College Slam

n/a

Saturn Mega Drive
College Slam
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Saturn
Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment
Developer: Iguana UK, Iguana Entertainment, White Team
Licensor: National Collegiate Athletic Association
Sound driver: GEMS
Peripherals supported: Team Player 6Player
Genre: Sports (basketball)
Number of players: 1-4
Release Date RRP Code US 1996-02-29 T-81576 US 1996-02-26 $69.9569.95 T-8111H
Non-Sega versions Game Boy IBM PC PlayStation Super NES

College Slam is a 1996 college basketball game for various platforms, including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Saturn, released exclusively in the US. It was developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Acclaim. It is a version of NBA Jam with NCAA college basketball teams.

Gameplay

The game plays identically to the NBA Jam series. It is a two-on-two basketball game with loose rules and exaggerated realism. Games are divided into two halves. There are no fouls, free throws, or violations except goaltending and a 35-second shot clock, so players can shove each other to sabotage shots or gain possession of the ball. The game optionally includes power-ups that appear on the court and temporarily endow players with superhuman abilities and a "Juice Mode" that boosts the speed of the players.

The game modes are Head to Head for a single match between any two teams as well as three tournament modes: Season Match-up (a season where 20 teams compete to advance to a tournament of 16 teams), Tournament Time (a tournament of 16 teams), and Semi Finals (the final play-offs between 4 teams). Before each game, players choose two players out of a selection of five for each team. Players are nameless but have differing statistics and represent the five positions of a basketball team: point guard, shooting guard, the small forward, power forward, and center. They are rated on speed, three-point shooting ability, dunking ability, passing ability, power, stealing capabilities, blocking skills, and the ability to pull off a clutch play. The game includes a team editor for editing the names and statistics of every player.

Each half is six minutes long. Each team is allowed one time-out per half by pausing the game with  START  and pressing , during which the team can substitute players. Players are moved around the court with the D-Pad. Players have a boost meter that increases their running speed by holding (or or ). The boost meter is depleted as it is used, but it quickly recharges when it is not used.

All modes can be played by one to four players, with up to two per team. If a team only has one human player, the other teammate is controlled by the computer.

	Tip-Off
	Each game starts with a tip-off, where a player from each team leaps with for possession of the ball.
	Defense
	When the player's team does not have possession of the ball, the player can try to block the opposing team's shots with . If the player has boost, the player can perform a higher "super block" with +. If the ball is on the downward trajectory of its arc when it is blocked, the player is charged with goaltending and the other team receives points for a successful basket. However, if the ball touches the rim of the basket, any player on either team can grab it. When near an opposing player, the player can try to steal the ball with . The ball flashes white when the other team touches it. If the player has boost, the player can also shove another player with +. Shoving can cause the other player to drop the ball or move another player out of the way to clear a shot for a teammate.
	Offense
	When the player's team has possession of the ball, the player can perform a jump shot by holding . The ball is released when the button is released; releasing the button at the apex of the leap leads to a more accurate shot but increases the risk of a defender blocking or stealing the ball. The player can perform a jump pass by pressing while in the air. The player can fake out the other team by tapping , but since this discontinues the player's dribble, the player can no longer move with the ball and must pass or shoot. The player can perform a lay-up or a dunk by pressing while running near the basket with boost. There are a number of different jams that are performed depending on the player's speed and positioning. If a player makes three baskets in a row, the player becomes "on fire" and has unlimited boost, no goaltending, and increased shooting precision. The "on fire" mode continues until the other team scores or until the player who is "on fire" scores four additional consecutive baskets while "on fire." The player can pass the ball with . When playing with an AI teammate, pressing forces the AI to pass the ball. Opponents can intercept the ball as it is being passed. If the player has boost, the player can do a "super pass" with + that is harder to intercept. The player can protect the ball by tapping , which can prevent opponents from trying to steal it.

Power-Ups

Power-ups can be enabled in the game options. They appear randomly on the court and affect the team member that collects them for a duration.

	3
	Improves the player's chances of scoring a three-pointer.
	D
	Gives the player the ability to dunk from anywhere on the court.
	S
	Boosts the player's speed.
	P
	Boosts the player's power.
	T
	Gives the player unlimited boost.
	F
	Makes the player "on fire."
	B
	Knocks over all other players on the court.
	R
	Reverses the direction of the ball if it is mid-shot.
	Z
	Prevents opponents from scoring by zapping them with lightning at the hoop.
	I
	Makes the player invisible.
	C
	Causes the ball to bounce chaotically when it hits the floor.
	W
	Transforms the player into a whirlwind that knocks out players that it touches.
	?
	Chooses a random power-up effect.

Teams

The game includes most major Division I colleges, but there are significant omissions such as the University of Tennessee, the University of Notre Dame, and Mississippi State University (who had made a run to the Final Four the same year that the game was released).

School	Team	Conference
University of Alabama	Crimson Tide	Southeastern
University of Arizona	Wildcats	Pacific-10
University of Arkansas	Razorbacks	Southeastern
Boston College	Eagles	Big East
University of California, Berkeley	Golden Bears	Pacific-10
University of Cincinnati	Bearcats	Conference USA
University of Connecticut	Huskies	Big East
Duke University	The Blue Devils	Atlantic Coast
University of Florida	Gators	Southeastern
Florida State University	Seminoles	Atlantic Coast
Georgetown University	Hoyas	Big East
University of Georgia	Bulldogs	Southeastern
Georgia Institute of Technology	Yellow Jackets	Atlantic Coast
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Fighting Illini	Big Ten
Indiana University Bloomington	Hoosiers	Big Ten
University of Iowa	Hawkeyes	Big Ten
University of Kansas	Jayhawks	Big Eight
University of Kentucky	Wildcats	Southeastern
Louisiana State University	Tigers	Southeastern
University of Maryland, College Park	Terrapins	Atlantic Coast
University of Massachusetts Amherst	Minutemen	Atlantic-10
University of Memphis	Tigers	Conference USA
University of Michigan	Wolverines	Big Ten
Michigan State	Spartans	Big Ten
University of Missouri	Tigers	Big Eight
University of Nebraska-Lincoln	Cornhuskers	Big Eight
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Tar Heels	Atlantic Coast
North Carolina State University	Wolfpack	Atlantic Coast
Ohio State University	Buckeyes	Big Ten
University of Oklahoma	Sooners	Big Eight
Oklahoma State University-Stillwater	Cowboys	Big Eight
Pennsylvania State University	Nittany Lions	Big Ten
Purdue University	Boilermakers	Big Ten
St. John's University	Red Storm	Big East
University of South Carolina	Gamecocks	Southeastern
Syracuse University	Orangemen	Big East
University of Texas at Austin	Longhorns	Southwest
University of California, Los Angeles	Bruins	Pacific-10
University of Southern California	Trojans	Pacific-10
University of Nevada, Las Vegas	Runnin' Rebels	Big West
Villanova University	Wildcats	Big East
University of Virginia	Cavaliers	Atlantic Coast
Wake Forest University	Demon Deacons	Atlantic Coast
University of Wisconsin-Madison	Badgers	Big Ten

Production credits

Mega Drive version

• Developed By: Iguana UK
• Creative Director: Guy Miller
• Art Director: Mike Muskett
• Technical Director: Richard Frankish
• Designer: Simon Phipps
• Programming: Nathan Whitaker, Neil Hill
• Lead Artist: Nick Bagley
• Additional Art: Darren Hodgson, Trevor Storey, Tom Higgins, Ian McBurney

Iguana US

• President: Jeff Spangenberg
• VP of Product Dev.: Darrin Stubbington
• Producer: J. Moon
• Music: Darren Mitchell
• Voice Talent: Tim Kitzrow

Acclaim Product Development

• Director: Col Stone

White Team

• Executive Producer: Dan Feinstein
• Associate Producer: Philip L. Alne
• White Team Analysts: Lead: Shawn Rosen, Nathaniel Gunter, Peter Wanat

Licensing

• Assistant Manager, P.D. Licensing: Nina Skalka
• Licensing Assistant: Erin Maloney
• Quality Assurance Senior Manager: Mike Weiner
• Q.A. Supervisor: Carol Caracciolo
• Technical Support Supervisor: Harry Reimer
• Tech Support Staff: John Gonzales, Howard Perlman, Robert Coffey, Greg McGovern
• Q.A. Analysts: Lead: Paul S. Lindsay, Chris Barker Shanley, Jackie A. Williams
• Q.A. Testers: J.J. Mazziotto, Steve Mattocks, Chad Chamberlain, David Chopard, Mat T. Kraemer, Christine Ryan, Eric Zilberman, Christian Moy
• Special Thanks: Brett Forrest, Jason Forrest, Brett Gow, Seth Rosenfield, Eric 'Air Dog' Samulski, Linda Spelman, Mark Thienvanich, Terry Thomas, Coach Samulski
• Extra Special Thanks:
• Collegiate Licensing Company: Charlie Cooper, Jennifer Blackmon

Source:

In-game credits

Saturn version

• Developed By: Iguana UK
• Creative Director: Guy Miller
• Art Director: Mike Muskett
• Technical Director: Richard Frankish
• Designer: Simon Phipps
• Programming: Darren Tunnicliff, Steve Snake
• Lead Artist: Nick Bagley
• Additional Art: Mike Muskett, Andy Wright, Darren Hodgson, Colin Mulhern, Robert Whitaker

Iguana US

• President: Jeff Spangenberg
• VP of Product Dev.: Darrin Stubbington
• Producer: J. Moon
• Music: Darren Mitchell
• Voice Talent: Tim Kitzrow

Acclaim Product Development

• Director: Col Stone

White Team

• Executive Producer: Dan Feinstein
• Associate Producer: Philip L. Alne
• White Team Analysts: Shawn Rosen, Nathaneil Gunter, Peter Wanat

Licensing

• Assistant Manager, P.D. Licensing: Nina Skalka
• Licensing Assistant: Erin Maloney
• Quality Assurance Senior Manager: Mike Weiner
• Q.A. Supervisor: Carol Caracciolo
• Technical Support Supervisor: Harry Reimer
• Tech Support Staff: John Gonzales, Howard Perlman, Robert Coffey, Greg McGovern
• Lead Analyst: Paul S. Lindsay
• Q.A. Analysts: Chris Barker Shanley, Jackie A. Williams
• Q.A. Testers: J.J. Mazziotto, Steve Mattocks, Chad Chamberlain, David Chopard, Mat T. Kraemer, Christine Ryan, Eric Zilberman, Christian Moy, Damon Tabb, Andre Abramowitz
• Special Thanks: Jim Herzner, Howard Schwartz, Brett Forrest, Jason Forrest, Brett Gow, Seth Rosenfeld, Eric Air Dog Samulski, Linda Spelman, Mark Thienvanich, Terry Thomas, Coach Samulski, Emma Wadrop, Gordon Kerr
• Extra Special Thanks:
• Collegiate Licensing Company: Charlie Cooper, Jennifer Blackmon
• Fight Songs Segments Performed By: University of Cincinnati Bearcat Band
• Director: Dr. L. Frenz Sr.

Performing Members

• Flute and Piccolo: Jessica Knauso, Andrea Larson, Stacy Hunkler
• Mellophone: Mike Zierolf, Becky Williams, Jessica Schloemer
• Tuba: Edwin Dunn II, John Detroy, Jeff November
• Percussion: Mike Short, Kevin Kifer, Erica Thomas, Scott Weaver, Kevin McCabe
• Clarinet: Beth Pugh, Julie Paisley, Marcy McKee, Ann Phifer
• Trumpet: Tim Steffen, Sean Ford, Josh Marrotti, Jodi Schmidt, Kyle Frankl, Richard Kaufold, Darren Sloppy, Brian Gaynor, Marcus Bryant, Tyson Howard, John Strok
• Alto Saxophone: Jerry Howard, Tom Holtman
• Tenor Saxophone: Thomas Witmer, Lee Becker
• Baritone: Marc Lockwood, Paul Thorman
• Trombone: Heith Scheiman, Brian V. Crawford, Derek Broenner, Mike Haubostock, Jodi Theis, Allan Mitchell
• Arrangements and Editing By: Terren Frenz Sr., Steve Parsons
• Original Material Composed By: Terren Frenz Sr., Steve Parsons, Copyright 1995 Brass Factory Productions

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: College Slam/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Game Players (US) #0904: "Vol. 9 No. 4 April 1996" (1996-03-19)
also published in:

• Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #81: "April 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
• Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #82: "May 1996" (1996-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 50 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 69 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 68 Svet Kompjutera (YU) 84 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 74

	69
Based on 5 reviews

College Slam

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Consoles + (FR) 83 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 73 Mega Force (FR) NTSC-U 75 Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U 85 Playmag (FR) NTSC-U 73 Strana Igr (RU) 47 Video Games (DE) NTSC-U 79

	73
Based on 7 reviews

College Slam

Saturn, US
Cover
Manual

Technical information

Main article: College Slam/Technical information.