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MDickie's Booking MPire















 


"Wrestling is an art form... I don't worry about those who don't get it;
I worry about satisfying those who do." - Paul Heyman

When you retire from Wrestling MPire the boss wonders whatever you'll do next. "Become a BOOKER!" comes the response - and it's no empty gesture! In this second instalment, you will indeed step behind the desk and start calling the shots...


In The Pipeline
The all-important "Production" system has finally been implemented - and you'd be forgiven for thinking it's exactly the same as in Federation Booker! The layout is very similar, and even uses many of the old 2D icons to remind you of the game's roots. However, the system has changed substantially. For a start, there are no longer production times - everything is made and delivered the following week. The catch is that you now have to pay "maintenance" costs every single week (instead of a few one-off payments). This ensures that you have to be truly successful to run a good production, and it forces you to pay more attention to your finances in general. With all this added cost, many of the productions have been made more effective to make them worthwhile. For instance, all of the luxuries like "Music" and "Video Displays" now boost your show's "Potential" - a new factor which governs how popular you can become. Without all the trimmings of a world class show, you may only be able to reach the 70's - no matter how good your wrestling is! It's also worth mentioning that the range of productions has changed too. The original 20 have been cut down to 15 for this game - which is actually better news than it sounds. It means there are no weak choices, and it's easier to make sense of your options...


The Suggestion Box

Booking meetings have followed everything else in receiving the "twist" treatment. Instead of being the subject of a meeting, you're now the judge that listens to requests from your employees! They come to you asking if they can turn Face/Heel, get into the title scene, form a team, etc.. They even come up with suggestions after exciting matches, such as "Shouldn't we base a feud on that last interference?". You simply say "Yes" and it's all setup! That obviously makes your booking decisions a little easier (and quicker). You don't rule the world though. Instead of answering to a booker, you now have to answer to the TV Network. An executive comes to you every now and then with meetings of his own, and tries to influence your progress. It's here that you can choose to participate in Charity or Tribute events, etc.. You can even be approached by rival bookers, which is how inter-promotional matches are arranged! This time it's up to you whether they take place or not...


Mission: Impossible
Those visits from the TV Network also include a great new addition to the game. The "mission" system that I hinted at is finally a reality, as the bosses threaten to fire you if you don't keep up with their demands! There are several unique challenges - such as achieving a certain popularity, producing certain improvements, or attaining a certain wrestler. If you fail to do so in the allotted time then your reign will come to abrupt end. Actually, you have a choice in the matter. You can either accept the challenge, or risk telling them to get lost. The latter could result in your show being pulled off the air for a whole month - so you'll wish you were sacked anyway! An interesting twist is that these demands aren't necessarily good for your company. The executives often say "we don't know much about wrestling, but..." - and sure enough, they proceed to make a ridiculous suggestion. They could tell you to sign a wrestler that isn't even good - and likewise, they might tell you to get rid of someone that you value. It's obvious that these segments are inspired by all the publishers that tried to ruin my games! "Can you remove the wrestling from Big BumpZ please?"


Paper Champion
Sometimes the TV bosses are so ignorant that they can't even tell you where their desired person works! Before you know it, you're re-enacting "Saving Private Ryan" as you search for the elusive wrestler. Fortunately, the database has been updated to include all the information a booker will ever need. All of the sections from Federation Booker have made a triumphant return - so you can compare the new booking stats, such as contracts and salaries. The "Title History" data has returned too - and it's right there at the end of the other listings, so you don't need to pull up another screen either. Better yet, there's now a listing for each of the 6 majors - so you can study the history of your rivals while you're there...


Channel Hopping
Speaking of statistics, the TV ratings have returned too. It's the same old story, with 9 rival shows all competing for the top spot. It's an important feature because it gives you something to aim for, and puts your competition into perspective. In fact, becoming the best is the objective of the whole game! Everything the TV Network tells you to do is all building to this one goal. Once you achieve it, it's a game in itself trying to stay there because the pressure increases. The TV Network won't accept anything less than "Number One" once they've got a taste of it - so it's easy to get fired if you drop the ball...


You Sold Out!
Your champion is responsible for selling out the shows - and it's more apparent than ever in this new game. After setting up your arena for the night, you are quickly taken to a smooth 3D preview - where you discover how many fans have attended the show! It's a nice way to kick off the night, and gives you a good feel for the situation...


Character Development
It's the wrestlers themselves that bring the arena to life though, and they're more unique than ever before. About a dozen new faces have been added - along with a few new textures in each of the other departments. The faces, in particular, have made the creation of new characters a breeze. New ones are added every day - and they include the vampire "Gangrel" (complete with fangs!), the Mexican sensation "Konnan" (who now books the Lucha promotion), and even Tony Soprano makes an appearance! Many of the older faces have been touched up too, so everything's looking at its best. These refined textures will be released in an update for Wrestling MPire, just as soon as the selection is finalized...    


Winning Moves
A handful of moves have been added too. New grappling moves include a smooth "Hip Toss" and a cheeky little "Drop Toe Hold". Ryu's "Dragon Punch" from Streetfighter 2 even managed to sneak in there! It even flies high into the air, feeling like some sort of Japanese cartoon! In the interests of realism, very few wrestlers actually use the move - but at least the option is there if you ever feel like checking it out. Videos of the 4 new move animations can be found here:
Jackhammer ~ Standing Clothesline ~ Drop Toe Hold ~ Hip Toss


The Initiation Ceremony
I'll leave you with the fantastic new development that is the career initiation process. Like the arena preview mentioned earlier, everything about this new game is smoother than ever. The starting process, in particular, is a far cry from the clumsy opening of Federation Booker. You simply choose to start a new game and you are then taken to a tidy little editor where you create your ideal booker. You then take him to the promotion of your choice (that's a big improvement in itself!), where he confronts and replaces the current booker. The whole process is very smooth indeed. Some things have been salvaged from the 2D game though, such as the heated promo about "making you start from scratch". The old booker once again remains on your roster too, so you can choose to continue your real-life feud! I'm also pleased to say that the game ends as smoothly as it begins. There's no retirement sequence - because that didn't really suit this instalment - but there are a couple of special endings. Whether it's game over or success, you end up exchanging words with the TV executive - and even get to kick his ass! Thankfully, it's up to you when the game really ends because you can carry on until you get kicked out - or start a new game (quite literally if you go back to Wrestling MPire!)...


No Pain, No Gain
One of the biggest developments is that a brand new "Training" system has been implemented - and it's an improvement on both Federation Booker and Wrestling MPire! The clumsy gym screen is long gone, as you now deal with each trainee individually. You simply click on their slot as if you were going to edit them, but in this case you're taken to a whole screen dedicated to their regime. Here you can set their course of training (if anything), and even take them into a sparring session. All the while, a 3D model is acting out their regime in the locker room - much like in Wrestling MPire. The beauty of this new system is that it's quicker, easier, AND there's no limit to the number of wrestlers that can train! You can even use wrestlers on a show whilst they're assigned to the gym. The only catch is that a training wrestler has little to no energy (depending on their stamina), so they're probably not worth using anyway. The progress they make can be worth the commitment though. This is where it differs from Wrestling MPire, because the improvements are based on a wrestler's attitude rather than the quality you pay for. This makes hard-working wrestlers invaluable, because the rascals are almost impossible to mould...


A Way With Words
You can even "train" Charisma in this new game, as the wrestler stands in the locker room talking to himself! After all, promos are more important than ever this time. All of the ones from Wrestling MPire are present and correct - but they have more of an effect in this new game. They actually do form relationships and change allegiances. In fact, that's the only way to do it now! All storyline developments must occur on screen if you want the audience to accept them. This means you have to put more thought into your decisions, because they're not easily reversed. As ever, the promos have to be logical too. If somebody cuts a promo about being a champion, when they don't even own the belt, then the audience will be confused and disinterested. And that's a major problem, because promos once again affect the entertainment of a segment. If your wrestlers are talking nonsense then they'll do more harm than good! Even if they are on the right lines, they still need to be charismatic to make the most of the script...


The Write Script
With all this extra pressure, you'll be thankful that the promos are better organized now. The tangled list of Wrestling MPire is history, as the promos are now divided into distinct sections. Each script falls into one of 4 categories: "Announcements", "Championships", "Relationships", and "Arguments". You can skip to any one of them and then browse through the dozen or so scripts that fit into that category. All in all, it means you can locate any promo within seconds! It's a good job too, because the range of promos is bound to increase over the coming weeks. In fact, there'll be some that you haven't even got control of. The "shoot" comments are going to make an explosive return - with the added controversy that wrestlers do it WITHOUT your permission! A wrestler with a bad attitude may simply take it upon himself to write his own script. Such an outburst might very well be entertaining, but you won't be laughing when it damages the reputations of all concerned - and neither will the TV network. Speaking of reputation, some of the old promos now have added relevance in this booking instalment. The advertising promo, for instance, damages your promotion's status as much as that of the wrestler! You get $10'000 every time you use it though, so in tough times you might be tempted to "sell-out"...  


Inter-Prom Queen
The all-new inter-promotional events that I promised are now a reality! Instead of the one-match spectaculars that have featured in all previous games, you now get to enjoy a whole night of action. The card opens with your Inter champions doing battle, closely followed by a tag match featuring the Team champions. Only then do the World champions lock horns in the most important match of the night. It doesn't end there though. The night is capped off by an almighty 4-vs-4 war, featuring ALL of the champions! It makes for a spectacular show that you won't forget in a hurry. It has a strange effect on your booking too, because you take your heroes back home and tend to see them as a team. However, before you get too sentimental, there are real effects to worry about. Now that there are up to 4 matches, the notion of which company "won" or "lost" is a little mixed-up. The deal is that each win boosts your company's popularity, and damages that of the loser. So a clean sweep can enhance your profile substantially...


Home Sweet Home

Back at the office, the trading system has now extended to selling wrestlers. The process benefits from the new 3D setting as much as the buying does - whereby everyone concerned is present in the room and has something to say. Speaking of the room, the federation logo that hangs on the wall now has a neat wooden frame! There are even 2 other pictures on the remaining walls, which makes the scene look a bit cosier. The whole booking gimmick is practically finished now. The news before each night and after each match has been turned on its head to suit the management side of things. All that remains is to make sure that every possible event is in there. One new post-match event is that wrestlers get frustrated at working twice in one night! When you've got a super-worker like Kurt Angle it's tempting to book them all over again - but now you can't do so without making them unhappy. They work hard for their health, and they don't want you to waste it all...


Power Monger
Two more moves have been added since the 4 that appeared in v1.7 of Wrestling MPire. One is an awkward looking "Jackhammer" for Goldberg, and the other is a decent enough "Standing Clothesline" of Bradshaw fame. They're both good news for powerful wrestlers! A few more should follow later, but just recently I've been focusing on the booking gameplay...


Broadcast Colleagues
I'll leave you with a fantastic new feature. My very early 2D wrestling sims had announcers at ringside, but as my games got more demanding they were the first thing to go. However, for those with the benefit of a powerful PC, they've made a triumphant return in Booking MPire! They're better than ever too, with various 3D animations and facial expressions. As well as twiddling their thumbs at the desk, they can also point at the action, look shocked, or slump in boredom. They're such a joy to watch that it's actually a distraction that gets your ass kicked! You can even go over there to ruin their day - and sure enough they'll react to being hit, and even step back once the table breaks! Unfortunately, I can't attach too much significance to the announcers because not everybody will want to load them up. In addition to the intruders, referees, and managers, you'd need to be running a super-computer to have them in every match! For that reason, they'll be reduced to an option that can be set to "only in small matches", etc..


No Business Like Show Business
Fans of the 2D game, Federation Booker, will know what to expect from this game. Instead of fighting for victory, a booker is far more concerned with putting on a great show. Entertainment is the aim of the game, as you arrange and perform a whole night of action. You'd be surprised how much this turns the game on its head! For a start, you act as a "director" - with the ability to control anybody at anytime. If a match isn't going as planned, it's your job to steer it in the right direction. To help you through this difficult task, there's a sophisticated "entertainment analysis" on hand at all times. It summarizes the match's potential, its current 5-star rating, the hardcore content - and many other key ingredients, such as whether or not the match is "Close" or has "Chemistry". If that's not a good enough guide for you, then there's always the jeering crowd to go by! They quieten down to an embarrassing silence during dull matches - or worse still, bring out the "boring" chants...


Judgement Day
When you bring the card to a close, the night as a whole is judged in a similar manner. The average entertainment and hardcore content is faithfully calculated, and your promotion's stats are then affected accordingly. A weak show will do more harm than good to your Popularity - and a violent show will be similarly devastating to your Reputation. This process is clearer than ever in the new game. The promotions have finally been treated to the same "highlighting" system that's used for the wrestlers - with each value being adjusted one-by-one, complete with colour-coding. That goes for finances too, because each night brings with it a paying audience! Part of your job as a booker is to make sure that income covers your expenses - but there'll be more on that in future previews...


Three's A Crowd
The booking twist is more noticeable than ever in meetings. As the guy behind the desk, you get to see the other side of all those Wrestling MPire negotiations! Instead of trying to negotiate the juiciest salary, you're trying to sign up wrestlers for slave labour. Doing so is harder than ever, thanks to the rival bookers sitting in on meetings! You have to pay them off before you even get to talk to a contracted wrestler. Their presence makes the meetings seem much more realistic than they were in Federation Booker. Instead of an imaginary "adviser", there's a real character right there telling you what the deal is. This new meeting system has only just been implemented, so it remains to be seen what else is in store. A similar process will no doubt be used for selling wrestlers and renewing contracts...


What's On The Menu?
I'm pleased to say that the plethora of menus have been squeezed onto one handy screen - much like in Wrestling MPire. This doesn't mean there are LESS options, it's just that they've been better designed. For instance, you release a wrestler by "selling" them to the Wrestling School, you renew a wrestler through the "buying" system, and so on. Even the Calendar is right there on the same screen, exactly as it was in Wrestling MPire. All in all, this means you can run the entire federation from 10 simple menu boxes! And even they are listed side-by-side for your convenience...


Paper Champion
Naturally, the range of statistics has been expanded upon for this new instalment. They're the very same from Federation Booker - with "Charisma" and "Happiness" being the latest additions. "Reputation", on the other hand, has transformed into "Attitude" - which will play a bigger role now that you've got egos to deal with! Charisma should remain as it was in the 2D game; an indication of how good a wrestler is at cutting promos and selling feuds. Happiness is rather more self-explanatory, but nonetheless essential...


Contract Killer
Behind the scenes, even more statistics have been added for the booking gameplay. All wrestlers now have the contract data that was used in Wrestling MPire. That is, minus the small print. As good as that was for the Career sim, I felt it was too much for this version. When you've got 50 men under your control you need to keep things as simple as possible! That said, there should be plenty of instances where "image rights", and so on, come into play - such as in the occasional meeting. They'll just be a little bit less intense. Other factors such as "Feuds" become more important in this game. They're displayed at all times, so that you can take advantage of them for added entertainment. In addition to the on-screen relationships, there are now "real" relationships to consider too! Real friends and enemies are back with a vengeance, and should play havoc with your locker room...


Moving Forward
Although the gameplay won't be radically different, I am taking every opportunity to throw in some new moves here and there. The latest ones certainly give the high-flyers something to play with - as they include a Tornado DDT, a Rolling DDT, and the Flying Head Scissors! There's also a Reverse DDT move, which is not unlike Goldust's "Curtain Call" finisher. Incidentally, all of these moves can be experienced firsthand in the latest update for Wrestling MPire. Don't worry, there are plenty more to follow - and they may even extend to new taunts and attacks...


The Latest Fashions
I haven't had a serious stab at it yet, but new costumes are also on the cards. In fact, they're essential because this game will push the population closer to 250! New creations are going to be needed to pad out the Hollywood and School pools - both of which are set to play a bigger role in this game. In the meantime, all I've managed is the flamed tights that Jake Roberts wore when he turned Heel, and a casual jeans & white trainers combo. Plenty more will follow...

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