Hornswoggle4PM

Obviously it's nowhere near as good as recent games, but I disagree with No Mercy being worse graphics-wise than any of the ones before it. I've played one of the WCW AKI games and No Mercy does look a fair bit better and much less 'blocky' to me. The graphics aren't really what you'd play it for obviously, but a few things they do like the pyro for entrances and Kane's celebration after he wins do look pretty good in comparison.

The couple of things that do bother me with it are that the AI never knows how to do a royal rumble or submission match properly and that it gets extremely unbalanced when there are super-heavyweights in a fight.

I basically agree, AJ is not really anybody important - midcard WWE guys are at a much higher level. Obviously he is a 'big deal' in TNA, but even in his home-base he hardly lights up the crowd. In the WWE he'd be less important than Bad News Barrett, or Big E.

RE: promotion overness, Derek B's Guide is a great explanation/benchmark to use for TEW:

...taken out to save space here...

Using the above as a guide...

The idea that TNA is borderline 'national' would be great if it were true, i'd love for that to be true - but that would be put them at a short step behind the WWE in TEW terms, meaning it would be possible to make them a competitor to the WWE in a few months of good booking, which is highly unrealistic.

For the data to be realistic it should be a challenge to raise TNA to national, as they have trying and failing to become relevant for over 10 years now! This should be reflected in the data. In scale with the WWE universe, WWE fans the casual, who are the majority of 'wrestling fans' TNA does not even exist. When I talk to WWE fans I know who aren't smarks, they think Kurt Angle et. al are retired!!!

The reality is that TNA has a long way to before they are considered even a proper 'cult' level company, let alone national. The recent attempts to tour nationally were a complete failure, which should give a good indication of where they are at... they've since retreated to their 'regional' home.

Basically TNA has the marketing and appearances of a company much larger than they actually are, they present themselves as a 'national company' or larger, they want you to view them that way, but they are not. They can barely afford to pay their 'top' guys. The danger of placing them too far up in popularity is that they will grow to be a competitor to the WWE with little work from the player, which in reality should be the biggest challenge for any player of a real world mod in TEW. Setting above a medium level cult company makes this too easy.

ROH and PWG are regional promotions, they don't have the exposure, fans, sales, ratings, buys etc. of a promotion larger tier, all other indies are properly 'small'.

The huge problem that I've got with this lies in the title of this topic: "EWR Stats and Scenarios in Theory and in Practice".

Firstly, I agree with the point about TNA probably not being a national company, but using TEW or other criteria that doesn't apply to EWR as a guide is not really an adequate reason for suggesting changes to an entirely different game. As you said yourself, the definitions of national, regional etc. have changed over time and we need to realise that EWR plays differently to TEW. If a good case can be mounted for TNA to be demoted to cult or WWE to be demoted to national in terms of how the game itself and its' mechanics work, I'd be all for that and it seems from some of the other stuff you posted that it does make sense. As it's been referred to though it isn't as if you can say that EWR is extremely accurate in terms of the wrestling business 10 years later.

All I'm trying to say is this;

In theory, you're absolutely right.

In practice, maybe not.

As a result, we shouldn't rush to make such drastic changes without seeing how it affects the game. For example, if both WWE and TNA are lowered, wouldn't that surely make TNA just as close to WWE as they are now?

Also not 100% sold on the whole "how over would they be in WWE" system for rating people. I feel that a better way to do overness would be something like this - If a new promotion were to be opened up right now, where would everybody fit in terms of name value and selling power?

Obviously Cena, The Rock and Hulk Hogan would be near the top, but where would, say, Big E Langston sit in comparison to Bully Ray?

I'm pretty sure in EWR you need to be Cult to get a tv deal. Can't remember what you need to be in order to sign written deals. For that reason alone though TNA needs to be at least Cult.

Nope, neither of those is true. Written deals can be signed at backyard level. To get and maintain a TV show on the Local Network for example you can be a lowly regional company (if not lower), but it's more that they have a Spike TV contract that's the issue there. TNA should be Cult at least though regardless.

To be fair on that, Trott didn't get much of a chance, but I agree that Cook and Bell especially have disappointed. When Carberry (who has played three games and not yet got a century) is effectively top scorer of one of the better Test sides we've seen in the last few years, I think you have to put it down to bad form (and possibly niggling injuries?) from key players as much as anything else. Obviously that alone shouldn't cause such a decisive defeat, but I can't see too many problems with the team itself and they should hit back soon.

As far as it goes for Australia, I'm not really sure all that much has changed aside from the players' confidence. We've had a very decent if not world-beating attack for most times in the past Ashes series' combined with batsmen who occasionally fire along with a couple of steady hand's (e.g. Clarke). The batsmen have got much better, but I'm not sure that we're back to being a dominant team yet because aside from Clarke there's no-one who can consistently score runs although a few have started to show good signs. Still, watch this space.

Personal rant now; skip it if you see fit.

Don't know if you guys overseas have been getting the same commentary as we get in Australia, but they're STILL maintaining that KP is the most important wicket to get in the English side which is ridiculous when you have guys like Bell, Cook, Trott and hell, even Root and Carberry who genuinely look dangerous and don't throw their wicket away if the runs dry up. I know Warne's best mates with him, but I expected much better from people like Mark Taylor, Michael Vaughan, Ian Healy, Ian Chappell and Michael Slater.

I know, but the way how it's been going I can see it happening very easily from here. Definitely wouldn't be saying that if England hadn't collapsed early in just about every innings this series.

I'd gladly help out, but I'm not very good at cutting pictures to a background. I can do simpler things though, like searching for pics online, cropping and resizing images to 150x150 (obviously while retaining the same scale) if that's going to be of any use.

PS: Some of you may remember a few years ago when I was trying to compile a picture pack for the original data and I've got pictures for about 90% of those workers (mostly not on the KyKy background) and later started doing the same for a 1996 data set. If those are any help I'd be willing to share them around too.

Wow, I'm normally a bit unsure of the merits of mindless slogging but Bailey and Watson just tore it to shreds. Almost 100% believing that it's all over by the end of today.

Recently been playing a few N64 games already mentioned, like No Mercy and Banjo-Kazooie. Also the first Tony Hawk Pro Skater game, quite basic in many ways but still can be a lot of fun.

Johnson gone early in the second morning, 7/326 with Smith on 103*.

Re: Damien Martyn - he was a good player through the late 90s and early 2000s who didn't really deserve the criticism he got, but by the time of his retirement he probably should've been dropped already because there were so many better players waiting in the wings such as Dave Hussey, Brad Hodge, Martin Love, etc.

Seriously Plubby? You forgot to mention Justin Langer retired then too. Are you even from WA?

But yeah, as much as I liked him, Hayden and all the others, Warne and McGrath were the most crucial losses to the team in the last 10-15 years.

We lost the last Ashes in Australia, but won the one before that. 06-07 I think but could be mistaken.

Makes Smith hitting him for sixes all that much better though!

Quite a big deal made about the captains each playing their hundredth Test before the start. With this bouncy pitch I can see there being plenty of runs both off the bat and as extras.

Guys after all the effort he has put into the updates over the years you really should treat him with more respect, while yes we pay for the site to stay active, he puts in hard work to get updates out for people to play a upto date data for EWR and he deserves credit and respect, if you think you can do a better job offer to take over and donate your donators status to TheWho and see how long you last?

The reason most of us come here is to have good discussions and have a laugh, that includes poking fun at people for saying silly things. The thing is that that happens in every part of the board (save for a few threads where it simply wouldn't be appropriate) but the only thing is, when it happens in the TEWR section then all of a sudden non-Donators develop some sort of paranoia complex (probably because they don't frequent other areas of the boards) that they're being victimised. They're not. You say something stupid, you'll get people queueing to take the piss, that's what makes this place fun.

I have to agree with this. I certainly was one of those non-Donators who thought it was a bit of a clique for a while but after looking at other parts of the board (esp. The Ring) I think everyone who feels the same way I used to will find what Matt said here is entirely true. I mean, look at how much shit Lineker, Ruki and EddieG cop, it's nothing against people who don't donate, just the community. And after you get used to it, it's really a good thing because it seems to me people are more enabled to challenge something they disagree with when they say it's not a group vs. group situation.

Also please note that a single solitary page earlier Kirkland suggested 'Movie Star' as a gimmick for Goldust which I challenged and we resolved using the gimmick definitions as posted by a helpful non donator poster.

That's the nicest thing ever said to me on EWB ... but seriously, glad to know that kind of stuff is appreciated, thanks!

Back on-topic... (mainly so I can say I'm contributing too )

Opinions in bold

I haven't watched much wrestling recently, so just take this as a relatively uninformed opinion.

Raise AJ Styles' Overness to 90

Raise Dixie Carter's Overness to 75?

Raise Kurt Angle's Overness to 91

I agree with these last two whole-heartedly. AJ I could go either way on, but I'm amazed that Kurt isn't up a little bit higher for someone who was well-known for so long, even if he is in TNA rather than WWE.

Raise Magnus Overness to 79

TNA Spoilers

Perhaps even higher given he's most likely going to be TNA's World Champion in the new year.

Lower Bret Hart's Overness to 93

Lower Hernandez's Overness to 72-73

Lower Joseph Park's Overness to 76-77

Lower Jack Swagger's Overness to 77-79

Lower Kane's Overness to 86

Lower Randy Orton's Overness to 93

Why? Bret is one of the most iconic wrestlers in recent history, and Orton and Kane certainly don't need to be dropped that low. Unless we're taking most TNA workers down a few points (see above on Kurt Angle and also in the other discussion topic) Hernandez deserves a bit more than that and for when he works as Abyss, Joseph Park should probably still be in the 80s. Jack Swagger has been a fairly big deal in the recent past, unless he's really getting buried I'd say that's a bit too low for him as well.

Raise Ezekiel Jackson's Overness to 65-68

Raise the current Sin Cara's Overness to 76

Again, why? The new Sin Cara is apparently not permanent from what I've heard, and Hunico is nowhere near that well known. Has Ezekiel Jackson done anything recently to deserve an increase?

Lance Franklin is an AFL Player of high status in australia but throw in that and being paid a lot of money and the guy thinks he is untouchable, treating women disrespectfully and generally acting like an arsehole. However he's joined another team, in the last few months and I guess he doesn't count anymore. Other than him, I don't dislike any other Hawthorn players.

He was always a dickhead though I reckon, at least since he started being recognised as one of the best forwards in the AFL. I'd gladly suggest a few Hawks players for you to dislike if you need any help

I rediscovered "Ignition (Remix)" through somebody doing a similar review to this that I read a few years back. So glad I did, as metalman said it's probably one of the best pop songs of the decade. I remember liking it at the time but 8/9 year old me also liked some other stuff that was absolute crap.

EDIT: Found it, but you may not want to look it up just yet as it will somewhat spoil the thread. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Link

Both have been good, especially Carberry. Very surprised he hasn't got a century to his name already.

Anyway, Australia wins by 218 runs in Adelaide after Broad and co. threw away their wickets with hook shots straight to the outfielders. 2-0 but not over yet by any means.

There are players that represent Australia I dislike, but I don't think I really have any club players I hate at the moment. Used to get really frustrated with a couple of Geelong players but never really hated them so much as didn't think they were good enough to get into the team. When the Melbourne Renegades signed Murali I wasn't too happy initially, but he seems like a nice bloke even if he is a bit of a chucker.

What's the description?

Movie Star

This worker plays a (sic) egomaniacal movie star, who feels he is above regular wrestlers.

Eg: The Rock

Freak

This worker is an over-the-top freakish character, prone to doing weird things.

Eg: Goldust

Seriously people, if you're going to say that Goldust's gimmick is one of those two, I know which I'd be choosing every time.

Also as Lineker said earlier, in the "best practices" discussion thread () we seemed to come to the conclusion that short-term tag-teams should not be added immediately.

Tick Superstar Look for Goldust. His facepaint kinda makes him look like one.

Untick SS look for Kane? He lost his mask, now looks like a random tall guy.

From Sousa in last month's topic

Can you picture this guy using the Franchise Player, Movie Star, Ravishing, or Man in Black gimmick? Because I can't really see it. That's all the gimmicks SS Look affects in the game, so I'd check it off... the gimmicks I listed above are the only ones that use SS Look might help with best practices.

Going by that, I'd leave them as they are. I don't think Goldust is suited to any of those gimmicks, but Kane could definitely fit the Man In Black gimmick IMO.

Johnson doesn't bother me too much. I didn't like him when he first started playing internationals because he was a bit shit at the time. Ponting was a bit annoying and Clarke seems a bit too precious, but I'd much prefer him over guys like Warner.

Back to the game, with Bell gone it's only the rain that can save England from going 2-0 down now. 4/143 and with a full day and a session to go.

Currently trying to drown it out with "Stacy's Mom" this may or may not work.

I remember seeing somewhere that "Champagne Supernova" always gets rid of earworms. It's usually worked for me, but sometimes a bit too well.

Mitch Johnson on fire! 7/40 in and twice was on a hat-trick. Unfortunately we won't see a follow-on called despite the Aussies having a 350+ run lead going into the second.

Also, am I the only one who's finding Shane Warne to be even more annoying than usual?

Good comeback from England in the second session which should put them slightly ahead, but it was certainly helped by some real lapses of concentration from Warner, Watson and Bailey. Good to see both of the newer entries into the team showing they have what it takes to bat at international level though.

Part of a week-long trial they're having at WWE, I strongly doubt that will be their debut.

Yeah, sounded quite serious really. Not sure if I heard right but they were questioning whether or not he'd be coming back to cricket any time soon.