops? Have to shoot over power lines and dribble on grass? Yep, that’s how I remember it growing up…Oh, and throw in a rim that is bent a quarter of the way due to rust and kids dunking off of ladders….
October 22, 2008 at 4:46 pm
WTF either how HIGH was ur Hoop
or
how LOW was ur Power Lines
cuz round here power lines ain’t no where near low enuff 2 interfere wit ur shot
mayb ur arm wen playin football throwin da hail mary but NOT ur shot
October 22, 2008 at 5:30 pm
vol. 3 and 1 were the best….as for ballers…didnt really like it
October 22, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Hey Pasta, What about NFL License Arcade games.
October 22, 2008 at 9:05 pm
NBA Street Vol2 and the first NBA Ballers were fun but after that the games started to get repetitive.
October 22, 2008 at 9:36 pm
the street and ballers series just didnt translate well to the new systems. Vol 3 was light years better than Homecourt and the new ballers game was horrible. no ball checks the game just felt dumb.
Im glad there no more either put out a good product or dont come at all.
October 22, 2008 at 9:38 pm
The day EA snags the NBA exclusive license is the day I stop playing sports games. you see how shitty it is with the NFL.
October 22, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Arcade Sports games were allot better on the PS2 and X box . I loved the first NBA Street games and the first ballers. Same with the NFL Street games to. NFL Tour was pretty bad. The graphic weren’t as good on the old systems but the game play was better than it is now. Hopefully in the future EA can revamp the series in a new form for Both NBA and NFL Arcade games. Hopefully they haven’t canceled their NFL
Arcade games and come out with a Next Gen fun NFL Street or Tour.
October 23, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Just how bad is Madden really? It’s gotten great reviews, on average the game is rated 8.5 (great) by all major reviews. Yes its not perfect, but no sporting game is. I wish there were more options, but I’ll take Madden for what it’s worth. EA will never get the 2K license, because it’s the cornerstone of 2K sports and 2K will not let that happen.