galacticgonzo

Its also been said numerous times that Hardy doesn't at all like the stuff Punk did on air in the wake of his arrest. How much of that anger is directed to WWE and how much is towards Punk is obviously unclear but it seems reasonable to think from what we've heard that Hardy thinks Punk wronged him.

That's great. I spent too much of Sunday afternoon reading the iDom wiki and as you do that and start to place everyone in this world you start to wonder about the guys/feds missing. So when I was all said and done the one lingering question I had at the forefront of my mind was "What's Mike Quackenbush doing and does he have any kind of Chikara place to train and develop wrestlers in this world?" And I log in today and look at that, the answer to my question. Kudos and growing more excited.

Wow, thank you. I've seen "IDOM" before but I've never played or read any of this. This is really, really interesting. I've been reading for an hour and its really fun to see how simple little twists of fate change the way wrestling history went in this alternate world. It seems like just 2 or 3 key moments in wrestling history changed like Wrestlemania failing and Ric Flair's career ending in that plane crash that just totally changed the way this reality went. It all seems very plausible and logical and its really fun to think about. I'm very impressed with the work and creativity of those involved and am getting excited to play.

Yeah, I've never actually played a fantasy scenario before but I'm surprised how much I'm enjoying these little news stories and how much its actually compelling me to play this when it comes out. I'm really enjoying seeing how this world shaped out with not only the obvious surprises of who competes where but also some smaller surprises like Randy Savage being married to Miss Jackie (Gayda or Miss Texas/Jacqueline?), Cena hooking up with Lizzy Borden, and Art Barr being alive (that may have made me happiest of all). It has me really wondering how other stuff shaped out from pretty obvious major questions like "What's Vince McMahon doing?" or "How deceased legends like Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero have shaped out?" to some relatively smaller ones of personal interest like "I wonder what the state of women's wrestling is?" or "I wonder where AJ Styles is?"

Essentially you're kind of right. He IS asking people to "book his shows." That is largely what Storytlines are, a pre-set road map for booking that you merely need to follow until its pver. But that's just an aspect of TEW that isn't there with EWR and its really no different from the other Storylines made by guys like Capt Charisma. Is it cheating a little for players? Perhaps, but consider that its also a small part of the game, a game that is MUCH more involved and larger in scope than EWR.

Just found it in a google image search. Looks like it came off an old MySpace fanpage that has old profile pics from FCW. http://www.myspace.com/fcw_fan_page

Here's the problem. This is the source pic. Its centered and crop close, which means no shoulders at all. Obviously I favor one side or another on these things and I'm sure its obvious I try to keep Left-Right leaning even on all the sets, but that's just me being anal. If I HAD to push him one way or another I would, as many of those pictures are only good on one side. But with Bateman all I could find were pictures too small to use or too closely cropped to fit the style. So I had no choice but to use this one and then I drew in a shoulder instead of having it cut off. Which leads us to your next request. Unfortunately most of the FCW profile pictures are cut that way. Closely cropped center cuts. Its very similar to Rocky's preferred framing for RKY. And while my tastes lean away to a wider shot I could easily adapt that style for a request, except in this case if I center the rookie pictures where do I put the pros? I just don't see how using most of those FCW pictures is doable without everyone having a cut off shoulder and you having the very special amputee season of NXT. Its your call, I can do them for you if you want, but it looks like crap in my head. Maybe I'm missing something, maybe I'll pull it off in the daytime after a good night's rest, but I don't see it as an option.

There's not a ton of consistency in size since the FCW guys really only have the profile pictures to use as quality studio pics. I actually had to draw in Derrick Bateman's shoulder which is why it looks so weird. This might just be my perfectionist side shining through though so here you go. Maybe they'll work for you. Again, I think I'm just a little lazy tonight.

Yeah, I get what you're going for and I know it doesn't totally compare to my "wrestler in his youth/prime gets an opportunity" argument. Still, my thinking is just why bother when there's really nothing keeping the worker from going to Japan, even if he hasn't been there for a decade. I mean, if so-and-so is on record as hating working in Japan that's a different story all together. But if its just that he hasn't gotten a job offer or needed to take it in a decade but still might if asked now then why spend the time and energy removing game play options? But I also think that's kind of my general philosophy shining through. I like a wide open game full of possibilities, within realistic reasons. I like wrestlers being free to return to the business or venture outside the US if they feel like it, even if its been years or a decade since they competed. But that's me and this is a database for hundreds or whatever.

I also don't dig the idea of removing regions wrestlers can play in, but that's my own selfish game play talking. My thinking is that if WWE offered Sarah Jones or Extreme Tiger or some other random international wrestler a contract they likely wouldn't turn it down solely because they don't currently or recently work the US. I never have any qualms editing wrestlers I want to sign and don't consider it cheating at all. So I'd be all for keeping as many options as possible. Plus, yeah, I too think its cool when something unexpected happens like someone signing to work well outside their normal region. I'd say 9 out of 10 wrestlers would go where the money's right. I would never ask Who to go and set the wrestlers to all active or something. Its a ton of work with no real precedent for it. But if you're doing extra work to REMOVE regions just because the wrestler hasn't been there in awhile? I say why bother? If there's any chance of the guy working there, as much as there is of him working in his usual regions, why remove it?

Aren't I? The pictures of the Blossoms aren't the best but they're the best I found. And I'd be lying if I said I knew which was which but if you do and it matters you can rename them. EDIT: Slightly better quality on the Blossoms. And I got the names right this time. And should anyone want them since I added them to my pack.

I've got that background in two versions but not the blue. Sorry.

I think its amusing that in the 3 sets of these I've done: A) All 3 had Tyler Black B) Black is mentored by CM Punk, Raven, and Christopher Daniels in those 3 sets. Albeit I originally had him with HBK but the plan was always to have HBK lose his rookie to Daniels' cult-like group, which I can only assume is the connection with Raven and Punk. Apparently we're all incredibly unoriginal.

A few more randoms I've done recently. More "I think I'm getting good at this" title pictures. Some I did thanks to someone posting about those Lee South studio pictures. Two recent Knockout Tryouts, Christina Von Eerie and Mia Yim Again, I can't imagine these are of any use to anyone but me but a few more of my "NXT" images after I made some roster changes. And last and absolutely least, a picture I hate and think looks like crap but after years and YEARS of wondering if the guy was real I FINALLY found a picture of the elusive Michael Hart.

And some title belt pics I did recently. I'm starting to get the hang of it and make them look nice.

I'm being lazy and waiting for PSD to add them but if I shake the laziness later tonight I'll do a bunch. If there's any specific ones you want let me know as I probably won't do all of them, just the ones I like/want/think work with my preferred framing.

I used to do the same thing with my database. Its a pain in the ass but not too bad. And it does seem more accurately. Mostly I do it because it seems off to basically rob WWE of talent they actually have, and vice versa. Before NXT I'd just be able to easily steal Kaval, Daniel Bryan, and anyone else away from FCW without WWE batting an eyelash. Now at least WWE has to decide they don't want whoever under contract. Even if it usually meant them releasing 90% of the FCW roster. Since NXT the process has gotten more complicated with the constant influx of talent and the the way Who handles eliminations. So I dunno. I basically stopped doing the double contracts because I got lazy managing it or trying to figure out what way is best.

I imagine these won't be of any use to anyone but me given the somewhat random nature of the pairings, but I've been meaning to start a "NXT" show for my TNA game and I dig Rocky's idea so I went for it. And you can probably conclude from the images that I've themed my first season mentors as "Legends" under my employ. Joey Matthews* & Sting; Teddy Hart & Bret Hart; Tyler Black & Shawn Michaels; Kimo & Mick Foley Gran Akuma & Ultimo Dragon; Chris Harris* & Ric Flair; John Walters & Kurt Angle; Paul Burchill* & Kevin Nash *Not that its relevant but I know Burchill, Matthews, and Harris aren't really "rookies", but Matthews and Burchill are more or less TNA virgins and I'm making Harris' inclusion a story thing as he's trying to earn his way back into the company he had his greatest successes with after falling to the rocks. So its more like "Welcome to TNA, Try to earn a spot" instead of "Hey lame rookies, lets ignore your past."

Its a cool idea and looks good. From a nitpicky creative perspective I love that you didn't automatically use the same picture for the foreground and background shots. I just don't think I'd use it personally because it seems weird when you have the two next to each other. On the other hand managers/NXT mentors is an idea I could see playing with. Either way, cool idea.