WrestleFest!
I have been a fan of wrestling since I first watched a WWF syndicated show,
sometime around WrestleMania 2. Like most of America around this time, I
enjoyed the 1985 Bears Super Bowl season, and became a fan of William "The
Refrigerator" Perry. I saw a show leading up to WrestleMania 2 promoting the
big battle royal The Fridge was going to participate in. Big John Studd got in
his face and the two had words.
On the same show, one of my other heroes at the time, Mr. T, was going to
face Rowdy Roddy Piper in a boxing match. The two were still feuding from
their WrestleMania tag team match a year prior, and the hatred between
these two was all too real.
Lastly, I must admit, I instantly became a Hulkamaniac. From the first time I
saw him, I was a fan. The way he portrayed his character and the way he was
booked was pure genius. It was the proverbial "lightning in a bottle," and I
doubt it'll ever be equaled.
sometime around WrestleMania 2. Like most of America around this time, I
enjoyed the 1985 Bears Super Bowl season, and became a fan of William "The
Refrigerator" Perry. I saw a show leading up to WrestleMania 2 promoting the
big battle royal The Fridge was going to participate in. Big John Studd got in
his face and the two had words.
On the same show, one of my other heroes at the time, Mr. T, was going to
face Rowdy Roddy Piper in a boxing match. The two were still feuding from
their WrestleMania tag team match a year prior, and the hatred between
these two was all too real.
Lastly, I must admit, I instantly became a Hulkamaniac. From the first time I
saw him, I was a fan. The way he portrayed his character and the way he was
booked was pure genius. It was the proverbial "lightning in a bottle," and I
doubt it'll ever be equaled.
I bought their wrestling figures and eventually their video games. I scooped up
as many wrestling magazines as I could possibly buy. In those magazines, I saw
some play-by-mail wrestling games (the old CWF and the IWA) and some
card-based games like the old "Wrestling Superstar" game and the newer
"Champions of the Galaxy" game. Being a kid with little to no money, I did the next
best thing. I made my own game!
One day at a friend's house, we devised a simple game that consisted of us
listing as many wrestling moves as we knew on a sheet of lined paper. Each move
was numbered, and a few "reversals" were thrown in there. Towards the end of
the list we wrote the word "FINISHER" a few times. We took the dice out of his
Monopoly game and VIOLA! we were off and playing!
as many wrestling magazines as I could possibly buy. In those magazines, I saw
some play-by-mail wrestling games (the old CWF and the IWA) and some
card-based games like the old "Wrestling Superstar" game and the newer
"Champions of the Galaxy" game. Being a kid with little to no money, I did the next
best thing. I made my own game!
One day at a friend's house, we devised a simple game that consisted of us
listing as many wrestling moves as we knew on a sheet of lined paper. Each move
was numbered, and a few "reversals" were thrown in there. Towards the end of
the list we wrote the word "FINISHER" a few times. We took the dice out of his
Monopoly game and VIOLA! we were off and playing!
But being of the action figure generation, something was missing. We
decided it would be cool to have hand drawn avatars of who we were
using in the match (I refuse to use the words "paper dolls" LOL). So I
drew every character in the WWF at that time. EVERY CHARACTER.
Performers, managers and announcers. I also had to have the title
belts, after all, what were these little paper dolls fighting for? :)
I outlined the pencil drawings with Crayola markers (hey, they were the
best!) and then I filled in the 'inked' pics with crayon. After awhile I
found peel-off lamination sheets sold at the local drugstore. They
helped preserve the little guys, and kept smudges off.
With the popularity of Pro Wrestling taking off, the magazine Pro
Wrestling Illustrated soon became easily available in my little area. I
didn't have cable back then, so I had no exposure to anything other
than the WWF. But PWI introduced me to the AWA, PNW and the NWA,
along with many more wrestling circuits.
decided it would be cool to have hand drawn avatars of who we were
using in the match (I refuse to use the words "paper dolls" LOL). So I
drew every character in the WWF at that time. EVERY CHARACTER.
Performers, managers and announcers. I also had to have the title
belts, after all, what were these little paper dolls fighting for? :)
I outlined the pencil drawings with Crayola markers (hey, they were the
best!) and then I filled in the 'inked' pics with crayon. After awhile I
found peel-off lamination sheets sold at the local drugstore. They
helped preserve the little guys, and kept smudges off.
With the popularity of Pro Wrestling taking off, the magazine Pro
Wrestling Illustrated soon became easily available in my little area. I
didn't have cable back then, so I had no exposure to anything other
than the WWF. But PWI introduced me to the AWA, PNW and the NWA,
along with many more wrestling circuits.
So with my new knowledge of other wrestlers, I had to add them to the
game too! Eventually, I made avatars for every star in the WWF, NWA
and the AWA. I also made them for the big names in Memphis, WCCW,
the Pacific Northwest and Florida. Sure, I never saw them work, but PWI
kinda filled us in on their 'schtick,' and they were fun to use
nonetheless.
My friend and I would simulate all the Pay Per View matches and
Saturday Night's Main Event matches. If someone changed their look,
or had a cool new outfit, I'd make it. I loved working on that stuff,
mixing art & creativity with my love of wrestling. Of course, I hid it from
everyone, especially my family, who made fun of me for liking pro
wrestling. "Hillbilly square-dancing" is what my dad called it. Needless
to say, he didn't "get it."
This continued from around mid to late 1986 until 1993, when I'd finally
matured enough to want to spend more time with the opposite sex.
game too! Eventually, I made avatars for every star in the WWF, NWA
and the AWA. I also made them for the big names in Memphis, WCCW,
the Pacific Northwest and Florida. Sure, I never saw them work, but PWI
kinda filled us in on their 'schtick,' and they were fun to use
nonetheless.
My friend and I would simulate all the Pay Per View matches and
Saturday Night's Main Event matches. If someone changed their look,
or had a cool new outfit, I'd make it. I loved working on that stuff,
mixing art & creativity with my love of wrestling. Of course, I hid it from
everyone, especially my family, who made fun of me for liking pro
wrestling. "Hillbilly square-dancing" is what my dad called it. Needless
to say, he didn't "get it."
This continued from around mid to late 1986 until 1993, when I'd finally
matured enough to want to spend more time with the opposite sex.
Fastforward to 2005-06 (IIRC). Filsinger Games (makers of
Champions of the Galaxy) published a "Legends of
Wrestling" game. I bought it and enjoyed it. Of course it
made me think back to my old game(s) and I wondered how
I might use my new art and Photoshop skills to make a
better version of my old game.
At the time I was playing the old arcade game
"WrestleFest," on emulators and doing some sprite
ripping. It decided to make my version of the game based
on that era in the WWF, which was roughly 1990 ( settled on
1991 so I could include Ric Flair!).
So, I was back at it making pictures of wrestlers to slap on
game pieces nearly 20 years after I started doing so the
first time! This time I also had to make rings and referees
and anything else a miniatures based wrestling game
would need.
Champions of the Galaxy) published a "Legends of
Wrestling" game. I bought it and enjoyed it. Of course it
made me think back to my old game(s) and I wondered how
I might use my new art and Photoshop skills to make a
better version of my old game.
At the time I was playing the old arcade game
"WrestleFest," on emulators and doing some sprite
ripping. It decided to make my version of the game based
on that era in the WWF, which was roughly 1990 ( settled on
1991 so I could include Ric Flair!).
So, I was back at it making pictures of wrestlers to slap on
game pieces nearly 20 years after I started doing so the
first time! This time I also had to make rings and referees
and anything else a miniatures based wrestling game
would need.
These days, I want to use these Hasbro miniatures and
blend them into my game. Instead of the paper miniatures,
I want to mold and cast these figurines and customize a
few more from this era.
I have enlarged figures using Hydrospan, now I want to
shrink some Hasbros using Hydroshrink to fit in with
these pieces. I have 4 figures in mind: Ravishing Rick
Rude, the Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant, and the
Honky Tonk Man.
I plan on experimenting with this idea soon. I loved
playing the miniature-based HeroClix games and hope to
make a good wrestling-based miniatures game eventually.
blend them into my game. Instead of the paper miniatures,
I want to mold and cast these figurines and customize a
few more from this era.
I have enlarged figures using Hydrospan, now I want to
shrink some Hasbros using Hydroshrink to fit in with
these pieces. I have 4 figures in mind: Ravishing Rick
Rude, the Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant, and the
Honky Tonk Man.
I plan on experimenting with this idea soon. I loved
playing the miniature-based HeroClix games and hope to
make a good wrestling-based miniatures game eventually.
I will upload the game components again soon!
I have already begun revamping the game cards for
each wrestler. To the left is the original Hulk Hogan
card I made. Pretty bland. Below it is the new card I
made for Hulk and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.
Same information, just better looking.
I know I haven't made many updates to the game lately,
but I haven't walked away from it completely!
each wrestler. To the left is the original Hulk Hogan
card I made. Pretty bland. Below it is the new card I
made for Hulk and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.
Same information, just better looking.
I know I haven't made many updates to the game lately,
but I haven't walked away from it completely!