Uh, WTF

[2GOLD]

Glen Cove, NEW YORK (March 1, 2000) - Acclaim Entertainment, (NASDAQ: AKLM), a leading worldwide interactive entertainment company, announced today that ECW Hardcore Revolution climbed the video game charts in just two days to become the No. 2 selling video game on the PlayStation® game console the week of February 13-19, according to NPD TRSTS Video Games. According to the same source, the game was also No. 6 on Nintendo? 64 during the same period. ECW: Hardcore Revolution is the first video game featuring Extreme Championship Wrestling.

 

"We are very pleased with the initial response to ECW: Hardcore Revolution," said Vice President of Acclaim Sales, Brad Loucks. "We have already sold over 600,000 units, and have received reorders from virtually every major retailer. Additionally, we are pushing the game at the local level with autograph sessions at major retailers across the country with the most popular ECW wrestling stars."

 

"ECW Hardcore Revolution was the top selling PlayStation® and Nintendo 64 software product at Electronics Boutique," said Pete Roithmayr, VP of Merchandising/Video Game Division, for Electronics Boutique. "With the wrestling market still hot from the Christmas buying season, Acclaim successfully introduced an exciting new wrestling brand. ECW Hardcore Revolution clearly outperformed our expectations." [Editor's note: for a schedule of upcoming ECW autograph signings go to Acclaim.com.]

 

Extreme Championship Wrestling, one of the "Big 3" national federations, is widely noted as the true innovator of wrestling, combining high-risk maneuvers with adult-themed storylines. ECW is broadcast weekly on TNN Friday nights and is their #1 rated show. Additionally, it is seen by millions of fans on a nationally syndicated program.

Yet, ECW owed Akklaim tons of money at the end.

 

And Rockstar spending millions on a title with an EXTREMELY limited audience is REAL debatable.

-=Mike

 

ECW owed them money because ANARCHY RULZ bombed and Acclaim was supposed to get a portion of the profits from the PPVs ECW ran.

 

Hardcore Revolution was the game that actually kept Acclaim's Salt Lake office afloat for a little bit.

 

I did a complete paper on the ad numbers, revenues and such from the two games in college.

[BUTT]

Just for the record, here are the ECW games sales figures (as of January 2003, you have to figure not too many copies have been sold this year):

 

Hardcore Revolution (PS): 201,511

Hardcore Revolution (N64): 150,686

Hardcore Revolution (DC): 89,943

Anarchy Rulz (PS): 52,988

Anarchy Rulz (DC): 4,990

 

Anarchy Rulz was the worst-selling game on Dreamcast, by the way.

[Corey_Lazarus]

Probably because everybody realized Acclaim had not advanced itself beyond the Warzone engine, and since Mike Awesome (6'7") and Spike Dudley (5'6") were the same height, it showed little to no effort in graphics.

 

One thing I will give Acclaim credit for, though, is the original theme songs in their wrestling games. Good rip-off's of the actual themes, for the most part.

[Mole]

Ten bucks says this doesn't happen, and Atari ends up making the game.

[2GOLD]

Ten bucks says this doesn't happen, and Atari ends up making the game.

 

I'd kill for a game that had stick figures as the wrestlers.

 

And had Pong sound effects.

 

Instant classic.

[syxx2001]

Isn't Atari Infogrames or something? Well, they are the same people who made Splashdown 1 and 2 so they can make me a wrestling game any day. If they know what they are doing.

[Golgo 13]

Basically, Infogrames, a fellow game company from the 80s, bought Atari. Then recently, Infogrames officially changed their name to Atari. So yes, Atari is still around, if only in name.

 

On the subject of the TNA game itself. While TNA may not have many fans right now, at least of those actually buying the shows, the potential to get crossover fans from the world of video games and mainstream wrestling is perhaps the 'big picture' here.

 

Keep in mind that Rockstar is just about the hottest name in the industry right now. Once word gets out about their attachment to the project, people will be flocking, regardless of the less well-known TNA license.