[ WP ] Describe the introduction of gladiator tournaments in the US , but more high tech and lethal .

Tonight is a firearms match. I always like these; there's a beautiful sense of tension as the two opponents maneuver to try and get a shot. Those flickers of motion as they dart between cover, the sudden bursts of noise as someone lays down suppressing fire, it's very exciting. 
 
 It's more interesting than the melee matches, where it feels like two guys are just wailing on each other until they've spilled enough blood to overcome the augments. I mean, I get that you're trying to stretch out the matches; you do n't want the championship match to end ten seconds in when someone gets a sword through the lungs, but the augs feel like cheating. No pain, no impact, just a lot of hacking and slashing. Nothing but the cheap thrill of seeing blood spray. 
 
 A firearms match, on the other hand, *that* takes some skill. The bio-augs will only do so much against a large-caliber bullet, so you've got ta use the *other* advantages the augs give you. Some fighters have boosted agility and reflexes to make themselves a harder target. Some fighters have augmented strength and dexterity to make them into supremely accurate marksmen. In a firearms match, it's not just how strong or tough you are, it's how you use it. 
 
 Case in point, tonight's matchup is Double Daniels vs. The Buzzsaw. Daniels is a hyper-speed marksman armed with dual pistols. He's always a joy to watch in action - diving headshots, flips, rolls, and parkour movements feature in all his highlight reels. 
 
 The Buzzsaw, meanwhile, carries a heavy machine gun, one of the heaviest and most powerful guns allowed under the rules. That hail of bullets could ruin Daniels' day, but he does n't aim as fast or move as easily. Still, do n't think he's just a brute - his upgraded muscles let him move with sudden, explosive force when he needs to. 
 
 The two men wave to the audience and the cameras as they step into the arena. They shake hands with each other, and with the referee, then retreat to their starting positions. Meanwhile, the announcer is chattering away. 
 
 `` We've got a special treat for you all tonight! The winner of Battlezone 2035, the modern ninja, the dual-wielding demon, Anton Daniels! And for his opponent, the champion of carnage, the buzzsaw of bullets, with over 300 confirmed kills, Andrew Belmont! Both of these men have survived countless battles, but tonight, only one man will leave this arena alive.'' 
 
 Not technically true - a `` dead'' gladiator's augments can keep him alive for a surprisingly long time - often long enough to get him into surgery and repair him. Champion gladiators are hard to find and expensive to lose. But they'll never resurface under that name, so they're dead, as far as the audience knows. Yeah, sorry, spoilers. Trust me, it's still exciting either way. 
 
 `` And for their arena? We're bringing back a classic. The original deathmatch arena, a battleground that's enchanted viewers since even before the Games existed.'' 
 
 Walls rise out of the arena's configurable floor. The two gladiators stand at opposite ends of a straight, open street, dotted with small blocks of cover. Taller and heavier blocks rise around the edges, some with multiple stories to climb through. Projectors flicker into life, painting the walls with false color. The tall structures become houses or saloons. Smaller barricades become covered wagons, crates and barrels. 
 
 There's an electric thrill in the air as the two men stare each other down. Daniels is bouncing on the balls of his feet, hands hovering over his twin pistols. Belmont is calmer, but his legs are tensed to spring and one hand is ready to unsling the massive gun on his back. 
 
 `` Ladies and gentlemen, it's time, for an Old West showdown.''
