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Since my tweets have been wiped a few times this year, let's talk about that WWF Backlash/Armageddon on N64 rumor because Sanders Keel cleared it up this year on a PWX podcast.
1.) Backlash/Armageddon didn't exist. No Mercy was the last game planned for the N64.
1.) Backlash/Armageddon didn't exist. No Mercy was the last game planned for the N64.
2. Upon finishing No Mercy, AKI requested to develop for the PS2 and THQ told them that the PS2 development was promised to Yuke's, terminating the AKI-THQ deal.
3. EA, finding out the team that developed the critically acclaimed WCW games before them was free, contacted AKI
3. EA, finding out the team that developed the critically acclaimed WCW games before them was free, contacted AKI
4. AKI signs on, the WCW 2000 game that was shown in PSM (which was likely the PS2 port of Backstage Assault) gets canceled and Mayhem 2's development begins.
5. WCW goes under, Mayhem 2 gets repurposed into Def Jam Vendetta, and for years we never learn about Mayhem 2
5. WCW goes under, Mayhem 2 gets repurposed into Def Jam Vendetta, and for years we never learn about Mayhem 2
6. In 2012, a former dev's photobucket popped up with tons of wireframe animations of heads talking (complete w/VO work) and presumably for the pre-match trash talk found in Def Jam Vendetta. This is the first confirmation we have of Mayhem 2's existence.
7. For years, we all assume WCW 2000 and WCW Mayhem 2 are the same game until earlier this year when I dig deeper into the situation. WCW 2000 was canceled Backstage Assault, the PSM article basically reads like a preview for BA.
8. The Sanders Keel podcast with PWX comes out, basically confirming what I'd been suspecting and that there was never a No Mercy sequel planned with AKI as devs and that EA scooped AKI up immediately after No Mercy's release.
So in closing:
- WWF Backlash/Armaggeddon was a bullshit rumor.
- WCW 2000 was Backstage Assault on PS2.
- WCW Mayhem 2 was a real thing AKI were making after they got let go by THQ.
- The WWF fucked us out of a 2001 era WCW game on PS2 with the AKI engine.
- Fuck the WWF.
- WWF Backlash/Armaggeddon was a bullshit rumor.
- WCW 2000 was Backstage Assault on PS2.
- WCW Mayhem 2 was a real thing AKI were making after they got let go by THQ.
- The WWF fucked us out of a 2001 era WCW game on PS2 with the AKI engine.
- Fuck the WWF.
Imagine if THQ didn't stay with Yuke's, though. SmackDown is handled by AKI going forward. Imagine SYM and HCTP with the AKI engine
goddamn pal
goddamn pal
there's an alternate universe where mayhem 2 exists and i want to live in that
but
i also want to live in the alternate universe where SD SYM has the AKI engine
but
i also want to live in the alternate universe where SD SYM has the AKI engine