quick links
- TNA impact! It had technical problems and limited game options
- TNA impact! Had poor marketing and bad timing
In the early 2000s, professional wrestling had never been more popular. However, at the end of the war between the two giants, as WWE was triumphing over WCW, another competitor made its way into the industry, called Total Nonstop Action (TNA, later renamed IMPACT Wrestling).
impact wrestling is one of the best-known professional wrestling promotions in the world, boasting a roster of talented and skilled athletes who have been entertaining fans for decades. Furthermore, many fans and critics have also argued that IMPACT is known as the foundation for many future superstars like AJ Styles. Despite its success in the ring, however, the company has struggled to make a mark in the gaming world.
With such widespread popularity, it was only natural for game developers to look to cash in on the craze. Thus, in 2008, TNA Impact! was released to the gaming public by Midway Games. When it was released in 2008, the TNA Impact video game was a huge undertaking that wrestling fans were excited about. Aside from WWE, no other major wrestling promoter had video games after WCW and ECW ceased operations. There have been other indie games with exclusive WWE talent, but this was more. Unfortunately, despite high hopes and a dedicated fan base, the game ultimately failed to make an impact in the crowded video game market. So, let’s explore the topic of the only major TNA video game that didn’t make it big in the video game industry.
TNA impact! It had technical problems and limited game options
First of all, the game suffered from a lack of polish. From the moment it hit stores, TNA Impact! it was riddled with glitches and errors. Players reported a variety of issues, including crashes, crashes, and visual glitches. These issues made the game frustrating and difficult to play, which undoubtedly put off many potential buyers. In the video game industry, gamers have little patience for games that don’t work as intended, and TNA Impact! it just didn’t measure up in this regard.
Another factor that likely contributed to the game’s failure was its lack of depth. While the game featured a roster of popular TNA wrestlers, including AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Kurt Angle, the actual gameplay felt shallow and repetitive. Many reviewers noted that the game lacked the variety and complexity of its competitors. With only a handful of match types and limited customization options, players quickly became bored with TNA Impact! and moved on to other games.
Also, a particularly frustrating aspect of TNA Impact! were their load times. Despite being released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, two powerful gaming consoles, the game suffered from long load times between games. This slowed down the pace of the game and made it difficult for players to get into a rhythm. When combined with other game issues, long load times caused TNA Impact! a task to play rather than a fun and exciting experience.
TNA impact! Had poor marketing and bad timing
The bad marketing of TNA Impact! he also played a significant role in the game’s failure. While TNA wrestling had a loyal fan base, the game struggled to attract attention from players outside of that niche. The game’s advertising campaign was relatively low-key, and lacked the enthusiasm and hype of other wrestling games. This made it difficult for the game to gain traction and build momentum, which is critical to success in the competitive video game market. Additionally, there have been mixed reviews of the 1.5 million units that were sold for the TNA game and Midway Games had anticipated making more money.
TNA impact! it even suffered from bad timing. When the game was released, WWE’s SmackDown! the series vs. Raw had already established itself as the dominant fighting game franchise. With its larger roster, more extensive customization options, and smoother gameplay, the WWE game was simply more appealing to most players. While TNA Impact! offered a different experience to WWE gaming, ultimately failing to compete with the established brand and fan base of its biggest rival.
Finally, the company had long expected to collaborate when they first signed the deal with Midway Games. Shortly after the release of the TNA video game, Midway stated that a sequel would be produced. That announcement, however, turned out to be useless because the original plans were altered. Most of Midway was acquired by Times Warner, and all approved projects were scrapped. TNA never received a second game and their entire brand suffered.
Therefore, TNA Impact! it failed to make an impact on the video game market due to a variety of these factors. While the game had its fans, it ultimately failed to attract a wide enough audience to be successful.