Longtail Studios talks heels, faces and TNA Wrestling on mobile

Wrestling is a strange mix of campness and brutality, like a steak wearing perfume, or a roller disco in which the object is to fall over and be crushed to death. The people who do it are formidable, but they dress like Elton John. It's all make-believe, but if you or I were to try it we'd die just as surely as if we exasperated a bull.

Not on mobile, though. On mobile it's safe, which is why the outright cowards that populate Pocket Gamer Towers have been looking forward to playing TNA Wrestling. Licensed from the popular newcomer amongst American wrestling organisations, the TNA (which stands for 'Total Non-stop Action'), Longtail's game looks like an amusing take on the sport.

There's humour, trash-talking, being a heel (bad guy), being a face (good guy) and kicking people's arses by means of an intriguing turn-based combat system. The review is on the way, but before it arrives we managed to clothesline Longtail PR manager Jeffrey Peters and force him to submit to a few questions about the game.

Jeffrey Peters: We felt that the turn-based system was best suited for this game. In our opinion, we don't find that standard 'button mashers' work on mobile phones. Instituting a turn-based combat system allowed us to not only innovate on the way wrestling games are made, but also create more of a strategy aspect within the game. This title is about the strategy as much as it is the wrestling. I can assure you that this is unlike any other mobile wrestling game you've played.

Anyone who is a fan of wrestling knows that much of the action happens outside of the ring as well. By focusing on both aspects we were able to create a truly new type of wrestling game for mobile. Rather than just fighting, with TNA Wrestling you actually see who you're feuding with and why. This allows the story to change and the characters personality to change. By including your decisions outside the ring you can decide whether you'll be a face (good guy) or a heel (bad guy). I think a lot of the fans will enjoy ringside and backstage action in TNA Wrestling.

It is true that Longtail does focus on relationships, characters and story. I think looking at our previous games you'll see that what gets people talking is how developed the characters are and how involved the story is to the game overall and it's no different with TNA. They have some of the most engaging characters and storylines that you can see each week.

What has more characters, relationships, rivalries and surprises than professional wrestling? At Longtail, we pride ourselves on being able to make great games that focus on stories and characters. Love triangles and relationship issues have always been a part of wrestling and often lead to some of the most entertaining feuds and matches.

We're not focused on one particular genre so, yes, you will see Longtail Studios titles that focus on other genres. We've had dating and relationships games, simulations games, and now a wrestling game. We just released Battle Rapper, a hip hop rhythm game and have a few other unique titles that we will be releasing in the future. You'll see a lot of different types of games coming from Longtail Studios.

I think a lot of people know how professional wrestling works these days. I don't think it's fair to say that that it "isn't real". Those men and women are professional athletes and showmen who put on a great show each and every time. It's tough work and not everyone can do it, anyone who's ever stepped in a ring can attest to how 'real' it is. In all seriousness, all the wrestlers and everyone at TNA have been great to work with. They're a great organization and are only going to get bigger.