Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs

From Sega Retro

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LakersvsCeltics title.png

Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer:
Licensor: National Basketball Association
Genre: Sports (basketball)

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$49.9549.95[2][3] 700401
Sega Mega Drive
EU

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Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs is a 1989 basketball game for IBM PCs by Electronic Arts. EA ported it to the Sega Mega Drive in 1990. Lakers versus Celtics was the first basketball game to be licensed by the NBA (though curiously acquired the players' name rights without going through the NBA Players Association). For its time, Lakers versus Celtics was considered to be the top basketball video game on the market, and was highly received by the press.

The Mega Drive version, though very similar to the original DOS game in nature, makes some slight adjustments to reflect the teams taking part in the 1990 NBA Playoffs (as opposed to the original's 1989 roster). As a result, the Seattle SuperSonics, New York Knicks and Jazz are replaced with the Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs, respectively.

Though the North American version of the game is relatively common (as are its "sequels", Bulls vs Lakers and the NBA Playoffs and Bulls versus Blazers and the NBA Playoffs), the European version of the game is abnormally rare, to the point where for many years, its existence was widely doubted.[5] EA originally ran into legal troubles with the NBA when it came licensing the game in Europe[6], and likely recalled copies of the game shortly after release. According to an old Electronic Arts spreadsheet 192 copies of the game left EA but only 13 are known to have surfaced. A copy went on sale on ebay on 26 June 2017 attracting bids above £9000. Supposedly it was set to be re-released as EA Basketball in 1992, though this never happened[7].

Gameplay

Teams

Only ten NBA teams exist in Lakers versus Celtics (and two of those are "all-stars", featuring the best players). Future games would expand the roster to include the full lineup.


Conference Team Players
Western Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers
Portland Trail Blazers Portland Trail Blazers
San Antonio Spurs San Antonio Spurs
Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns
All Stars West
Eastern Boston Celtics Boston Celtics
Detroit Pistons Detroit Pistons
Chicago Bulls Chicago Bulls
Philadelphia 76'ers Philadelphia 76'ers
All Stars East

Production credits

  • Genesis Programming by: Jesse K.Taylor IV, Carl Mey, John Tomlinson
  • Graphics and Animation by: Paul Vernon, Arthur Koch, Cynthia Hamilton, Peggy Brennan
  • Sound and Music by: Rob Hubbard
  • Technical Director: Richard Hicks
  • Produced by: Don Traeger and Jim Rushing
  • Assistant Producers: Jon Horsley, Michael Meischeid, Happy Keller
  • Original Design by: Robert Weatherby
Source:
In-game credits
Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs MD credits.pdf
[8]


Magazine articles

Main article: Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in (US) #15: "October 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • (US) #2: "October/November 1990" (1990-xx-xx)[9]
  • (US) #0101: "Vol. 1, No. 1: Fall 1990" (1990-10-xx)[10]
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
(RU)
40
[11]
(DE)
68
[12]
(UK)
83
[13]
(UK) PAL
83
[14]
(UK)
88
[15]
(US) NTSC-U
60
[16]
(US) NTSC-U
100
[17]
(UK)
91
[18]
(FR)
93
[19]
(UK) NTSC-U
65
[20]
(US) NTSC-U
65
[21]
(UK)
89
[22]
(UK) NTSC
82
[23]
(UK)
89
[24]
(DE)
73
[25]
(UK) NTSC-U
75
[26]
(UK)
80
[27]
(UK) PAL
80
[28]
(RU)
70
[29]
(US) NTSC-U
70
[3]
Sega Mega Drive
77
Based on
20 reviews

Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs

Mega Drive, US (Cardboard Case)
LvC MD US Box Back.jpgLvC MD US Box Spine.jpgLvC MD US Box.jpgLvC MD US Box Spine2.jpg
Cover
LakersVersusCeltics MD US cart.jpg
Cart
Lakers Vs Celtics MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US (Hardcase)

LakersVersusCeltics MD US cart.jpg
Cart
Lakers Vs Celtics MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
LvC MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
LakersVersusCeltics MD US cart.jpg
Cart
LvC MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
LvC MD EU Manual Back.jpg
Manual (Back)

Technical information

Main article: Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs/Technical information.

External links

References

  1. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/ebTedzqJ9P0/m/BeGiioCwuXcJ
  2. GamePro, "January 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 47
  3. 3.0 3.1 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "January 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 61
  4. Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9
  5. https://www.retrocollect.com/Guides/pal-thunder-force-iii-and-the-controversial-sega-megadrive-releases.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-04-14 08:23)
  6. MegaTech, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-20), page 18
  7. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 8
  8. File:Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs MD credits.pdf
  9. Sega Visions, "October/November 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 40
  10. Game Players Sega Guide!, "Vol. 1, No. 1: Fall 1990" (US; 1990-10-xx), page 2
  11. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 111
  12. Aktueller Software Markt, "Juni 1991" (DE; 1991-05-31), page 119
  13. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 82
  14. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 131
  15. Computer & Video Games, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-16), page 90
  16. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 26
  17. GamePro, "January 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 46
  18. Games-X, "4th-10th July 1991" (UK; 1991-07-04), page 38
  19. Joystick, "Juillet/Août 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 168
  20. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 93
  21. Mega Play, "February 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 42
  22. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 79
  23. MegaTech, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-20), page 41
  24. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 139
  25. Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 141
  26. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 53
  27. Sega Pro, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-16), page 18
  28. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
  29. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 101


Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs

LakersvsCeltics title.png

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