Pitch a wrestling video game

[HarmonicGenerator]

There have been loads of different kinds of wrestling-inspired games. Aside from the straightforward simulations, and the beat-em-up styles of games like All Stars (oh how I wish they'd do another All Stars), there's been That one where the wrestlers drove around in cars with power ups and stuff, the one they did for the GameBoy where Stephanie got kidnapped and you had to rescue her or something and that Immortals one they plugged on NXT every week for ages earlier this year.

 

The point being, wrestling games don't actually have to be wrestling games. They could be any kind of game you like, as long as they're 'inspired by' wrestling.

 

So with that in mind… suggestions! If you could make any kind of game based on wrestling, what would it be? What would you buy? 8-bit platformed? Open world? FPS? More cars with power-ups, but good this time? Wii Sports Entertainment?

 

 

I'd want a game starring these guys:

 

 

It's the Hasbros! I imagine it as a rip-off of the Lego games.

 

You'd have two main modes. The first mode is Story Mode, which means we need a story. 

 

 

Because 'everybody has a price', Ted has paid off loads of the baddie Hasbros and got them to kidnap loads of the goodie Hasbros, plus he'd bribed some of the goodies to turn as well so we can have more levels. At the start of the game, in your hub of the Blue Ring With The Buttons That Made Noises, you've only got a couple of people you can play as: Hulk Hogan, and let's say Tito or someone like that.

 

You then make your way through the levels, collecting DiBiase Dollar Bills instead of studs, and gathering the letters of 'WrestleMania' for bonus dollars. Each level is themed around the villain you'll be fighting at its end: Jake Roberts' will be a literal snake pit, with lots of snakes to punch and kick at, caves, cobras, etc. For Brutus Beefcake, you're in a barbershop level and you can only win by throwing Marty Jannetty through a window. The Bushwhackers, the outback. Roddy Piper, loads of tartan and he keeps appearing to throw coconuts at you. Andre the Giant, you're tiny and everything else is massive, and you can only beat him by slamming him.

 

When you complete a level, you unlock the villain you've beaten, plus whoever else you encountered/rescued on the way, ending with DiBiase himself. You work your way through his mansion, defeating several million Virgils before defeating Ted, completing the game, and unlocking the last characters.

 

You can then do story mode again, because like with Lego, certain areas are off-limits unless you have certain characters with certain abilities - i.e. perhaps Boss Man has a set of prison keys to unlock doors that nobody else can, or Mr Perfect can jump to higher platforms than anyone else because he's perfect.

 

Or, you can go to Federation Mode.

 

 

Federation Mode is exactly what it sounds like. It's your Hasbro federation you used to do, but on your console.

 

You can start it at any point in the game, even if you've only unlocked a few people, to recreate that whole 'I've only got a few figures but I have imagination' part of your childhood. There'll be a Customisation Zone so you can make new characters like Transformers or give them all forks or something, so you're not just limited to wrestlers. You can book shows, run story lines, etc etc.

 

But you can also play matches.

 

Now, this won't be like any other wrestling or fighting game. This will be like playing with Hasbros. Their legs won't be able to move properly. Their actions as figures will be replicated depending on pressing X or something. You can move your character with the left analogue stick, you can climb the turnbuckle and jump off, you can press a button to grab, etc.

 

When you get hold of your opponent, the left stick will determine what you do, while the right will determine what you do to them. Flick the right stick 180 degrees and you'll have turned them upside down. Move the left stick up as far as you can and you'll both go flying up into the air… move it back down and BOOM, Tombstone. Rotate both sticks wildly and it'll be some kind of crazy cartwheel fest. If you grab them from behind and flick both sticks to the left, BOOM, German Suplex. Keep the left stick still but turn the right stick all the way and then slam down, BOOM, body slam. If you're coming off the turnbuckle, the direction you move the stick will decide how high you jump, how many flips you do, etc.

 

Each character would have a few special moves, press O or something and suddenly their legs will no longer be stuck in place, they will come alive and a finisher animation will play. With lots of shiny lights.

 

 

I'd play it, anyway.

 

 

So, that's my idea. What are your ideas? WHAT PLAY YOU?

[Linus]

My game would be set in the southern US in the mid-1970s. You would choose to be a power wrestler or a technical wrestler. If you were a power wrestler you would be shoved in the ring without training, potatoing opponents until someone smartened you up to the business and gave you some training. If you were a technical wrestler you'd have the piss beaten out of you until you either give up or survive long enough to earn respect and THEN get trained.

 

Once you'd "graduated" you'd move around the territories for a decade or so until the late 80s when you'd have to adapt to Vince's new world. Obviously this would be the hardest part of the game.

 

The final part of the game would see you on the Indy/convention circuit - can you have worse matches than Jake Roberts at Heroes Of Wrestling? Can you attract a longer signing queue than Virgil? Will WWE induct you into the Hall of Fame before you die from the drugs/concussions that wrestling gave you?

[Kaz Hayashi]

Love the idea of this. I've had plenty of what if thoughts of the years regarding potential game ideas. The territory one, similar to above is the dream.

 

However, for some fun and daft, I like the concept of a Streets of Rage rip off, in which you can choose to be one of 3 wrestlers, such as Savage, Hogan, Warrior.

A basic story, as mentioned above, but Million Dollar man has twocked miss Elizabeth.

 

You have to work your way through the levels, smashing up loads of jobbers and lower level/bottom of the card heels. Variations of Repo man, Virgil, Sherri, etc, but each level you progress, you would get slightly tough foes.

 

You also have 5 or 6 different attacks that mimmic typical wrestling attacks, you have a couple of special based moves if you press a certain button, such as a huge spinning pile driver or a huge spinning power bomb.

 

You have cut away levels/sections such as the 'gnomes' section on Golden Ax, so you can gain addition attacks and power ups for the next level.

The end if each level you walk in to door of a bar and fight a boss in the ring.

This is a typical wrestling match against a heel superstar, level 1 would be Warlord.

Until the last level in which you call your two mates and have a 3 vs 3 against Zeus, Andre and Dollar Man.

 

You win Liz back but she tells you to do one as she runs to the back with Ricky Rude.

[Nick Soapdish]

Love the idea of this. I've had plenty of what if thoughts of the years regarding potential game ideas. The territory one, similar to above is the dream.

 

However, for some fun and daft, I like the concept of a Streets of Rage rip off, in which you can choose to be one of 3 wrestlers, such as Savage, Hogan, Warrior.

A basic story, as mentioned above, but Million Dollar man has twocked miss Elizabeth.

 

You have to work your way through the levels, smashing up loads of jobbers and lower level/bottom of the card heels. Variations of Repo man, Virgil, Sherri, etc, but each level you progress, you would get slightly tough foes.

 

You also have 5 or 6 different attacks that mimmic typical wrestling attacks, you have a couple of special based moves if you press a certain button, such as a huge spinning pile driver or a huge spinning power bomb.

 

You have cut away levels/sections such as the 'gnomes' section on Golden Ax, so you can gain addition attacks and power ups for the next level.

The end if each level you walk in to door of a bar and fight a boss in the ring.

This is a typical wrestling match against a heel superstar, level 1 would be Warlord.

Until the last level in which you call your two mates and have a 3 vs 3 against Zeus, Andre and Dollar Man.

 

You win Liz back but she tells you to do one as she runs to the back with Ricky Rude.

 

They attempted something similar during the attitude era. I believe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWF_Betrayal

[Au]

Wrestlemania XIX on the Gamecube had a very similar mode called Revenge, which was basically a 3D scrolling beat em up. It's been years since I played it but I don't recall it being particularly good.

[Vamp]

The wrestling industry would give itself over to a wonderfully grim roleplaying game with choices such as whether to take steroids or not, whether to work injured, do you shoot on the company you're leaving, do you leak info to the dirty sheets so they'll rate you, etc.

 

On a separate note lucha seems like a style that would make a wonderful fast paced video game. I'm not counting the AAA game. Can't see it happening though.

[Nick Soapdish]

The wrestling industry would give itself over to a wonderfully grim roleplaying game with choices such as whether to take steroids or not, whether to work injured, do you shoot on the company you're leaving, do you leak info to the dirty sheets so they'll rate you, etc.

 

On a separate note lucha seems like a style that would make a wonderful fast paced video game. I'm not counting the AAA game. Can't see it happening though.

Saturday Night Slam Masters. That was an attempt at a street fighter / Luca game. was not great

[Charles goodwill]

I would follow the idea of "become a legend" on the Pro Evo games.

 

Have a few different "Leagues" so to speak. Japan, U.S. Mexico, UK and Europe.

 

Have a number of promotions per area "League" some of which are obviously more prestigious and famous. For example U.S would have WWE as the Real/Barca type of level.

 

Much like Pro you could chose to create your own character, similar stat based distribution (Tech, Power, Flying etc etc.)

 

You would then pick which area you want to start in and would then compete in a Trial Match. Following that match you would get offered two/three contracts with different lower level companies within the geographical area. Pick which one you fancy and off you go.

 

From there you would take part in different matches etc and begin climbing the ranks of your promotion. Each match would increase your over all level and also level up your specified stats. The more you lean towards a certain style the more you would improve in that area (wrestle a high flying style and your aerial, speed etc would increase)

 

Much like Pro Evo you would have a agent who you can use to scout out potential moves to different companies that you wanted to work for. For example you could be in ROH and want to head to WWE, the agent would make the contact and see if there was interest. Every time you got a offer you would have to compete in a tryout match etc. an agent could also be used to sell merch etc.

 

You would get a salary and could chose to put that into merch, trainers, new agent.

 

There's more to cover but I'm on my phone.

[King Coconut]

I'd set a GTA style game in the 80s. You start off as Marty Jannetty and have the choice of dedicating yourself to your craft, visiting the gym, etc, or you might choose to drug and rape some ringrats instead. Your choices will dictate how the game unfolds.

[Undefeated Steak]

It'd be like a trading card game on phones.

 

You begin with 100 base points to create a roster. Wrestlers like Undertaker or Hogan would cost around 70 points and a no-name jobber would only be 5 points.

 

You put shows, storylines, and feuds together. There'd be algorithms to work out what ratings your shows do. You earn points and can buy new wrestlers.

There'd be "Ultra" versions of wrestlers, but they'd be limited to how many are put into circulation. So, an Ultra Sting might be 5000 points but having him on your shows would boost your ratings.

 

Your wrestlers' base points would increase or decrease depending on their activity. So I could trade my Triple H with 40 points and Shawn Michaels with 50 points for your Orton who you've built up to 100 points.

It'd be like a trading card game on phones.

 

You begin with 100 base points to create a roster. Wrestlers like Undertaker or Hogan would cost around 70 points and a no-name jobber would only be 5 points.

 

You put shows, storylines, and feuds together. There'd be algorithms to work out what ratings your shows do. You earn points and can buy new wrestlers.

There'd be "Ultra" versions of wrestlers, but they'd be limited to how many are put into circulation. So, an Ultra Sting might be 5000 points but having him on your shows would boost your ratings.

 

Your wrestlers' base points would increase or decrease depending on their activity. So I could trade my Triple H with 40 points and Shawn Michaels with 50 points for your Orton who you've built up to 100 points.

[Teedy Kay]

So Supercard but with trading?

[Undefeated Steak]

I don't know what Supercard is mate. 

[FLips]

Suspicious.

[Teedy Kay]

WWE Supercard is a mobile card based game where as you win you select cards from a blind deck, the better your cards the better cards you can pull.

 

There's a number of games involved in it, but it's predominantly designed to get people to spend money to not graft at the unrewarding gameplay.

 

There is no trading however.

 

A card pack system like FIFAs (although that's apparently shite now) would be interesting in the console world as part of their normal games, assembling Survivor Series Teams or Stables could be interesting

[Arch Stanton]

wwe.com ran a pretty random feature a while ago that addresses this topic perfectly...

 

http://www.wwe.com/inside/8-wwe-video-games-we-wish-were-real