Fire Pro Wrestling Returns

(UPDATED: February 19, 2012)

Fire Pro Wrestling is one of the longest-running wrestling game franchises in history by Human Entertainment (defunct today). The franchise began back in 1989 with "Fire Pro Wrestling: Combination Tag." Many titles would come along to help grow and expand the FPR franchise. In what was considered the last hurrah for most gamers, "Super Fire Pro Wrestling X" for the Super Famicom (because it was never released to the United States) was one of the finest in the FPR series. Throughout the life of the franchise, FPR games have almost always been 2D and purely timing-based rather than being a button masher. In what was considered to be a true blessing for fans of the Fire Pro Wrestling franchise, Spike (not the male-oriented TV channel) released Fire Pro Wrestling in 2007 for the PlayStation 2. I was intrigued to go get this game when I once saw it at a store and saw some YouTube videos to go with it. I reviewed FPR in a YouTube video once. I never did a proper review of it in my blog... until now! This is my blog post discussing my thoughts on "Fire Pro Wrestling Returns."

FUN FACT:

Ever wonder why Fire Pro Wrestling Returns is abbreviated as FPR and now FPWR? In Japan, "Pro Wrestling" is one word. Also, the Japanese term for pro wrestling is "puroresu."

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

FEB 19 2012 - updated blog post for the majority

--- Fire Pro Wrestling Returns ---

The game was released in 2007 for the PlayStation 2 and only the PS2. Here is a look at the box:


^ from: amazon.com - Fire Pro Wrestling Returns is more like a "Thank You!" for fans of the FPW franchise.

I know the first thing you're thinking of- I already play the SmackDown! wrestling games. Why should I even care about "Fire Pro Wrestling Returns?" Well, let's face it- FPW has been around since 1989 while the SmackDown! games started back in 1998. Also, the Fire Pro Wrestling games are much deeper than almost any SmackDown! game.

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns is a mostly 2D wrestling game offering MANY ways to customize the game. You have 300+ wrestlers across MANY promotions. All of the wrestlers and all of the promotions are based on real-life wrestlers. Obviously, to avoid copyright infringement, the characters are all with fictional names. For example, Yuji Sakata of the VIEW JAPAN promotion in FPR is Yuji Nagata of New Japan Pro Wrestling. Andy Spirals of the AWG promotion in FPR is TNA Wrestler "The Phenomenal" A.J. Styles. You can even make your own rings, referees, title belts, and more. There is so much customization to make your head spin!

Its popularity in making and creating many things has led to its own community online where people share their creations. Many people look online for renaming lists to properly re-name all the wrestlers to their real names.

FPR: Wrestling Types.

Unlike in the SmackDown! games, you can make great wrestlers and great FIGHTERS as well. I mostly made fighters in the SmackDown! games. In other words, my "wrestlers" were mostly specialized in fighting moves rather than pure wrestling. I felt this to be a great disconnect in the SmackDown games. But in FPR, I can compete with and win with a fighting-type character.

There are a host of different match types that include both wrestling and fighting. There is even a dedicated octagon if you fancy mixed-martial arts.

FPR: Wrestling and Promotions.

There are many different promotions featuring many different styles of action. You have your usual pro wrestlers, but there are many other kinds of characters to choose from. You have a host of luchadore wrestlers that excite with their high-flying moves and quick pace wrestling. You have your American-style pro wrestlers. You have a bunch of fighters (including boxers) and mixed martial artists. And if you want to wrestle with females, there is an all-women's promotion for you.

You can pit any wrestler against any other wrestler. With enough damage, all characters will bleed (yes... even women can get bloodied in this game). The wrestlers themselves have a very intricate system. The game actually senses damage to parts of the body quite well for a sprite-based game. You can properly attack points like the legs, the arms, the body, and the head. You have to apply enough force to be able to win matches. Actually wrestling/fighting against an enemy relies on dealing as much damage as possible. Victory is in no way impossible in this game. Even wrestlers that are supposed to be sorry to use can still be capable of taking down more potent opposition.

This is one of the most detailed sprite-based games of any kind. You swear all the characters were built on just one set of sprites. However, you'd be wrong. Each character is actually built on a set of individual body parts for sprites. These sprites can be layered and colored on for even more customization. What you're getting is one of the most incredible and most in-depth customizable games of any kind. However, there is a downside to this 2D approach. You are unable to create characters that wear skirts, capes, or anything like that.

Creating move sets for wrestlers is also intricate. Rather than reserve one move as a finisher, you have Critical moves. A Critical move is not so much a finishing technique, but a move that can take out most opposition upon its usage. Proper customization of a wrestler can yield to better opportunities for taking out wrestlers. Unlike in SmackDown! games, you have three different styles of attacks- weak attacks (Square button), medium attacks (X button), and strong attacks. Walk up to your opponent to quickly initiate a grapple. It is best early on to go with your weaker attacks and grapples first. REMEMBER- no button-mashing! You can initiate whatever grapples you want to use if you get the upper hand in a grapple battle. Go for stronger grapples and attacks once you think you've worn down your opponent enough. I have made more tips and tricks available for wrestling in an old blog post called "Fire Pro Wrestling Returns Tips".

FPR: Getting Started.

Select a Game Mode when starting out. Here are your options:
• Exhibition - set up a quick match against any number of opposition.
• Tournament - set up a tournament of up to 64(?) different wrestlers.
• League - you will battle against every wrestler. Victory earns you points. The wrestler in the league who scores the most points wins.
• Team Battle - make up a team and have that team compete against others.
• Battle Royal - last wrestler standing wins!
• Title Match - qualifying wrestlers can compete for a championship.

You then go into setting up match types. You can choose venue, ring, and certain rules. Referees can also be chosen. Depending on characteristics of each referee, some make fast counts, some aren't very strong, and things like that. Only four venues will allow you to have entrance themes (if you've enabled entrances): Spike Dome, No. 1 Ring, West Dome, and USA Dome.

All you need to do now is select wrestlers and get the match underway!

FPR: Match Types.

Here are some of the many match types you can choose from:

• Exhibition - a straight wrestling match. You can add more characters to set up one-on-one matches, tag matches, or even handicap tag matches.
• Cage - climb and escape the cage to win.
• Barbed Wire Deathmatch - the ring ropes are replaced with barbed wire. Run into the ropes, and prepare to lose a little skin. Also, it's possible for an explosion to occur. If enabled,
• Landmine Deathmatch - if thrown to the outside and if you land on different patches, explosions will go off as you hit the landmines. Serious damage is dealt.
• SWA Rules - this mode is more suited towards fighters than wrestlers. This is where kickboxers and such compete under kickboxing rules.
• S-1 Rules - no grapples are allowed. It is only a single match.
• Gruesome Fighting - enjoy mixed martial arts in an octagon. Almost anything goes in this fighter-friendly environment. Victory is either by knockout or submission.


I don't have enough experience with Team Matches to talk about them, so I'll move on.


Battle Royal is a free-for-all melee. The last wrestler standing wins in most cases. You can set up a Normal Battle Royal, where everyone goes until they are all defeated. First Win awards victory to the one who scores pinfall or submission before anyone else. This is great for Triple Threat and Fatal 4 Way matches. Eliminated wrestlers under Endless rules keep fighting even after elimination. I don't recommend using this mode. Finally, Over-Rope means you are eliminated once you go over the top rope.


I've done Match Maker before, but I don't know how to explain it to you best in my blog post. And this mode has NOTHING to do with match-making! In this mode, you are a promoter trying to go from small-time promotions to making matches for major promotions. Sadly... you are unable to use any created/edited wrestlers unless you find a creative way to tie them into this mode.

--- Fire Pro Wrestling Returns Review ---

It is not a SmackDown! game. I mean that in positive and negative ways. This game does and executes everything a true wrestling game should do. FPW games are pure wrestling games rather than button-mashing wrestling. It may not seem fun if you don't fancy methodical wrestling, but the feel of the game overall is much better than any SmackDown! game. The customization element is deep and addictive. You should have no reason to feel bored or unable to create anything special. Even with 2D wrestlers, the game still feels very complete with its wrestling mechanics. Don't let the fact that it is a 2D game in a 3D environment be a deterrent.

On the other hand, it's not a SmackDown! game. The sprite-based mechanics allow you only so much customization. Also, I wish each promotion had individual titles rather than one overall championship. It just seems convoluted to have so many promotions and only so few championship belts. Some people would even complain of not being able to have title belts actually worn by the title holders. And when you see the introductions, everything is WEAK. The wrestlers just perform one action on stage and walk down to the ring. Nothing exciting or flamboyant like in a pro wrestling introduction. You also can't do any Falls Count Anywhere action. Maybe just personal preference, but I wished that I could make more beautiful female wrestlers rather than the very brawny feminine wrestlers. Another disappointment- you have up to four different outfits for characters that come with the game. But when you create your own wrestler (even based on an existing wrestler), you have only ONE outfit for that character. Vastly disappointing.

This game does just about all things a SmackDown! series game does, if not better than what most SmackDown! games deliver. Don't let the fact that its lack of licensed wrestlers and such take your interest away from this game. This game is at least worth a rental. You may probably find this game at a used game store. If you see it and are unsure as to whether to buy it or not, my suggestion: BUY IT! It is a modern culmination of what all has made the Fire Pro Wrestling series so enjoyable and entertaining since 1989.

By the way... it also would have been cool if it had characters from a little-known arcade game called "Blazing Tornado." The characters from Blazing Tornado were featured in "Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium" under the Heroic Wrestling Federation (HWF). While the characters may not be in the game, some of their moves from these characters can be selected. Blazing Tornado is this incredible, spinning, brainbuster vertical suplex. It's very cool!

--- Video Preview of Fire Pro Wrestling Returns ---

This video is a preview for Fire Pro Wrestling Returns. This is a trailer for FPR:



And that's your preview of this game. Convinced? If you want to see more videos of Fire Pro Wrestling on YouTube, here is a YouTube search for "Fire Pro Wrestling."

I may start offering YouTube search result data in addition to any video previews if it helps my readers get a better idea for subject matter in my blog posts.





If you need any advice or want to see any of my other blog posts involving the Fire Pro Wrestling series, please search my Fire Pro Wresling blog label. Buy this game on Amazon right here:



A loyal reader has lent his own blog featuring various edits to make characters in FPR. If you fancy some wrestler edits, please visit "Deranged-Stu's Fire Pro Edits" here on Blogspot. One last piece of advice... visit Fireproclub.com for all of your Fire Pro Wrestling needs. Thank you for reading!

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WORLD Champions?

With whoever wins the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, or the World Series; they are surely the league champions for that season. Some, however, love to use "World Champions" for domestic leagues. To me, it's an exaggerating a bit too much calling champions of a DOMESTIC sport as World Champions. The NFL champions are usually called the World Champions by NFL types. The NBA Finals champions are usually considered World Champions as well. We do have the World Series in Major League Baseball and the College World Series in NCAA Baseball. The Major League Baseball champions are considered World Series champs. Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association can really attest to having an international presence. However, these are domestic sports that somehow equate to the championship team being a "world" champion.

--- "World Champion," as Described by Most Fans ---

I'll try to explain things as best as I can without infuriating some of my readers. Mostly American sports fans refer to champions of domestic sports that play domestically as World Champions. Somehow, being the best in a sporting league in the United States somehow qualifies you as being a World Champion. The NFL is purely an American league since all the teams are based here in the United States. Look at leagues like the NBA or Major League Baseball, though. There are franchises in Toronto- in Canada. Multiple teams in Canada can be found in series like Major League Soccer (when the Montreal Impact debuts) and (especially) the National Hockey League.

Here's the thing, though. Just because you're the champion of a domestic league doesn't mean you are any World Champion. It's why I sometimes cringe hearing "World Champion" associated with the champion of domestic league. That even entails when my beloved Houston Rockets won the NBA championship in 1994 and 1995. You can have international talent playing for one team. However, having international talent alone playing against domestic teams is NOT and should not be considered a World Champion.

American Football Champions as "World Champions."

The Super Bowl champion is often seen as champions of American professional gridiron football. How can you call the NFL champions as World Champions when you don't contest against other international opposition? There are other nations that have gridiron football. Of course, they are no competition against our pros. Yes, we created and specialize in gridiron football, but we aren't anybody's World Champion just because we rule the sport we created.

The only thing close to a World Championship of gridiron football is a sporting league called the IFAF. The IFAF stands for the International Federation of American Football. This is a semi-pro league. I saw on the NFL Network when Japan played against the United States in Kawasaki, Japan back in 2007. The United States and Japan went into Double Overtime as the American team came away victorious. Japan really shown me just how much they grasped American football despite the fact Japan is better known for football (as in what Americans call "soccer").

To learn more about a REAL World Championship of gridiron/American football, visit the IFAF's official home page.

American Basketball Champions as "World Champions."

The NBA boasts some of the finest basketball talent the world has to offer. It doesn't mean, however, the champions of the NBA are World Champions playing against just American talent. Some NBA teams play internationally, but only in (pardon this expression) international friendlies as part of preseason games. There was a time when Regal F.C. Barcelona of the Euroleague beat the Los Angeles Lakers a few years ago in an exhibition. They won 92-88 over the L.A. Lakers. Regal FC Barcelona, though, is a Euroleague team; the Lakers are an NBA team. Two different regional leagues. Unlike gridiron football, basketball is a much more international game.

Just because the NBA has one Canadian team (there used to be two before the Vancouver Grizzlies became the Memphis Grizzlies) with 29 other American teams does NOT mean the champion is a World Champion. America and Canada does NOT equal a World Champion.

You want a real international championship? There are two real ones: FIBA Basketball and basketball in the Olympics.

American Baseball Champions as "World Champions."

While the champions of Major League Baseball are known as the World Series champions, a roster of mostly American-based teams and one Canadian team does NOT equal a World Champion. And don't even get me started with the NCAA's College World Series, which are ALL American schools. Only the Little League World Series can really claim itself as a World Championship deal though the action is contested in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. That is especially considering you have an American bracket and an International Bracket to where you have an American team take on an international team for the LLWS championship.

For those who question Major League Baseball's World Series as a true world championship, word has it that there are talks between Major League Baseball and Japan to have a true sort of World Series. It may be just USA (and Canada) vs. Japan in this series, but at least this can help to a proper World Championship. Read more about it here: Japan-U.S. Baseball: Toward a ‘Real’ World Series?


That concludes this section on American domestic sports and the legitimacy of calling their champions as "World Champions."

--- What Defines a REAL World Champion ---

Let me define this in terms of American sports. United States alone = NOT World Champion. Series that compete in America and Canada = NOT World Champion. Series that compete in America and Mexico = NOT World Champion. Series that compete in America, Canada, and Mexico = NOT World Champion.

If you REALLY want a sport to call itself a World Champion, you have to have a sport that is contested internationally across three international regions of the world. Here are the three international regions I have defined:

* North America and South America
* Europe (and Africa)
* Asia, Australasia (Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand), and Oceania

You can NOT have a proper World Champion in series that is not exclusively domestic. Series like IndyCar is purely domestic despite the international talent that races in the series and despite the fact that there are races held in Canada, Brazil, and Japan. IndyCar is a domestic championship and respected as a domestic championship despite international talent. Even CART was known as the Champ Car World Series, there were some events over in Europe, Asia, and Australia. However, it's still a domestic championship.



So there are two aspects of a true World Champion:
* a domestic-based league where competition involves international opposition (Examples: PGA Tour Golf, LPGA Tour Golf, most tennis tournaments)
* a championship contested in venues around the world against international opposition (Example: F1 World Championship, FIBA basketball, MotoGP)

Being the top-ranked golfer is an example of international opposition even though the PGA Tour is contested mostly in the United States. Call me crazy, but to me, even American professional wrestling qualifies as a World Championship status since the wrestling opposition comes from around the world. Just my views. Feel free to debate.

--- Real World Championship Sports vs. Fantasy World Championship Sports ---

I have spent the better part of this blog post talking about what constitutes as real World Champions of a sport and what some others often call as World Champions. Let me share examples (both fictional and real):

REAL International or World Championship Sports (examples):

* (any Olympics event)
* the FIFA World Cup
* the FIBA World Cup
* the FIVB World Cup
* the International Federation of American Football
* (any class of MotoGP racing)
* Red Bull Air Race
* the X Games
* Little League World Series (actual international players represented)
* World Baseball Classic
* Formula 1 World Championship
* World Superbike Championship
* World Rally Championship

Those are some of many different series that can legitimately call their champions as World Champions. These, however, are not legitimate World Champion sports or having any serious legitimacy of having a "World" presence:

* any sport or series that has a "World" ranking system that is almost all domestic opposition
* NASCAR using the saying of "the world's greatest stock car racers" despite some of the international racing talent
* NCAA's College World Series
* any American sport that has franchises/venues only in America, Canada, and/or Mexico (not a TRUE World Championship)
* any European championship (just Europe is not a WORLD Championship)
* any domestic sport or domestic sport with domestic/regional opposition that calls its champions as World Champions (whether figuratively or actually).


Again- my views.




With Super Bowl XLV coming up, all I'm saying is... congratulations to whoever wins, be it the Steelers or the Packers. Congratulations to whomever wins the NBA Finals. All I'm saying is- these are the champions of their sport. However, while it's a good way to name the champions of a sport, they aren't World Champions when you play in a domestic league against domestic opposition.

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South Pacific Sports

The South Pacific enjoys a great deal of sporting events. There are even athletes hailing from various South Pacific nations. Both of these will be the highlights of this blog post regarding South Pacific sports. There are even sporting events made specifically for the South Pacific. The biggest of which is the South Pacific Games. These are a variety of sporting events such as football (soccer to us Americans), rugby football, various Olympic events, and other sports contested by South Pacific nations and played in South Pacific nations. I hope to shed some light on sports in the South Pacific to enhance my blog label on Pacific and Oceania.

--- South Pacific Natives and Descendants in Sports ---

I will name only a few athletes in this section. This consists of athletes from South Pacific nations or of some sort of South Pacific descent.

A Few Notables Pacific Islanders or of Pacific Islander Descent.

Most of the Pacific Islanders I know of are mostly gridiron football players and wrestlers.

Pacific Islanders (and of Pacific Island Descent) in Gridiron Football.

Only one football player immediately comes to mind to me:


^ from: draftdaysuit.com - Troy Polamalu is an absolute beast on the football field.

Troy Polamalu immediately comes to mind for me. Troy Polamalu was born in California, but he is of Samoan descent. He played his football at USCal (University of Southern California) before becoming a beastly Safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. I got serious respect for him as he is just smashmouth all the time on the football field. Weirdly enough, he also has insured his flowing hair for $1M USD. You may have even seen a Head and Shoulders commercial where his hair seemed to get bigger and bigger in some of the later portions of the commercial. He is an absolute beast. Troy Polamalu is a long-haired beast that will tackle the crap out of almost anybody on the other team. Polamalu is one of many different football players of any Pacific Islander descent.

Various colleges have some Pacific Islander players. Some of the most you will find play at the University of Hawaii/Hawai'i at Manoa. You will find some native Hawaiians as well as some who come all the way from American Samoa to play Warriors' football at the University of Hawaii. Aloha Stadium even plays host to the Hawaii Bowl in college football as well as the NFL Pro Bowl.

Pacific Islanders (or of Pacific Island Descent) in Wrestling.

Here are some wrestlers of South Pacific descent...


^ from: photobucket.com - TNA Wrestler Samoa Joe.

Samoa Joe is one of the best wrestlers in TNA (Total Non-Stop Action) Wrestling. Someone with his size and frame that is capable of moving so quickly and attacking so precisely is just incredible. He debuted in TNA in 2005 and has been a formidable wrestler ever since joining. If anything, Samoa Joe is a cruiserweight in a heavyweight's body. Like Polamalu, he was also born in California and of Samoan descent. His nicknames include "The Nation of Violence" and the "Samoan Submission Machine." His finishing maneuver is the devastating Muscle Buster.


^ from: www.studentsoftheworld.info - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson celebrates his Samoan heritage from his Samoan mother.

The Rock was definitely one of the very best in his wrestling days. No one brought intensity and power quite like The Rock during the WWE's Attitude Era. The Rock is half African-Canadian from his father and Samoan (this part according to answerbag.com) from his mother. I read that The Rock has stronger ties to his Samoan heritage being the descendant of a tribal chief. He also provides the narration for "Polynesian Power: Islanders in Pro Football," a movie about two Samoans playing American football at the University of Hawaii/Hawai'i. Since getting away from wrestling, he has been huge in Hollywood. The latest movie featuring The Rock is the action movie "Faster," and he will be in an upcoming movie called "Fast Five," the fifth installment of "The Fast and the Furious" movie series.

There are many other Pacific Islanders (and of any Pacific Islander descent) in wrestling both past and present. Here are some of the many: Afa and Sika (The Wild Samoans), Rikishi, Umaga, the Usos, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, and Prince Iaukea among many others. One of the most recent wrestlers of any South Pacific descent is the WWE's Tamina, the daughter of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka.

--- South Pacific Sports: Rugby ---

Perhaps the most popular sport among the Pacific Island nations is rugby football (whether Sevens or Rugby Union). In fact, I am usually quite fond of Tri-Nations Rugby, featuring the Australia Wallabies vs. New Zealand All-Blacks rivalry. When it comes to rugby from any South Pacific nation, two of the powerhouses of rugby are in New Zealand and in Fiji. These two nations have hard-hitting rugby teams.

One of the most powerful and spiritual routines is when the New Zealand All Blacks perform their haka routine. If you have no idea what a haka is like, here is a demonstration of a haka before the All Blacks begin a rugby test:


I had actually planned on doing a blog entry on rugby football, but it's never been completed. Learn more about some of Oceania and the South Pacific's rubgy clubs by checking out these links:

* Australia Wallabies' rubgy
* New Zealand All Blacks' rugby
* Fiji rugby
* Tonga rugby

--- South Pacific Sports: Australian Rules Football ---

The Republic of Nauru is best known for their Australian Rules Football team. According to a story I saw on YouTube from Al Jazeera TV English, the Republic of Nauru had an AFL team that was discontinued for two years because of violence on and off the pitch. Fans even went from the stands to attack opposing teams in these riots. Players had to be approved to play based on clean records. This is to promote team unity for Naurans.

Nauru's national team sports blue uniforms with a gold diagonal stripe and a 12-pointed star. These uniforms are essentially based on Nauru's flag, and their AFL team is known as the Chiefs. Learn more about Nauru's Australian Football Association (NAFA) by visiting the Nauru Australian Football Association page.

--- South Pacific Sports: All Other Sports ---

I'll reserve this space for many other Pacific Islanders in sports and in sports that don't have their own section.


(added: January 16, 2011) I can't believe it... I absolutely FORGOT to mention this guy:


People... meet golfer Vijay Singh. Vijay was born in Lautoka, Fiji. Vijay is DEFINITELY a big deal in golf. The Big Fijian (he's 6'2" - two inches taller than me) has won a handful of golf events and tournaments.





Read the rest of this blog post (if you are not reading the full blog post) to see more on South Pacific sports.

--- South Pacific Sporting Events ---

Here is a look at some of the many different sporting events and leagues in the South Pacific.

Pacific Games.

Perhaps the largest sporting occasion in the South Pacific is the Pacific Games (formerly known as the South Pacific Games). Think of this as the Olympics of the South Pacific, also considering this has been held every four years since 1971. Many different sporting events are contested in these games. Among others, there are sports like basketball, rugby, boxing, track and field, and swimming. According to Wikipedia, the 2011 Pacific Games requires 12 sports. Those sports are as follows:

(taken from Wikipedia)
* Athletics
* Basketball
* Beach Volleyball
* Canoe/Kayak
* Football (as in Soccer)
* Golf
* Swimming
* Table Tennis
* Tennis
* Rugby!
* Volleyball
* Weightlifting

! = it is unsure as to what kind of rugby football is required for the Pacific Games.

The 2011 Pacific Games will be held in Noumea, New Caledonia. You can learn more about the 2011 Pacific Games by visiting XIV Pacific Games in New Caledonia 2011 (French) or XIV Pacific Games in New Caledonia 2011 (English).

Pacific Mini Games.

The Pacific Mini Games allows smaller Pacific Island nations to compete among one another. The games and sports here have as much intensity and importance as the Olympic games. From what I've heard, I heard that Kiribati puts out some great amateur boxing talent. Palau played host to the final games when it was known as the South Pacific Mini Games in 2005. The most recent iteration of the Pacific Mini Games was held on the Cook Islands in 2009 on Rarotonga. The next iteration of the Pacific Mini Games will take place on the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna in 2013.

For a look at what the Pacific Mini Games has to offer, take a look at this video of the 2009 Pacific Mini Games:

Cook Islands Games.

The Cook Islands games is an atheltic competition involving some of the finest athletes from the Cook Islands. They consist of a variety of different sports including handball, rugby sevens, sailing, squash, football (as in what us Americans call soccer), and more. It is the finest showcase of sports talent in the Cook Islands.

You can learn more about the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee by visiting the CISNOC home page on sportingpulse.com. Word has it that the Cook Islands is planning on opening a new facility to house the CISNOC committee. Considering some of the Cook Islands blog hits I get, I do hope sports in the Cook Islands and grow and flourish.


If I find any more material to feature in this blog post, I will edit this blog post as many times as need be.

--- To Any South Pacific Athletes Who Might Be Reading This... ---

I salute all of you Pacific Islanders in sport with this blog entry here. Great job of proudly representing your nation and your people. Keep playing hard in your sport! And, uh... thanks for reading my blog! :)





Here are a few links you can visit to learn more about sports in the South Pacific as well as certain athletes of Pacific Islander descent:

* Oceania Sport
* Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance - Pacific Islander nonprofit for high school athletics in Hawaii and American Samoa
* Talented players from tiny American Samoa are changing the face of Football
* Samoan Athletes

More links may be added in the future.


Thank you for reading! Thanks to out to everyone the world over (including my audience from the South Pacific). I hope you enjoy my content. Subscribe to my blog via FeedBurner (or any other aggregator in the sidebar)! Click on the graphics below to subscribe to both of my blogs, and also Become a Fan (or Like) my Facebook Fan Page:
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Fire Pro Wrestling... 3D Future?

Believe it or not, I haven't done a Fire Pro Wrestling blog post in a LONG while! This is a blog post I had prepared a long time ago, but never finished (until now, obviously). So here is another quality post from yours truly regarding FPW.

There has never been a true 3D Fire Pro Wrestling game in 3D except for "Fire Pro Wrestling: Iron Slam '96." Fire Pro Wrestling features some of the finest and most creative usage of 2D sprites to create fighters. The system is so intricate that you can sometimes wonder if all the sprites are all hand-drawn. There is such a play on sprites in the Fire Pro Wrestling games that make them unique. However, the 2D graphics for each of the wrestlers has its limits, and they show greatly. A comparable 2D engine will not allow for certain textures and certain items to be used. Things like ladders, tables you can actually pick up and set up, skirts on female wrestlers, and more are not possible. The one female wrestler in the GET promotion, Omatsu has one outfit that looks like a Japanese school girl's outfit, only that she wears tights instead of a skirt. Because of these things, it is possible that something new should be tried for any possible PS3 or XBOX 360 rendition of a future Fire Pro Wrestling game.

The last attempt at a 3D Fire Pro Wrestling game was called "Fire Pro Wrestling Iron Slam '96." According to a video review I've seen on YouTube, this game had nowhere near the level of customization and expandable gameplay as any traditional FPW game. If you are to follow this logic, then it would be a bad idea to come along with a 3D FPW. Times have changed. Is it still possible to make a decent 3D FPW title? First of all, why 3D? Let's explore that avenue for a moment...

--- Why 3D? ---

Make no mistake about it- Fire Pro Wrestling games have the most amazing usage of sprites in any game of any genre. Despite this, customization options can be limited. You have to at least play "Fire Pro Wrestling Returns" to get a feel for what the game has to offer in structuring wrestlers and the game environment.

What Would Work Best?

I want to stress that I'm NOT considering that Fire Pro Wrestling has a 3D model similar to recent SmackDown games. I was thinking more like 3D versions of Fire Pro Wrestling Returns models. I still want it to be possible to have eight-player matches. without too much a hit in frame rate. I may even look at more outfit options. Again- credit this franchise for making a solid wrestling game series, but for lots more in making more realistic wrestlers (without overstepping any boundaries), I'd open the playbook a bit more to allow for more detailed and expansive wrestlers. Spike doesn't have to go pursue licensed wrestlers. They've done just fine making ficticious representations of real wrestlers both past and present.

I think if you're trying to retain the 2D character of wrestlers and action, you can go with cell-shaded 3D models. Cell shading allows you to make stylish 2D-looking models that are still very much 3D. A number of games, movies, cartoon series, and more have done cell shading; and featuring cell shaded models for Fire Pro Wrestling wouldn't hurt too much. The game just needs to have the same look and feel of past Fire Pro Wrestling games while offering something a bit new. The reason why "Fire Pro Wrestling Returns" is such a wonderful game is because it paid homage to past Fire Pro Wrestling games on the PS2. I'd want to see this same level of detail and dedication go into this wave of consoles. Maybe a proper FPW is made for all three consoles- PlayStation 3, Wii, and XBOX 360.

Let's now explore separate avenues of this topic.

--- 3D in Environments ---

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns offered up 3D environments, but more can be done. One of the most disappointing things was in seeing the table weapon in FPR. The table is basically just 1/2 of a table with just the wood. Imagine actually having tables to grab and set up a table. Same can also be said for a ladder. Having a more complete 3D environment would allow for more detailed and realistic wrestling action. There is also the weird deal in wrestlers easily being thrown out of the ring when on the ropes or near the ropes. Having actual 3D will make table and ladder matches more interesting and realistic. On a different note, the Cage matches, Deathmatches, and the mixed-martial arts deals were all very well executed in Fire Pro Wrestling Returns.

A sad fact about Fire Pro Wrestling games is that everything is so constricted out of the ring. Think about the SmackDown! games, where you can go all outside the ring and even up to the main stage. You don't have as much interactivity with Fire Pro Wrestling titles. I think this needs to change and have a new formula put into place to help spark a little life into the Fire Pro Wrestling franchise. While past formulas have worked, it's time to try something a bit different to keep things fresh and interesting.

If you have played "Fire Pro Wrestling Returns," a number of factors leave more to be desired. One such example is the flat entrance themes and animations. Think about watching your favorite wrestlers from your favorite wrestling promotions (assuming you're not a fan of World Wrestling Entertainment or Total Non-Stop Action). Don't some of your favorite wrestlers have their own unique entrances and different ways of entering the ring? I want to see the environment factor extend to entrances. Make it like the SmackDown! games with customizable entrances, but don't make it TOO MUCH like SmackDown! games.

Another advantage to a 3D model would make for more believable and expansive wrestling locales. Imagine having Falls Count Anywhere and Hardcore matches. Imagine going around various arenas and other locales trying to beat up the other wrestler(s). I think of various SmackDown! games where there were arena options other than the main arenas. For example, you could wrestle in the boiler room, a VIP suite, outside the arena, the parking garage, a sports bar, and places like that. I would love to see such believeable locales to bring plenty of life to the wrestling. The wrestling is great in Fire Pro Wrestling games, but it can be just a touch better to really be impressive.

--- 3D in Wrestlers/Characters ---

Much like the SmackDown! games, you have to have great options for which to customize wrestlers. The Fire Pro Wrestling series is good for both wrestling and fighting. I am thinking more along the lines of things like kendo and such. Therefore, I'd be interested in seeing options for hakama pants and kimonos among customizable options. I'd want to see business suits for managers and such. I'd be interested in seeing feminine shoes, sandals, and boots for female wrestlers/fighters. And of course, proper skirts and dresses for female wrestlers. A trick to 2D wrestlers is to mirror certain sprites to offer a fake 3D appearance. However, what if you want to offer unique views of wrestlers?

Another advantage to a 3D model for wrestlers and other characters is in making more realistic tattoos and other such features. Imagine you want to design your character's left arms with a lot of tattoos. The tough thing to replicate in a 3D model would be bleeding wrestlers. If you somehow manage to bloody your opponent in Fire Pro Wrestling Returns, you actually note the blood from that wrestler cover the face and chest. It would be tough to replicate such rough action with 3D models.

Again- to keep the 2D style intact, I'd like to see this future FPW game be cell shaded. Make the game 3D, but while looking as 2D as possible. This is what games like Street Fighter IV and others have done very well. I don't want to see this be a watered-down deal. I won't be happy with anything but classic FPW goodness for a next-gen console. On the wrestling front, make the wrestling as classic as it always has been. On the fighting front, the mixed-martial arts and boxing will just be as solid as they have been for a long while with 2D-style characters. There should be a great deal of options for customizing characters' looks. Everything from proper wrestling/fighting attire to street clothes to oddball outfits will make me happy in the customization department. I want to think of the customization factor to be as varied, unique, and fun as say... ModNation Racers. Will it happen? Will we get this 3D-style 2D FPW title in the future, and will the classic gameplay style remain? We shall see.

--- Can a 3D FPW Succeed as Well as its 2D Counterparts? ---

That will be the ultimate question. Will the series shy away from its 2D roots and be as successful as a 3D-style game? Could a 3D FPW be as customizable and fun as any of the 2D FPW games? Could it succeed where "Fire Pro Wrestling: Iron Slam '96" didn't? To keep everything classic, a 3D FPW needs to retain its nostalgic character and deliver a solid top-to-bottom package. I'd still be happy to see perhaps matches with up to 8-players be retained.




Apparently for the XBOX 360, there is a Fire Pro Wrestling slated to be released for the XBOX 360 in 2011. It allows for XBOX 360 avatar usage and 3D graphics. Purists of FPW obviously dislike how downgraded and watered down this FPW will be for the XBOX 360. Even with this, I'm still pulling for a 100% classic FPW experience with cell shading, but while still being fun to play and intense as past Fire Pro Wrestling games.

What do you think about a 3D FPW, Fire Pro Wrestling fans? Do you agree or disagree with my own ideas? Feel free to comment!

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Enhancing Fire Pro Wrestling - New Match Types

Due to popular demand, Fire Pro Wrestling Returns was created even as Fire Pro Wrestling Z was told to be the final installment of the Fire Pro Wrestling series. FPW has been around since 1989. While many have criticized that Fire Pro Wrestling just isn't as graphically impressive and amazing as the SmackDown! vs. RAW games, what many true wrestling fans love about Fire Pro Wrestling is that this is a proper wrestling title. There is a bit of fighting influence as a whole, but, at least from Fire Pro Wrestling Returns, this series can really be something special if they can enhance a number of elements. What would a future Fire Pro Wrestling bring? What can be improved? I'm going to go on the base of Fire Pro Wrestling Returns to discuss what all can be improved in any future titles.

--- Enhancing FPW: Match Types ---

Some of these matches may need to be named something else if there are any copyright infringement issues in play.

Ladder Match.
A ladder match consists of having something suspended above the ring. The winner is the one who pulls down the object (usually a championship title) suspended above the ring.

Table Match <<< just updated! Put your opponent through a table to win the match. Falls Count Anywhere.
The name of the game is to beat your opponent senseless. Pin falls can be counted ANYWHERE. There are no disqualifications and no countouts.

I Quit.
You have to beat your opponent so badly that he/she has no choice but to utter the words "I Quit." Once "I Quit" is said, that person loses.

Gauntlet Match.
For a wrestler to win, that wrestler must defeat a series of opponents. The match is usually in one-on-one fashion, but one wrestler must defeat all opponents in succession.

TRUE Lumberjack Match.
The concept of a Lumberjack match is that wrestlers surround the ring. When a wrestler is knocked out of the ring, the wrestlers outside of the ring put that wrestler back into the ring. However, the lumberjack wrestlers can also wear down an opponent. There may be alliances that may try and attack the other lumberjacks.

Three Stages of Hell.
This concept features a maximum of three matches. Settings can be made to determine what kind of match each one includes. The winner is the one who survives a best-of-three series. Usually, the third match (if needed) is the most extreme.

Mix Tag Match.
Men wrestle the men, and women wrestle the men. This is a tag match usually for two-on-two competition. There must be a male wrestler and a female wrestler in tag-team action.

First Blood.
This match is simple- the winner of the match is the first one to make their opponent bleed.

Iron Man Match/Ironman Match.
This is a match of great endurance where two wrestlers battle against each other for a duration of time. Decisions are earned based on pin fall, submission, and count outs. Disqualifications mean a point to the other wrestler. The one with the most decisions after some duration of time is the winner. Criticals may have to be disabled for this match.

Inferno Match.
The ring features flames around the ring ropes. Each hard slam makes the flames rise higher. The object of this match is to burn your opponent. This match is literally wrestling in Hell. There are no rules, no pin falls, no submissions... just burn the other wrestler.

Stretcher Match.
You need to beat your opponent so bad that you have to put them on a stretcher. Then, you must push that stretcher with your opponent's body on it across the line to win.

Elimination Chamber (may need to be called something else in FPW)
This is a match where as many as six wrestlers can compete. The ring is surrounded in steel with no means of escape. Flying out of the ring has you dealing with a wall of steel links. The Two wrestlers will be in the ring initially, but after a certain interval of time, one wrestler will be released from his/her chamber at random and enter the match. When a wrestler has been defeated, they will return to their chambers and never be a factor in the match again. When all five have been eliminated, the last wrestler standing wins.

Hell in a Cell. (may need to be called something else in FPW)
Hell in a Cell is all about torture. The cage can be used as a weapon, and you can even climb to the very top of the cage. Unlike in the SmackDown! games, you don't need to be at the center at the top of the cage to slam your opponent through the cage. This match can also be dangerous if on the top of the cage. You could throw someone or fall several feet from the top of the cage to the mats below. This will inflict serious damage and can be just as damaging as a Critical.

Triple Cage (War Games). (may need to be called something else in FPW)
There are two Triple Cage match types. The Triple Cage format instituted in WCW's WarGames features two rings and a huge cage containing both. A match can take place in one ring, but the fight could be taken to the other ring. Since there are two rings, there are two referees in both rings, in case Two wrestlers will start (at least the real WarGames match) for five-minute intervals until another randomly-entered wrestlers come in. Then after that, more wrestlers enter at random two-minute intervals until all wrestlers are entered. The winner is the first one to score pinfall or submission.

Triple Cage (Ready to Rumble). (may need to be called something else in FPW)
From the motion picture, "Ready to Rumble," comes this special Triple Cage format. The movie has three cages stacked on each other. The bottom cage featured the ring. Wrestlers had to climb to the top of the bottom cage to enter the smaller middle cage. The middle cage features weapons that can be used to deal further damage to other wrestlers. You had to break out of the middle cage to scale the top cage. The top cage is the smallest cage. You simply need to scale the top of the small top cage to grab the title latched onto a hook, and you win the match. On the September 6, 2000 edition of WCW Monday Nitro; the concept was changed up a bit. Two wrestlers would enter initially. Both of them can go right now to to the middle and top cages before anyone else can come out. But the difference is that on this edition of Nitro, you had to go from the bottom cage to the top cage, get the title, but then come back down and escape the cage with the title belt.

A Fire Pro Wrestling version of this match would have a match start with two wrestlers until as many as eight have shown up. You have to reach the top, get the title, then come back down and escape the cage with the title belt.


Boiler Room Brawl. (may need to be called something else in FPW)
The boiler room of the arena is the battleground. A battle between two (or maybe more) wrestlers will battle it out until a wrestler or team successfully escapes the boiler room. You'll need to basically incapacitate your opponent to successfully escape. Anything goes, and anything is legal. You can only win by escaping the boiler room.





Other concepts are similar and have their own match type in Fire Pro Wrestling. For example, you can do tournament play (think King of the Ring) or even Survivor Series (8-wrestler tag match). Can you think of any other great matches that would enhance the Fire Pro Wrestling series if a proper new title were released in the future? Comment away!

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns Tips

UPDATED: February 19, 2012)

I reviewed "Fire Pro Wrestling Returns" many moons ago. Now that I've played the game, there are a few tips I'd like to share.



• One of the first things to keep in mind is that FPR is NOT a button-masher. This series has always been about timing.

• One of the best things you can do to win matches is to simply make your own characters. Trouble is, you can't use them in the Match Maker Mode (unless you work them into certain promotions, though). And you can't use your own promotions in that mode. While each wrestler/fighter in each promotion has their own wrestling/fighting styles, it's better making your own wrestlers and promotions since you actually KNOW your wrestlers.

• Have at least one pin maneuver in your fighter's/wrestler's repertoire and know how to access a pin. Since I base some of my wrestlers on fighters, I have to include a pinning maneuver. The easiest way to remember to pin someone is when the opponent is down, go to their upper body and press "X." That's the button I use to remember to pin them. Most wrestlers don't have a pin maneuver, so you'll need to change up the move set to include a pin if you haven't included one for your wrestler.

• Tailor your Critical around your wrestler's primary skills. There are a number of key issues that determine the effectiveness of Critical moves. The Fight Style and Return settings have an impact on the offensive and defensive parameters of your wrestler. Pick appropriate Fight Style and Return settings for your wrestler. Based on the wrestler's strength, set the Critical setting to what they are best at. If your wrestler can incapacitate opponents with a swift punch or a swift kick, then set your Critical to Striking. If you have a powerful wrestler who has a devastating power move (such as a pumphandle slam or a choke slam), then set the wrestler's Critical to Power. You'll know what Critical setting is best for your wrestler. And as a suggestion, I usually stay away from setting my Critical to "Finisher."

• You also need to find a set of moves best suited for your wrestler, rather than try to be completely balanced. This is important because the effectiveness of your moves won't be realized unless you use a set of moves best suited for your fighter. Fight Style and Return settings can best help in knowing what moves are best suited for your wrestler. It also helps to change the parameters on Offense and Defense to find a set of moves most compatible with your wrestler. From the Move Set, keep scrolling through the included moves. Look through the moves list until you see a red "C" in the fourth column. Accordingly change the Critical manuver to something more effective. A lot of my wrestlers are fighters, so the fighting specialists have a move that I've denoted as Critical. And remember- just because you note a move as Critical doesn't mean the character will actually knock out his/her opponent with one hit. What I do is save my Critical attacks for when pressing the Circle button when tied up with an opponent. I don't go with the power moves until I feel I've worn down the opponent long enough. If you set your Critical to Submission, I've found it best to go with submissions for when the opponent is on the ground.

• Keep practicing match types. I won't lie to you. I didn't win my first match until my third try. I won in a mixed-martial arts match. As I grew more confident, I felt I was better able to win more matches.

• If it helps... set Difficulty to 1 and Critical to High. I set my Critical to high because I want to know that moves are actually hurting wrestlers. There is no real way to gauge how much damage has been dealt to a wrestler. You just have to keep beating opponents senseless.





One last piece of advice... visit Fireproclub.com for all of your Fire Pro Wrestling needs. Thank you for reading!

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So You Think Wrestling is Fake?

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Okay. I'm a Houston Rockets fan, but I thought it was absolutely uncalled for when Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban took a cheap shot, then got slammed into a table by WWE wrestler Sheamus. Let me explain the setup.

Mark Cuban set up a WWE Championship Showdown whereas Mark Cuban asked a few questions to John Cena and Sheamus. Mark Cuban was the moderator asking questions to both Sheamus and John Cena. After three questions were asked, Sheamus started knocking down the table and clearing out the ring. Then John Cena did the same. Sheamus shoves Mark Cuban to the ground as Cena looked on. Cena got kicked in the side of his head. Sheamus would then set up a table in one of the corners of the ring. Cuban and Sheamus later had a stalemate until Cuban shoved Sheamus to the ring floor. What happened next was totally uncalled for... Sheamus picked up Mark Cuban on his shoulders and looked to slam Cuban into next week. But what he did eventually was slam Mark Cuban right into the table in the corner. Mark Cuban was a great guest host for Monday Night Raw, too.

So people who keep saying that wrestling is fake, consider this. If wrestling is fake, then Mark Cuban would have gotten right up after getting slammed hard into a table. But did he? Hell no. People who keep thinking that wrestling is fake keep on complaining that nothing seriously hurts. Like getting slammed through a table by a 240+ lb. wrestler is fake. I remember when Randy Orton did his patented backbreaker on Freddie Prinze Jr. Freddie would return to host the rest of the show, but he was obviously not the same. I hate when people keep saying that wrestling is fake. Maybe one thing about wrestling is fake- the jokes and stunts and stuff. But as far as actual full-contact wrestling goes, you're a dope if you think that all wrestling is fake.



At least, that's my view.