“NBA Jam” was beloved by players and served as an introduction to basketball for many of them. The game didn’t mirror the sport, though, allowing users to do crazy moves and trick shots. But what really helped capture audiences was the game’s sound design. Commentator Tim Kitzrow became iconic with catch phrases like “He’s on Fire!” and “Boom Shakalaka.”

This episode of “Hidden Levels,” a podcast from 99 Percent Invisible and Endless Thread, explores the importance of game sound design and how Kitzrow helped define the sports game subgenre.

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