WWE Legends of WrestleMania
 

Press Release lifted from PWInsider:

Prepare to Relive, Rewrite or Redefine History with WWE(R) Legends of WrestleMania(R)

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. - (Business Wire) THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAKK) today announced that WWE® Legends of WrestleMania® is currently in development for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Joining the distinguished WWE® SmackDown®/SmackDown vs. Raw® franchise, which has shipped more than 37 million units worldwide since 2000, WWE Legends of WrestleMania is scheduled for release in March 2009 to coincide with the annual pinnacle of sports entertainment, WrestleMania® 25, in Houston, Texas.

“We have generated significant year-over-year growth in key global territories with WWE-licensed videogames, including tremendous success with the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw franchise,” said Peter Matiss, vice president, global brand management, THQ. “The development capabilities afforded by next generation hardware, combined with our established history and deep understanding of fighting videogames, allow us to leverage the strength of the WWE brand to further extend our leadership in the fighting videogame genre and bring this new property to market.”

“JAKKS Pacific is pleased to introduce a new WWE videogame property to the fighting genre,” said Nelo Lucich, senior vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. “The WWE SmackDown vs. Raw franchise has captured a collective audience of WWE fans, game enthusiasts and casual players, and we are confident that WWE Legends of WrestleMania will be poised for great success.”

I just wish they didn't limit it specifically to "WrestleMania". Adding WCW/ECW/NWA legends would have made it so much better.

So essentially this probably means resources being diverted from the smackdown series to make another game probably with the same pre-dinosaur engine.


:|



As if the smackdown series wasn't in a big enough slump after last years effort.

The problem with legends games, is that the movesets of these wrestlers weren't as diverse. They were masters of psychology and story-telling, rather than flashy moves. Both of which are hard to portray in a game. Thats why the Legends of WRestling series had some fairly ficticious movesets.

If they want diverse movesets, I think the mannerisms of each wrestler need to be included in even the basic manuevers.

That sucks that it's not going to be on PS2.

I wonder how current the roster is going to be. I'm also curious to see if guys like The Ultimate Warrior and Chris Benoit will make it into the game.

The Venues should be pretty cool. Hopefully they'll have the old blue-barred cage.

This could be fucking awesome. The best part of Smackdown vs raw is the legends. Now I dont have to have main event feuds with Chris Masters.

Legends of Wrestling was fun and it sucked and was low budget.

Even if this is a SvR clone, Fucking Sweet!

This game will fail without Randy Savage.

I suppose now is when people start posting their dream rosters, eh?

Wonder if they will include HBK and Undertaker but in retro gear. One is undefeated and one is Mr. Wrestlemania and both have been a huge part of Wrestlemania.

I'm sick of the Smackdown engine.

HBK in WM12 Attire for the win.

It's going to feature Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, Undertaker, Vince McMahon, and John Cena...all with 12 (slightly Altered) costumes. You can also unlock Mayweather and Mr. T

Coz it's going to be a shit game?

The reversal for the Tombstone will be the Sid Row.

Nah it'll have enough shit in it as it is already

MEH

wtf, no wii? fuckers

:mad:

How can you be surprised? Nintendo did it to themselves by not really upping the power of its system like the others did.

Not just that but I think Smackdown 2008 sold like shit on Wii.

2 thoughts about this game...

1) No mention of Yukes in the press release. Maybe a new developer? Even if it is Yukes they could try out a new engine...

2) Anyone else reckon that there may not be legends in the new Smackdown Vs. Raw becaus of this new game?

With THQs recent earnings report (READ: MASSIVE LOSSES) it will probably be the same engine to save cash :(

You'll still get legends in SvR, but they'll be half-assed attempts and/or shitty midcarders.

I'm going out on a limb to say David Arquette will be the big unlockable this year.

:shifty:

That better not be the case or this could be the first Smackdown game I won't buy, though I might still get it since I get it every year no matter how much either the game sucks or how crappy the roster is.

Yeah they need to leave the legends out of SvR 09 since they are making this. More room for current wrestlers.

Did I read that this game doesnt come out till April of 2009?

Thats almost a year from now.

<font color=goldenrod>Wonder what the roster would look like. I took a look and if they were to include everybody whose ever main-evented a WM, that would be only 29 right there (thanks largely to Hogan).

Obviously that won't happen as there's no chance at Benoit, Savage, or Warrior getting in. I seriously think Mr. T and Lawrence Taylor would have a better chance at getting in (which would make me mark out admittedly).</font>

Actually I would see Warrior being there if THQ offered him enough money, likewise with Honky Tonk Man. Savage and Benoit is a no though. I can see the roster being something like this.

Hulk Hogan
The Rock
Stone Cold
Andre The Giant
Bret Hart
Roddy Piper
The Undertaker
HBK
Brutus Beefcake
Jake Roberts
Ted DiBiase
Rick Rude
Ric Flair
Mr. Perfect
Junkyard Dog
Greg Valentine
Hawk
Animal
Jimmy Snuka

Of course that would not be the full list, I'd probably say a good 30-40 wrestlers will be in.

How about Diesel or Razor Ramon?

Nash is under TNA contract.

BUT DIESEL ISN'T!!!111!1!!!!!1!11!

You're telling me nobody but me noticed their use of the term 'Fighting Game' rather specifically in that press release? I don't think this game is what you guys think it is...

Yeah it'll probably be like WWF Wrestlemania the arcade game or some shit.

Or god forbid, WCW Backstage Assault.

Haven't they been using "Fighting Game" for a lot of their WWE release titles?

Edit: Actually, re-reading it it does sound a bit too specific.

Wrestling games are classified by many editorials and websites, as fighting games.

And yet they never made such emphasis on the genre in past press releases...

I think you are reading too much into it.

Well riddle me this, Bat-chump;

Why in the Hell would THQ allow two 'wrestling' games for the core consoles unless one was fundamentally different from the flagship series?

Why the emphasis on the 'Fighting Genre' term all of a sudden? (I don't need to be over-analytical, they used the term a few times in less than 6 lines of the press release)

I'm betting it's gonna be an arcadey wrestling game aimed at kids/casual to coincide with WWE's dip into the younger demo and further detour the fanbase from TNA's debut offering.

A wrestling game based on legends would be nice but they got that covered with the Legends roster in the main series, and since when did they do what the hardcore fans would like in any case.

With your first Q, EA does that with FIFA...

I still think this is going to be exactly the same as Smackdown. For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, THQ racked up a net loss of $35.3 million, so a cheap and dirty port with a slightly different roster could easily rake in a bit of cash.

Hell, just put in the moving platform entrances and wrestling fans would buy it :shifty:

If so, something tells me Guitar Hero inspired this...