Total Nonstop Analysis #7 – TNA Re-Enters the Gaming World

By Dillon Avery

By Dillon Avery

In preparation for this column, I simply googled “New TNA Video Game” to see if I could find anything on plans for a second foray into the world of gamers by TNA. After browsing through dead ends that led me to pages for the PSP version, which was a late-to-the-game port of the original iMPACT game, I finally found a ray of light ala everyone’s favorite website, Wikipedia. It was the wiki page for the original TNA iMPACT video game, and what I read gave me hope…

“On January 26, 2010, it was revealed that SouthPeak Games are in the early stages of developing TNA Impact! 2011, which is scheduled to be released in Spring 2011. On July 15, 2010 it was announced that wrestlers Shannon Moore, Jeff Hardy, Desmond Wolfe as well as “given” stars such as Sting, Abyss, Kevin Nash, and Jeff Jarrett were already confirmed. The early stages for TNA Impact 2011 will reveal the six sided and four sided ring.”

I’ve searched the web for where exactly those “facts” came from but have found nothing. People criticize Wikipedia for it’s unreliability, and I understand that. But for now I’m going to believe it. Because I want to believe it. I need to because I’m so very tired of having to depend on the repetitive WWE SmackDown vs. RAW games for my wrestling game fix, having to shell out $60 year after year for a game that boils down to little change or innovation, just a refreshed roster. If you’ve played TNA iMPACT, their first game, you know that they got a lot right, a lot wrong, but made a good showing for a first game. For a company that has that perfect blend of big name talent and fast paced action, video games should come easily for a company called Total Nonstop Action. Provided it’s handled by the right developer. Midway Games (R.I.P.) was known for great fighting games like the Mortal Kombat series but unfortunately the first TNA iMPACT! video game didn’t exactly set the gaming world on fire. Still it was a very good first try and a small breath of fresh air for those who have grown stale of the SmackDown series. Hopefully TNA and the game developer can take a look at both the iMPACT game, as well as the SvR series to see what works, what doesn’t, and what could be tweaked.

I find it slightly funny that WWE, a company now touting a strong PG stance, is promoting the selling point of this years game as being new innovations in it’s most violent match type, the TLC match. While TNA on the other hand are proud of the edge they have, catering to the more mature wrestling fan. Having the developer for the new TNA game put effort in really making the specific TNA match types be ‘must play’ experiences would really help them gain a footing in the wrestling game world. I’m definately looking forward to the next edition of a TNA video game. And I’m proud to see them really expand as far as media goes. A new video game, releasing themes indivisually on their TNAShop website, the success and praise of the innovative ReACTION show…the future looks bright as they really try to seperate themselves from the competition in all forms.

Admitted gamers AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Jay Lethal helped the developers of the first game fine-tune it and offered insight on what it’s like to not only be in the ring, but play a wrestler in a video game. If the new developers can have that same line of communication with TNA staff as well as fan feedback on what they want to see, they very well could directly challenge the WWE gaming franchise. The negatives from the first game were pretty obvious and well documented: short entrances, repetitive moves, no Knockouts, a limited roster. All pretty inexcusable. This game truely needs to be the total package, and I’m holding out hope that I can eject SmackDown vs. RAW from my PS3 oneday and replace it with a great TNA game.