13. Acclaim Thought ECW Video Game Would Replace WWE
Video game titles such as WWF Warzone and WWF Attitude were wildly successful in the late-90's on Sony's Playstation, even if the gameplay was pretty archaic and hard to just pick up and play. Complex button combinations were needed for even the most basic of wrestling moves, meaning much of the game was spent trawling through move lists rather than bashing your opponents head in with a plethora of suplexes and strikes. THQ swooped in to save the day by securing the WWF licence, going on to produce the excellent WWF Smackdown in mid-2000. This left Acclaim, the company who had published and developed both Warzone and Attitude, without any wrestling games to sell. Enter ECW, the direct beneficiary of the WWF's decision to go with THQ instead. Presenting ECW Hardcore Revolution in 2000, and later ECW Anarchy Rulz just 6 months later, Acclaim representatives clearly felt ECW was the way to go, with several telling the media during this period that gamers would lap up the far more violent action the promotion provided. Unfortunately, WWF Smackdown was easy to play and more fun, whereas Hardcore Revolution and Anarchy Rulz were stiff and uncompromising, negating the fun players could have with the ECW environment.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
