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'TNA Impact!'I walked four blocks south and one block east from MTV headquarters yesterday to play some upcoming games from Midway. Among them was "TNA Impact!," a September game for PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii based on the generally more athletic if not as charismatic company of wrestlers who compete against the industry's dominant league, WWE.

Two of TNA's most physically dynamic stars, Christopher Daniels and AJ Styles were at the event, playing the game and standing within earshot while the game's designer gave me a demo. The game was pretty fun. I mostly button-mashed and wound up, playing as Daniels, performing some cool high-flying moves and, when in danger, issuing some vicious uppercuts to my virtual opponent's most sensitive body part.

I ran into trouble when I tried to discuss the story with the game designer. Specifically, I wasn't sure how to ascertain whether the story treats wrestling as -- were the wrestlers listening? -- "real." It's 2008. We all know pro wrestling is a performance, a physically demanding one that is less combat and more coordination. But still, the word "fake" doesn't roll of the tongue when wrestlers are standing nearby. It seems so insulting. I asked about the story and the designer told me it's mostly being kept secret for now. I asked if he could at least say whether it treats wrestling as if it was real or if it acknowledges that it's f... I paused. Second try: Or does it treat wrestling like it's a job, I asked?

The designer tried answering my question, explaining that the game will position the player as their own wrestler within the TNA organization. Third try from me: So, it acknowledges that these guys have scripts and don't necessarily hate each other? (Were Styles and Daniels hearing me stumble through this??). Does it acknowledge that wrestling is ... uh ... involves a script? I couldn't say the word. And, really, is "fake" even the right word?

From what I can tell, the TNA game will treat wrestling as if it is a real, unscripted sport. That's the storyline, which, now that I think of it, is what seems fake. Nevertheless, I don't think people go to wrestling games for the stories but for the gameplay. I'm no aficionado. It seemed fun for casual players. I told the designer, Daniels and Styles that I enjoyed the game. No, I wasn't faking.

Next: Time to deal with those taunting me about my "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2" scores.

Rock Band Wrestling ParodyWe all know that pro wrestlers love video games, some of them with .... extreme fervor.

I proved it last August when I found a wrestler who used a move called the Contra Code and another who enters the ring wearing an NES Power Glove.

But it wasn't until yesterday that I discovered how passionately the trio of TNA wrestlers Christy Hemme, Lance Hoyt and Jimmy Rave feel about the two hottest rhythm games in the world.

I came across evidence that this trio, who call themselves the Rock n' Rave Infection, really like "Rock Band." What else could I gather from the image leading this story, which I found on Hemme's fan site?

But there's also very strong evidence that these three enjoy "Guitar Hero.

And by "enjoy" I mean: "They enter the wrestling ring wearing 'Guitar Hero' guitars."

See for yourself.

What would the Honky Tonk Man make of this?

Yes, it's true, I like pro wrestling.

And I recommend that anyone interested in watching some impressively acrobatic combat -- and is old enough to deal with foul language from the rabid crowds -- get themselves a DVD from "Ring of Honor," a five-year-old promotion I discovered in late 2006. It's good stuff.

One of the things I recently learned about them is that they've got a guy, Jimmy Jacobs, uses a move called the "Contra Code."

I talked to Jimmy about it last week. He said he really named it the "Up-up-down-down-left-right-left-right-B-A-select-start," but that the announcers decided to shorten it.

Then he told me that there was a guy in Michigan wrestling under the name "Game Boy." I found that guy, and his picture is posted here (photo by Amanda Zee).

In fact, I found a bunch of pro wrestlers who are named after games and who use moves inspired from games. There's a grappler called "Create-A-Wrestler." There's a guy who uses a move called the "Yoshi Tonic." There's a I also discovered that some wrestlers are called "video game wrestlers" by their peers. It's all pretty wild. Read about it in my profile of one gaming's least-publicized sub-cultures at MTVNews.com.

Bonus fact not in the article: "Game Boy" enters the ring to a mash-up of the "Super Mario Brothers" theme and Nine Inch Nails' Closer.

But maybe you want to see these moves in action? Well, you're in luck. Click below, and don't try this stuff at home.


(Some readers are reporting trouble watching one or both of these videos. If you can't see it, copy the URL into your own browser or click through to the linked article and watch the videos there. We're looking into the problem.)

One more video piece after the jump...

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