The Simpsons Wrestling

Short description: 2001 video game

The Simpsons Wrestling

Developer(s)| Big Ape Productions
Publisher(s)| Fox Interactive

* EU: Electronic Arts
* NA: Activision

Director(s)| Dean Sharpe
Producer(s)| Dave Wisehart
Programmer(s)| Robert Leyland
Tom Schenck
Writer(s)| Jamie Angell
Composer(s)| Christopher Tyng
Series| The Simpsons
Platform(s)| PlayStation
Release|

* EU: March 23, 2001
* NA: April 13, 2001[1]

Genre(s)| Sports
Mode(s)| Single-player, multiplayer

The Simpsons Wrestling is a sports video game based on the animated television series The Simpsons for the PlayStation. Developed by Big Ape Productions and published by Fox Interactive through a co-publishing agreement with Electronic Arts in Europe and Activision in North America, the game was first released in Europe on March 23, 2001, followed by North America on April 13, 2001. It is the only Simpsons video game released for the PlayStation.

The Simpsons Wrestling features 20 playable characters, voiced by the series' regular voice cast, each of whom executes their own exclusive moves, gestures, and power moves in the wrestling ring. The matches take place in detailed 3D locations in Springfield. A round in the game ends when one wrestler pins their opponent for a three count; two wins constitute a victory. Unlike in traditional wrestling rules, the opponent may be pinned belly-down.

The game was widely panned by critics, and has since been considered by many, to be one of the worst video games of all time, though the audio track was praised.

## Contents

* 1 Gameplay
* 2 Development
* 3 Reception
* 4 See also
* 5 Notes
* 6 References
* 7 External links
* 8 Features
* 9 History
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 External links

## Gameplay

Gameplay of The Simpsons Wrestling. Homer is only three letters away from being able to taunt his opponent, Bart.

The Simpsons Wrestling is loosely based on professional wrestling games, but more closely resembles a beat-'em up. The game can be played in two modes: a tournament style single-player game or a grudge match where two players can interact. The matches take place in ten different detailed 3D locations from Springfield, such as the Simpsons' house, the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, the Kwik-E-Mart, and Moe's Tavern.[2] Letters float around in the wrestling ring, and if a wrestler collects enough of them, they can taunt and temporarily become invincible.[3] A round ends when one wrestler pins their opponent for a three count. Two rounds are needed to win a match,[4] except for fights against Ned Flanders who heals at the end of both rounds, causing them to take 4 instead of 2.

Each time a successful attack is performed on a player, their health meter depletes. Players with low health stay stunned for longer when knocked down. A player can increase their health by picking up food items that randomly appear in the ring. Running and attacks drain stamina. If a player does not have enough stamina to perform a certain move, it becomes unavailable until they recover. Stamina is regained through not pressing the actions buttons or picking up certain items. Attacks which require more stamina are generally more effective. The stun meter only appears when the opponent is knocked down. It depletes gradually, but the stunned player cannot move until the Stun meter is completely drained. A player can reduce the stun meter faster by pressing the action buttons, or by receiving certain attacks. If a player is low on health, the stun meter will normally be higher, making pin attempts harder to resist. Once a player's health is completely depleted, it will only take one hit to stun them. Certain attacks to a stunned opponent will actually reset the stun meter.

During matches, wrestlers have a health meter that drains as they perform special moves, and gradually refills when they are not attacking. Different moves use up different amounts of energy, and certain characters can win any match by repeatedly using a particularly damaging move that does not require much energy.[3] Several different power-ups are also available in the game, including a donut that increases speed, bowling pins that can be used as clubs, and bubble gum that slows players down.[5]

In addition to health items, the letters A, U, N, and T appear randomly in the ring. If either player collects enough to spell the word "TAUNT", they can then perform a taunt. The taunt will completely drain the opponent's stamina, making them unable to attack for a limited time.

Various characters make cameos as background images. Each character executes their own exclusive moves and gestures.[2]

## Development

Big Ape Productions developed The Simpsons Wrestling.[5] At the Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2000, Fox Interactive announced its plans to produce and publish the game for the PlayStation console. Karly Young, director of Fox Interactive, said that the company had received an "overwhelming" response to their previous Simpsons games, so they wanted to give the fans "another dose of Bart and Homer—this time for PlayStation gamers".[6]

In January 2001, Fox Interactive ceased operating as a standalone publisher to focus more on development, and they would now function as a co-publisher.[7] On March 12, 2001, the company announced that Activision would co-publish and distribute the title in North America, with the publisher citing a "casual gamer interest" for their acquisition.[8] Kathy Vrabeck, executive vice president of Activision, commented that "The Simpsons is a property that enjoys phenomenal success across several entertainment mediums, including interactive entertainment. The acquisition of this game reinforces our strategy of delivering products based on powerful, recognizable brands."[9]

## Reception

Reception

| Aggregate score

Aggregator| Score
Metacritic| 32/100[10]
Review scores
Publication| Score
AllGame| [11]
EGM| 3.17/10[12][lower-alpha 1]
Game Informer| 2/10[4]
GameRevolution| F[14]
GameSpot| 6.4/10[3]
GameZone| 7.5/10[15]
IGN| 1/10[16]
Next Generation| [17]
OPM (US)| [18]
Maxim| [19]

The Simpsons Wrestling received "generally unfavorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[10] The reviewers criticized the game for having simplistic, unbalanced gameplay and bad graphics, but praised the game's audio track.

Douglass C. Perry of IGN described the game as one of the "ugliest" games he had ever seen and declared it "the most horrific demolition of a license ever". He thought the graphics were "choppy" looking, and the character outlines looked "broken up".[16] Game Informer's Andrew Reiner criticized the game's design by saying that he did not think it held any wrestling qualities at all, and that the characters looked "awful". He said that instead of "grappling" or performing "devastating slams", you have to "slap your opponent silly" by mashing the buttons redundantly.[4] Michael Lafferty of GameZone, however, called the graphics "quite good, though a little clipped at times by the pace of the combat".[15] Perry also thought there was little wrestling in the game, instead it is "all about smashing buttons and not having any skill whatsoever".[16] Reiner said that the game was a major disappointment and is "one of the worst PS games to date".[4] Scott Steinberg of NextGen called it "A horrific, licensed beat-'em-up [sic] that's so terrible it will actually make you grateful most companies opt for kart racers instead."[17] Michael "Major Mike" Weigand said of the game in GamePro's website-only review, "Simpsons fanatics: Rent this game before you buy. Everyone else will be better served by any other wrestling title available for the PlayStation. Doh, indeed."[20][lower-alpha 2]

In contrast to the game's negative response, Lafferty said that even though the game does not feature continuous play, "the action flows well once into an event". He praised the game's audio track, and thought it was "fun" because the comedy is straight from the television show, and the characters will "bring a smile to your face".[15] Reiner also commented positively on the soundtrack[4] and that the game may not be the best wrestling game available, "but it delivers what the cover advertises".[15] GameSpot's Frank Provo said that "wit" and "charm" are the two most redeeming features of The Simpsons Wrestling, and in spite of the game's weak gameplay, it has "plenty of laughs in store" that devoted fans of The Simpsons will enjoy.[3] The BBC's David Gibbon wrote that the result of the track is one that will not "fail to impress fans".[2]

The game received a "Gold" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[21] indicating sales of at least 200,000 units in the UK.[22]

## See also

* List of licensed wrestling video games
* List of video games notable for negative reception

## Notes

1. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the game, one critic gave it 2.5/10, and the rest gave it each a score of 3.5/10.
2. ↑ GamePro gave the game two 2/5 scores for graphics and control, 3/5 for sound, and 1.5/5 for fun factor.

## References

1. ↑ "ACTIVISION BRINGS THE FIRST FAMILY OF SPRINGFIELD TO THE MAT IN THE SIMPSONS WRESTLING". April 13, 2001. http://www.activision.com/investor/pressreleases/340.html.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Gibbon, David (March 23, 2001). "The Simpsons go Wrestling". BBC. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1237951.stm.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Provo, Frank (April 11, 2001). "The Simpsons Wrestling Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-simpsons-wrestling-review/1900-2707127/.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Reiner, Andrew (June 2001). "The Simpsons Wrestling". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (98). http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200106/R03.0804.1422.55863.htm. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 GameSpot staff (April 13, 2001). "Activision ships The Simpsons Wrestling". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/activision-ships-the-simpsons-wrestling/1100-2708024/.
6. ↑ "Let's Get Ready to ... D'Oh!' -- The Simpsons Hit the Mats; Fox Interactive Steps Into the Ring for 'The Simpsons Wrestling' on PlayStation". May 11, 2000. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/'Let's+Get+Ready+to+...+D'Oh!'+--+The+Simpsons+Hit+the+Mats;+Fox...-a062019189.
7. ↑ IGN staff (January 12, 2001). "Fox Interactive Simultaneously Shrinks, Expands". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/13/fox-interactive-simultaneously-shrinks-expands.
8. ↑ Satterfield, Shane (March 12, 2001). "Activision to publish The Simpsons Wrestling". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/activision-to-publish-the-simpsons-wrestling/1100-2695177/.
9. ↑ IGN staff (March 12, 2001). "Activision Scoops up The Simpsons". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/13/activision-scoops-up-the-simpsons.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "The Simpsons Wrestling". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-simpsons-wrestling/.
11. ↑ Barnes, J.C.. "The Simpsons Wrestling - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25127&tab=review.
12. ↑ Dudlak, Jonathan; Sewart, Greg; Kim, Jeanne (June 2001). "The Simpsons Wrestling". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (143): 104. https://retrocdn.net/images/0/01/EGM_US_143.pdf. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
13. ↑ Miller, Sean (May 9, 2001). "[The Simpsons Wrestling"]. Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=5743&full=1#mr_toppy.
14. ↑ Nash, Joe (April 2001). "The Simpsons Wrestling Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34053-the-simpsons-wrestling-review.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Lafferty, Michael (April 25, 2001). "The Simpsons Wrestling Review". http://psx.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r17514.htm.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Perry, Douglass C. (April 6, 2001). "[The Simpsons Wrestling"]. Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/06/simpsons-wrestling.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Steinberg, Scott (July 2001). "The Simpsons Wrestling". NextGen (Imagine Media) (79): 86. https://archive.org/details/NextGen79Jul2001/page/n87/mode/2up. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
18. ↑ Baker, Chris (June 2001). "The Simpsons Wrestling". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (45): 100. https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-45-june-2001/page/100/mode/2up. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
19. ↑ Boyce, Ryan (April 17, 2001). "[The Simpsons Wrestling"]. Maxim (MaximNet, Inc.). http://www.maximonline.com/articles/review_videogames.asp?videogame_id=980. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
20. ↑ Weigand, Michael "Major Mike" (June 7, 2001). "The Simpsons Wrestling Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG). http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/14522.shtml. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
21. ↑ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Gold". http://www.elspa.com/?i=3943.
22. ↑ Caoili, Eric (November 26, 2008). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Informa. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/elspa-i-wii-fit-mario-kart-i-reach-diamond-status-in-uk.

## External links

* MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

## Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

## History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

## See also

* IGDB - game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/.
2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/.
3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1.
4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521.
8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media.
9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned.
10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner.
11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames.
12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games.
13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/.
14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/.
15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/.
16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/.
17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames.
18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628.

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