bump so it's easier for me to post new info/pic and maybe a vid later this week

he falls on his ass cheeks at wrestlemania XX

bump over M.T.H13's stupid Smackdown 6 thread that should be closed already

look at it now he got sum 41 111111111111111!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

check out mth13s smackdown thread itsast comment is cool somone put my rep up not down

:lol:

really i need it

you might like bans Mr. Killa

Enough of the bullshit posts, can we talk about something worth contributing to this thread?

Anyways, I think they should get rid of RVD's lame Rolling Thunder they had on HCTP and SYM and replace it with a grappling version of it, like his cartwheel moonsault.

*nods* The Rolling Thunder is impossible to hit accurately. That Running Dropkick that is suppose to be a ground attack should go as well.

I think all the weapon interactions need to be upgraded heaps. Instead of being only able to perform Weapon Specials with chairs, they should be able to do it with other stuff, such as tables, ladders, belts, etc, and be able to perform them in more situations instead of just "Facing Groggy Opponent"

Like, they could have someone in the corner resting on a ladder, press smackdown button, you do like a suplex or something on them, set the ladder up by the turnbuckle, mount the top rope and do Jeff Hardy's ladder leg drop, all in one move.

Or, have somebody set up in the lower turnbuckle, then, as RVD, walk to them with a chair, press special, run to an adjacent turnbuckle, and perform a Van Terminator.

Pretty cool video.

fnjhasuhwuiw dropkick sjoahuios jnasionauogw headbut.

Graphically, that game is amazing. I wish they would have slowed down the gameplay a little though. Regardless, I'm going to poo my pants when I get this game.

Pretty okay movie...i think it's the same movie that was on the DVD in the British magazine: PSW.

cool i copied it

y does it say i smell like donkey shit

wat r bans

i am gonna get a pic brb

Its a different one. The one in the English PSW was had more footage of Big Show/Scotty aswell as the commentry.

how can i make my pic smaller

i want a small pic

how do i make the line below my post green again

Well finally got my email from Sony and my beta test game should be here by the end of the week. :y:

Wait will there be an 8 man tag?

no, all the matchs from HCTP are in with only Parking Lot Brawl added in

Oh boy.. Roll on November.

Dupree and La Resistance better make it in the game :mad:

I wouldnt mind seeing Mordecai though i wouldnt garrentee it :(

and don't waste Disk space on Holly

Infact remove A-Train and Rikishi from the game and replace them with Kidman and London :)

Anyway Can't wait.

Better have Eugene.

Eugene must be in the game!

Also London and Kidman :yes:

I think they should take the Diva's out as playable characters and add more of the cruisers into the game.

really unless you create a gurl its useless but u can change a gurl to other and do season right

question here are there more legends but there unnamed

yes their will be more than Andrè the Giant, legend Kane and legend Undertaker, we'll find out in about 2-4 weeks for sure

cool i dont know y we will need 2 memory cards for sdvsraw

so u can create a ppv

mman, why not edit it into your post instead of always double/triple + posting?

ok my bad dont be hatin

since the wwe has brought out the classic superstar figure range, including the ultimate warrior and such this must mean they have the rights to the likeneses of these superstars so we could see them as legends in this game. which would be shit hot!!

Here is a new Q&A from Ign.com,
http://ps2.ign.com/articles/535/535907p1.html
go to that page to read the Question and Answers.

NEW PICS TOO, IF you whant to see the pics only go here,
http://media.ps2.ign.com/media/670/670847/imgs_1.html
or get someone to download it right here.
PEACE

here what the info, it's too big so it's in 2 parts

part 1

With a great deal of information pertaining to WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW already out there, our readers have been chomping at the bit for additional details and goodies to help prepare them for the game's anticipated November release. Naturally, we felt the best way to get the answers to these questions was to approach THQ ourselves and ask its reps a series of questions that have been brewing since the day the game was announced. And while the overwhelming number of questions submitted by our readers were far too many to be asked at once, we did manage to select a good number of the more important ones to see what the SmackDown! folks had to say.

For this installment, we sat down with THQ's SmackDown! vs. RAW Creative Manager Cory Ledesma who was later joined by familiar face and SmackDown Product Manager Devin Knudsen. Both of these guys have been around the franchise forever, and know sports entertainment and wrestling games inside and out. Here's how it went.

IGN: When setting out to make SmackDown this year, what were your primary goals when it came to your design plans?

Cory Ledesma: Our high-level goals are always to push the envelope of the wrestling genre. We play all types of wrestling games and continue to play ours, and we really want to see how far we can push it and see what we can add to it. That's always the key goal that we put on the board. We never stop trying to deliver the full WWE experience.

Anyhow, we always look at the game to see where we're lacking, so this year we wanted to focus on the fact that we didn't have any voice-overs previously. We really wanted to put that into the game, so it's what we went after.

IGN: How about in terms of gameplay? Was there anything you had wanted to put in the series before but couldn't?

Cory: Yes definitely. The match tactics we've always wanted to put in the series because we want people to be able to win their match however they want. Also, you can't really have that true wrestling feel without having all those dirty match tactics and fan favorite tactics. We really want to incorporate that into this year's matches so that whichever road you take, it feels just like it does on TV. That's our big one this year.

IGN: Obviously you've made some other major changes to the gameplay too, with things like the test of strength, chopping contests, and the reversal meter. But what our readers would really like to know is, what kind of changes have you made to the career mode? Is it longer than a year this time? And how will the storylines play out?

Cory: We really loved the format from last year's game and we got a lot of positive feedback from fans. So this year we have the same kind of format, where storylines branch and you'll experience new storylines each time you play through. The biggest change we made to storylines this year was adding voice-overs to the superstars like I mentioned earlier. Before we just had text, but now all the superstars will actually be speaking and have specific vocal roles during season mode. That's going to add a tremendous amount of presentation to our game.

As for the seasons, they'll still be one year in length but you can play back to back seasons that change each time based on your storyline decisions. Plus, all your accomplishments will carry over too.

IGN: How about the storylines themselves? Last year there were a lot of repeating plot points in the second and third seasons, is that an issue that has been addressed?

Cory: It's going to be similar to last year, but players won't run into that issue as much as they did before. But because of the nature of the game and how often our players play with it, it's really hard to keep them from running into situations that are similar no matter how many branches you create because of how often they play the game. The good news working in their favor, though, is that we'll have brand-specific storylines -- some exclusive to SmackDown! and some exclusive to RAW, plus there are multiple paths within those plots that can really make a difference. Not to mention the fact that we have a lot more storylines this year compared to last.

Another thing I'd like to mention is that you'll be able to choose what kind of persona you'd like to have. Whether your guy is going to be a dirty heel wrestler or a clean face wrestler throughout the season, it's up to you. You can do that within your storyline too, and those storylines will change based on your decision. So if a partner comes up to you and you're a total jerk to him, then you'll take a heel pass and that changes the whole storyline. With that in mind, sure you could run into the same storyline at another point, but how you handle it changes how it plays out.

IGN: How about create-a-superstar? Despite being the best character creation tool in all of videogames, it's still been rather similar the last few years; Will there be any kind of evolution for this feature?

Cory: We're really happy with Create-A-Superstar and we always get positive feedback about that mode. The biggest thing we did this year was to streamline the interface because there are so many options and so many things to do, that new users could literally end up getting lost in there. It's much easier to create a superstar this year, and the menu flow helps you support your creation throughout the whole process. It's almost like a guide in a way instead of just a tool.

We've also added a lot of new parts this year. We've updated our style so that it matches the style of the WWE. Stuff like John Cena's wristbands and visors and lots of new parts like that are in there, and we've also updated a lot of the patterns. We felt that before, some our patterns were somewhat outdated and not very useful. Now you can put camouflage patterns on almost any part, flannel, Hawaiian shirts, and things like that. You'll see what we mean when you get in there and try it.

IGN: My biggest concern has been things like intro animations and CAW generic themes. Have you guys decided to bolster that this year and will announcers call your CAW by name?

Cory: We're definitely bolstering the amount of animations you can choose from for your created wrestler's intro, but the interface aspect of that won't really be too different. But don't worry; there will definitely be a lot more animations to choose from as well as all-new special effects that you can add to your entrance.

Another really key feature is a new snapshot feature we've added so that you can take a picture of your created wrestler and use it for all the superstar select screens. You may remember that before, it was just a generic shot. We also have a list of about 50 or more names that you can select from to get the ring announcer to call your name with.

Also don't forget that we've increased the polygon count of the models this year -- we've almost doubled them -- so they're going to look fantastic. That's not just in the ring either; it's also in the created wrestler department. Better quality textures, higher detail on the muscle tone, and improved parts are just a few reasons you can expect your created wrestlers to look better than ever.

IGN: How about the create-a-wrestler password feature you guys were tossing around with Shut Your Mouth? Will players be able to trade their CAW's in an easier fashion? Or is that perhaps something we could see in the game's online feature?

Cory: That's something we've wanted to add for the longest time and it's own our wishlist, but we haven't found a good enough implementation for it. Since our created superstars are so complicated and full of enormous data, the passwords are incredibly lengthy and it just doesn't make sense. We're still looking at the possibility for future products because we totally agree that an easy creation process like that is important. So yeah, we're looking at ways to incorporate that but haven't had any results that we like just yet.

IGN: Speaking of online, this is the year you guys have finally made the big jump. Has the beta testing process started yet? And are you guys still sticking by your original philosophy of the beta test results determining whether or not the online mode will make it in the game?

Cory: Unfortunately we still can't confirm that as a feature in the game and we can't comment on the beta test because Sony Computer Entertainment is handling that aspect. But yeah, the feature is definitely being heavily considered.

IGN: Why the decision to move to new licensed music this year? Were you getting a lot of requests from fans or was it just a little something extra that you decided to throw in for your own reasons?

Cory: Music has always been an important part of the WWE, and we felt that from a presentation and value standpoint that we definitely needed to have licensed music tracks for everything. The WWE has their own soundtracks come out and sign singles to attach to pay-per-views, so we definitely wanted to attach something like that to the game. Plus, it helps sell that WWE feel when playing; that's our main goal with it.

Devin Knudsen: We also feel like all the triple-A titles leave people expecting licensed music, and SmackDown! is definitely in the triple-A realm, so it's just a logical fit to put it in there.

IGN: How about the official superstar themes, are they going to be updated and complete for every wrestler this year? Last year there were a few missing.

Cory: All the superstars should have their updated themes, but we have an alpha cut-off point that we can't add new music to should a new theme come out after it. Some music tracks might have issues beyond our control that prevent their complete or total implementation into the game, but we're always going to try to include everybody's song so that we can be as accurate as possible.

IGN: How closely does your team here in America work with Yuke's when it comes to putting this game together? Can you give us a general idea of what the process is usually like, and what the roles for both the THQ production team and Yuke's are?

Cory: We work extremely closely with Yuke's. I fly out there to Japan twice a month so that we can work hand in hand with all the designs and features. We're extremely close. It's really, truly, a joint collaboration when it comes to the design and fine-tuning and we always send our feedback and talk about the best ways to implement the things we want. Yuke's does a fantastic job and we're really happy with them. It's just a fantastic relationship.

IGN: What competing wrestling games do you admire or think has strong ideas?

Cory: Like any wrestling fan, I'm a huge supported of the Aki wrestling games -- particularly the n64 games. I thought those really pushed the envelope when they first came out and it was really exciting to play those games. They were extremely well-tuned. Unfortunately, I think the latest Aki game that came out (Def Jam) was a step back, but out of all the competitive wrestling titles out there, that's the developer whose series I admire and like to play most next to ours. I'm not a huge fan of Fire Pro, though. It definitely has some good elements and good ideas, but I've never really clicked with it enough to want to play that as much as some of the other games.

Devin: Keep in mind man, it's not just wrestling titles that we limit to us liking or influencing our work, though. We look at all sorts of titles, and anything that gets good praise of the industry or fans we take and wonder if there's something we can utilize there. Knights of the Old Republic is a good example. In that one, they had a lot of great voice-over work for their branching storylines and also used the light and dark side. We liked that idea a lot, and used it as a foundation for doing a similar thing with SmackDown! vs. RAW.

Cory: We consider this wrestling game to be a sports game somewhat and we love playing the sports games and seeing what it is that they're doing and seeing where we can fit that into our title as well.

part 2 and pics

IGN: Now's your chance to answer a question that we've been bombarded with for years on both our message boards and our mailbag. Specific features that the hardcore users have been after since the series moved to the PlayStation 2 are things like Buried Alive, Casket Matches, Two-person season modes, and title belt defenses is exhibition matches. Is there any particular reason that these specific requests have never been met and do you think they'll ever be included in the future?

Cory: I always read your message boards and love seeing all the ideas and they always go onto our gigantic wishlist here at THQ. You wouldn't believe how long it is. There are so many things that we want to get into the game and it's a hard decision choosing which things will make it in and which things are more important. It's really about what we have time for, what makes the best sense, and what the fans tell us is the most important thing to implement this year.

There are a lot of the match types that people request, but we usually try to stick with whatever is current and popular in the WWE programming at the time. So while we get a lot of casket match requests, they don't really do those but a few times per decade so we'd rather focus on the current matches that are happening and improving upon those.

One of those suggestions, though, the title belt defenses is essentially in the game. You can defend your belts against a friend or the CPU in the create-a-ppv view mode which supports all exhibition match types. So you will be able to challenge for belts in that regard.

IGN: Okay let's get serious for a moment. Our readers are crazy with the requests for a couple of characters. So to put an end to the flood of emails and message board posts once and for all, will Eugene, Mick Foley, and Mordecai make the roster?

Devin: Well Jeremy, we're pretty much feeding you the roster as we lock it up. So until we sign and seal the guys and girls we're after, we don't want to make the mistake of announcing someone who might not make it. So we can't comment on anyone other than who we've told you yet.

IGN: While we're on the subject of the roster, what can we expect this year in terms of the lineup? -- More legends? Early estimations point to a slightly smaller roster than last year too. Is there a reason for this, or can we expect the numbers to be similar to Here Comes the Pain?

Cory: The roster will definitely be around the same size, maybe a little less, but if we're lucky a little bigger. So I don't think that should be anyone's concern at all. As far as the legends go, though, you can expect around the same amount of guys we had last year -- around ten or slightly more. We'll see how it goes.

IGN: So here's the biggest question around for SmackDown fans who are already thinking about the next PlayStation. Is SmackDown vs. RAW the last PlayStation 2 game in the series before you turn your attention to the next generation? Or can we expect to see one, maybe even two more titles before the big leap?

Devin: [Laughs]

Cory: I think that would definitely be a "no comment."

Devin: We're just thinking about this game right now and how we're going to please the fans. That's what we're aiming to do, and if they like this one a whole lot, then of course, we'll base all future decisions on that.

IGN: Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule guys. We appreciate it.

Devin: No problem man, take it easy,

Cory: Sure thing, see you later.

here are the pics

http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...4110534226.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...4110535039.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...4110536101.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...4110535508.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...4110536695.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...4110537586.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...4110537132.jpg

I'm not gonna triple post so here's an extra piece of news, mark down Monday August 9, BECAUSE THE SMACKDOW VS RAW COUNTDOWN BEGINS

So it could also be that the rosters will become smaller :(

HOLY FUCK! RENE DUPREE!!! :love::love::love::love:

Man, I'm glad I still have my IGN Insider account, I love when the Countdown starts :cool:

BTW whose that with Eddie and RVD?

It's either JBL or my old high school science teacher.

The game should be more egalitarian toward the females and cruisers.

Obviously, Rey Mysterio is not gonna snap suplex the Big Show. But Mysterio should be able to pull off a "Hogan slam" after a tug of war, not unlike No Mercy.

and the "no-blood" rule for females is wack.

New Pictures at gamespot,
here is the link
http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/w...reenindex.html

http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...4110536695.jpg
:love: :love: RENE DUPREE :love: :love:

*Marks out like mad*


Now get Rob and Sylvian in there..

I thought Christian didnt look to good in the last game.

I hope they give him his Wristbands this time round.

For lazy people:

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen001.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen002.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen003.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen004.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen005.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen006.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen007.jpg

Ok, looking at those pictures has made me think about something. Michaels is a Raw superstar, but is wearing the WWE Title. Thats not what is making me think. What it is that is though, is that he is on Raw (look at the set behind him). Does this mean inter-promotional matches?

Either that, or its just because they are only on the early versions of the game, and just testing stuff :-\

I am really digging that create a belt thing.

I'm really digging how detailed the guys look.

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images..._screen019.jpg


:love:

<font color=white>When it comes to create-a-belt, there has to be the possibility of the Million Dollar Belt</font>

Just thought of something I hope they fix. Raw has just started (over here in the UK) and at the begining they show an advert for HCTP. In that advert they had Big Show coming off the top. I hope they fix this. The only time I ever remember him being up there was when Lesnar suplexed him and the ring collapsed.

They should make it like No Mercy, Superheavyweights can go up top when they have a special or something.

Hmmm, I wonder what pre-made CAWs will be in the game this year. I mean, last year we had half assed versions of Funaki and Tommy Dreamer, and we also had The Banana Man. I suppose we should keep our eyes open for The Electric Heater CAW this year, or even a Pepsi can.

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/w...w_6104236.html

Preview on Smackdown vs Raw from Gamespot :y:

For lazy folk:

Taken from http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/w...w_6104236.html

THQ's SmackDown! franchise has always been the company's biggest seller, at least where WWE games are concerned. This year's edition marks a change in direction for the series, starting with a new name: WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw. Of course, the title isn't the only thing that's changed, so we spoke with associate producer Cory Ledesma to find out about such topics as the game's new wrestling mechanics and gameplay modes, and we even posed the big question: Will the game make it online? Read on to see what we discovered.

GameSpot: Though last year's SmackDown! title was easily the most polished product in the series, some have said it was a bit too similar in design to the previous year's game. Will we see a more substantial leap forward for SmackDown! this year?

Cory Ledesma: Consumers will definitely see and feel a substantial leap forward, in every area of the game, over last year's product. Every mode in the game has been improved upon, and a couple of new modes have been added as well, such as create-a-pay-per-view, create-a-championship, and challenge mode.

As far as gameplay goes, we pride ourselves on continuing to add new strategic elements, features, and mechanics to deliver the best and most realistic wrestling-gaming experience money can buy. We strongly feel that fans will be pleasantly surprised with the improvements we have made.

GS: Here Comes The Pain introduced an excellent new grappling system to the series, as well as a new submission system. Have any changes been made to either of these areas? What about additional upgrades to the basic gameplay system?

CL: As a matter of fact, the grappling and submission systems have both been improved upon over last year's game. With the grappling system, we have added some "risk vs. reward" elements to the system. The four grappling types will still be in the game (powerful, submission, signature, and quick), but they are broken down into two groups now: high-damage/high-risk grapples (powerful and submission) and low-damage/low-risk grapples (quick and signature). So now, powerful and submission moves will cause a lot of damage, but they will be harder to execute, because the grapple reach for these grapple types will be slowed down.

Your opponent will now have a greater chance in countering these moves, because he can see the grapple reach coming sooner, and he will have a longer "window of opportunity" to counter it. The opposite goes for the quick and signature grapples. The moves in these categories will cause less damage, but the grapple reaches will be much quicker. This will enable the user to execute grapples in a faster manner, and it will make them harder to counter. This balances out the grapple types and adds a strategic element to the grappling system that has not been seen in previous SmackDown! products.

Another improvement to the grappling system is the addition of a new grappling ██████████ the sitting position. Players will now be able to place an opponent who is lying on the mat into a sitting position so that they can then execute moves while their opponents are in this posture. Certain moves will also cause opponents to be automatically placed into this new position. This game addition gives the grappling system a new look and gives the user a variety of new moves.

In the submission system, we now have two different submission-meter mechanics. One is the same tug-of-war mechanic from last year, which is used only for moves in which the opponent is able to climb to the ropes in hopes of earning a rope break. The other submission meter is a new timing-based mechanic that's used for submission moves that do not involve the user crawling to the ropes, such as the bear hug. In this new mechanic, the user must lock a moving target--who is traveling side to side in the meter--into the "submission break" section of the meter to escape the submission. The user will also have a riskier option of trying to lock the target into a smaller "reverse submission" section of the meter that will allow the opponent to not only break the submission but also apply the submission right back to his opponent. The superstar's submission attribute rating will have an affect on both of the submission meters.

Another improvement to the basic gameplay system is a ramp up in power to the weapon attacks. Weapons will no longer feel like plastic toys that are being swung around in the ring. Weapons will cause a tremendous amount of damage, and they will also have a limited life span. They'll also be heavier and slower to swing.

GS: What can you tell us about these new gameplay elements, like the chop battle and the start-of-match stuff? Also, what's this "diva spanking" thing all about?

CL: We wanted to include the start-of-match minigames for a number of reasons. One of the big reasons was that we felt that the single matches in last year's SmackDown! game didn't feel like how real wrestling matches would start. Normally in the WWE, before a match starts, you always see the wrestlers mouthing off to each other, talking smack. Sometimes they'll get into a shoving contest or take a cheap shot at each other. We really wanted to add that drama and spectacle before the match to let the users begin their own little trash talking before each match starts. Another big reason we wanted to add these minigames is to give the opportunity for one player to get the first advantage in the match. In the start-of-match minigames, if a player wins it, he or she will now have an immediate advantage in the match, because his or her opponent will either be vulnerable or knocked down.

The chop battle mechanic was designed to re-create the classic back-and-forth chop battles seen on WWE programming. This is where one wrestler will use the back of his hand and forearm to deliver a mean slap to his opponent's chest. In the game, this will be a meter-based mechanic that will measure the strength and accuracy of your chop to the opponent. Whichever superstar wins a best-of-three battle will win the chop battle and will deliver a devastating chop that will knock his or her opponent to the mat.

Who doesn't want to spank a diva? Last year we added the bra and panties match, which really got fans excited. This year we wanted to continue to add some hot diva action, so we added a diva-spanking mechanic. This new mechanic will give users the opportunity to spank a diva into submission during a bra and panties match.

GS: Have any new match types made their ways into SmackDown! vs. Raw? What about mechanical changes to the existing match types?

CL: This year we've added a "parking lot brawl" match type. This is a hardcore match that will start off with two superstars in the middle of a parking lot that's surrounded by cars and trucks. All of the vehicles will be interactive, and your goal will be to knock out your opponent by any means necessary. This can include slamming opponents into windshields, doors, car hoods, etc.

We've also made a significant improvement to our royal rumble match type this year. It will now be much more challenging to throw opponents over the top rope and out of the ring. The match type will use a new meter system that will re-create the classic royal rumble struggle of forcing superstars over the top rope while fighting to hold on for dear life. This new system will also allow multiple superstars to gang up on one superstar by having two users join the meter struggle to force the opposing superstar out even faster.

GS: We understand that you've made some changes to heighten the more-personality-based aspects of the wrestlers, such as the differences between good guys and heels. What are they?

CL: We strongly feel that for our game to really represent the WWE, we need to incorporate the "good guy/bad guy" aspect of wrestling. We want players to be able to choose whether they want to fight like a dirty, cheap superstar or a clean-cut, crowd-pleasing fan favorite. So now, users will be able to choose which match tactic they want to use (dirty or clean) after they select their superstar. Then, when in a match, they can fill up their match-tactics meter by playing like a dirty superstar or a clean superstar. There are a list of tactics that each superstar can perform to build up either his dirty or clean match-tactics meter.

For example, dirty superstars will be able to argue with the referee after two counts. They'll also be able to hold onto submissions even after a referee calls for the rope break. Furthermore, they can remove turnbuckle pads and knock out the referee to build up their match-tactics meter. Clean superstars will have to please the crowd by taunting their opponents, performing their signature moves, and performing high-fly and high-risk maneuvers. Once the superstar has filled his meter up, he will then be able to execute his special match-tactics ability. The special match-tactics ability for the dirty superstar comes in the form of a devastating low blow that will completely incapacitate his opponent and give him the chance for a cheap win.

For the clean superstar, he will become completely invincible. He will be able to perform any attack without being countered, and he will also counter any attack someone attempts on him. Additionally, he'll be able to perform double damage on his finishing move. With this new gameplay addition, there comes a whole new strategy to the game and the ability to play like the real WWE Superstars' personas.

GS: What can you tell us about some of the new gameplay modes you're implementing this year, such as create-a-belt and create-a-PPV?

CL: The create-a-pay-per-view mode is something the fans have been asking us to bring back since SmackDown! 2. This mode lets users create their own PPV card so that they can then compete in all of the matches with their friends. Users will be able to customize many aspects of their PPVs, such as the card length, PPV name, which venue it will be held at, which commentators will participate, which brand will be represented, etc. The C-A-PPV will also be a forum for users to hold title shots by using the create-a-championship feature. The create-a-championship mode lets users create their own championship titles using hundreds of parts and customization options.

GS: The story mode has always been one of the most important aspects of wrestling games as a whole. What changes or additions have you made to SmackDown! vs. Raw's story mode?

CL: By far the biggest change to the season mode this year is the addition of superstar voice-over. Players will now feel completely immersed in the experience and will be able to hear their favorite superstars talking trash directly to them. Season mode will also contain all new storylines (never seen in previous wrestling games), heel-and-face story branching, and the ability to capture all the championship titles on the Raw and SmackDown! brands.

GS: How about the wrestler dialogue? Any word on which WWE superstars we should be expecting to hear in the game?

CL: We have recorded voice-over for every WWE Superstar on our roster (with the exception of our legends). Consumers will even get a chance to hear the all-powerful Vincent Kennedy McMahon in the game.

GS: Let's not beat around the bush any longer. Is SmackDown! vs. Raw going to be online? We know Yuke's recently put out Online Pro Wrestling in Japan, and an online ability here is definitely one of the things that wrestling game fans have been dying to see.

CL: No comment.

GS: Fair enough. Thanks for your time, Cory.

----------------

Hmmmmm very interesting

That heel/babyface system is the shit.

Yeah...i so hope this game is gonna be online, it would rock if we could have a TPWW Royal Rumble online. :drool:

I'm like never coming out of my house if this goes online.

Yeah, if this thing is online. I would run down to PC World or some place like it, buy everything I need to get online, and never leave my room.

This game is going to make me poo my pants.

Dude, don't tell us your toilet problems, keep those to yourself and possibly your psychiatrist.

it is pretty cool they will go all rocky on them :cool:

You could actually do a Hogan. Get beating the crap out of, flick the button to do you Face move, Hulk up, 3 punches, big boot, leg drop. 1-2-3.

:naughty:

I can imagine a face Triple H in this game...

KICK!

WHAM!

PEDIGREE!

Match over. :lol:

I'll only buy it if it goes online.

So what are the big features in this game?

Kinda depends how powerful it is and how easy it is to fill up ther bar and how long the invincible thing lasts. You can always do it the old No Mercy way and run out of the ring while the other guys invincible.

Either way, there will probably be an option to turn them off if you don't like it.

...As a face? :shifty:

Absolutely. That's cool.

Of course, this will bring "Hogan" levels of annoyance fighting a souped-up face... but I love how the heel gets to be dirty...and rewarded for it.

posted by Makaze-IGN on IGN's forums, about tonights info

So just what do we have in store for you? Could it be the long sought-after first videos? A more detailed explanation of the face and heel meter? Could it be a better explanation of create-a-belt and create-a-ppv? How about these changes to the weight detection system we've been hearing about? Or the improved graphics, the roster, or perhaps things we haven't even been told about yet?

One quick note about tonight:

Nowhere in any post or article did I say that I had a "Huge Surprise" for anyone with tonight's forthcoming update. I said that I had a huge article coming with lots of great stuff in it. It seems that fan anticipation has twisted that statement into it somehow being a "big surprise".

But I reiterate, the only real "surprise" is that I haven't told you what the article would have in yet, but never did I promise that Monday's update would contain some "Huge surprise"

That said, tonight's article is going to be very big, and should be very satisfying for those of you that have been following the game's progress.

Thanks.

From same place, same person.

The face/heel system looks pretty nice...I just hope that in the game you'll have the option to make both wrestlers in a match either a heel or face, instead of every match having to be black and white, heel vs. face.

From the screens I've seen, it seems that one doesn't have to be face, and the other heel. So faces/faces and heels/heels can happen.

I'm pretty sure that you are allowed to have face vs face and heel vs heel, they do that on TV sometimes.

I would gladly vote for you during any electoral type of thing.

I'd love to be mod of the videogames forum.

so would I

Oh God, I want that so badly.

here are the info beginning with pics, then info than finally vids

http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9054515632.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9054516725.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9054517897.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9054517241.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9054519741.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9054549662.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9054550490.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9054550115.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9054520350.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9054519085.jpg
http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/ar...9054518507.jpg

The team at Yuke's Media Creations and THQ are coming off a banner year in 2003 as their collaborative effort on Here Comes the Pain was considered one of the best wrestling games yet made. A huge leap forward for the SmackDown! franchise and wrestling genre in general, the well-received title introduced a myriad of new features that the series had never seen before. From the introduction of the legends roster to the inclusion of the Bra and Panties match, the sheer number of extras last year was huge. Submission meters, more accurate character attributes, a weight detection system, and the Elimination Chamber were yet additional motives towards making Here Comes the Pain so popular with its fans. And yet, there was still one big looming question: "How was THQ going to top it?"

Of course, for those of us that have been playing all the previous SmackDown! titles, the answer to that question was a rather easy one. As it seems that no matter how many refinements or changes are given to the WWE product each year, there's always a laundry list of features that players want continuously included. It's almost become a common acceptance, in fact, that the diehard crowd never gets everything they want -- as it seems that the more developers add to their wrestling titles, the more it reminds the public of how much extra they need.

With that in mind, THQ has put an awful lot of effort into making as many improvements as possible for its 2004 installment, WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW. Boasting everything from the long awaited create-a-belt and PPV options to a more realistic presentation of faces and heels, the game seems to be as big an improvement as Here Comes the Pain was over Shut Your Mouth. But where Here Comes the Pain was all about making major gameplay alterations over the titles from years past, SmackDown! vs. RAW is about improving on the presentation and replayability.

To find out how extensive these changes were for ourselves, we managed to secure some exclusive hands-on time with an extremely early build of the game over the weekend. This version of the disc was so early, in fact, that the majority of the wrestlers on the roster didn't even have their music or TitanTron videos yet. Even so, we were privy to a slightly expanded look at the roster that reveals the presence of a couple of folks we didn't know about -- namely Hardcore Holly, Victoria, Sable, Molly Holly, and the regular Undertaker. But as we had theorized in an earlier article, Rikishi has been completely removed from the lineup.

What really caught our attention, though, was the addition of a series of unplayable superstars that were available on the roster but were marked as "Non-Playable". Whether or not this means they'll remain unplayable or have to be unlocked in some other manner we honestly don't know; but the prospect of playing as some of these guys is definitely enticing. So which personalities are we referring to? Well that would be Eric Bischoff, Paul Heyman, Michael Cole, Earl Hebner, Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, Vince McMahon, The Coach, Mike Chioda, and Tazz. Sadly, legends had not been implemented in this version yet, so we couldn't check them out.

After viewing out the roster, one of the first new features we wanted to see was the all-new match type, the Parking Lot Brawl. Still somewhat in the fine-tuning stages, this match works almost exactly like the old hardcore matches did -- except for the environment in which it takes place. Modeled after the classic John Cena/Eddie Guerrero U.S. title match from earlier in year, the mode is deceptively more entertaining than it sounds. As rather than just supply players with an abundance of weapons or other random objects to beat their opponent senseless with, it's the environment that's there to hurt them.

Each automobile that surrounds your wrestler has a distinctive deformable action too. Should you throw an opponent towards the limousine, for example, you can either slam their face into various parts of it or open up the back door and toss them inside. While inside, an unknown ally will literally beat them up for you before throwing them back out the way they came. Other interactive cars, like Eddie's pimped -out hydraulic ride, an open-top convertible, and a big-ass semi truck are just a few of the several objects that you can toy with. Blinding your opponent with headlights, throwing them into and shattering windshields, and using the steering wheel to smash someone's face are all entirely possible. Needless to say, we're a lot more pleased with this mode than we thought we would be.

Next up, we were off to check out pre-existing match types so we could see what kinds of changes had been made to them. Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on how you've felt about them), they're pretty much unchanged, save for a few slight alterations. The Elimination Chamber and Cage Matches, for example, seem to be pretty much the same as they were last year. While the Hell in a Cell option has added a few refinements (re: it's a lot harder to fall from the top of the cell by accident, slightly better floor animations), and the Bra and Panties match has an all-new spanking mechanic. Hardcore matches seem to have been scaled back a bit as well -- as the only section backstage that we could fight in was a long corridor with televisions, catering tables, and boxes. We didn't have the option to change rooms either, and whether or not we'll be able to in future versions is still unknown.

The biggest change to the existing game modes would have to be to the Royal Rumble. Instead of simply going into the ring against five other guys (yep, the maximum wrestler count onscreen at one time is still six) and throwing them out Battle Royal style like we used to, we now have to contend with an all-new ringout meter. Not as big a deal as it sounds, this simple meter is listed below the health meter for your wrestler and as he struggles with getting thrown over the top it lowers. Once the meter has been expended, you'd better try not to get thrown over the rope again -- as you'll likely fall to your doom.

Taking its cue from EA Sports games, THQ has also implemented a special Challenge Mode that's running at all times. If players fulfill certain requirements and meet these challenges while playing, they'll earn bonus money to spend in the shopzone (where you can purchase Legends, additional outfits, movesets, arenas, and load screens). There are 60 different challenges in all and they're spread out across four different difficulty types (15 each). So while just about anyone will be able to meet the amateur-level requirements of winning a single match without using their finisher or defeat an opponent in under three minutes, they might not be so lucky with some of the Superstar challenges (such as performing a successful 5-star splash from the top of a ladder with RVD or defeating The Undertaker in a first blood match in less than four minutes). These types of ongoing challenges really add a lot to the single player experience even when playing exhibition matches and are definitely a step in the right direction.

Speaking of steps in the right direction, Yuke's has also implemented a much more realistic account of the differences between faces and heels. Now whichever alignment you choose, that's definitely up to you (selectable between clean, neutral, and dirty before an exhibition match or dictated by your storyline actions in career mode), but whichever association you select, it can change several dynamics of a bout. Fan reactions, referee reactions, and bonuses for specific moves are all dictated by which way you swing. Using these guidelines, face wrestlers earn bonuses for their alignment meter by performing their signature moves, taunting, or performing submission counters. Once their meter is built all the way to the end it will flash. Once it does this, flicking the right analog stick makes him invulnerable for a short period of time; at which point not only can he not be hurt, but his finishing moves will do a lot more damage as well.

As for the gameplay itself, there are definitely some obvious changes in how things work. Though the pace and speed of the wrestlers seems pretty much identical to the way they were last year, the inclusion of the new meters alters the flow of the match rather effectively. In addition to the dirty and clean meters we touched on earlier, the all-new counter bar finally gives you a fighting chance when caught in specific submission holds. Keep in mind that this reversal bar only seems to appear when caught in specific types of moves (Crossface chickenwings, Buffalo sleepers, triangle holds and the like). Luckily, Yuke's has made it so that forcing your opponent's to submit is harder than it used to be regardless of whether or not you can counter the move. Players are going to have to work a whole lot harder now to get someone to say "I Quit" to one of those bearhugs.

The much publicized stare downs and tests of strength aren't as common as we thought they'd be -- which is good. As instead of forcing each wrestler to participate in such a thing each time a match begins, the chances of it happening are totally random and seem to be tuned to a solid ratio (though the chances of these things happening are made better if there's a current feud between opponents). Chopping matches are initiated in a somewhat different manner, however. Simply trap your opponent in a corner and press up and grapple to get the series going. Once the action begins, players are treated to a golf-like timing meter that has power and timing bars you'll need to tap in order to successfully pull them off. And the reward for doing so is a seriously downed opponent. Once down, you can even sit your foe up in a sitting position by double tapping the circle button -- opening up all-new grappling possibilities.

Other significant changes have been made to SmackDown! vs. RAW as well. Picking up the steel steps and ramming them into an opponent is a lot harder than it used to be, for example; and they actually feel heavier too. Not to mention the fact that you can no longer use the steps indefinitely -- after five or six hits, they'll disappear. Additionally, weapons like championship belts and chairs do more damage than they used to and high-risk maneuvers off the turnbuckles take longer and do more damage after landing. Perhaps the best new balancing choice, though, is the fact that submissions and power grapples are easier to counter and take longer to perform. While quick and signature grapples are performed faster and are harder to counter attack. This new approach makes performing old favorites like the Powerbomb and half-nelson slam a lot more risky -- and helps even the odds for smaller wrestlers when tackling the bigger guys.

Gameplay tweaks aide, some of the most interesting new features we explored were the new Create-A-PPV and Create-A-Belt options. Located together within the same menu, both of these features (that the developers wanted to include last year but couldn't due to time constraints) offer its users an avenue they had never had before; as not only does it allow them to create their own belts from scratch with money they've earned elsewhere, but it also allows them to defend it. Making a championship title is pretty easy too -- as long as you have the money. Simply go into the proper menu, select what straps, faceplate, centerpiece, and accessories you want to add to it and boom: instant IGN title.

Creating a pay-per-view works much in the same way. After entering the title of whatever it is they want to create, it's off to assemble a kickass lineup of matches. Unlike typical SmackDown pay-per-views, though, these events will be able to house as many as eight matches at once; with every facet of the bout -- from its rules, its contestants, and its placement in the card, all dictated by the user. The create-a-PPV mode is also the only place where players can defend the titles they created earlier; making it an essential stop for gamers looking to prove that they're king of their neighborhood.

As you can probably tell by our multiple pages dedicated to the game already, there's certainly a lot to talk about in WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW and we haven't even talked about everything yet. With additional features, elements, and components that still need to be detailed, the end of our wrestling coverage is far from over. And whether it's keeping you updated on the progress of the online beta test, keeping you abreast of improvements to the latest versions of the game, or letting you know about the evolution of the character voice-overs (which admittedly are still early in our build), we'll make it our mission to be here for you.

To see direct-feed videos and screenshots taken from our early build, click on the link to our media page located below. Be sure and take note, however, that because of the early nature of this version of the game, there's still a long way to go towards improving the visual quality and not all of the features have been implemented yet (re: music during matches, enemy AI, etc). Hope you enjoy the videos, and we'll see you again soon with more.

Triple H vs Shawn Michaels in a Ladder Match

Undertaker invades Wrestlemania XX

Matt Hardy vs Kane

John Cena vs Eddie Guerrero in a Parking Lot Brawl Match

Evolution Arrives

:drool: The Parking Lot Brawl looks good.

in that 'Evolution Arrives'

Randy is playing Batistas Moments, HHH is playing Randys Moments and Batisita is playing flair's Moments. :|

OMG Undertaker's enterance :love:

BTW guys, there is a video preview in the Insider section of IGN. Downloading it now.

Ok, this is what the video preview showed:

- Showed Victoria and Ric Flair's enterance.
- Talks about the chop battles.
- Stare down battle with Jericho vs Christian
- Press L1 to argue with the ref.
- Chuck Palumbo is in
- Weight detection allows you only to lift the weight class above you
- Shows the new features of Royal Rumble
- Shows reversal meter
- Game set up screen where the wrestlers taunt before the match
- Lots of stuff on Create-a-belt
- Shows spanking meter

:eek::eek::drool:<3:love::love:

Do it...:D