Rich here…I’m taking a television show I created in 1991 called The Grudge Match and developing an eSport around it. Grudge Match Sports will include a mobile game, streaming platform, and television show. This blog will be about the process of building an eSport. Here's was the first thing I wrote to interest people and companies about bringing Grudge Match back:
Designed to harness the power of television and leverage a nonstop digital platform of game challenges & competitions, Grudge Match combines the best of gaming with the raw energy & emotion of sweet revenge. Two people who have a dispute, and want to settle their differences can compete in a fantasy mobile/console game, or in physical reality played out -- on television -- before a live audience.
The original Grudge Match was very popular, and consistently won the 18-49 demo in its time period. Here’s the New York Times Review. Most people did not know what to make of two people fighting over simple disputes or seeking revenge in a boxing ring. I originally sold the idea as a cross between The People’s Court and World Championship Boxing. The new Grudge Match will feature real people with real grudges – amateurs – fighting with weapons and hand-to-hand combat. In between matches, we are going to showcase 2-3 video game competitions featuring our best gamers. The TV show will be live and air on a national sports network. I’m putting together the deal now. The TV shows will also be streamed on Grudge Match Universe, a cross between Steam and Twitch.
There are several things that make Grudge Match different than any other eSport. Grudge Match is built around a simple premise, personal justice or revenge. Each Grudge Match is only 4 minutes versus an hour or two commitment. Grudge Match is initially for individuals, and not teams. In my next blog, I will start at the beginning of the idea, and take you through our upcoming soft launch. Grudge Match Sports officially launches summer 2015. Take a look at our Grudge Match TV show promo.