EA wants to dominate basketball genre in digital sector

2K has the No.1 basketball retail game, but EA wants to be top dog in digital.

And should NBA Jam: On Fire for Xbox Live and PSN prove a success, it could pave the way for more digital EA Sports titles for more niche sports like cricket, rugby, even lacrosse.

[Downloadable games] don’t ask for a big investment for a new triple-A IP,” Trey Smith NBA Jam creative director told MCV.

The development cost is a fraction of what it is on those big titles. I’m hoping it might get us to bring back cricket or rugby or lacrosse. Is the audience big enough to justify a full packaged goods release for them? I don’t think so.

Digital distribution isthe future. Jam represents our best foot forward inthe space.”