Mike Regan over at GamingRing.com was in Atlanta last weekend, and has posted some pretty good info. I'll re-cap most of it, you can find everything including more video interviews with wrestlers, and developers.
I had about a day to digest what I saw and played of TNA Impact this past weekend. First of all I can honestly say that I am extremely impressed with what I have seen so far. The graphics, like I mentioned on the special live edition of GamingRing Radio, was the best I have ever seen in a wrestling game -- I am talking almost photo realistic graphics with the wrestlers faces and skin textures. Specifically impressive was the lighting and the way the lighting effects flow over the crowd.
One of the concerns I had before I saw the game was the animation and how fluid would the gameplay be. Well, the good news is that the game does extremely fluid at a rock solid 60 frames per second, which definitely is noticeable. While the build we played was far from complete, animation wise or gameplay wise, we were impressed. For example, there was one sequence where me and Charles traded about 3 reversals back to back to back, with Charles finally nailing the huge German suplex. One of the things I spoke with the developers from Midway about is reversals and chain combination wrestling. Already in place with this build is the striking combinations, but what wasn’t shown but was promised to be in was the chain combo wrestling. Where for example you lock up in the standard lock up, and from there you proceed to put your opponent in a head lock and from there you can perform different chain moves. 60% of the almost 2500 moves will be performed from the standard lockup. Everyone I spoke with from the TNA Superstars to the development team from Midway all said that the classic AKI Nintendo 64 wrestling game WWF No Mercy had a huge influence on the direction that this title is taking. Everything down to the shorter entrances to the actual gameplay where there is a weak and strong grappling system. Honestly, I felt the vibe from playing the game. Basically, Midway is attempting to make TNA Impact the WWF No Mercy for the next generation consoles.
One of the most impressive things is that the Midway developers have actually played all of the Japanese wrestling game imports to borrow and get ideas to make their game better. To help matters even more is that both AJ Styles and Samoa Joe who lended a helping hand with this game are both avid wrestling game fans. They, much like ourselves know what makes a great wrestling game and that’s the gameplay with the grappling engine, and if the moves look like they hurt or not. All of the games moves were motion captured by TNA Superstars Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Senshi, Jay Lethal, Christopher Daniels and Sonjay Dutt. In fact during the motion capturing Sonjay Dutt took a hard fall and was taken to seek medical assistance. He was fine from the spill, but that does showcase just how serious the TNA Superstars took their performances with motion capturing the moves for the game.
All in all, I left Atlanta very impressed with Midway has accomplished with TNA Impact in the short time the game has been in development. With nearly 6 months to go before the game ships, Midway has plenty of time to bring out the full potential on what their promising. We may finally have a legitimate competitor to what product that THQ is offering and ultimately when this happens, the winners are the gamers. To quote a legendary wrestling commentator, "business is about to pick up!"
Part 1 TNA Impact Press Conference (WMV format 22.3 Megs)
http://www.gamingring.com/~mike/Archive/tnaimpact/tnapart1.wmv
Part 2 Samoa Joe vs Christian TNA Impact (WMV format 55.3 Megs)
http://www.gamingring.com/~mike/Archive/tnaimpact/tnapart2.wmv
I had about a day to digest what I saw and played of TNA Impact this past weekend. First of all I can honestly say that I am extremely impressed with what I have seen so far. The graphics, like I mentioned on the special live edition of GamingRing Radio, was the best I have ever seen in a wrestling game -- I am talking almost photo realistic graphics with the wrestlers faces and skin textures. Specifically impressive was the lighting and the way the lighting effects flow over the crowd.
One of the concerns I had before I saw the game was the animation and how fluid would the gameplay be. Well, the good news is that the game does extremely fluid at a rock solid 60 frames per second, which definitely is noticeable. While the build we played was far from complete, animation wise or gameplay wise, we were impressed. For example, there was one sequence where me and Charles traded about 3 reversals back to back to back, with Charles finally nailing the huge German suplex. One of the things I spoke with the developers from Midway about is reversals and chain combination wrestling. Already in place with this build is the striking combinations, but what wasn’t shown but was promised to be in was the chain combo wrestling. Where for example you lock up in the standard lock up, and from there you proceed to put your opponent in a head lock and from there you can perform different chain moves. 60% of the almost 2500 moves will be performed from the standard lockup. Everyone I spoke with from the TNA Superstars to the development team from Midway all said that the classic AKI Nintendo 64 wrestling game WWF No Mercy had a huge influence on the direction that this title is taking. Everything down to the shorter entrances to the actual gameplay where there is a weak and strong grappling system. Honestly, I felt the vibe from playing the game. Basically, Midway is attempting to make TNA Impact the WWF No Mercy for the next generation consoles.
One of the most impressive things is that the Midway developers have actually played all of the Japanese wrestling game imports to borrow and get ideas to make their game better. To help matters even more is that both AJ Styles and Samoa Joe who lended a helping hand with this game are both avid wrestling game fans. They, much like ourselves know what makes a great wrestling game and that’s the gameplay with the grappling engine, and if the moves look like they hurt or not. All of the games moves were motion captured by TNA Superstars Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Senshi, Jay Lethal, Christopher Daniels and Sonjay Dutt. In fact during the motion capturing Sonjay Dutt took a hard fall and was taken to seek medical assistance. He was fine from the spill, but that does showcase just how serious the TNA Superstars took their performances with motion capturing the moves for the game.
All in all, I left Atlanta very impressed with Midway has accomplished with TNA Impact in the short time the game has been in development. With nearly 6 months to go before the game ships, Midway has plenty of time to bring out the full potential on what their promising. We may finally have a legitimate competitor to what product that THQ is offering and ultimately when this happens, the winners are the gamers. To quote a legendary wrestling commentator, "business is about to pick up!"
We just got back from the TNA Fanfest and the TNA Impact Press conference, and they showcased the trailer that debuted last night on TNAWrestling.com, as well as the special "making of" video. After that, Christian Cage and Samoa Joe took the stage for a special simulation between the two. Visually, the game looks very promising. This is perhaps the best looking wrestling game ever. From watching the match, I got the impression that Midway tried to capture the feel of WWF No Mercy for the next generation. We asked TNA Superstar Samoa Joe, who had a huge part in helping Midway, about the simularities between No Mercy and TNA Impact and he said "it will be better than No Mercy." We also asked a Midway PR rep the same question and he stated that "it's unlike any other wrestling game on the market. What were doing graphically and with gameplay is different from any wrestling game ever released." The game utilizes the Unreal Engine and one of the developers promised that the game will run at a rock solid 60 frames per second. He also promises ultra smooth animations.
The lighting effects that the engine utilizes were also very impressive, considering that the game is only 60% complete.
We will have all of the footage from not only the press conference, but the fan event later today! Later this evening we will have interviews with the TNA Superstars as well as Midway developers and the videos will be up later tonight on the site!Also, don't forget that we will have a special live edtion of GamingRing Radio at Midnight tonight where we'll give our thoughts and opinions of the game. We will have a link later tonight where were doing the radio program. Stay tuned!
The lighting effects that the engine utilizes were also very impressive, considering that the game is only 60% complete.
We will have all of the footage from not only the press conference, but the fan event later today! Later this evening we will have interviews with the TNA Superstars as well as Midway developers and the videos will be up later tonight on the site!Also, don't forget that we will have a special live edtion of GamingRing Radio at Midnight tonight where we'll give our thoughts and opinions of the game. We will have a link later tonight where were doing the radio program. Stay tuned!
GamingRing is live in Atlanta, and here are two exclusive videos from the press conference held by Midway and TNA at todays TNA Fan Interaction event. We have the first look of TNA Impact in action, with Samoa Joe taking on Christian Cage. We will have more video footage along with developer interviews later tonight on the site.
http://www.gamingring.com/~mike/Archive/tnaimpact/tnapart1.wmv
Part 2 Samoa Joe vs Christian TNA Impact (WMV format 55.3 Megs)
http://www.gamingring.com/~mike/Archive/tnaimpact/tnapart2.wmv