White Men Can't Jump (video game)

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.^[2][3][5] Versus is a standard single match mode for up to four players.^[3][5] Tournament is a season mode for one or two players, where the main objective is to enter the Slam City tournament.^[3][5] The player starts with $500 borrowed from loan sharks and must earn $5,000 for the tournament entry fee by betting the money on a series of 30 matches.^[3][5][6] Winning a match increases the player's overall reputation, as does the betting amounts for subsequent matches.^[2] After the player collects enough money, they automatically enter the tournament at the Inglewood Forum, but the game is over if the player fails to pay back the loan sharks.^[3][6][7]

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]

White Men Can't Jump for the Atari Jaguar is loosely based on the 1992 20th Century Fox film of the same name.^[1][9][10] It was the first title developed by High Voltage Software (HVS), a Illinois-based game developer founded by Kerry J. Ganofsky in 1993.^{[11][12][13][14]} That year, plans for a video game adaptation of White Men Can't Jump were announced following a licensing agreement between 20th Century Fox and Trimark Interactive, a subsidiary formed by Trimark Pictures to expand into the video and computer game markets.^[15][16][17] Trimark Interactive acquired the rights to make a game on all platforms and commissioned HVS to design it, entering production as one of Trimark Interactive's first games for Jaguar.^{[16][17][18][19]}

The game was co-produced by Allen Edwards and Kevin Hunt, with Adisak Pochanayon doing all the programming.^[8][19] The cover was illustrated by Damion Davis,^[7] as his first work in the video game industry before becoming lead artist at HVS.^[20] 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.^[19]

White Men Can't Jump for the Atari Jaguar was first showcased at the 1994 Summer Consumer Electronics Show, announced for release in the first quarter of 1995.^[21][22][23] The game made additional appearances at tradeshows in 1995, such as the Winter CES,^[24] the ECTS Spring event,^[25] and E3 1995.^[26] It was also showcased at the Atari offices during "Fun 'n' Games Day", an event to showcase upcoming Jaguar titles to journalists.^[27][28][29] The game was published by Atari in North America and Europe on August 1995,^[2][30] becoming the first basketball game for the Jaguar.^[31] It came bundled with the Team Tap multitap, allowing four players to participate.^[30][32]

White Men Can't Jump for the Atari Jaguar received mixed reception from critics.^[42] The multiplayer aspect with the Team Tap multitap earned praise.^[3][6][41] 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.^[36] Next Generation also remarked that multiple players are required to fully enjoy it.^[37]

Reviewers were divided regarding the gameplay and controls.^[3][33][35] Baggatta approved of the game's simulation of streetball, while Next Generation praised the game's balance and intense violence.^[1][37] 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][40]

The graphics and camera drew criticism.^[1][35][40] The two sports critics of EGM criticized the confusing camera perspective and poor animation.^[33] Özelsel initially found it confusing due to the perspective.^[36] Player One's Denis Adloff faulted the pixelated characters when they are close to the screen.^[38] An editor for the German publication ST-Computer found it visually unattractive due to its dull colors.^[6] ST Format's Stuart Campbell lambasted the jerky frame rate, while The Electric Playground's Victor Lucas panned the confusing camera work.^[34][39] Journalists were also divided over the audio.^[6][34][35] Atari Gaming Headquarters' Mark Santora said the music leaves much to be desired, while Abramson commended its soundtrack.^[2][3] Baggatta felt that the trash-talking voices quickly became annoying, while Next Generation praised the street-style audio commentary.^[1][37]

Retrospective commentary for White Men Can't Jump has been equally mixed.^{[43][44][45][46]} 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.^[43] Author Andy Slaven appreciated the fast arcade-style gameplay, but found the visuals to be bland.^[44] 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."^[45] Writer Seanbaby placed it as number 8 in his "20 worst games ever" feature,^[47] while The Evening Tribune identified it as one of the "worst games in history".^[20]

• Official website
• White Men Can't Jump at AtariAge
• White Men Can't Jump at MobyGames