MDickie Wrestling Games

Mat Dickie blasted on to the underground gaming scene in the year 2000 and despite creating games under many genres has become somewhat of a cult favorite in independent wrestling PC games. Many people have still not had the pleasure of playing a MDickie game, but this article will hopefully change that. From 2D lunch break bash em ups to full 3D empires, his wrestling games offer what the commercial ones don't. Imagination.

I first began playing the MDickie games in 2003 with the unique Big Bumpz although quite a few came before this, many becoming hits with the net fans of the time.

Bret Hart's Revenge (who can punch Vince McMahon the most in 30 seconds)
Hardy Boyz Stunt Challenge (simple, make the Hardy Boys destroy their bodies for points)
Fat Bastards: Live On PPV (Earthquake & Typhoon fight over food)
Who Nailed Austin ( 2D Austin tries to find out who ran him over)
Con-Chair-To (Edge & Christian try to knock over as many people with chairs as possible)
That Love Triangle (Triple H & Kurt Angle fight for Stephanie's affection)
Big Bumps Original (Upgraded version of the Hardy's game)

All of these games were fun for a few days and won MDickie a lot of praise but it wouldn't be until June 2001 when the real fun began in the form of Federation Online. Federation Online was a full 2D wrestling game featuring top WWF and INDY stars, music, lighting effects and game play that blew all those old Sega wrestling games to hell and rivaled the current gen consoles blockbuster releases.

The game was continually improved on each month until features like 12 characters on screen at once and arena building were added. Unfortunately these older gems are virtually unplayable on todays machines, but never fear the best is to come.

Big Bumpz: Big Bumpz was the first MDickie creation I played and I often go back to it when I want a nostalgia rush. This game managed to capture every fans inner desire to be a Pro Wrestler and turn it in to an action packed hardcore fest that had you thinking, "did I really just do that in a game?"

You begin the game as a nobody backyard wrestler (or Mick Foley with the real world patch) who with your friend decide to perform some home made grappling in the back garden. Like the Big Bumps of old your goal is to get a decent score by fully executing moves. Obviously the more hardcore the move the more points you get. If you fail a move your life goes down drastically and you get Game Over when you die. This first level usually sees you jumping off your house through a bench!

The game and the story continues in the same manner, but gets increasingly harder. You continue your mission to show off your skills by doing it in a bar, destroying your workplace, beating up some Indy workers and eventually by getting signed and facing the champ (Hulk Hogan with the patch). I won't spoil it but one of the final levels sees you on top of a skyscraper. Take that Jeff Hardy. Ohh and did I mention this was MDickie's first step in to 3D!

Next came a game that again played off the fans desires. This time their desire to call the shots. Federation Booker took the same engine as Federation Wrestling but put you in charge of the matches, contracts, titles and so on. You created your character and are then thrown into a showdown with the former owner. He vows to make life difficult for you by stripping the company down to its bare roots, and from there it was your job to rebuild the show!

2004 saw MDickie transition permanently in to 3D graphics. He took the concepts of Federation Wrestling & Booker and turned them in to spectacular 3D versions (Wrestling Mpire & Booking Mpire) with tonnes of new features and remarkable gameplay. I distinctly remember being signed to a big contract with the top promotion in Wrestling Empire only to blow my arm off permanently during a match with a stick of dynamite. There was also the time that I quit my training regime and bought steroids off the booker to increase my stats! That definitely won't be in the next Smackdown vs Raw game.

In 2005 MDickie yet again improved his graphics and produced another tantalizing wrestling game in Wrestling Encore. It was seemingly a remake of Wrestling Mpire but as remakes go it boasted a lot more upgrades than the commercial releases give you in their yearly installments.

Wrestling seemed to have jumped from MDickie's mind and he set his eyes on other projects. To my surprise after not checking his updates for a few months he recently announced yet another wrestling game. "Wrestling Mpire 2008," another title that shouldn't be missed.

If you are looking for original, imaginative and geniously creative wrestling games that take the comercial rules and powerbomb them through a flaming table, then MDickie's games are for you.