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The Main Event (arcade game)
Encyclopedia
The Main Event, known in Japan as Ringu no Ouja (リングの王者, "King of the Ring") , is a professional wrestling
arcade game
released by Konami
in 1988.
Its gameplay is similar to many other wrestling games of the time. A player selects two different wrestlers as their tag team
, and they wrestle another tag team. If the player wins, his team moves on to another match. If he loses, he gets an immediate rematch
, since the game isn't over until the player's energy falls to zero. Some of the game's most distinguishable features were an oversized "Action" button which would flash whenever an attack, grapple, submission or pin could be performed; and an enthusiastic announcer who introduced the wrestlers and called the action during matches.
, brainbuster
, and backbreaker
(actually a backdrop) for Cruiserweights, and atomic drop, bear hug
, and pile driver
for Heavyweights. All classes can perform "Aerial" moves such as the flying body attack, flying elbow drop and flying knee drop after climbing the turnbuckle. Each wrestler has a "Signature" move (such as figure four leglock, camel clutch and boston crab
) which can be performed at any time during the match if the player is correctly positioned. Which regular move the wrestler performed depended upon the remaining stamina of your opponent, whether or not he's "stunned", right timing and the exact location of your wrestler relative to the opponent. A metal folding chair
lying outside the ring could also be used as a weapon. Some wrestlers could also do illegal maneuvers such as biting and choking.
Victories reward you with extra energy, and matches were won with pins, submission holds, or out-of-ring timeouts. If a double count-out occurs, the referee leaves the ring and the wrestlers continue to fight until one side is pinned or submits (no extra energy being awarded in this case). For pins and submission holds, you had to press the "Action" button more quickly than your opponent, moving a status bar beyond a certain point. After each win, a newspaper article shows your winning wrestlers photo with a headline that they won, as well as their current ranking.
Adding coins to increase your "health" did little to revive your wrestler after a lengthy beating or even increase his chances of kicking out of a pin. Also, as the game progressed, the computer opponents became more difficult to beat, the CPU's illegal partner constantly breaking your pins and submissions. However, pinfall victories in these harder levels can still be achieved after performing a certain number of pin attempts. If you move all the way up the ranks and win the Championship Title you then defend it against the computer who becomes even more difficult.
(WWF). First, the name The Main Event could not be used because the rights to use that phrase were owned by the WWF
. Also, although using different names, each and every wrestler a player could choose from was a lookalike of a contemporary WWF wrestler.
), Conan the Great (Hulk Hogan
with a full head of white hair), The Maui Mauler (similar to Haku), Kamikaze Ken (Ricky Steamboat
with little to no alteration), San Antonio Smasher (very similar to Koko B. Ware), Saturn Six (whose look was similar to Demolition
), Bigfoot Joe (King Kong Bundy
with orange hair), and Alan The Empire (a red-haired, bearded André the Giant
).
and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
. One place the game is located is at the world's largest arcade museum located at Funspot in Weirs Beach
(Laconia, New Hampshire
). The game also exists in ROM
form, and can be emulated on MAME
.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
released by Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
in 1988.
Its gameplay is similar to many other wrestling games of the time. A player selects two different wrestlers as their tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
, and they wrestle another tag team. If the player wins, his team moves on to another match. If he loses, he gets an immediate rematch
Rematch
Rematch is a the first US-released Sammy Hagar compilation album. After Sammy left Capitol Records for Geffen in 1981, and after Rick Springfield had a hit with the Hagar-penned "I've Done Everything for You", this collection was released to capitalize on that momentum.The album was originally...
, since the game isn't over until the player's energy falls to zero. Some of the game's most distinguishable features were an oversized "Action" button which would flash whenever an attack, grapple, submission or pin could be performed; and an enthusiastic announcer who introduced the wrestlers and called the action during matches.
Gameplay and moves
There are three weight classes: Cruiserweights (El Condor, Maui Mauler, Kamikaze Ken, San Antonio Smasher), which specialize in fast and agile moves; Heavyweights (Saturn Six, Bigfoot Joe, Alan the Empire) with emphasis on slower but more powerful moves; and Balanced (Conan the Great) which could use selected moves from the other two classes. Moves are divided in five types: Attack, Grapple 1, Grapple 2, Aerial, and Signature. "Attack" is the performing of a punch, kick, chop or headbutt while in front of an opponent. "Grapple 1" moves can be performed when opponent is in a "stunned" state (his body staggering back and forth, after receiving an "Attack" move, missing one himself, or being picked off the mat). "Grapple 1" moves include the basic headlock, body slam, snapmare and hiptoss for all three classes. When you or your opponent receive enough damage, "Grapple 2" moves can be performed. These include a dropkickDropkick
A dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
, brainbuster
Brainbuster
A brainbuster is a professional wrestling throw in which a wrestler puts his/her opponent in a front facelock, hooks his/her pants, and lifts him/her up as if he/she was executing a vertical suplex. The wrestler then falls onto his/her back so that the opponent lands on his/her head while remaining...
, and backbreaker
Backbreaker
A backbreaker refers to professional wrestling moves which see a wrestler dropping an opponent so that the opponent's back impacts or is bent backwards against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee...
(actually a backdrop) for Cruiserweights, and atomic drop, bear hug
Bear hug
In wrestling, a bear hug, also known as a bodylock, is a grappling clinch hold and stand-up grappling position where the arms are wrapped around the opponent, either around the opponent's chest, midsection, or thighs; sometimes with one or both of the opponents arms pinned to the opponent's body...
, and pile driver
Pile driver
A pile driver is a mechanical device used to drive piles into soil to provide foundation support for buildings or other structures. The term is also used in reference to members of the construction crew that work with pile-driving rigs....
for Heavyweights. All classes can perform "Aerial" moves such as the flying body attack, flying elbow drop and flying knee drop after climbing the turnbuckle. Each wrestler has a "Signature" move (such as figure four leglock, camel clutch and boston crab
Boston crab
The Boston crab is a professional wrestling hold that typically starts with the opponent lying supine on the mat, with the wrestler standing and facing them. It is a type of spinal lock where the wrestler hooks each of the opponent’s legs in one of his arms, and then turns the opponent face-down,...
) which can be performed at any time during the match if the player is correctly positioned. Which regular move the wrestler performed depended upon the remaining stamina of your opponent, whether or not he's "stunned", right timing and the exact location of your wrestler relative to the opponent. A metal folding chair
Folding chair
A folding chair is a light, portable chair that that folds flat, and can be stored in a stack, row, or on a cart.-Uses:Folding chairs are generally used for seating in areas where permanent seating is not possible or practical. This includes outdoor and indoor events such as funerals, college...
lying outside the ring could also be used as a weapon. Some wrestlers could also do illegal maneuvers such as biting and choking.
Victories reward you with extra energy, and matches were won with pins, submission holds, or out-of-ring timeouts. If a double count-out occurs, the referee leaves the ring and the wrestlers continue to fight until one side is pinned or submits (no extra energy being awarded in this case). For pins and submission holds, you had to press the "Action" button more quickly than your opponent, moving a status bar beyond a certain point. After each win, a newspaper article shows your winning wrestlers photo with a headline that they won, as well as their current ranking.
Copyright issue
The game is extremely rare and was all but removed from circulation due to alleged copyright infringements on the World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF). First, the name The Main Event could not be used because the rights to use that phrase were owned by the WWF
WWF The Main Event
The Main Event was a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It was a spin-off of the show WWF Saturday Night's Main Event and occasionally aired on NBC on Friday nights. Only the first three The Main Event episodes were shown live on NBC. The final...
. Also, although using different names, each and every wrestler a player could choose from was a lookalike of a contemporary WWF wrestler.
Wrestlers
Characters included El Condor (similar to Mil MascarasMil Máscaras
Aaron Rodríguez , best known as Mil Máscaras , is a semi-retired Mexican professional wrestler and actor, who has starred in several films with fellow luchadores...
), Conan the Great (Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
with a full head of white hair), The Maui Mauler (similar to Haku), Kamikaze Ken (Ricky Steamboat
Ricky Steamboat
Richard Henry Blood , better known by his ring name Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, is a retired American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE working as a road agent. He was one of the few wrestlers who stayed a babyface throughout his career...
with little to no alteration), San Antonio Smasher (very similar to Koko B. Ware), Saturn Six (whose look was similar to Demolition
Demolition (professional wrestling)
Demolition is a professional wrestling tag team most prominent during the late 1980s / early 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation made up of Ax , Smash , and later Crush . In WWF, Demolition were three-time Tag Team Champions, and hold the records for both the single longest tag title reign...
), Bigfoot Joe (King Kong Bundy
King Kong Bundy
Christopher Alan "Chris" Pallies is an American professional wrestler, stand-up comedian and actor, better known by his ring name, King Kong Bundy.-Personal:...
with orange hair), and Alan The Empire (a red-haired, bearded André the Giant
André the Giant
André René Roussimoff , best known as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. His best remembered acting role was that of Fezzik, the giant in the film The Princess Bride...
).
Differences between the US and Japanese versions
The Japanese version of the game (Ringu no Ouja) is notably different from its American counterpart in several ways: Players could only use Conan the Great and Kamikaze Ken as their wrestlers, there were three buttons (Attack, Grapple and Tag) instead of two (Action and Tag), the game only lasted five matches, and if completed, the remaining energy would add as points to the final score.Legacy
The Main Event has an interesting place in Konami history, though, as its game developmental engine was used for several of their hit beat-em-up arcade titles such as Crime FightersCrime Fighters
is a 1989 side-scrolling beat-em-up released by Konami for the arcades. The player takes control of an undercover police officer who is assigned to rescue a group of kidnapped girls from a crime boss. Much like Konami's arcade version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , the game was available in...
and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (arcade game)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, released as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles in Europe, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Kame Ninja in Japan, is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up released by Konami as a coin-operated video game in...
. One place the game is located is at the world's largest arcade museum located at Funspot in Weirs Beach
Weirs Beach, New Hampshire
Weirs Beach is a village within the city of Laconia in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. It is located on the southern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee. The cruise ship Mount Washington terminates there...
(Laconia, New Hampshire
Laconia, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,411 people, 6,724 households, and 4,168 families residing in the city. The population density was 809.3 people per square mile . There were 8,554 housing units at an average density of 421.8 per square mile...
). The game also exists in ROM
ROM image
A ROM image, or ROM file, is a computer file which contains a copy of the data from a read-only memory chip, often from a video game cartridge, a computer's firmware, or from an arcade game's main board...
form, and can be emulated on MAME
MAME
MAME is an emulator application designed to recreate the hardware of arcade game systems in software on modern personal computers and other platforms. The intention is to preserve gaming history by preventing vintage games from being lost or forgotten...
.