Then and now: A returning fan
Aug 3, 2007 9:37:04 GMT -5
Post by setratus on Aug 3, 2007 9:37:04 GMT -5
I started playing COTG back when I saw the Spike ad in PWI. I started around the time when 2090 came out. I absolutely loved the game, easily trouncing the ol' Superstar Pro Wrestling game. Eventually, the game was forgotten about. That is, until the 2093 mailer came out. I saw Alpha Force and instantly I was hooked. I started recollecting and made sure I was up to date with everything. I started a play by mail wrestling fed that eventually became an e-mail federation. At it's peak, it had over 100 players before I simply ran out of free time and ended it.
Anyway, my GWF obsession unfortunatley came to a close around 1995 due to me going to college. I think my last set was around the Megatournament years. Occasionally, I'd pick up a set, but by the 2107 set, I had no time to play with college and eventually trying to start a career. Occasionally, I'd pop my head into the web site and keep up to date on new stories, but for the most part, I was out of it. Then, I got the word about New Beginnings 2119. I decided that I'd jump on board with it, rather then try to play catch up. I got it and the love affair returned. Unfortunately, I found out only recently that during a move, the ol' wife decided that since I wasn't using them at the time, that my past COTG stuff was expendable. 90% of my stuff (including some collector's items) went into the trash bin without me knowing... D'OH! So, I'm slowly recollecting the past.
Alrighty, now the main point of the thread, comparing the past with the current. I feel that COTG has dramatically changed since I left, for better and for worse:
-I love the fact that Tom is experimenting with new and funky ways to add new effects to certain cards. When I left, I think the game had just started using the Add 1 maneuvers. Now, a ton of guys have really neat maneuvers that can alter the game
-Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like we’re seeing A LOT more guys with -3 and above for agility and power. Didn’t that use to be a lot rarer? I remember seeing guys with the -3 and above before and ooooing and ahhhhing as I saw a megastar in the works. A lot of the guys before had -1 or worse in both stats. However, they were still considered decent wrestlers or very good personalities. Many of the guys here seem to have awesome stats nowadays.
-The storyline situation is an interesting change. While it’s still an enjoyable read, I have to admit that the earlier storylines (Civil War and before) incorporated futuristic situations/politics, but in the end, it still have a wrestling storyline feel to it, even with the Alpha Stone stories. Nowadays, with Epoch apparently being shot to death (off screen, so you never know!) and things of that nature, it doesn’t really feel like a wrestling federation. It almost feels strange that these people with these kind of situations and stories have little reasons to settle this in the ring. Now, that does NOT mean that the storyline is bad. Taking wrestling out of it, I think the story has been good (I do dig Outlaw Nation!) and the universe has become EXTREMELY well developed since I last left it (and it was already well developed back then!). However, I feel in the past, the stories felt like futuristic wrestling storylines. Sometimes they were outlandish, but I could see it happening. However, nowadays it feels like a full on battle to the death that for some reason is happening in a wrestling ring.
Anyhoo, as for my game playing, once I finish up a few projects, I intend to start my own fed again. Currrently, however, I get my COTG fix in by playing with two friends. We drafted from the current GWF and aCe rosters and now set up cards to fight between the three factions.
Current Champs:
Universal: Monolith (recently beat Exodus to retain / will face Disaster next time)
I-P: Shann-Ra (currently in a feud with Ventross)
Tag Team: Vidtek/Hustler (who *somehow* beat Rankor/Shepard to win the belts)
Anyway, thoughts and opinions are welcome.
-Kevin
Anyway, my GWF obsession unfortunatley came to a close around 1995 due to me going to college. I think my last set was around the Megatournament years. Occasionally, I'd pick up a set, but by the 2107 set, I had no time to play with college and eventually trying to start a career. Occasionally, I'd pop my head into the web site and keep up to date on new stories, but for the most part, I was out of it. Then, I got the word about New Beginnings 2119. I decided that I'd jump on board with it, rather then try to play catch up. I got it and the love affair returned. Unfortunately, I found out only recently that during a move, the ol' wife decided that since I wasn't using them at the time, that my past COTG stuff was expendable. 90% of my stuff (including some collector's items) went into the trash bin without me knowing... D'OH! So, I'm slowly recollecting the past.
Alrighty, now the main point of the thread, comparing the past with the current. I feel that COTG has dramatically changed since I left, for better and for worse:
-I love the fact that Tom is experimenting with new and funky ways to add new effects to certain cards. When I left, I think the game had just started using the Add 1 maneuvers. Now, a ton of guys have really neat maneuvers that can alter the game
-Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like we’re seeing A LOT more guys with -3 and above for agility and power. Didn’t that use to be a lot rarer? I remember seeing guys with the -3 and above before and ooooing and ahhhhing as I saw a megastar in the works. A lot of the guys before had -1 or worse in both stats. However, they were still considered decent wrestlers or very good personalities. Many of the guys here seem to have awesome stats nowadays.
-The storyline situation is an interesting change. While it’s still an enjoyable read, I have to admit that the earlier storylines (Civil War and before) incorporated futuristic situations/politics, but in the end, it still have a wrestling storyline feel to it, even with the Alpha Stone stories. Nowadays, with Epoch apparently being shot to death (off screen, so you never know!) and things of that nature, it doesn’t really feel like a wrestling federation. It almost feels strange that these people with these kind of situations and stories have little reasons to settle this in the ring. Now, that does NOT mean that the storyline is bad. Taking wrestling out of it, I think the story has been good (I do dig Outlaw Nation!) and the universe has become EXTREMELY well developed since I last left it (and it was already well developed back then!). However, I feel in the past, the stories felt like futuristic wrestling storylines. Sometimes they were outlandish, but I could see it happening. However, nowadays it feels like a full on battle to the death that for some reason is happening in a wrestling ring.
Anyhoo, as for my game playing, once I finish up a few projects, I intend to start my own fed again. Currrently, however, I get my COTG fix in by playing with two friends. We drafted from the current GWF and aCe rosters and now set up cards to fight between the three factions.
Current Champs:
Universal: Monolith (recently beat Exodus to retain / will face Disaster next time)
I-P: Shann-Ra (currently in a feud with Ventross)
Tag Team: Vidtek/Hustler (who *somehow* beat Rankor/Shepard to win the belts)
Anyway, thoughts and opinions are welcome.
-Kevin
Just thought I'd throw that out cause I thought it was awesome. 
