The Official Smackdown vs Raw 2007 Thread
 

From IGN.com

It's WrestleMania 22 in Chicago, Illinois this weekend and to help celebrate the occasion, the folks from Yuke's, THQ, and WWE are going to make a special announcement tomorrow evening. To be revealed at the annual Superstar Challenge prior to this weekend's festivities (which includes the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony and WrestleMania itself), the announcement will officially confirm the next iteration of the WWE videogame family, WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007.

In addition to confirmation that the game is coming to stores later this year, the most interesting piece of information actually relates to the systems on which the game is coming out -- which embrace PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions besides the expected PS2 and PSP SKUs.

This move not only marks the first time in the franchise's history that a SmackDown title will appear on two system generations at once, but also, the first time that the game will be headed to a platform other than one created by Sony.

"We are pleased to bring our highly successful WWE SmackDown vs. RAW franchise to next generation consoles," said Kelly Flock, executive vice president, THQ worldwide publishing. "As the publisher of the number one wrestling videogame brand in the world, we are eager to take this franchise to new heights by offering the game to current-generation, next-generation and handheld gamers."

"We are excited about the next groundbreaking release in the multimillion dollar SmackDown vs. RAW franchise," said Nelo Lucich, vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. "WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 combines ambitious, exciting features, such as the interactive fighting area within the crowd and a brand new analog control grappling system, which enhance the WWE videogame experience. We are confident this debut will offer a compelling sports entertainment experience for the next generation of gamers."

So what's this about a new analog control system and interactive crowd fighting? Specific details about those features are still a little vague, but we do know that gamers will be able to take their brawls into the audience just like on WWE programming, while also experiencing what THQ is calling "more realistic fighting" and "more intuitive movement." As stated earlier, though, what that means exactly we don't know.

What we do know, however, is that a number of improvements in other areas will certainly make the cut. Season Mode, for example, is said to feature "an unprecedented level of player choice" compared to previous games, while in-ring and outside-the-ring hotspots (which can be used to inflict bodily damage in special ways) have also been included. Moreover, arenas in SVR2K7 will be fully interactive to the point of supporting unspecified environmental damage and players will have the ability to take signs and other objects from fans and use them as weapons.

Speaking of weapons, there will be plenty of those too (more than in the last game) and brand new "High Impact Combination Moves" that round out each superstar's arsenal. Further enhancements, like an expanded General Manager mode, online play with voice chat support (finally!), high-definition displays for PS3 and 360, and updated rosters will also be included. Multiplayer fans should also be happy to note that up to six players will be able to wrestle each other at once for all three console iterations. Version details for the PSP, however, disc are still a mystery.

As always, there's still plenty to be learned about WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 and we hope to bring you another update as soon we can. In the meantime, we invite you to check out the first "next-gen" screenshots of the game and remind you to check back with us again over the weekend should we learn anything more.

Links for pictures due to unholy amount of page stretch:

http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/7...g_3496076.html - Cena
http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/7...g_3496082.html - Rey
http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/7...g_3496083.html - Rey & Cena
http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/7...g_3496073.html - Cena II
http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/7...g_3496079.html - Rey II
http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/7...g_3496075.html - DONT DO THIS!
http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/7...g_3496077.html - Match
http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/7...g_3496078.html - Match II
http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/7...g_3496081.html - Match III
http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/7...g_3496074.html - Match IV

game looks fucking amazing!
i'll be walking through the crowds online in a 3 on 1 handicap match...:D
i wodner what the new analog system is...

Sweaty wrestlers have never looked so good.

yeah lol and neither has the crowd :)
it seems that they have put as much detail in the crowd as the ydid in svr06...

Well at least PS2 gets one more.

Did I see....a crutch? :drool:

:) and it comes out at the end of 2006!

That'll be the game I get when I get the PS3 in June

Dunno whether I'm gonna hang on for the PS3 version or stick with the PS2 version. This all depends on when the PS3 is actually out over here.

June of next year? That's a long wait. I couldn't take it.

great pic Disturbed, thanks

Yeah, I did the best I could to get a couple of images off the screen, those are the ones that came out best.

this is one fo those games, its a "getitthedayitcomesouter"
i will get ps3 as soon as i can and get this and play it :)

Depending on how much PS3 games are, I may get both versions. Just because I can.

They better have more legends. Including Mr. Perfect. :mad:

Wow, that looks incredible.

FIRST SERIOUS QUESTION OF THE THREAD!

Who do you want in as legends? My list is

- Mr Perfect
- Macho Man Randy Savage
- Owen Hart
- Ultimate Warrior (just to beat the shit out of him)
- Jake Roberts FOR REAL THIS TIME
- Doink the Clown (for comedy)
- Axe and Smash from Demolition
- Earthquake and Typhoon

Thats all for now. Probably change it a million times before I'm happy though.

I wonder though what the PS2 graphics look like because I kinda find it hard to believe that the PS2 can put out graphics like that.

EVIL Doink.

I think it's going to be like Fight Night Round 3. While the graphics on the PS2 are really at the limits, it will never get near the awesomeness of the next gen consoles.

FNR3 for ps2 was graphically better then SvR 2006 so it should look fantastic. Hopefully.

Wonder if they improve the royal rumble throwing out meter...

I think it will do, due to the new analogue grapple system.

just like Disturbed, I'll probably get both ps2 and ps3 versions since I have the money to spend

I'm going to limit myself to people who have never been legends in an SD game.

Big John Studd
Bob Backlund
Bobby Heenan
Demolition (and, if there are alternate costumes, the Repo Man getup for Smash)
Jesse Ventura
Mr. Perfect
Randy Savage
Ricky Steamboat
Terry Funk

Costume Soundracks, oh yes. Six Player XB Live, oh yes. Now Joey Mayne can destroy all you fools and become TPWW Champion!

I'm loving the look of it already. Great graphics so far, cant wait for more info.

:shifty:

Hopefully you can use a CD or MP3 like you can on the 360, then use the music as caws entrance music...
different attires for caws

Custom Soundtracks

:y:

They need to get the game on cube/revolution as well :(

Other than that no complaints, and I can't wait. I wont be buying a PS3, so I will get it on PS2. I wonder what the difference between the two versions will be, only graphics, or more than that? Gotta be more...

Probably just the limits of CAW.

Hopefully they will have entrances for Hell in a Cell and Cage matches.

I hate it when you set up a big PPV and have one of those matches with no entrances. It's all about the entrances in big matches.

I remember when Just Bring It was being hyped. Everything was so awesome back then. You could go into the CROWD!.............. After which, you find out the "crowd" is a little box by the ring.

I was excited for the crowd fighting to be back but after I look at the screenshots it looks like only parts of the crowd are able to be fought in. Unless you are only able to fight in the aisles, which I believe is the way it should be done. I also hope the weapons you can take from others aren't just placed on the barricade in front of people like that crutch.

It does look amazing though and it will be one of my first PS3 titles. I am all for the PS2 but if you can actually walk amongst the crowd, I don't know how good that would look on the PS2.

I'm guessing grabing weapons from the crowd might work like the N64 games where you go over and press a button to get them.

http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/7...g_3496081.html

If you look in the background, that's where they are fighting. I don't think you can actually go into the crowd. I think you just have to go to areas around the crowd.

Unless the crowd move around so you can move...

They have chairs behind them, unless the chairs disappear as well, I doubt it. I'm just speculating though.