For 31 weeks, I co-wrote and produced a streamer's videogame wrestling league where the community created their own wrestlers and gave directions on where they wanted to go/do. It was the job of the streamer, three others, and I to gather their input and create matchcards, feuds, and storylines together. Then we would have a team of recorders and editors(including me) to simulate the match that would further our ideas. Every Wednesday and Saturday, a 3-8 hour show would be aired live to 200+ viewers, and ultimately, it is one of the things I am most proud of to have played a part in producing.
History
Originally created in 2017, Tuesday Night Thunder was a weekly program run by Twitch streamer Thundershot. Using the game WWE 2k17, the streamer took community-created wrestlers and would commentate over AI Vs. AI matches. With the help of the game, the streamer would schedule a Tuesday Night Thunder as if it were a real wrestling league with championships and storylines.
With subsequent releases including WWE 2k18, WWE 2k19, and WWE 2k22, the streamer would start to rely less on the game and more on his editing skills to further the stories and give more control to his creative ideas. However, with every single release until 2k22, the streamer always found the workload consuming to the point where he would eventually stop doing it until the next game came out.
2k23
Recognizing the pattern, the streamer chose to ask the community to aid him in creating the weekly show, with the goal that it would make it farther than it ever had previously. As I have personally been a fan since 2017, I stepped up, along with a handful of other people, and we were able to produce a consistent and entertaining show every week.
From April 23rd, 2023 to May 18th, 2024
- 53 shows were produced
- 238 hours of content were made
- 121 characters were managed
- $2736+ was earned ~ Estimated from Patreon subscriptions.
What was different?
No longer was the in-game tool "Universe Mode" used to create general matchcards. Five people, including me, sat down to attempt to fit all 121 characters onto our three fictional wrestling leagues every week.
- Tuesday Night Thunder
- Friday Night Lightning
- Saturday Night Spark
Outside of the streamer himself, the "bookers" who created the matchcards would try to keep in contact with the people who created their characters for input in terms of direction and creativity. Sometimes there would not be much to go off of, sometimes there would be too much. It was our job to work these ideas into the upcoming weeks so that they make sense and satisfy the community.
No longer were the matches completely simulated. Recorders would simulate AI Vs. AI matched, however, when necessary, edits were made to create seamless inserts that led to actions and events that furthered a storyline. Over time, the number of recorders grew, so the ability we had to produce what happens in the match increased. And no longer did it take 2 hours for the streamer to set everything up.
We now had people who produced openings, promo packages, and hype videos for the shows.
Credits
All videos of Thunder and Lightning 2023 can be found here: https://www.patreon.com/c/tuesdaynightthunder/posts
Producer - Thundershot https://www.twitch.tv/thundershot Graphic Design - Spaderbase https://x.com/BaseSpader Video Packages - LeCoolMan Booking Team - Mark6000, Sandman, Spaderbase, Me Editing Team - ChrisPhoenix, LeCoolMan, MittenMerc, Dhorn, OnlyAmune, Me Recording Team - TylerExplosion, CarGuy86, BladeMech22, Dlaw, EnviousPride, TruOnAir, ChrisPhoenix, LeCoolMan, MittenMerc, Dhorn, OnlyAmune, Me