WWE 2K17: Popularity, Features, Reception, and Societal Considerations

This essay provides an analysis of the video game WWE 2K17, examining its widespread popularity, features, and reception within the gaming community and broader society. The essay explores the game's availability across various platforms, its appeal to both children and adults, and the factors contributing to its success, such as its connection to the WWE television show and the incorporation of improved graphics and gameplay. It also delves into critical perspectives, including concerns about violence and its potential impact on young players, as well as the game's evolution across different versions. The analysis references the game's Metacritic score, compares it to previous installments, and considers the introduction of new features like backstage brawls and the inclusion of both old and new players. The essay also discusses the positive aspects of the game, such as its potential for teaching self-defense techniques, and the role of globalization in its success. Finally, the essay touches on the need for continuous innovation in the game to meet player expectations and the developers' viewpoints on violence.

VIDEO GAME
WWE 2K17

Nowadays, children do not like to play in open areas because they like to spend time in
playing various kind of video games. The popularity of play station and X-box is at its maximum
level. Their was time when only kids were interested in playing video games but now even adults
spend lot of hours on enjoying various kind of games. WWE 2K17 is one of the most popular
sport which is played by children and youngster. The reason behind its huge success is its old
legacy. The other seven was liked by many people and they continuously recommended it to
their other friends and family members. WWE 2K17 is available on various plat forms like
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation4, Xbox one, Nintendo Switch. This game also have similar type
of games on mobile applications, it can also be played on computer (Adachi and Willoughby,
2011). But some people argue that one cannot get same amount of fun when they play local and
unauthenticated version of this game. WWE is known for its stunts and nail biting thriller. It T.V
shows are already getting lot of popularity and many of the players in WWE are getting
opportunities Hollywood movies.
Some experts think that WWE 2K17 got success because of its great graphics. The
technology used in it was new and many children commented that when they were playing this
game, they never realised that it player were not real. But a large segment of critics said that
WWE 2K27 failed to meet their expectation. They were expecting significant amount of changes
in this version but its maker did not surprise them. According to them, this video game earned
success because of its previous instalments. Player liked old version of this game and this was
the prime reason that they purchased its I latest version when it got entered in the market. These
critics are not wrong. Metacritic.com is a website who give ratings to the video games. WWE
2K17 got 69 score out of 100. It was 4 point less then its previous instalment.
Light, sound, arena are various factors besides player model who got appreciation form
the side of gamers. This game can be played in single or multiplayer mode. Children liked this
version because of the great efforts made in the aspect of art direction (Greitemeyer and Mügge,
2014). One thing can be easily analysed that some people enjoy this game other feel the pressure
of winning. Parents are concerned about the help of their child because kids are taking
insignificant kind of pressure for something which do not have much importance in their life. By
analysing increasing popularity of game one can say that in the war between ''pressure'' and
''enjoyment'', the later one will take the trophy. A large segment of people often argue that
children of below 12 age should not be allowed to play this game. It contain high amount of
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violence and it can make a negative impact on the metal condition of a child. The number of
violent incidents has schools in last 5 years. Management of schools blame parents for this
because they allow their children to play violent video game like WWE 2K17. Small kids have
not learnt the correct technique way to taking a smack or punching (Roddy, 2014). They use it at
the time of fighting with others. But some optimistic people argue that WWE 2K17 told children
the correct approaches of self defence. This game also reduce the anger of kids which they expel
on any other person.
Globalisation also helped this game in gaining huge success in short period of time.
Earlier countries like India were not have significant contribution in the revenue but they are
becoming important market. Purchasing power of Asian countries are continuously enhancing
and maker of WWE 2K17 understand that if they promote this game in Asian region then they
can earn more profit in less time. Availability of various version of WWE 2K segment games
has increase enormously in last five years and it is one of the main cause behind success of
WWE 2K17. Some people argue that this game is directly linked with the T.V show, it they their
TRP will enhance then it will make a positive impact on the sale of this game. One cannot ignore
this argument, if the contestants of WWE T.V show will fail to earn popularity then children as
well as adults will not like to choose them as a player at the time of playing WWE 2K17.
In this game, various kind of fights can take place. First can opt for cage fight or tag team
match. They can also take various kind of smacks and hit different kind of punches and kicks.
Gamer can also make their own player and set moves of the contestants according to their
choice. Old segments of this game could only be played in computers, but when platforms like
PlayStation and X-box came, then these games saw lot of improvement in them of graphics,
sound etc. (Education and Magazines, 2012). One thing can be analysed from success and failure
of various instalment of this game i.e. people can buy PlayStation for enjoying quality graphics
but if the game does not have great features then it cannot get desired level of popularity in the
marketplace. 2K17 version focuses on small details like fluidity in the moves, scars on the
players etc. People were missing the key ingredient of the game like backstage brawl. This
features wan reintroduced in this version and it helped in attraction old player who were not
happy with old version (WWE 2K17 ROSTER RATINGS. 2017).
Most of the game critics gave around 4 star to this video game which is a fine score. One
cannot say that this instalment was bad because of the crucial changes made in this version but at
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the same time they fail to find the any extraordinary or surprising features. Player are significant
part of WWE 2K17. They some of the old contest came in a new style, this idea is liked by many
gamer because they did not wanted to remove old or retired players from new versions. New
players take time to gain popularity from the side of audience, maker of this game understand
this thing and this is the prime reason that they are not removing some old contestants who have
high popularity among the gamers. Successor of WWE 2K17 is recently launched in the market.
It reviews are also waited and people are ready to compare the game with this version.
According to Martin (2017), maker of game should focus on developing some new features
because people want do not want one or two new features. He also argued that the cost of new
instalments should go down otherwise a large segment of economy class people may ignore high
priced games. This game is about fighting, violence is its integral part. Players can use table,
chair, hammer to hit other contest. Classic graphics of this game depict bleeding from head or
other part of the body. Some people do not agree with these views, they think that 2K17 could be
made less violent without removing the fun part from it. They also said that showing violence
specially on female players is not the right thing. This game is hampering the thinking of
children and they are moving in wrong direction.
More modes of playing means more fun, WWE 2K17 has increased the types of matches
which players can play (Krishnan and et. al., 2015). Every contestant has some special moves,
they gain popularity because of it. Fluidity of these moves has improved and the noise from the
side of audience has also added more fun to the game. Some people directly connect these
improved features to enhancing violence in the version. Developers of WWE 2K17 also raised
this concern, they gave their view point regarding this matter. Some gamers demand more
features in order to increase, this goal can only be attained by introducing more violent and
attractive smacks. Violence is not the only concern for kids, some people argue that children get
demotivated or feel dull when they loose a game. This has impacted their health and increased
the level of tension.
Improved graphics and technology is played crucial role in the success of WWE 2K17.
Although game rating agencies did not gave any extraordinary rating to this game but they also
fail to find any major flaws in the game (Watson, Mong and Harris, 2011). Some people are
think that most of the video game in this era is earning huge profit because their availability has
increased by many folds. WWE 2K17 also tasted success because of its enhancing demand in
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Asian region. Good platforms like PlayStation, X-box etc. also helped this instalment in attaining
huge popularity in less time period. At the end it can be concluded that WWE 2K17 is a good
game because it had some new features but at the same time it fail to surprise gamer because of
no extraordinary ingredient. It contain violence but one should also see its positive side i.e.
various self defence techniques which children can learn by playing this game.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Adachi, P.J. and Willoughby, T., 2011. The effect of video game competition and violence on
aggressive behavior: Which characteristic has the greatest influence?. Psychology of
violence. 1(4). p.259.
Education, L. and Magazines, T., 2012. Mashahantucket Pequot Tribe v. Town of Ledyard Case
No. 3: 06cv1212 (WWE), 2012 US Dist. LEXIS 43910 (District of Connecticut, March
27, 2012). Gaming Law Review and Economics. 16(7-8). pp.441-448.
Greitemeyer, T. and Mügge, D.O., 2014. Video games do affect social outcomes: A meta-
analytic review of the effects of violent and prosocial video game play. Personality and
Social Psychology Bulletin. 40(5). pp.578-589.
Krishnan, S. and et. al., 2015. The Development of Theoretical Framework for In-App
Purchasing for the Gaming Industry. In PACIS (p. 30).
Martin, C., 2017. An In-Depth Look at World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Its Fandom
Using Digital Ethnography. The Routledge Companion to Digital Ethnography, p.244.
Roddy, F., 2014. Wrestling with the Controller: Why professional wrestling’s relationship with
realism and narrative has hindered its remediation into computer game form. The
Computer Games Journal. 3(2). pp.83-99.
Watson, W.R., Mong, C.J. and Harris, C.A., 2011. A case study of the in-class use of a video
game for teaching high school history. Computers & Education. 56(2). pp.466-474.
Online
WWE 2K17 ROSTER RATINGS. 2017. Available through: <http://gadgets.ndtv.com/tags/wwe-
2k17-roster-ratings/articles>. [Accessed on 3rd November 2017].
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