TNA Impact! (video game)

TNA Impact! (official typeset "TNA iMPACT!") is the first video game released by the professional wrestling promotion, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). The game was developed by Midway Studios in Los Angeles and published by Midway Games.

Production
After periods of negotiation with Electronic Arts and Rockstar Games, TNA signed a multi-year agreement with Midway Games on November 7, 2005. Midway announced their intentions to release Impact!, the first game in TNA's history, for each of the seventh generation consoles on March 2, 2006.

TNA wrestlers have been involved with the games production. The self described "hardcore gamers" Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles have both taken part in meetings with Midway staff to brainstorm game-play ideas, and Joe, Styles, Christopher Daniels, Senshi, Sonjay Dutt, and Jeff Jarrett were all a part of the motion capture sessions. During the October 23, 2006 tapings of the weekly TNA Impact! program, members of the TNA roster were "scanned" for the game and audio samples of the Impact! Zone crowd were recorded.

Features
TNA Impact! is geared towards a quick-paced, high-impact style of play, with less emphasis on submission maneuvers. It supports up to four players at once on a console, with online support—which includes tournaments—currently standing at one-on-one. Online play is, however, limited to the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. It's planned to feature straightforward, intuitive controls, with "accurate" and "detailed" character models. Scans of the actual wrestlers were used for the game in place of hand-painted textures to include small details, such as skin texture and specific scars. Finishers are accessed by building up the "Impact! meter" displayed on the screen. In the same area a color-coded damage indicator shows the condition of characters. The game also features mini-games for escaping pin attempts and submission holds.

TNA's signature match, Ultimate X, is a playable match type, alongside the more standard Singles, Tag team and Fatal Four Way matches. Submission and Falls Count Anywhere matches will also be included. There will not, however, be a Six Sides of Steel match. Eight different venues—including TNA's main home; the Florida Impact! Zone, and arenas set in Japan, Mexico, England, Las Vegas, and locations designed to evoke the independent circuit feel are available to house matches, with the Impact! Zone having an increased ringside area for play and hot spots for player interaction. Liverpool Olympia is also a playable arena in the game.

The story mode's main character is a wrestler named Suicide. During every iMPACT episode after the August 14, 2008 version of iMPACT!, the words "whoissuicide.com" flashed on the screen for less than a second. On the website, it shows that Suicide is being taken from the game to real life television.

Roster
The game features over 25 TNA wrestlers

1Must be unlocked via Story mode 2Must be unlocked via Styles Points 3Must be unlocked via pre-order code
 * Abyss1
 * Afro Thunder2
 * Kurt Angle
 * Benny the Clown2
 * Booker T
 * Brother Devon
 * Brother Ray1
 * Christian Cage
 * Christopher Daniels
 * Sonjay Dutt1
 * Hernandez
 * Homicide
 * Jeff Jarrett1
 * Lenny the Clown2
 * Kevin Nash1
 * Rhino
 * Robert Roode
 * Chris Sabin
 * Samoa Joe
 * Senshi2
 * Shark Boy
 * Alex Shelley
 * Scott Steiner
 * Sting
 * James Storm
 * A.J. Styles
 * Suicide1
 * Mike Tenay3
 * Tomko1
 * Don West2
 * Eric Young1

Reception
IGN gave varied reviews for all platforms, 6.7 for the Xbox 360, 6.4 for the PS3, and 5.3 for the PS2. IGN said that the graphics were great, though the lack of Create-a-Wrestler, Championships, moves, and "brain-dead" tag team AI were not favorable. Gamespot was more favorable, saying that the first TNA video game was off to a good start, and praised the sound effects, but panned the voice acting. Tech-Gaming gave TNA a 'B' grade, stating they liked the zippy frame rate and accessible controls, but bemoaned the similarity of each wrestler's move list.