Video games and reality TV don’t seem like they’d be much of a mix, yet over the years, shows likeAmerican Idol,Dancing With the Stars, and evenHell’s Kitchenhave gotten video game adaptations. Part of that is due to the set-up of these shows: they’re competitive by nature, and there are plenty of video game formats that play into that competitive edge. There’s also the element of wish fulfillment, as many of us have wished that we could be singing on stage or dancing with our celebrity crush. One reality serieshas managed to score a whoppingeightgames, though, and that’sWipeout.
First airing in 2008,Wipeouthas its contestants attempting to complete the “world’s largest obstacle course,” dodging all kinds of giant, inflatable balls and shifting objects while trying to avoid being dunked into water and mud. The wide variety of obstacles inWipeouthave different modes of play that ensure that the show’s audience—or regular gamers—will find something to enjoy.
Twenty-four contestants tackle an outrageous obstacle course, facing challenges like the Big Balls and Sucker Punch. The top performers advance through increasingly difficult rounds until a final champion is crowned, earning a $50,000 prize.
There Are a Wide Variety of Features in the ‘Wipeout’ Video Games
The firstWipeoutgame set the stage for future installments by featuring two different modes of play: “Challenge” and “Play The Show”. “Challenge” let players complete certain obstacles in a matter of time, while “Play The Show” was exactly what it said on the tin: players would attempt to complete avariety of challengeslike they were actually participating in an episode ofWipeout. Perhaps the most interesting feature of all concerns hostsJill Wagner,John Anderson,andJohn Henson; in addition to providing commentary, they were also unlockable characters in the game. Activision, who published all theWipeoutgames,decided to keep that element constant throughout the variousWipeoutgames. The best example would beWipeout: Create & Crashfor the Nintendo Wii, where players can actuallymaketheir own obstacle courses and let other players try to complete them.
TheWipeoutgames also had a solid release schedule, usually dropping in between or during the premiere of seasons ofWipeout,meaning that players could get their fill of super-soaked schadenfreude whenever they wanted. ButActivisiondidn’t just stop at havingWipeoutvideo games for consoles—it released aWipeoutgame for the iOS, allowing fans to continue trying their hand at obstacle courses and even go head-to-head to see who would reign supreme. This strategy worked asthe iOS version ofWipeoutbecame one of thetop-selling apps in 2012.
The ‘Wipeout’ Video Games Are Far Easier Than the TV Show
There might be a solid reason as to why theWipeoutvideo games took off,and that’s because the actual show is extremely challenging to complete. In addition to dodging the obstacles and navigating constantly-shifting terrain, contestants must do it all under a time limit.Wipeoutexecutive producer,Matt Kunitz,stressed the importance of speed,telling thePantagraph: “The advice that I give to all contestants is speed and momentum. You really need to use your body’s momentum to take you across the course. A lot of people come out here and think they’re going to go fast, and then they get to that first obstacle and just look down, think about it and take one step.”
There Will Never Be Another Game Show Quite Like This One
Contestants were asked deeply personal questions that got equally shocking replies.
The other element ofWipeoutis the previously-mentioned schadenfreude. At least one person is guaranteed to “wipeout” on a course, with plenty ofslow-motion camera replaysthat add humiliating detail. Playing the video game version ofWipeoutensures that if someone does “wipeout,” it’s from the comfort of their house—and they won’t be soaking wet or covered in filth afterward. Since the hosts are playable characters in the first game, it was probably satisfying for players to give them (or at least a virtual version of them) a taste of what theWipeoutcourse throws at you.
‘Wipeout’ Has Been Canceled, Rebooted, and May Be Rebooted Again
WhileWipeoutenjoyed a fair amount of success in video game circles, its television show counterpart hit more than a few bumps in the road. First off, there wasa lawsuit from the Tokyo Broadcasting System, then, ABC decided to cancel the show after its seventh season, due to declining ratings. However,Wipeoutrecently found a new home on TBS, a network that’s no stranger to rescuing canceled shows (seeAmerican Dad!). Kunitz—who returned as an executive producer—says that the internet had a major role in getting theWipeoutrevival greenlit due to YouTube compilations as well as a steady stream of followers on the officialWipeoutFacebook page. “One of the interesting things is thatWipeoutleft six years ago, but it never left the internet,” he toldEntertainment Weekly.
The newWipeoutalso had a new trio of hosts inJohn Cena,Nicole Byer,andCamille Kostek,who embraced the chaotic nature of the originalWipeout. Case in point: a special episode was made to promoteThe Suicide Squadand featuredCena in full Peacemaker gear, which is the exact vibe thatWipeoutshould be going for.Wipeoutmight be going through another shakeup soon, asEndemol Shine—the company that produces the series—is considering another reboot. “We have some fun new takes onWipeoutand exploring how you take it past the very great note of someone eating it and falling into water,” CEOSharon LevytoldVarietyback in March. “It seems like that can also be in a physical comedy space. There are other avenues to mine for that one.” If Levy is looking for a new angle onWipeout, perhaps she should consider the video game space, especially with how gaming has changed in the years since the originalWipeoutaired.
