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[C-Drive]

Let's Make A Pro-Wrestler! The Golden Hour

http://www.wrestsuku.com/index.html

Japan-only mobile-only title released for Android and iOS.

A trailer for the game.

Good pictures on the twitter.

A "gameplay" video.

I'd take a game that looked exactly like this graphical style with the AKI engine and customization features on PC or console in a heartbeat. Finding this out was news to me, and seeing that they still develop wrestling titles keeps me hoping that one day we'll get another AKI engine game.

 

[Dremark]

I lost interest in Pro Wrestling ages ago, the games they out out were always a ton of fun though regardless of the licenses. No idea why WWF kept making Smackdown styled games when the Aki ones were so much better (IMO at least).

Glad to see Aki is still alive and kicking, although I can't imagine playing a game like that on a cellphone.

 

[BadAss2961]

I wonder how much of the old crew that did the wrestling games are still there.

 

[BoboBrazil]

We need someone that speaks Japanese to contact them about doing a kickstarter for a wrestling title.

 

[steveovig]

We need someone that speaks Japanese to contact them about doing a kickstarter for a wrestling title.

I've never KS'ed anything but I would make an exception for this.

 

[BadAss2961]

We need someone that speaks Japanese to contact them about doing a kickstarter for a wrestling title.

Just imagine a game from them using various promotions across the US, Mexico, and Japan. It'd get funded easily.

Shenmue is the only thing i've helped kickstart. This would be the second.

 

[C-Drive]

Glad to see Aki is still alive and kicking, although I can't imagine playing a game like that on a cellphone.

Well, I don't think this one is a proper AKI wrestling game - though it might use their engine for animations. Seems like it's something more along the lines of most mobile titles, microtransaction grinding.

We need someone that speaks Japanese to contact them about doing a kickstarter for a wrestling title.

I think we need more than that, as I'm sure they've been asked in the past. I think we would just get a response like the following I found from a few years back on GameFAQs:

Thanks for your mail. We've been receiving
similar letters like yours
from many wrestling game fans around the world,
and yes we are proud
we deliver the finest wrestling game engine in the
world.

We remain interested in making another wrestling
game someday in the
future, but unfortunately we rely on third party
publisher to fund such a project,
and market the title globally, which we can't do
by ourself.

So we do encourage you to direct your letter to
some other global
companies who are capable of realizing this, and
they may listen to you.

We really appreciate your voice, and let us tell
you.... A letter like yours
is the biggest reason why we are still in this
business. Thanks, and
hope we can entertain you again. We are pretty
sure this will happen

We need a proper organization or team, one like fangamer, to get a real communication going with them, and possibly find some publisher support if they reach the Kickstarter goal. Similar to how Bloodstained was dependent on the Kickstarter to get the publisher support and would use the combined funds to develop the final game.

No one has made an effort like that, and I think that's leaving a lot of money on the table by not pushing for a crowdfund effort to get another AKI engine game out when all signs point to the fact that the engine still exists in some form. I really think this would have the opportunity to be a very high funded Kickstarter if the chance was just given for it to exist.

 

[The Elite]

I am convinced there is a patch to successfully getting this off the ground. The fact that people still talk about the Aki wrestling games years later gives me a lot of confidence there is a ton of money to be made here.

So we need a publisher who would be willing to publish if a Kickstarter made X number of dollars?

The entire thing seems feasible.

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

Saw that game, I think it's like a card game(?) that plays the animations. I don't think it's a normal wrestling game. Their psp yakuza game had a fighting system a lot like the "AKI engine", so they still could do it. Which of course means it won't happen because the universe hates us.

Even if it was just some 14.99 digital title they could kickstart with a good caw and bare bones options.

 

[ElRenoRaven]

They need to just bite the bullet and start a kickstarter damn it. That or WWE needs to come to their goddamn senses and tell 2k to get them to do the WWE games.

 

[C-Drive]

I am convinced there is a patch to successfully getting this off the ground. The fact that people still talk about the Aki wrestling games years later gives me a lot of confidence there is a ton of money to be made here.

So we need a publisher who would be willing to publish if a Kickstarter made X number of dollars?

The entire thing seems feasible.

It is feasible. You have people here and there say that they hated the AKI Wrestling Games, but that's a vocal minority. You have a thread celebrating the 15th Anniversary of No Mercy, and nearly every post is saying either No Mercy, Revenge, or Wrestlemania 2000 are their favorite wrestling game.

This happens every single time these games are even mentioned on the internet. These games had a a charm that has lived on through the years. To anyone who played them back in the day, they're practically unforgettable. With the climate of wrestling games being as they are, and most folks just buying the yearly WWE releases because that's pretty much the best (and only) choice there is. Having a new AKI engine game would be a breath of fresh air.

The popularity of the current WWE games has always been grounded in the ability to create within the game - Wrestlers, Arenas, Universe Mode, Belts, Shows - and this has been true with wrestling games since the PSX/N64 introduced the option to US audiences. An AKI kickstarter doesn't even need anything beyond a multitude of customizable options to get funded, and with (being crowdfunded) an inevitable PC release, open it up to modding.

For built-in wrestlers, throw in new versions of all the old "clone" favorites: Akiman, Maya Inca Boy, Han Zo Mon, Hannibal, etc. It would just be a bonus to have NJPW or ROH licensing.

Just stating on a Kickstarter page:

From the developers of the Nintendo 64 classics: WCW/nWo Revenge, Wrestlemania 2000 & No Mercy, as well as the fan favorite Def Jam: Fight for New York.

That's all it would take, and people would have it funded in no time.

 

[The Elite]

It is feasible. You have people here and there say that they hated the AKI Wrestling Games, but that's a vocal minority. You have a thread celebrating the 15th Anniversary of No Mercy, and nearly every post is saying either No Mercy, Revenge, or Wrestlemania 2000 are their favorite wrestling game.

This happens every single time these games are even mentioned on the internet. These games had a a charm that has lived on through the years. To anyone who played them back in the day, they're practically unforgettable. With the climate of wrestling games being as they are, and most folks just buying the yearly WWE releases because that's pretty much the best (and only) choice there is. Having a new AKI engine game would be a breath of fresh air.

The popularity of the current WWE games has always been grounded in the ability to create within the game - Wrestlers, Arenas, Universe Mode, Belts, Shows - and this has been true with wrestling games since the PSX/N64 introduced the option to US audiences. An AKI kickstarter doesn't even need anything beyond a multitude of customizable options to get funded, and with (being crowdfunded) an inevitable PC release, open it up to modding.

For built-in wrestlers, throw in new versions of all the old "clone" favorites: Akiman, Maya Inca Boy, Han Zo Mon, Hannibal, etc. It would just be a bonus to have NJPW or ROH licensing.

Just stating on a Kickstarter page:



That's all it would take, and people would have it funded in no time.

Agreed about the customization. I really think some online E-Fed tool sets for PC would be huge as well, but that's getting ahead of ourselves.

I can't believe I have been waiting for 15 year now for the release of the next pure Aki wrasslin' game and my desire has not wavered. Not one bit.

 

[C-Drive]

Saw that game, I think it's like a card game(?) that plays the animations. I don't think it's a normal wrestling game. Their psp yakuza game had a fighting system a lot like the "AKI engine", so they still could do it.

Yeah it's like one of those mobile card games sapping money and time away from you.

Yakuza Black Panther's sequel came out for the PSP in 2012 and did feature a version of the AKI engine for the brawls. I just thought it was interesting they had made another wrestling-based game since then, and never saw it mentioned on GAF.

They need to just bite the bullet and start a kickstarter damn it. That or WWE needs to come to their goddamn senses and tell 2k to get them to do the WWE games.

I don't think WWE would ever let their yearly games not look "realistic" and have the TV presentation. I think part of the AKI engine's charm and the fact that moves just look better is that they hand-animate each part of the game.

Now, I've always felt WWE could go with a less-sim like game that is digital download only, with a release date around Wrestlemania season. Maybe a new release every two years. That would be a perfect slot for an AKI game.

I can't believe I have been waiting for 15 year now for the release of the next pure Aki wrasslin' game and my desire has not wavered. Not one bit.

I've been the same way. It's true for so many wrestling game fans.

 

[Brinbe]

There is definitely a hunger for a remade generic AKI game with great customization options. And if someone marketed it right through KS and word of mouth spread I think it'd draw a substantial amount. Especially from those who normally would have no interest in KS. That generation that grew up on those N64 games are old enough to get this going and spend the dough.

Just need someone to bring it all together.

 

[The Elite]

https://www.change.org/p/syn-sophia-webmaster-convince-syn-sophia-formerly-known-as-aki-to-launch-a-kickstarter-campaign-to-create-a-new-aki-pro-wrestling-game

lol.

 

[shoplifter]

Fire Pro

 

[C-Drive]

Fire Pro

We still talk about it here. But I seriously believe the chances of a Fire Pro game being kickstarted to success is really low.

 

[Zach]

https://www.change.org/p/syn-sophia-webmaster-convince-syn-sophia-formerly-known-as-aki-to-launch-a-kickstarter-campaign-to-create-a-new-aki-pro-wrestling-game

lol.

Haha.

Spoiler

Would've signed. >_>

 

[The Elite]

Fire Pro

I like Fire Pro a lot but it never had mass market appeal.

As C-Drive mentioned, if you slap "from the makers of No Mercy/Wrestlemania 2000" etc. on a Kickstarter, people know those games and have incredible nostalgia for them.

 

[Lord Helmet]

My friends and I loved the AKI games. I imported Virtual Pro Wrestling 1 & 2, and played 2 quite a bit.

It's a shame Nintendo wouldn't do it with them. I'd love a modern NES Pro Wrestling running with the AKI Engine. Deep CAW, gameplay, and match types. Custom music would be nice too. Still miffed that it is missing on the PS4 & XBO game.

Edit: I've never kickstarted anything, but I'd be there to support a new AKI game. A worldwide release of Virtual Pro Wrestling 3 (or whatever it gets called) please!

 

[delSai]

I like Fire Pro a lot but it never had mass market appeal

That's the truth, unfortunately. But it's not only Fire Pro, everything not called "WWE" doesn't have that appeal, at least nowadays. As much as that sucks.

 

[Violence Jack]

AKI + Lucha Underground = Day one purchase. Make it happen Robert Rodriguez.

It doesn't even have to have a license behind it, I would buy an AKI wrestling game with a quickness.

 

[Sibersk Esto]

I like Fire Pro a lot but it never had mass market appeal.

Any wrestling game that requires timing to pull off moves like fire pro and KOC would lack mass appeal

 

[The Elite]

That's the truth, unfortunately. But it's not only Fire Pro, everything not called "WWE" doesn't have that appeal, at least nowadays. As much as that sucks.

I think you could build enough traction under the Aki name that you wouldn't need the license. It would sell more with the license, obviously, but I think there could be an extremely successful Kickstarter without it.

I imagine 2K and THQ ere approached about this a ton over the years and they must have heard fans crying out for another Aki game so I don't think 2k would be the best publisher to approach now.

 

[thefro]

It'd get funded because a lot of the current generation of wrestlers are big fans of the AKI games and you could get guys like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe to plug it on twitter.

 

[Sibersk Esto]

I think you could build enough traction under the Aki name that you wouldn't need the license. It would sell more with the license, obviously, but I think there could be an extremely successful Kickstarter without it.

I imagine 2K and THQ ere approached about this a ton over the years and they must have heard fans crying out for another Aki game so I don't think 2k would be the best publisher to approach now.

Jackasses should have rehired the THQ San Diego crew so we could have our WWE All Stars sequel goddammit.

 

[C-Drive]

It's a shame Nintendo wouldn't do it with them. I'd love a modern NES Pro Wrestling running with the AKI Engine. Deep CAW, gameplay, and match types. Custom music would be nice too. Still miffed that it is missing on the PS4 & XBO game.

Edit: I've never kickstarted anything, but I'd be there to support a new AKI game. A worldwide release of Virtual Pro Wrestling 3 (or whatever it gets called) please!

I've always thought it was a very good fit. Do a digital download title for Nintendo, call it NX Pro Wrestling, go deep on customization.

I'd love for it to be called Virtual Pro Wrestling 3, but I think the mass-market appeal of that name wouldn't work out well.

That's the truth, unfortunately. But it's not only Fire Pro, everything not called "WWE" doesn't have that appeal, at least nowadays. As much as that sucks.

An actual physical release would be a pipe dream in any case. If it's a PC title, it would thrive solely on customization and/or modding options. Build in some tools to easily record matches and upload to YouTube, and you would have a community of creators at hand. Almost like a wrestling fan's version of Minecraft.

AKI + Lucha Underground = Day one purchase. Make it happen Robert Rodriguez.

Lucha Underground is actually a really good fit. He has a light history with video games, and may have even played the original AKI titles. Maybe someone has some contacts with him and see if it could be done? I'd say tweet him, but nobody ever seems to pay attention via tweets.

Any wrestling game that requires timing to pull off moves like fire pro and KOC would lack mass appeal

You hit the nail on head.

 

[The Elite]

I think there would have to be a console release as well. One of the core aspects of what made these games so fun was sitting around the TV with friends playing it. I definitely want a copy on PC with all the bells and whistles for customization but a console release is a must for the mass market.

 

[sturgboski]

AKI + Lucha Underground = Day one purchase. Make it happen Robert Rodriguez.

It doesn't even have to have a license behind it, I would buy an AKI wrestling game with a quickness.

Maybe get Billy Corgan to bring in TNA and Jeff Jarrett to bring in his promotion, maybe RoH as well. Basically the non WWE promotions.

...or at least the moves of all those wrestlers for CAW...

 

[Sephzilla]

AKI + Lucha Underground = Day one purchase. Make it happen Robert Rodriguez.

It doesn't even have to have a license behind it, I would buy an AKI wrestling game with a quickness.

I HAD GOOSEBUMPS SIMPLY READING THIS

 

[C-Drive]

I think there would have to be a console release as well. One of the core aspects of what made these games so fun was sitting around the TV with friends playing it. I definitely want a copy on PC with all the bells and whistles for customization but a console release is a must for the mass market.

Definitely should be a console release, but I don't imagine it would be physical.

Xbox and PS4 still support up to 8 controllers connected right? Imagine having a 8 player battle royal. With 8 players at once. In the AKI engine.

 

[Seraphis Cain]

Maybe get Billy Corgan to bring in TNA and Jeff Jarrett to bring in his promotion, maybe RoH as well. Basically the non WWE promotions.

...or at least the moves of all those wrestlers for CAW...

For years I've been saying that Syn Sophia should make a wrestling game with ROH, PWG, GFW, CZW, Chikara, DGUSA, etc. Basically just round up all the indie feds who would never release a wrestling game on their own (I know Chikara has something in development, but eh) and get them involved in something like this. Hell, even throw TNA or LU in there too if possible.

 

[That Brown Guy]

Man an Aki developed NJPW game would be amazing, heck any promotion they did would be amazing. Imagine they created their own promotion for a game, complete with unique characters designed by them AND fans.

 

[Sibersk Esto]

It's nuts that NJPW has yet to order a video game done by somebody.

Then again, in this day and age it would probably be mobile.

 

[Host Samurai]

Man I would love it if they made a Wrestling Legends game or even a game that has a real roster like Fire Pro but fictional names.

 

[C-Drive]

For years I've been saying that Syn Sophia should make a wrestling game with ROH, PWG, GFW, CZW, Chikara, DGUSA, etc. Basically just round up all the indie feds who would never release a wrestling game on their own (I know Chikara has something in development, but eh) and get them involved in something like this. Hell, even throw TNA or LU in there too if possible.

Basically a US version of Virtual Pro Wrestling 2 except with real likenesses and licenses? I've always thought the same thing might work.

You can't be too US-focused though - you need a Japan promotion as well as a Mexican promotion (or at the least Lucha Underground). NJPW and ROH constantly work together, so if you could add in AAA to the mix, you'd have a solid roster across the globe. This would bring in better sales within Japan and Latin America. You could make individual deals with independent wrestlers and legends to pad it out even more.

 

[C-Drive]

It's nuts that NJPW has yet to order a video game done by somebody.

Then again, in this day and age it would probably be mobile.

They have. It is mobile.

 

[KenzinFive]

Just imagine a game from them using various promotions across the US, Mexico, and Japan. It'd get funded easily.

Shenmue is the only thing i've helped kickstart. This would be the second.

I always thought that a indie wrestling game that pulled its roster from actual US indies like Chikara, PWG, CZW, and ROH (thought they might actually be too big to be indie now) would be awesome with the right game engine.

It could be marketed as an non-annual alternative to the WWE 2K games and would definitely boost the profile of all the wrestlers they sign on for the game.

 

[Hasney]

AKI + Lucha Underground = Day one purchase. Make it happen Robert Rodriguez.

It doesn't even have to have a license behind it, I would buy an AKI wrestling game with a quickness.

Shame this isn't up on QooApp like the NJPW one is.

 

[Jamie OD]

AKI + Lucha Underground = Day one purchase. Make it happen Robert Rodriguez.

It doesn't even have to have a license behind it, I would buy an AKI wrestling game with a quickness.

I think the WWE All Stars engine with a similar over the top art style would be a better fit for Lucha Underground.

 

[Hasney]

Found the .apk since it's a free to play game. Gonna give this a wazz

 

[The Elite]

Found the .apk since it's a free to play game. Gonna give this a wazz

Is this something that can be side-loaded?

 

[Hasney]

Is this something that can be side-loaded?

Yeah, just search for "let's make a pro wrestler apk", then make sure you've ticked to allow install of apks in the settings and you're away.

Can't get past the title screen though, so there might be a location check.

EDIT: Trying to login to Google Play Games comes up with license check failed, so that might be the issue, because I've not downloaded it through the Play Store.

 

[Bluekaveli]

Was going to dl but saw it was based on cards 😣

 

[Tom Nook]

AKI + Lucha Underground = Day one purchase. Make it happen Robert Rodriguez.

It doesn't even have to have a license behind it, I would buy an AKI wrestling game with a quickness.

Yes, make it happen

 

[Sibersk Esto]

Yes, make it happen

 

[delSai]

Yes, make it happen

Damnit. We really need to bug El Rey/Syn Sophia/ whoever and get them to make this a reality.

 

[Anth0ny]

lets kickstart an AKI new japan game

it can even have n64 graphics who the fuck cares



plssssss

 

[Oni Link 666]

Nintendo should get these guys together with Next Level Games to make a new Pro Wrestling. Next Level was making some Mario Volleyball/Wrestling game, so they must be wrestling fans and Nintendo has close ties to Syn Sophia already from making the Style Savvy games.

Bring back Star Man, Amazon, and the rest, put in a CAW, all on that AKI wrestling engine we love. Put it on Wii U and 3DS. It would be awesome.

 

[theclosetfan]

Nintendo should get these guys together with Next Level Games to make a new Pro Wrestling. Next Level was making some Mario Volleyball/Wrestling game, so they must be wrestling fans and Nintendo has close ties to Syn Sophia already from making the Style Savvy games.

Bring back Star Man, Amazon, and the rest, put in a CAW, all on that AKI wrestling engine we love. Put it on Wii U and 3DS. It would be awesome.

Agreed. The wrestling games were such big standout successes for the N64 and Gamecube and NX is going to need some hooks to draw back in the lapsed Nintendo fans. A revitalized AKI engine game would be a system seller.