When Acclaim announced it was bringing the Harlem Globetrotters back to video games, it raised some eyebrows. Not because it didn’t make sense, but because of how naturally it did.
As it turns out, the partnership didn’t start with the Globetrotters at all. It started with a game.
That game was Basketball Classics, which was already available on Steam before Acclaim got involved.
“We had connected with the developers, and we got along really well,” Acclaim CEO Alex Josef said. “There was a great connection, great chemistry with the developers.”
From there, the relationship grew into something more.
“We took that on to help them with continuing to promote Basketball Classics, keeping it alive on Steam, and helping that game to generate additional revenues,” Josef said.
“Then [we got to] work with them to create Super Basketball Classics, which is the next iteration with the rotoscoped graphics on the characters and the enhanced functions and functionality and additional features within the game.”
Once that foundation was in place, the opportunity for something more started to make sense.
“Part of the play with Acclaim is to look at when there’s an opportunity and when it makes sense and when there’s going to be synergy there,” Josef said, which is where the Harlem Globetrotters came in.
“Harlem Globetrotters seemed like a great fit,” he said. “There was a couple that we were considering and talking to. Harlem Globetrotters really felt like a great fit.”
The timing didn’t hurt either, and then everything just fell into place.
“They were coming up on the 100-year anniversary,” he said. “We started talking to them, and they loved the idea.”
Josef continued: “It was just a perfect partnership. They’ve been such a fantastic partner for us, so wonderful and so helpful in every way that it’s really turning out to be a marriage made in heaven.”
For Acclaim, it’s the kind of collaboration that fits exactly what the company is trying to build: finding the right mix between strong gameplay and recognizable brands that actually enhance the experience.
Super Basketball Classics featuring the Harlem Globetrotters doesn’t have a release date just yet. But when it does launch, it’ll be available on PC and console.
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Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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Weird they’re doing this and it’s not in NBA The Run. Waiting on Hyperyuki Snowboarding. This looks weird is their an audience or enough of one for this game a retro 8 bit sports game.