New WWE release SD v RAW

[Shotgunjim]

Here is a little taster on the New WWE title SD v RAW should be out this year....

It has been a while since they released a new game and with the drop in quality of the shows, lets hope they make up for it with this...

[scott_2k16]

WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW is getting ready to hit the PS2 like a ton of bricks this fall. Easily one of the most, if not the most, anticipated sports game to come out this year, SmackDown! vs. RAW could very well have sales in the same unbelievable range as the previous entries in the series. With new wrestlers, new moves, new voices, deeper storylines, more customization, and the possibility of online play (which is already in beta testing), this game is going to be frickin' massive.

To help you make sense of it all, we've decided to compile tons of information about SmackDown! vs. RAW into one place. All the big questions about the game are answered with info about several different aspects of the gameplay. Sure, this isn't all of the info available about the game so far, but it covers the bases enough that extra searching will be only for the hardest of the hardcore out there who are going to be on the constant lookout anyway. If you just want to know everything there is to know of interest, check this out. Even if you're a diehard fan of the series, check this out anyway -- it's a great source of new information, too.
So for all you fans of the game who want to know just what the hell is going on with the latest in this insanely popular series, just sit back, relax, and take a deep breath before diving into the information. Special thanks to PSM and THQ for helping us to make this happen.

What superstars can we expect to see and how many are there?
Contrary to other reports, the final roster has not yet been determined. Furthermore, the number of superstars on the lineup is still up in the air. Though, it has been confirmed that where will be in excess of 50 current wrestlers, with additional characters available in the legends bracket. Here are the confirmed wrestlers so far:


Current Wrestlers

A-Train
D-Von Dudley
Ric Flair
Batista
Eddie Guerrero
Rikishi
The Big Show
Garrison Cade Rob Van Dam
Booker T
John Cena
Scotty 2 Hotty
Bubba Ray
Dudley Kane
Shawn Michaels
Charlie Haas
Kurt Angle
Shelton Benjamin
Chavo Guerrero
Mark Jindrak
Stacy Kiebler
Chris Benoit
Matt Hardy
Tajiri
Chris Jericho
Randy Orton
Torrie Wilson
Christian
Rey Mysterio
Triple H
Chuck Palumbo
Rhyno
Trish Stratus

Legends

Andre the Giant
Old-School Kane
Old-School Undertaker

Keep in mind, the roster above is incomplete and is definitely subject to change (we're looking your way Rikishi and Scotty!)

Are any of the legends from last year's games back for this year?
As you can see by the answer above, only three legends have been confirmed up to this point, but with several more on the way, it's certainly possible. Unlike last year, however, legends cannot be used during season mode.

Is the grappling system any different?
Though the changes to the grappling system won't be as dramatic as last year, there are still a number of significant changes for this version. The first and most important alteration, for instance, is that signature and quick grapples are harder to counter than power and submission moves. Additionally, players can now partake in grapples while sitting on the mat, perform new halfway-standing grapples, and even participate in back and forth chopping matches like the ones that Ric Flair and Sting made famous back in their NWA days.

Another big feature this year is the inclusion of face and heel special maneuvers. Tailored to each wrestler's personality, these moves allow for temporary invincibility for heels that let them cheat without getting caught, while faces can do, uh, whatever it is faces do. Of course, the ladies are getting a slight grappling addition themselves, with the spank meter -- the more accurate a player is with their meter, the more accurate the spank. And depending on the spank, the woman's reaction could either be painful or pleasurable; with special animations dedicated to both responses.

[scott_2k16]

Is it true that submission holds have been refined?
Yes, it's true. A new time-based meter has been added to the tug-of-war grappling system that allows players to add more intensity to their holds so that they can be applied longer and do more damage. On the flipside, other players can reverse the submission holds from within this animation based on their own performance, and can finally break subs while in tag team matches.

Are there any new attributes or character abilities?
Indeed there are. The old attributes of Strength, Submission, Stamina, Technique, and Speed are back, but have now been joined by charisma. It's a pretty important addition too, as it's used to determine how much of SmackDown move bonus you receive when taunting.
Speaking of taunting, players can also argue with the referee following close two-counts or put their foot on the ropes when pinning. They run the risk of getting disqualified if they push things over the edge, but can gain an extra advantage or two if it pays off for them.

Perhaps the coolest new addition, though, is the inclusion of pre-match staredowns and test of strength competitions. You can even get into shoving matches and get an early advantage on your opponent of you play your cards right.

How about the weight detection system? Is it better?
Is sure is. The game boasts much smarter weight detection and finally plays into finishers too. For you abusers out there, this means that you can forget about pressing The Big Show up in the air with a powerslam just because it's your special.

What arenas are confirmed so far?
Barely any. But after a phone call and some research, we've confirmed that the last arenas used for SummerSlam, Backlash, and Armageddon are already in the game.

Can we create our own belts?
Yes! Through the season mode you'll be able to earn money which you can use to Create-A-Belt by buying and configuring a variety of belt parts.

What new modes are there?
Create-A-PPV lets player finally create their own pay-per-view events of three to eight matches complete with new matches of their own devise, legendary matches of days past, and current matches seen on television. With the user created belts, players can even allow combatants to vie for the grand prize. Imagine creating your own wrestlers and belts and then having them compete against one another. Incredible. The best part is this doesn't affect the season, so people won't be afraid of partaking in the festivities.

Also being added to the table are Challenges. According to PSM, these are matches that can only be won by meeting certain criteria, such as pulling off two finishers in one match or beating four legendary wrestlers with a specific character.

[scott_2k16]

Can we add our own music into the game via the HDD?
Nope. We will not be able to add our own customized music into the game. In fact, there is no hard drive support whatsoever.

What has been added to Season Mode?
First, the storylines have been revamped so that they're now more engaging and more believable (within the sports entertainment context of wrestling, anyway). There are now also mini-games that not only help build a character's attributes (perhaps somewhat analogous to how mini-games in Rocky and Fight Night build characters), but there are also mini-games that alter a wrestler's heel or face status (whether or not he is a bad or good guy). Storylines are now also completely voiced by the wrestlers themselves and include taunts, signature attacks, and a variety of other dialogue being classified as "respect actions," of which we still know little about.
Will women have their own season mode this year?
Nope. Still no season mode for women.

How has create-a-wrestler improved?
Off-the-bat, expect new, higher resolution textures and a streamlined interface. Also, given the advanced state of the engine, character models now have double the amount of polygons to work with. Higher polygon counts and higher resolution textures can make for some pretty startling characters. That's all we know for sure at this point, but we can also expect a greater diversity of customization, including more colors, accessories, and otherwise configurable settings.

Can you edit existing wrestlers?
You cannot edit existing wrestlers.

Will Smackdown vs. Raw be on any other platforms?
Nope. This one is PS2 exclusive.

Is there a Buried Alive match?
There is not a Buried Alive match, but there is a Parking Lot Brawl, which you can find further details about by browsing through a news article we published on July 16, 2004.

Will there be voiceovers for announcers or superstars?
Yes. There are real voiceovers for every wrestler in the game, except for those legend wrestlers who are not a part of season mode. Even the announcers from both Smackdown and Raw are in the game (no Heat team, however). Players will also be able to choose which announce team they'd prefer to listen to. The game is very comprehensive when it comes to voiceover work. The only limitation is that when you create-a-wrestler you cannot assign a voice to him. In this respect, the game is more like Knights of the Old Republic, in that your character doesn't actually speak. In conversations, player made characters will have dialogue trees, but will say nothing aloud.

Can we create a manager?
You're always able to create any character and assign him / her as your manager. If you'd like, you can even assign any existing character to be your manager.

[scott_2k16]

Any graphical improvements?
Yes. There are approximately 25% more polygons per wrestler and enhanced texture detail for existing and created grapplers. Additionally, stadiums have more detail, characters have added animations, and facial likenesses are far more accurate.

When is SmackDown vs. RAW coming out?
As of this writing, SvR is scheduled for release on November 15, 2004. Keep in mind, however, that this date is one that has been established by retailers and not THQ, which means it can (and likely will) change before the game is finished.
Is it online or not?
This is a tricky subject, but the official answer is "maybe." While it's true that Sony Computer Entertainment has opened an online beta test to try SmackDown! vs. RAW's various capabilities, the results of that test is what determines whether or not that feature will make it into the final build. Furthermore, it is unknown what kind of online play these betas will offer -- be it head-to-head, scoreboards, downloads, or whatever. Only time will tell what becomes of this.

Oh, before you go -- What new match types are there?
There is only one new match type, the Parking Lot Brawl. For reference, all of the match types in the game are:


Single

Single vs. Single
Single with Manager vs. Single with Manager
Single vs. Single with Manager
Tag

Tag vs. Tag
Tornado Tag Tag vs. Tag with Manager
Tag with Manager vs. Tag with Manager


6-Man Tag

Normal 6-Man Tag
Tornado 6-Man Tag


Handicap

One on Two
One on Tag
One on Three


Hardcore

Single
Tornado Tag
Tornado 6-Man Tag
Triple Threat Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Time Limit

Royal Rumble


Survival

Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
4-Man Battal Royal
5-Man Battle Royal
6-Man Battle Royal
3 Stages Of Hell

Bra & Panties


Cage

Single
Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Single Pin and Give Up
Triple Threat Pin and Give Up
Fatal 4-Way Pin and Give Up

Elimination Chamber

Elimination Tag

Normal Tag
Tornado Tag
Captain Fall Tornado 6-Man Tag
Normal 6-Man Tag
Tornado 6-Man Tag
Table Tornado Tag
Table Tornado 6-Man Tag

First Blood


Hell in a Cell

Single
Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Tornado Tag
Armageddon
Ironman


Ladder

Single
Tornado Tag
Triple Threat Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Last Man Standing

Lumber Jack


Slobber Knocker

Time Limit
No Limit
Anywhere


Special Referee

One Referee Single
One Referee Normal Tag
One Referee Ironman
Two Referees Single
Two Referees Normal Tag
Two Referees Ironman


Submission

Single
Ultimate Submission


Table

Single
Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Tornado 6-Man Tag


TLC

Single
Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Title
Title Tornado Tag
Title Triple Threat
Title Fatal 4-Way


Parking Lot Brawl

Single
Tornado Tag
Tornado 6-Man Tag
Triple Threat Tornado Tag
Triple Threat
Fatal 4-Way
Time Limit




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

IGNPS2 would like to once again thank PSM Magazine and THQ for their contributions in the creation of this article. Industry Love folks. Industry love.

[Tattooed Freak]

Is it poo like Showdown: Legends of Wrestling??

[scott_2k16]

its not released until nov 2004

[Tattooed Freak]

So we should be seeing it in late September then...

[scott_2k16]

So we should be seeing it in late September then...

pics of this game is on the following link

http://media.ps2.ign.com/media/670/670847/imgs_1.html

[flumperino]

cool

[Tattooed Freak]

Looks impressive, but I will reserve my judgement until I have played it. So many wrestling games have been let downs.

[Sanj[UK]]

IGN have the trailer/teaser for it..the greaphics have got even better and there is commentating!!!

[Tattooed Freak]

Games like this need commentary and not just 5 different lines of pap. Plenty of it to add to the atmosphere...

[scott_2k16]

July 29, 2004 - We had some strong and positive reactions to our all-encompassing WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW Overload informational piece earlier this week, but are glad to report that THQ has updated us with even more of the good stuff for today. Listed below in simple to read bullet point format, this newly discovered news not only reveals the answer to several of your burning questions, but also shows you the power of yours, the consumer voice -- as one of the features previously announced as non-existent has now been implemented to make the people happy. What feature is it? You'll just have to read on to find out.

As a quick reminder before you begin, however, don't forget to check the media page below for five brand new screenshots of stars like Stacy Kiebler, Evolution, and the Heartbreak Kid. Enjoy!

The first bit of significant news today is that THQ has decided to allow players to control legends during season mode after all. It was definitely a sore spot for gamers when we announced it to be otherwise earlier this week, so the revelation that you'll be able to play with personalities such as Legend Undertaker during the season is one that naysayers are sure to appreciate. Keep in mind, however, that in order to use them, you'll need to unlock them first. Additionally, THQ is still unsure as to whether or not legends will be mixed in with regular opponents over the course of a given season like last year, or if they'll only be available as a player-controlled character.

Users will be able to enjoy any match type they want in the Create-A-PPV mode and will not be restricted to a specific set of bouts (with a maximum of eight matches per event). Additionally, user-created belts can only be defended in the Create-A-PPV option and cannot be defended during standard exhibition matches (though, since Create-A-PPV is essentially a collection of exhibition matches anyway, it's close enough).

Speaking of Create-A-Belt, THQ revealed additional tidbits as to how it works and what its purpose is. To put it simply, it's a great way to unlock the game's many bonuses -- be they hidden characters, outfits, or whatever. To use them in the best way possible, simply defend your created belt during the PPV matches to add a prestige value. This prestige value continues to rise the more successful you are, and you can eventually sell it back to the game to reap a dollar value for use in the Shopzone.

Oh and one final tidbit on Create-A-Belts: yes, you can defend them against human players who can then save them to their own memory cards, and no, you can't import created titles into the season mode.

Specificities pertaining to the heel/face mechanic were elaborated on. Officially known as the "Dirty/Clean" mechanic, players will be able to wrestle in an exact style that rewards them for their alignment towards either discipline. If you're a heel, for instance, you'll be able to build your dirty meter up by performing evil deeds. Arguing with the referee, breaking off the turnbuckle, holding submissions after the break, and taunting from the arena floor all count as dirty meter builders. Once the meter is built all the way up, players will be able to pull off illegal strikes like eye pokes, low blows, and brass knuckles without penalties.


Similarly, wrestlers aligned as heels get bonuses too Their Clean meter is built by fighting clean, playing to the crowd, using signature grapples, performing high-flying moves, and taunting inside the ring. Once their meter has been built all the way up, they'll be privy to temporary invincibility. Nice!

THQ has incorporated an all-new baseball slide maneuver this year that allows you to attack ringside opponents from inside the ring. There have been similar moves to this before, of course, but this particular one has never been used before.

The submission system will utilize two meters this year. The first is the same tug-of-war submission from last year (that works on the same button-tapping mechanic), while the second will appear for reversible submissions. Entirely timing based and only applicable for things like leglocks and armbars, the reversal meter should add a little more strategy to the typical grappling setup.

The online mode still hasn't be solidified yet and final word as to whether or not it makes the final build is still dependant on the results of Sony's online beta test. Unfortunately for fans hoping to get in, the window to join the beta test is long since closed and SCEA is not accepting any more applicants.

Four new wrestlers were confirmed as part of the lineup: Rico (who we already knew about but forgot to list last time), Edge, Renee Dupree, and JBL (that's Bradshaw for those of you not in the loop).

[Sanj[UK]]

Smackdown! vs. RAW Footage - Big Show vs. Scotty 2 Hotty
Posted by Niel Stephens on 07/25/04

We now have the new Smackdown vs RAW footage taken from the English PSW Magazine's DVD.

The footage is a match between Big Show and Scotty 2 Hotty.

http://ringsidegames.com/screens/SD6/svr1.mpg

its 28 meg. il report back once ive watched it :thumbs

[scott_2k16]

August 04, 2004 - 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.

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.

[scott_2k16]

try this website for free videos & pics of the new smackdown game!

http://www.neoseeker.com/resourcelink.html?rid=75741

[scott_2k16]

soz wrong site

http://www.smackdownvsraw.cjb.net/

[daz73]

anyone else notice HHH doing ortons pose in evolution entrance....

[scott_2k16]

YES YES YES

LOOK WHOS ON THE GAME


http://media.ps2.ign.com/media/670/670847/imgs_1.html