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In the early 2000s, professional wrestling had never been more popular. However, by the end of the war between the two giants, while WWE triumphed over WCW, another competitor made its way to the industry, called Total Nonstop Action (TNA, later renamed IMPACT Wrestling).
IMPACT Wrestling is one of the most well-known professional wrestling promotions in the world, boasting a roster of talented and skilled athletes who have entertained fans for decades. Furthermore, many fans and critics have also argued that IMPACT is known as the foundation ground for many future top superstars such as AJ Styles. However, despite its success in the ring, the company has struggled to make a mark in the world of video games.
With such widespread popularity, it was only natural that video game developers would seek 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 massive undertaking that thrilled wrestling fans. Aside from WWE, no other significant wrestling promoters had video games after WCW and ECW ceased operations. There were other independent games with WWE-exclusive 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 subject of TNA's only major video game failing to gain success in the video game industry.
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TNA Impact! Had Technical Issues & Limited Game Options
First and foremost, the game suffered from a lack of polish. From the moment it hit store shelves, TNA Impact! was plagued by glitches and bugs. Players reported a variety of problems, including freezes, crashes, and visual glitches. These issues made the game frustrating and difficult to play, which undoubtedly turned off many potential buyers. In the gaming industry, players have little patience for games that don't work as intended, and TNA Impact! simply 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 grew bored with TNA Impact! and moved on to other games.
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Moreover, one particularly frustrating aspect of TNA Impact! was its loading times. Despite being released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, two powerful gaming consoles, the game suffered from long load times between matches. This slowed down the pace of the game and made it difficult for players to get into a rhythm. When combined with the game's other issues, the long load times made TNA Impact! a chore to play rather than a fun and exciting experience.
TNA Impact! Had Poor Marketing & Bad Timing
The poor marketing for TNA Impact! also played a significant role in the game's failure. While TNA wrestling had a loyal fan base, the game struggled to attract the attention of gamers outside that niche. The game's advertising campaign was relatively low-key, and it lacked the buzz and hype of other wrestling games. This made it difficult for the game to gain traction and build momentum, which is critical for success in the competitive video game market. Moreover, 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! even suffered from poor timing. By the time the game was released, WWE's SmackDown! vs. Raw series had already established itself as the dominant wrestling game franchise. With its larger roster, more extensive customization options, and smoother gameplay, the WWE game was simply more appealing to most gamers. While TNA Impact! did offer a different experience than the WWE games, it ultimately couldn't compete with the established brand and fan base of its larger rival.
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Finally, the company expected to collaborate for a long time when they first signed the agreement with Midway Games. Soon after the TNA video game was released, Midway declared that a sequel will be produced. That announcement, however, proved to be useless because the original plans were altered. The majority of Midway was acquired by Times Warner, and all approved projects were scrapped. TNA never received a second game, and their whole brand suffered.
Therefore, TNA Impact! failed to make an impact in the video game market due to a variety of these factors. While the game had its fans, it ultimately failed to attract a broad enough audience to be successful.
