The Comedy of Compensation in Gaming History
Ah, the world of video games: where fortunes are made faster than a player can shout “Defense!” And then there’s Tim Kitzrow, the illustrious voice behind some of the catchiest phrases, lamenting over a mere $800 payment for his work on the game that raked in over a billion dollars. Sure, let’s just say that’s one way to keep your friends close but your paycheck even closer.
From Pinball to Stardom
Before Kitzrow became the pop culture phenomenon with “boomshakalaka” and “he’s on fire,” he was busy recording voices for pinball machines. Yes, pinball – that ancient game where players try to keep a metal ball from plunging down a hole. Talk about a humble beginning! Under the banner of WMS Industries (which sounds very official), he channeled his inner actor into tables like Gilligan’s Island and The Twilight Zone. Nothing screams “Hollywood” quite like talking about a boat stranded on an island while flipping a silver ball around.
“You might do two, three, or four hours of work on a pinball game, pulling in a few hundred bucks at best,” Kitzrow reminisced. “Definitely not what one might call ‘making a living’.” Just another day in the life of a voiceover artist, folks.
NBA Jam: The Game That Made Everyone a Millionaire Except the Commentator
And then came NBA Jam. What a time it must have been! An arcade game launched like a rocket ship, waxed clean with sheer excitement. But for Kitzrow? Just another gig—not even a twinkle of foresight about its impending legendary status. He sauntered in for what he thought was a regular paycheck, cranking out voice lines like it ain’t no thing. For $50 an hour. “I’d just go in, do a couple of sessions, maybe 15 hours total, and that was it. Simple, right?” Simple indeed—if only one could predict that it would go on to become a billion-dollar behemoth.
The Epiphany of Underpayment
Then reality struck harder than a basketball hitting the court: “When the game came out and I found out it made a billion dollars, that’s when I realized I’d made about $800 and change,” Kitzrow laughed. Did anyone else hear the sound of a wallet crying? “I thought, ‘Well, I’m probably being underpaid; time to negotiate!’” Ah yes, hindsight is always 20/20, especially when one’s bank account reveals a shocking secret.
A Resilient Voice in Gaming
But fear not! Kitzrow’s nicknamed comeback was as bright as his original stint. He returned with a most impressive résumé, lending his iconic voice to NBA Jam Tournament Edition, Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey, NFL Blitz, and various others. Clearly, the universe wasn’t done with this voice yet. The gaming world needed more “boomshakalaka,” and Kitzrow was ready to deliver, probably with a contract this time.
The Birth of Boomshakalaka
As for that catchy “boomshakalaka” line? Not exactly birthed from genius, but rather from a 1970s psychedelic jam. “A fellow in the studio was grooving to Sly & The Family Stone’s ‘I Want to Take You Higher,’” Kitzrow revealed. “He told me to say ‘boomshakalaka,’ and I, being the basketball aficionado I am, thought, ‘What’s with this nonsense?’”
The tag line came out awkwardly—think “Boomshakalaka…?”—and lo and behold, it became an absolute classic. Who knew a classic “misunderstanding” would lead to one of the most quoted lines in gaming history? Certainly not him!
A Legacy in the Making
Now with a nod to the future, Kitzrow returns to the commentator’s booth for Mutant Football League 2. After decades of iconic contributions, it seems this voice isn’t going anywhere fast—unless, of course, someone tosses a sack of cash Kitzrow’s way first.
