Gannett News Service

Forget regular old five-on-five basketball played in stadiums with thousands of screaming fans - NBA Ballers (Midway; for Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Xbox; $49.99; rated "E" for everyone; www.midway.com) is a video game that focuses on one-on-one arcade play with over-the-top moves and an inside look at the flashy "bling bling" sports celebrity lifestyle.

Specifically, this game lets players squeak sneakers on courts inside the lavish homes of dozens of today's hottest NBA players and retired legends of the game, such as Larry Bird, Julius Irving and Magic Johnson. Or gamers can also create a player from scratch and work their way up the ranks; points used for winning matches can be used to buy clothes, jewelry, cars, a mansion and even an entourage.

The game can be played three ways: against a computer-controlled opponent, between friends on the same TV or head-to-head on the Internet (PlayStation 2 only).

Other features include an extensive hip-hop soundtrack, responsive commentary and plenty of video clips.

On the Web: www.nba-ballers.com