8 PC Wrestling Games Only True Fans Will Remember
1. Extreme Warfare Revenge
To some degree, every wrestling fan is a fantasy booker. At one point we've all complained about match finishes, story-lines, gimmicks and which wrestlers are getting pushed or lost in the mid-card. Who hasn't watched an uninspired episode of RAW and thought, "I could do better"?
In the mid-1990s, programmer Adam Ryland began developing a series of free, wrestling management simulators to satisfy fans' desire to control their own wrestling organization.
In 1995 Ryland developed Extreme Warfare. This simulator allowed players to control match outcomes and simple financial functions like wrestlers' wages. Ryland began developing more complex games with the release of Extreme Warfare Deluxe and finally Extreme Warfare Revenge in 2002.
Extreme Warfare Revenge developed a large cult following due to its in-depth features and high levels of customization. In EWR you could operate a promotion as small as a back-yard federation or as large as an international organization. You book feuds and matches while attempting to maintain the overness of your roster, your public image and the financial status of your company. Not only do you oversee a roster of wrestlers, you have to manage staff including referees, announcers, agents, writers and even development territory trainers. The customization options allow for users to edit most of the game's information. This means you can create or edit wrestlers, staff and promotions alike. An online fan community still provides real-life updates today.
Currently, Ryland is working on the commercial simulator Total Extreme Wrestling with the newest installment coming next year.