Xbox Gaming in South Africa

EA Sports' NBA Jam always seemed perfectly suited to a digital platform like Microsoft's Xbox LIVE Arcade. In fact, most of us assumed that last years remake would be download-only, but EA chose to release it as a full retail affair instead. Now the publishing giant has announced that the fast-paced title will indeed be available as a digital download but in the updated form of NBA Jam: On Fire Edition.

"EA Sports continues to support this iconic franchise through a new digital download and we’re taking everything fans loved about the original and adding a host of new features," said Trey Smith, NBA Jam: On Fire Edition Line Producer. "We’ve listened to all of the feedback from our fans and we are driven to deliver the very best NBA JAM experience to date."

There are a number of new features which make this version deserving of its On Fire subtitle, so I'm going to just rip them right out of the press release for y'all:

• REAL AI – Featuring the ground-breaking AI system used in the Fight Night franchise that learns your tendencies and throws them back in your face.
• JAM Arena – Play solo, or team up with friends and take on the world in a new, dynamic online competition.
• Road Trip – A cooperative online campaign where you can team up with friends and compete in a series of white-knuckle challenges against the current superstars and timeless legends from each of the 30 NBA Teams.
• Tag Mode and Team Fire return! – Swap players “on the fly” and ignite your entire team by performing consecutive cooperative moves!
• More NBA JAM Hotness – Online roster updates, more NBA superstars, legendary NBA players, over-the-top animations, JAM challenges, secret teams and unlockable characters than ever before!

Also included in the announcement is news that EA Sports are currently working on their next 'proper' NBA title, under development by Tiburon Studio and aiming to hit the court sometime in 2012.

NBA Jam: On Fire Edition will be shooting hoops on the Xbox LIVE Arcade in October this year for an as yet undisclosed price.