That's part one of our two-part updates today. With the second part, our Create-A-Wrestler feature, still a ways off (it's a huge piece, with videos and pictures and it may not be done until as late as 7:30 Pacific time).
In the meantime, read the story linked above and be sure and visit IGN Sports for Jon's latest Play of the Day videos.
(By the way, this feature may kill me. Hope you like it when it's done).
THQ has finally answered the prayers of its fan base by exclusively confirming with IGN this afternoon that the online feature in its upcoming WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW will indeed make the final version of the game. Known to be a possibility that hinged on the results of the 4000-person beta test held by Sony Computer Entertainment earlier this month, the announcement of a definite online component is news that hopeful players have been writing us letters about for months now.
In keeping with its trend of keeping secrets this year, however, THQ has only confirmed a single online gameplay mode: Head-to-Head competition. What this means for veteran SmackDown players is that they'll be able to participate in exhibition matches with at least one other person over the Internet. Unfortunately, THQ representatives will not comment on just how many players can wrestle each other at one time. Nor will they reveal how many other (re: if?) online game modes there are, or whether or not there will be some kind of ranking system based on performance. It is also unknown whether or not it will support broadband users only, or if it will allow dial-up players to participate as well.
THQ will make the formal announcement to the rest of the gaming press later today at an official media event held in Los Angeles. There, company representatives will make the same proclamation we've made here with the possibility of elaborating further on what kind of features the new online inclusion will have. Regardless of how many modes the game ends up sporting, however, confirmation of online play alone should definitely be comforting news for doubtful wrestling fans.
We'll be back with more on this and several other components of SmackDown vs. RAW as they become available.
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