From PC Simulators to the Arcade
MicroLeague Wrestling was not only the first licensed pro-wrestling game, but it was also a very unique for its era, turn-based simulation where players' choices when taking turns drove the action. Also, instead of traditional graphics, MicroLeague Wrestling used digitized photos from real matches, which was the game's most distinctive feature and created a realistic visual experience.
MicroLeague Wrestling's licensing with WWE meant that players could enjoy matches featuring some of the biggest names in the industry. The initial release featured Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff. The series was later expanded with two expansion disks, featuring more main event-level clashes. One disk (released in 1988) featured Randy Savage vs. The Honky Tonk Man and Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. King Harley Race, while another (released in 1989) featured Hulk Hogan vs. Ted DiBiase and "Ravishing" Rick Rude vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts. A separate DOS and Amiga version was also released (featuring Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan vs. Ted Dibiase) with different digitized photos.
Beyond the in-ring action, MicroLeague Wrestling was a trailblazer in its presentation. The game was the first of its kind to feature pre-match interviews (with Mean Gene Okerlund) and ring introductions (by Howard Finkel). It also included text commentary from Vince McMahon, Bruno Sammartino, and Jesse "The Body" Ventura. The sequel, MicroLeague Wrestling 2, added Bobby Heenan, Gorilla Monsoon, and Lord Alfred Hayes to the commentary team. In addition, players customize the name of the venue, adding a layer of personalization.
The MicroLeague Wrestling series ended in 1989. It didn't achieve the financial success it could have, despite MicroLeague Wrestling's unique place in history. Although it was available for DOS, the Commodore 64, the Atari ST, and the Amiga, the series was notably not available for the popular Apple II, which had more sales than the Atari ST and Amiga. This is an interesting detail, considering the fact that a different MicroLeague title, MLB simulation game MicroLeague Baseball, was available on that platform.
After WWE's brief involvement in PC simulation, the company redirected its attention to the arcade. Six years after Technōs Japan created the first-ever pro-wrestling video game and two years after WWE made its debut in the video game world, both companies joined forces to make history by creating WWF Superstars, the first arcade game based on the sports entertainment company. Featuring Superstars like Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Ted DiBiase (non-playable), André the Giant (non-playable), Hacksaw Jim Duggan, and Big Boss Man, each wrestler had their own individual signature moves and taunts. The game also featured cutscenes with Ted DiBiase, André the Giant, Virgil, Gene Okerlund, and Miss Elizabeth. Although being named after WWE’s popular syndicated "Superstars" program, this game also borrowed from WrestleMania, as wrestlers came to the ring via a ring cart, just as wrestlers did at WrestleMania III.
It appears that Technōs Japan saw a lot of value in tag-team wrestling because just like the first pro-wrestling game they created, WWF Superstars focuses on tag-teaming. This was likely inspired by NJPW’s level of focus on tag-teaming, as the Japan-based major pro-wrestling company has been having big tag-team tournaments since 1980.
WWF Superstars gained a lot of popularity. In its January 1990 edition, RePlay (a monthly trade magazine focused on the game center and route industry) named WWF Superstars as the top game for "best software" in its "Players’ Choice" section, which spotlighted the leading games in operation based on a revenue-opinion survey of operators. Remarkably, even with its positive reviews, WWF Superstars was never adapted for a gaming console, unlike Double Dragon II: The Revenge in 1990, another arcade title released by Technōs Japan.
In 1991, Technōs Japan published WWF WrestleFest, a similar arcade game featuring Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, Mr. Perfect, Big Boss Man, Sgt. Slaughter, Demolition Crush, Demolition Smash, Ted DiBiase, Jake Roberts, The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal are non-playable characters), and Earthquake, and instead of focusing solely on tag-team wrestling, WWF WrestleFest also featured a Royal Rumble mode. Ring announcer Mike McGuirk is featured as well.
Even though it was a widely praised arcade game (one of the year's most popular), this was another Technōs Japan arcade title that did not get a console port. In 2012, video game publisher THQ launched a modern version for iOS.
After 15 years of operation, Technōs Japan filed for bankruptcy in 1996 and went out of business. Their intellectual properties were bought by the licensing firm Million Co. Ltd, but were subsequently taken over in 1995 by Japanese developer and publisher Arc System Works. On a side note, it's worth mentioning that Technōs Japan was primarily recognized as "American Technōs" in the United States- American Technos was their US branch, directly handling the release of the company’s arcade games in the US.
The Console Era of the 1990s: LJN & Acclaim
In the 1990s, WWE's attention was mainly on the console gaming sector. The games were much alike, showcasing Superstars in both singles and tag team matches. In 1992, WWF WrestleMania: Steel Cage Challenge was set apart from others by offering the opportunity to have "Steel Cage" matches. Additional match types available in the game include regular, tag team, tag team championship, and WWF Championship.
Published by LJN for the NES, WWF WrestleMania: Steel Cage Challenge featured the thick blue bar-style steel cage, commonly used by WWE between 1986 and 1990. WWE started utilizing it regularly once more in 1993, suggesting that although a wrestling game centered around the steel cage was innovative, it was released a year too early or two years too late. The best time to publish would have been when WWE resumed using the cage in 1993, with the game being promoted at the same time.
The wrestlers included in WWF WrestleMania: Steel Cage Challenge were Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, Bret Hart, Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, Ted DiBiase, Jake Roberts, Sid Justice, I.R.S., and The Mountie. In 2018, game publisher MSI Entertainment launched a Plug N Play edition. In this rendition, Hulk Hogan is substituted by The Ultimate Warrior, while The Mountie is exchanged for Razor Ramon.
The Plug N Play version of WWF WrestleMania: Steel Cage Challenge was a bit dated. Not regarding the lineup - the wrestlers included in the game still hold name recognition today. It was outdated because by 2018, WWE was no longer using the blue bars-style cage. In 1997, WWE began having Hell in a Cell matches, the most remarkable version of a steel cage for a singles match in WWE history. In the event that the idea of having a new cage-themed WWE game arises, it would be a financially smart move to develop WWE WrestleMania: Hell in a Cell, with a current-day roster.
WWF Royal Rumble
In the early 1990s, there were four PPV events: WrestleMania, Survivor Series, SummerSlam, and the most distinct of the four, Royal Rumble. Royal Rumble was the sole PPV that showcased a match where fans could see numerous favorites competing at the same time for victory.
Understanding the significance of the Royal Rumble event, WWE collaborated with Acclaim Entertainment (commonly known as "LJN" by pro-wrestling video game fans) in 1993 to produce WWF Royal Rumble, a videogame for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis. With several other WWF games available, Royal Rumble was arguably the top WWF title at that time, being the first to allow players to carry out illegal tactics (attacking the referee is even an option) and use weapons in matches, appealing to those who enjoyed playing as rulebreaker characters. Royal Rumble is notable for being the first 16-bit WWF game to showcase the wrestlers’ signature moves.
In addition to the Royal Rumble feature, other match types included One-One-One, Tournament, Tag Team, and the new Triple Tag Team and Brawl formats. In a Brawl match, there isn't a referee, and there are no rules; the victor is decided by which wrestler drains their opponent's stamina.
A noteworthy point regarding the Royal Rumble option is that, in contrast to the actual Royal Rumble match, only up to six wrestlers can occupy the ring simultaneously. This was because of graphic limitations- having more wrestlers in the ring could have resulted in game glitches. However, it is the first console wrestling game ever to include a match with this many wrestlers in the ring at once, making this game as special as the Royal Rumble itself.
The lineups for the SNES and Sega Genesis editions of WWF Royal Rumble were a little distinct. Both versions featured The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Randy Savage, Razor Ramon, Lex Luger, and Crush. The SNES edition included Ric Flair, Mr. Perfect, Ted DiBiase, and Tatanka; meanwhile, the Genesis release included Hulk Hogan, im Duggan, IRS, Papa Shango, and Rick Martel. Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan can be seen at ringside doing commentary during the matches taking place in WWF Royal Rumble, marking this as the first wrestling game featuring visible commentators throughout a match.
The promotion for WWF Royal Rumble was more driven than typical for a WWF video game, as it was the first to have a commercial with a real-life WWF Superstar.
WWF Royal Rumble achieved huge success in the market, selling over a million copies, an impressive accomplishment for a wrestling game at that time. Because Royal Rumble remains a favorite Premium Live Event among wrestling fans, creating a modern version of this game (as was done with WWF Superstars and WWF WrestleMania: Steel Cage Challenge) would be financially advantageous.
A Few Interesting Factoids
- Players who look at the credits of WWF Royal Rumble will read that the game's grunts and groans were provided by Tony Chimel (best known for his period as a WWE ring announcer), Mike Chioda (who has since refereed for WWE and AEW), and John D’Amico (Director of Production Management at WWE).
- Prior to the development of WWF Royal Rumble for consoles, Acclaim Entertainment released a WWF Royal Rumble portable video game in 1991.
- The background image in the introduction of WWF Royal Rumble features a photograph of SkyDome, captured during WrestleMania VI in 1990. Skydome is now named Rogers Centre; the change was made in 2005 following its purchase by the communications and media firm Rogers Communications in 2004.
The late 1980s and early 1990s were a fascinating, experimental period for wrestling video games, defined by innovative ideas. From the turn-based strategy of MicroLeague Wrestling to the arcade dominance of Technōs Japan, developers were trying to figure out what worked. But it was the success of games like WWF Royal Rumble on home consoles that proved where the future of the genre lay. Its impressive sales and pioneering features -like multiple match types and visible commentators- showed that fans wanted the detailed, more realistic experiences that consoles provided. The success of the console paved the way for the future of the wrestling game genre.
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