Smackdown Vs Raw: Official

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/522/522962p1.html

IGN just posted the first info on SDvR and they made a point about how THQ is gonna be really stealthy this year in regards to giving out info about the game. My thoughts are that they don't want anything to happen this year like it did with the Warrior last year. (You can thank PSM for not having Warrior in SD5 by the way).

The most interesting tidbit:

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Apparently the roster isn't the only thing remaining covert, though; as THQ has an absolutely massive undisclosed gameplay option that will be announced sometime over the next couple of weeks. And while we can't get official confirmation as to just what that secret may end up being just yet, the word on the street is that it's that it's the one extra that everyone has been waiting for since the advent of PS2 Network Adapter: Online connectivity. And from what we understand, that's not so far off from the truth.

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They confirmed that this one will again be a 6 player affair (for those of you with 2 multitaps) and will have all of the modes from last years game (highlights include Elimination Chamber, Bra and Panties, and Hell in a Cell).

This sounds cool, but DOR has definitely set the bar for facial rendering:

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Visually the game has been given a boost too. Character models and attire in particular have a lot more detail than they did before, with a continued emphasis on facial recreation and animation. "You're going to freak out when you see this new one in motion," whispered a THQ employee that wished to remain anonymous. "It's easily the best looking game in the series."

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The Legends will be back this year. Some from last year will be back again, and more are going to be joining them, but due to ongoing contract negotiations, THQ can't talk about them. Sadly, the reason why Legends were put in SD5 is because they don't have to make entrances, or include entrance themes for the legends, and so they take up less space on the DVD. Which totally sucks IMO, 'because the Million Dollar man just aint the same when he doesn't come to the ring cackling and counting money while we hear "Money, Money, Money, Money, MUN-EEEEEEEEEE" in the background. But, I suppose it's better that they are in there, minus music and entrances, then not having them at all. Especially since everyone would just try to create them anyway. Of course, all of that could be solved by supporting the HDD, but I wouldn't hold my breath for that.

In closing:

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But secrecy seems to be Smackdown vs. RAWs theme this year. As THQ have plans to reveal details more meticulously than in the years before it. The company did confirm one final tidbit about the game, though, which is its release date: November 2004. And with almost half a year left, the time should give anxious WWE gamers plenty of time to digest exactly what lies before them.

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WWE games have been on a hell of an upswing as of late, and this will probably be the one to watch. I'll keep you posted. And, if I don't, Jeremy will.


http://www.boomspeed.com/korly/SDvR1.jpg

Possible online play!? YEEESSS!

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Originally Posted by Korly

Sadly, the reason why Legends were put in SD5 is because they don't have to make entrances, or include entrance themes for the legends, and so they take up less space on the DVD. Which totally sucks IMO, 'because the Million Dollar man just aint the same when he doesn't come to the ring cackling and counting money while we hear "Money, Money, Money, Money, MUN-EEEEEEEEEE" in the background.

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thats BULLSHIT. i just ripped the disc and its only 4.21Gig. they still had a couple hundred meg. they not only had more room to put their entrance themes on there, they also could have used dvd9. that excuse, i have nop idea where you got it from but its just plain horseshit. and if it's what THQ is spitting out then they're liars. thats the main complaint i had with the last game. the completely gay entrances and then SILENCE when you won with a legend.

Well, you could set the legends to have music in SD5, you just had to pick some of the music that was already there.

I usually just gave them the SD or RAW themes, but you could give them whatever you wanted.


As far as the comment about not taking much space, I have no idea where I read that. It might've been in the developers commentary video on IGN, or it may have been in a magazine.

I know I read it though, but we can just ignore that until I find my source (which I won't be falling all over myself to find).

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Originally Posted by Korly

(You can thank PSM for not having Warrior in SD5 by the way).

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How did PSM fuck that up? Did they leak something that they weren't supposed to and screw up negotiations?

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"You're going to freak out when you see this new one in motion," whispered a THQ employee that wished to remain anonymous. "It's easily the best looking game in the series."

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Wow, no developer or publisher EVER makes claims like that...I was so tired of listening to Kojima go on and on at E3 about how they were making sure Snake Eater looks like complete shit compared to the last game.

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Which totally sucks IMO, 'because the Million Dollar man just aint the same when he doesn't come to the ring cackling and counting money while we hear "Money, Money, Money, Money, MUN-EEEEEEEEEE" in the background.

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Preach it, brother.

But why didn't they include the themes for the legends? As Dyne said, there was space on the DVD. Lazy bitches.

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Originally Posted by Videodrone

Possible online play!? YEEESSS!

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No one said that. They said Online connectivity. They'll probably cheese out and just let you post rankings online or download skins or something gay like that. Cross your fingers, though.

i think i remember them not including the legend themes because didnt the wrestlers actually own the rights to their music back then? i know there was another reason and im pretty sure "lack of space" was one of them.

The Legend's themes are on the last WWE music cd they released, though. Stands to reason they could be in the game, I assume.

This game needs to be on the Xbox.

WWE owns the rights to all of the legends' themes, the wrestlers have never owned the rights to them. Jimmy Hart, on the other hand, is a former wrestler, and has written many pro wrestling themes, and was able to buy the rights, or retain them in some way, from WWE, in order for them to appear on the last two LoW games. If this game doesn't feature major improvements in the actual wrestling aspects of the game, then I'll be pretty unhappy, although hopefully, Yukes will bust their asses this time to improve the gameplay in this series. If they could find a happy medium between SD and the WM/DoR method of gameplay, then things will be good.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

The Legend's themes are on the last WWE music cd they released, though. Stands to reason they could be in the game, I assume.

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you're talking of the anthology right? yeah i never thought of that. man was i let down by the quality of some of the tracks on that collection. the ultimate warrior music sounds like its being played thru a tin can.

Razor Ramon's music is fine, that's all that counts, chico.

haha. if only my friend didnt destroy all my discs i could still listen to it. the looks i would get when i cranked up my system :D

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

How did PSM fuck that up? Did they leak something that they weren't supposed to and screw up negotiations?

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I read an interview in PLAY magazine with the Warrior when they first announced LOW3, and they asked him why he backed out of being in SD!5 and he said that basically, the negotiations for that were never final, and THQ was an untrustworthy company, since they leaked out all of the info, like it was a done deal, and Acclaim is a company of real integrity, and they would never do anything like that. He loves Acclaim. I'm assuming however that he's never met the Olsen twins.

Yukes made a wrestling game in Japan with online play, so here's to hoping they can make that a reality for this game.

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Originally Posted by TobalRox

Yukes made a wrestling game in Japan with online play

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Which one?

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Visually the game has been given a boost too. Character models and attire in particular have a lot more detail than they did before, with a continued emphasis on facial recreation and animation. "You're going to freak out when you see this new one in motion," whispered a THQ employee that wished to remain anonymous. "It's easily the best looking game in the series."

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So.... they still are all about looks.
Thing is, most entrances in SD5 do not look very authentic. The models look great but the gameplay is frustrating. The AI is horrible and the point of the game is still rush to the pinfall.

I want them to focus on having a good match... doing cool spots and programming their game properly with proper testing.

Ive played ALL the Smackdown games and they never ever get it right. There is always stupid errors and silly little mistakes that ruin the fun when they could have taken 2 hours to fix them.

My favourite is the robot AI. Just say I lay out Orton with a pedigree and he is in that sprawled out form. Immediately almost all computer players turn and try to pin him.
I hate it so much because it ruins the games. Their AI is cheaply programmed.
And don't assume I suck at this game, I can kill any of my friends and destroy the computer... but in doing so I don't immediately try to pin people. I try to have a cool match with interactions and everything... not just a race to the finish. Which is a waste of my time... why not just play street fighter.

Oh, I forgot.. if they don't finally get the Royal Rumble right this year I'm going to find THQ/Yukes and attack them - nerd style.

Seriously, they put in a tug of war system and then make the Rumble mode worse than the years before.

Who is thinking this stuff through!?

Yeah, I agree with you about the rumbles.

If I get in the ring with just one other guy, forget it, I won. Irish whip, running boot, elimated. Next guy gets the same thing, and then over and over...

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Originally Posted by Korly

Which one?

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I don't remember what it was called since it was some Japanese game. I think it might have even been called "wrestling online" or something poorly translated along those lines. I read about it on IGN shortly after the last Smackdown was released.

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Originally Posted by TobalRox

I don't remember what it was called since it was some Japanese game. I think it might have even been called "wrestling online" or something poorly translated along those lines. I read about it on IGN shortly after the last Smackdown was released.

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Your talking about Online Pro Wrestling. It's supposed to suck nuts and then some.

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Originally Posted by Chojin

Your talking about Online Pro Wrestling. It's supposed to suck nuts and then some.

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Well, that's a shame to hear, but still, it's Yukes making an online game... which means it's possible they could do the same for Smackdown (Which doesn't suck nuts).

I still play Smackdown 5. I still really enjoy it, but things bug me.

I really hope they work on their gameplay. It seems they change it too much to really start impressing me.
The AI I figure will never be good.. oh well.

I had 2 awesome matches with HBK/HHH today. A HIAC and a TLC.
Elbow off HIAC onto broken table = awesome! (I lost after 3 pedigrees though, eerie because thats the same ending as the PPV :S)

omg SPOILERS! :D
that IS creepy btw.

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Originally Posted by Korly

I read an interview in PLAY magazine with the Warrior when they first announced LOW3, and they asked him why he backed out of being in SD!5 and he said that basically, the negotiations for that were never final, and THQ was an untrustworthy company, since they leaked out all of the info, like it was a done deal, and Acclaim is a company of real integrity, and they would never do anything like that. He loves Acclaim. I'm assuming however that he's never met the Olsen twins.

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Bwa-ha-ha, Warrior loves Acclaim. Never mind the insane rants he posts on his website, that fact alone proves he's out of his mind.

i thought the warrior was dead......or one of them.

There was one Ultimate Warrior, and he isn't dead.

I still play Smackdown 5 all the time too... but it's always with 3-5 other friends, so AI doesn't bother me.

The problem with the Smackdown series was always the terrible, terrible A.I. Fix that and you've got yourself a game 10x better off for it. With that said, this game looks pretty interesting. Also, how about fixing the options properly?

SD 5. get a non-dq match, grab a chair. within 5 minutes you're done. i thought the unlockables in the last game were pretty weak as well. i never understood why they insist on using most of thst space for extra CaW items. just make all that shit unlocked in the first place.

They need unlockable wrestlers again. Not just legends. I want hidden bosses. That was awesome fun.

But Andrew brought up another good point. Smackdown 4 had tons of cool options like Hardcore Time Limit Title with any option of time. In Smackdown 5, the same match only had a 10 minute time limit deal? Same with Ironman.... why take things like that out?

Personally, I feel if I buy a game I should have the right to make the options anyway I want in an exhibition match. No Mercy was GREAT for options. You could configure matches anyway you wanted.

Oh, and someone please tell them that with that new awesome Randy Orton model that they better have a re-animated RKO. The one in SD5 sucks so bad. What is that, the drag my face of doom move? :yuck:

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

There was one Ultimate Warrior, and he isn't dead.

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And he legally changed his name to Warrior too. "Hi my name is Warrior, I'm not so ultimate anymore."

Yeah, not that he's nuts or anything... Also, IGN released a teaser for the game. I hope that Yukes brings back the ability to have anyone in special guest referee matches, and allows Iron Man matches to be longer than 10 frickin' minutes.

weird, for the past couple days whenever i try to watch a clip from any ign site i always get the trailer for dodgeball.

Everytime Yukes adds something to their games it takes them 4 games to get it right. Yukes, stop adding stuff and polish what you've given us. Better animating, better A.I. and fixed bugs. I'd be happy just for this... but they never ever ever ever ever do it.

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Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

weird, for the past couple days whenever i try to watch a clip from any ign site i always get the trailer for dodgeball.

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Conspiracy victim.

the new PSM has more info on the game that i don't think was mentioned anywhere else:

- create-a-belt and create-a-ppv are back in.
- challenge mode: series of matches w/ set challenges (pulling off two finishers in a match, defeat 4 legends with a specific character, etc.)
- managers will "act" more like they do on tv. so they should be jumping on the aprons to distract the refs, and pulling them out during counts.
- submissions: you no longer have to break them. holding on after a break is called will result in a boost to your "heel meter". in tag-matches, your partner can now break subs.
- shove battles, chop battles, stare downs, and tests of strength during matches.
- face/heel meters: when this meter fills ups, faces can become temp. invincible, and heels can pull off dirty moves (eye pokes, brass knucks, eye rakes, low blows, etc).
- spanking in bra and panty matches. the harder you spank them, the louder them scream.
- dialogue by wrestlers are voiced. no more text.

pretty much the gist of what's in the article. and i'm sure Jeremy, or someone, will chime in with added stuff i might've missed.

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

- managers will "act" more like they do on tv. so they should be jumping on the aprons to distract the refs, and pulling them out during counts.

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Awesome!

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

- face/heel meters: when this meter fills ups, faces can become temp. invincible, and heels can pull off dirty moves (eye pokes, brass knucks, eye rackes, low blows, etc).

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Awesome!

anybody who got the email get a confirmation of mailing yet?>

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

- create-a-belt and create-a-ppv are back in.

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I hope this is true, because my friends and I have been wanting to set something up where we have something to defend, and set up matches that we "build up to" but we don't always get to play enough to keep track of things.

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

- challenge mode: series of matches w/ set challenges (pulling off two finishers in a match, defeat 4 legends with a specific character, etc.)

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I always love these in games, so it's a welcome addition.

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

- managers will "act" more like they do on tv. so they should be jumping on the aprons to distract the refs, and pulling them out during counts.

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This is good, because a friend of mine and I were just talking about this yesterday, and how the games need to improve that kind of stuff.

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

- submissions: you no longer have to break them. holding on after a break is called will result in a boost to your "heel metter". in tag-matches, your partner can now break subs.
- shove battles, chop battles, stare downs, and tests of strength during matches.
- face/heel meters: when this meter fills ups, faces can become temp. invincible, and heels can pull off dirty moves (eye pokes, brass knucks, eye rackes, low blows, etc).

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These are all things we have also mentioned wanting in the games. Breaking submissions esp. I hated that you just had to sit there and watch while your partner was getting wrecked and you couldn't do anything about it. Or break up a submission in a thriple threat.

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

- spanking in bra and panty matches. the harder you spank them, the louder them scream.

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This is just fucking stupid.

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

- dialogue by wrestlers are voiced. no more text.

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This game needs more sound, like taunts and stuff (obviously when they have a mic... it wouldn't make sense in the middle of the match). I just hope that someday commentary comes back when they can do a decent job.

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Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

anybody who got the email get a confirmation of mailing yet?>

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I read the beta started monday, yet I haven't heard back from them about things being shipped or anything. I'm getting anxious to play this, and I hope that the beta doesn't end up lasting 2 weeks.

I finally got inivted into the GAP.

A few weeks late though.

speaking of GAP, they sent me another issue of OPM... from April. wtf?!?

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

the new PSM has more info on the game that i don't think was mentioned anywhere else:

- create-a-belt and create-a-ppv are back in.
- challenge mode: series of matches w/ set challenges (pulling off two finishers in a match, defeat 4 legends with a specific character, etc.)
- managers will "act" more like they do on tv. so they should be jumping on the aprons to distract the refs, and pulling them out during counts.
- submissions: you no longer have to break them. holding on after a break is called will result in a boost to your "heel meter". in tag-matches, your partner can now break subs.
- shove battles, chop battles, stare downs, and tests of strength during matches.
- face/heel meters: when this meter fills ups, faces can become temp. invincible, and heels can pull off dirty moves (eye pokes, brass knucks, eye rakes, low blows, etc).
- spanking in bra and panty matches. the harder you spank them, the louder them scream.
- dialogue by wrestlers are voiced. no more text.

pretty much the gist of what's in the article. and i'm sure Jeremy, or someone, will chime in with added stuff i might've missed.

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Not bad at all. Except for the spanking thing, what the hell?

standard fan service. the whole thing is a novelty and it was good for a match or two in HCtP. i guess people must really want to spank each other in some weirdo homoerotic fantasy. but yea, in the article they pointed out that when you spank them, they scream, and the harder you spank them, the louder they get and the wilder their animations will be. maybe not wilder, but they'll probably flail around a lot more during their spanked animations.

submissions also use a time based countdown of sorts (Rumble Roses uses a similar thing). i guess everytime you slap one on, the time increases making it harder for your opponent to break out of it.

PSM arrived today, the create-a-belt looks neat, and I can't wait to try out create-a-PPV, although the two memory card minimum for it is disheartening. Hopefully, Yukes will allow for moves to connect from the back as well, like...oh every wrestling game EXCEPT those in this series. Seeing the one selling animation for flying moves gone would rule as well, as would nixing that unrealistic bump taken after a huge fall. Some screens sure do look overtaken by meters, which could get distracting as well.

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

submissions also use a time based countdown of sorts (Rumble Roses uses a similar thing). i guess everytime you slap one on, the time increases making it harder for your opponent to break out of it.

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This is good progession, since holding a submission move for 10 seconds at the beginning of the match didn't make much sense (esp. since no one could break it up).

According to IGN, beta testing has already started... but I haven't got a single e-mail from them about it even shipping, let alone get the disc... as I mentioned in the last message too, my "beta central" button disappeared from my Playstation website. Anyone here havinig problems, or are they playing it?

Sounds like there is ground grappling and half standing grapples as well, plus signiture and quick grapple moves are harder to counter. Sounds cool

IGN's piece last night was neat, although a vid I saw of the game has it looking pretty much the same as the highly-flawed HCtP, just with a new coat of paint.

the IGN article didn't really tell us anything we didn't already know from the PSM preview. at least i'm pretty sure it didn't.

at least we know old school-Taker is back, so is Andre the Giant, and apparently old school Kane.

My opinion is that Kane is far from a legend, and his "old school" should just be another costume just like how he could be with or without the mask in the last one. For that matter... all "old school" versions for everyone should be a costume option

Not always. If they have different entrances or movesets (like Oldschool Taker vs Short Hair "You're gonna pay" taker) I'd want them to be a seperate character.

Kane though, should just be an alternate costume.

I can kind of buy the old school Kane as a legend. I mean, he did make his debut in the first Hell in a cell, that has to be worth SOMETHING! And he's a former champ. They need to push him properly though, they committed such a huge story to him and copped out on the finish.

This game is going to be so flawed. Fix the Royal Rumble mode and A.I. that just uses specials and tries to pin you when you're knocked out. In a match with 6 players, and you're knocked out by a friend, the other four players will just turn and try to pin you all at once, which proves Yukes has a poor programming staff. It proves it because the if statements are so simplistic that they all react the same way in a situation. I also hated how when you didn't get beaten by the crossface Benoit would pin you afterwards.

Okay, so I worked hard to not tap out and I'm beaten anyway? Lame as fucking hell. Also, would it kill them to take out submit on a headlock? Nobody in WWE uses a headlock as a finished, just make it a weardown move and not one you can ruin a 30 minute long match with. Also, how about not making someone be beaten by a simple body slam? I understand powerbombs, and whatnot, but simple moves like this never pin anybody in WWE. This isn't a sports game, people like to have realistic matches. (I realize the new submission system, IF IMPLEMENTED ON EVERY SUBMISSION MOVE THIS TIME, will eliminate the need for headlock finishes being taken out. But something tells me that because it's Yukes, they're going to suck and make it so that the new submission stuff only goes on a few submissions like the last game. Again, half assed).

Also, how about allowing people kick out of finishers? Not all the time but let there be a chance. As it is right now, you beat up your opponent, hit a finisher (two if it's the beginning) and you're done, that's it.

In royal rumble mode input a struggle system for throwing people out, and even a reversal system instead of the "i'm on the apron you can kick me" nonsense. Being able to roll back under the bottom rope and drag you out instead of me would be great. Also, put back in the animation where you could be kicked from behind and go flipping out. And how about a little bit of post-elimination banter? They just disappear. It would definitely be cool if someone, say Jeremy was eliminating Korly, I could either come up from behind and try to toss them both out, HELP Jeremy eliminate Korly, or attack Jeremy preventing him from eliminating Korly.

Royal Rumble was THE feature in a WWE game back in the day, now it's a fourth rate piece of shit. Bring back the elimination tally, who eliminated who, who had the most ring time and who got the most beat up, etc, etc. Same for Battle royale. Also PUT BACK IN THE ABILITY TO EDIT TIME! This last one being left off HCtP just shows they didn't go through everything with a fine toothed comb like they should have. A 10 minute iron man match? Fucking lame. Time limit title was great in Smackdown 4, but HCtP was terrible because of the time limitations imposed on you.

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Originally Posted by Korly

Kane though, should just be an alternate costume.

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That's true.

i just got an email saying they sent my beta kit........

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Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

i just got an email saying they sent my beta kit........

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me too... just signed on to report that. they said it'll be 4 days at most... I can't wait to start some shit with you guys as Orton :)

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Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

i just got an email saying they sent my beta kit........

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Originally Posted by TobalRox

me too... just signed on to report that. they said it'll be 4 days at most... I can't wait to start some shit with you guys as Orton :)

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Fuck. Can I come over? :chick: :chunobi: :chick:

well i just sold my ps2. ill mail you mine when it comes. seriously. pm me. but you must agree to become my personal bitch.

Andrew, those are pretty much my thoughts on how this game will turn out. If they could take the actual in-match drama from the WM games, where a finisher DOESN'T equal an instant victory, and allow for actual back-and-forth matches, then this series will get one of its many much-needed improvements. Yukes has a talented programming group, they're just working on the non-SD games.

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Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

well i just sold my ps2. ill mail you mine when it comes. seriously. pm me. but you must agree to become my personal bitch.

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Believe it or not, my PMs won't work right now. email me, or I'll email you.

korly2k1@hotmail.com

Anyone in CT, let me know, maybe we can work out a party to play haha....

new article at IGN with a look at some of the new gadgets and gizmos .

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/536/536938p1.html

Yukes makes non-WWE games?

The WWE programming team appears to be very, very incompetant when the A.I. is noticably dumb as logs.

If Player #(whatever it may be) is in hurt_position (the arms spread like you're hurt as hell) then computer (ALL of them) pins.

Oh man, that's so sophisticated!

Well, Yuke's has done non-WWE games, and even did one recently with Online Pro Wrestling in Japan. I was referring to there being different programming teams for the WM and SD games.

This has nothing to do with Smackdown vs. RAW, but have they mentioned anything about Wrestlemania for Xbox other than that's what francise is going to that system now? All the attention seems to be on Day of Reckoning and this game, so I was curious. Are they taking the year off to make up for RAW2?

Nothing on WM 21 for the Xbox has been announced. I saw the new IGN stuff, and I'll say that visually, the game looks good. Although the gameplay appears to still be highly flawed judging from the vids. If everything announced in the Gamespot Q&A ends up holding true, and working out really well, that might not be the case, but right now, I'm really doubting that this will be much of a wrestling game.

There are druids in Taker's intro, but the fire effect is Attitude-level bad, which kills it. There is some really nice, subtle lip movement on Taker though, which is neat. Evolution's entrance looks fantastic, aside from HHH doing Orton's part of the entrance, and anyone not Flair being bowed to. The pyro looks great. The parking lot brawl match looks like a mix of good and bad. There appears to be a LOT of canned animation, which could probably all be seen in just one match. The glass shattering effect looked neat, as did landing on the car, I just wish it took more than an irish whipe to do some of this stuff. Hell, No Mercy had great vehicular stuff in it, with the truck fighting, and here, it just looks very fake and artificial. The fact that some of the stuff appears to just take the place of the ring barrier, and on top of that, not even have the wrestler model lying on the car, just just on air, makes it look very cheesy and fake. Although given that this IS the SD series, I guess I shouldn't be shocked by that.

How goes the online beta test Tobal and Dyne?

Also, IGN has new videos.

According to this article from IGN, THQ has confirmed that online play will be in the final version of this game! :D

Awesome!

It was off to a VERY shakey start... it was lagged like hell to the point of being like a full second delay... but that cleared up after a day, and things are great now... it's very limited as to what you can do, but it's been fun, and I can't wait. I can't say anymore until the test is over though.

When's it over?

sometime next week, I think

Online play will rule, assuming the game doesn't end up to be shit. The broadband-only rule should help things out in terms of lag and stuff.

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

Nothing on WM 21 for the Xbox has been announced. I saw the new IGN stuff, and I'll say that visually, the game looks good. Although the gameplay appears to still be highly flawed judging from the vids. If everything announced in the Gamespot Q&A ends up holding true, and working out really well, that might not be the case, but right now, I'm really doubting that this will be much of a wrestling game.

There are druids in Taker's intro, but the fire effect is Attitude-level bad, which kills it. There is some really nice, subtle lip movement on Taker though, which is neat. Evolution's entrance looks fantastic, aside from HHH doing Orton's part of the entrance, and anyone not Flair being bowed to. The pyro looks great. The parking lot brawl match looks like a mix of good and bad. There appears to be a LOT of canned animation, which could probably all be seen in just one match. The glass shattering effect looked neat, as did landing on the car, I just wish it took more than an irish whipe to do some of this stuff. Hell, No Mercy had great vehicular stuff in it, with the truck fighting, and here, it just looks very fake and artificial. The fact that some of the stuff appears to just take the place of the ring barrier, and on top of that, not even have the wrestler model lying on the car, just just on air, makes it look very cheesy and fake. Although given that this IS the SD series, I guess I shouldn't be shocked by that.

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It looks like a gameplay type they slapped on the game so people wouldn't get angry that there was nothing new to do. Knowing Yukes, you'll probably have to make a full 8 man PPV just to defend your world title. I sincerely hope you can just do an exhibition match and choose whether or not the title is on the line.

Tech TV/G4 just did a count down on the 10 best wrestling games of all time and they gave Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain #1 and No Mercy #2 and the thing is... what they were saying about No Mercy blew SD: HCTP out of the water.

I assume they picked Smackdown over No Mercy to appease THQ.

I'm more excited about Day of Reckoning than the new Smackdown. WM 19 was a great start.

WM XIX was the single greatest replication of actual wrestling I've played yet, and hopefully, DoR will continue that trend. The only thing worrying me with DoR is the grappling animation, as it doesn't appear as organic as XIX's, and looks artificial, like in SD 5. They're likely using online in SvR to mask the shitty gameplay of the SD games, which seems to be working, as JUST this feature being in has people fawning over the game.

let's not get into the whole "smackdown sucks... I'm better for liking another wrestling game instead." The Smackdown series sells great, and I'm included in loving it since the very first game. It's simple, fun to play, and a blast multiplayer. End of story.

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Originally Posted by TobalRox

let's not get into the whole "smackdown sucks... I'm better for liking another wrestling game instead." The Smackdown series sells great, and I'm included in loving it since the very first game. It's simple, fun to play, and a blast multiplayer. End of story.

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IAWTP

I used to hate Smackdown, but I changed my mind when part 4 came out.

Now, I accept it as the best we're likely to get, and it's really not bad at all. Probably my most anticipated game each year.

If I think that Wrestlemania 2000 is still one of the best wrestling games out there, would I like Wrestlemania XIX? Does it have a good character editor? Can you have and defend belts?

Well, XIX has a great grappling system that kind of bears a resemblance to WM 2000/No Mercy, but they were each done by different companies. You can't change the wrestlers' appearance in XIX, but you can change their heel/face stuff, and their moves. You can only have or defend belts in the King of the Ring tournament mode, you can't select who to defend against.

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

IAWTP

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I have no idea what that means.

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Originally Posted by TobalRox

I have no idea what that means.

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I Agree With This Post

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Originally Posted by Rumpy

I Agree With This Post

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IBTN

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Originally Posted by Korly

Now, I accept it as the best we're likely to get, and it's really not bad at all. Probably my most anticipated game each year.

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it's quick and fun and that's all that matters to me. i enjoy myself some Fire Pro too, but Smackdown's always been easily more accessible when it comes to playing with friends. and while it's not my most anticipated every year, i get excited when info about it comes out.

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Originally Posted by TobalRox

let's not get into the whole "smackdown sucks... I'm better for liking another wrestling game instead." The Smackdown series sells great, and I'm included in loving it since the very first game. It's simple, fun to play, and a blast multiplayer. End of story.

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I don't hate Smackdown. I don't like Yukes very much, but DOR is a better game at its core, but Smackdown is also fun and great. The only thing about Smackdown is that you can tell Yukes doesn't understand wrestling and wrestling fans when they take the Dudleys out of Day of Reckoning, or don't give us a competant way to 3D someone in Smackdown without tag matches on and it pisses me off.

The only thing I don't like about the Smackdown games above all else which I can ignore is the way the A.I. is so terrible, yet nobody seems to address this at all. They bring up new match modes as awesome, when it's the cpu AI that's the real problem. This isn't a problem when you play multiplayer, though.

Andrew, Yuke's isn't responsible for the Dudley Boys not being in, or anyone else. They put in who they are told to put in. And if they didn't understand wrestling, I don't think they'd do as good a job as they did with the TR series.

This is true, but I bet you if I watched Japanese wrestling on a regular basis I'd be able to point obscurities in those games. I like Smackdown, don't get me wrong, it's just that one of the best things to do in Wrestlemania 19 is tag up with the Dudleys in a tornado tag and go to town with the double team moves.

Every other person just does the lame double team punches for a double team move. I also wish they'd put elimination in the 4 way battle royals. Right now the only way to do it is for one person to get DQed or counted out. I'd also like to be able to control my character after the elimination as well.

What I mean by that is if you don't know who Andre the Giant is or what his finisher is you wouldn't care that it's a bodyslam or a suplex (which The Hammers finisher apparently is in DOR). Luckily we can change it.

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Originally Posted by Agent X

According to this article from IGN, THQ has confirmed that online play will be in the final version of this game! :D

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Sweet..the game isnt officially out yet and I'm beating AshenVictor online..o wait, he doesnt even have it hooked up. O well, even if he did..I'll still whoop his ass!

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Originally Posted by shidoshi

If I think that Wrestlemania 2000 is still one of the best wrestling games out there, would I like Wrestlemania XIX? Does it have a good character editor? Can you have and defend belts?

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Nah..No Mercy!

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Originally Posted by Andrew

Every other person just does the lame double team punches for a double team move. I also wish they'd put elimination in the 4 way battle royals. Right now the only way to do it is for one person to get DQed or counted out. I'd also like to be able to control my character after the elimination as well.

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I'm not sure what you're talking about, but I play 4 person (or six person) battle royales all the time in Smackdown 5, and when someone gets eliminated they get to hang around the ring and fuck with the guys that are still wrestling.

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Originally Posted by Ashen Victor

IAWTP

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I Am Waiting To Play?

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Originally Posted by bandit

Nah..No Mercy!

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Wrestlemania 2000 was better. No Mercy had a shit ton of slowdown, and weird looking character faces (especially on The Rock).

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Originally Posted by Korly

I'm not sure what you're talking about, but I play 4 person (or six person) battle royales all the time in Smackdown 5, and when someone gets eliminated they get to hang around the ring and fuck with the guys that are still wrestling.

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We were talking about DOR/ WMXIX

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Originally Posted by Korly

Wrestlemania 2000 was better. No Mercy had a shit ton of slowdown, and weird looking character faces (especially on The Rock).

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Virtual Pro Wrestling 2 was the best. Everything from WM2000 was there plus you had super finishers, a MMA mode, more moves, create-a-belt & you could set a two line speech to say before each fight. And if you really wanted the WWF guys in there it was easy to make any one of 'em. I had 6 memory cards filled with CAWs at one point.

VPW 2 also had EVERY Aki-animated thing in it except for the spinarooni, and the shoot fighting. Best $28 I ever spent.

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

VPW 2 also had EVERY Aki-animated thing in it except for the spinarooni, and the shoot fighting. Best $28 I ever spent.

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Yeah, I could live without trash moves like the spinarooni. And it was the Best $70 I've ever spent on a new game.

Yes, VPW 2 is best.

It would be better with the spinaroonie.

I'm still holding out hope for a Virtual Pro Wrestling 3 someday. Until then, 2 will be a damn hard game to top.

That would be awesome. When I talked to Asmik/AKI awhile back they seemed really into the WWE work because more peopl got to play it (and they made more money) but they were also very, very proud of their VPW series. As if it was their true child, not the first but the second.

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Originally Posted by Korly

I Am Waiting To Play?

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Originally Posted by Rumpy

I Agree With This Post

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Originally Posted by Korly

Wrestlemania 2000 was better. No Mercy had a shit ton of slowdown, and weird looking character faces (especially on The Rock).

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I didnt like WM2000. I thought it was opposite of what you said.

I Am Wearing Tight Pants.

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Originally Posted by Andrew

I Am Wearing Tight Pants.

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Really? Does your manhood feel like its in a chokehold?

I Am Waiting To PWN would've also been acceptable.

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Originally Posted by bandit

Really? Does your manhood feel like its in a chokehold?

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I have that problem in all pants.

Someone wake me up when we have more info about Smackdown.

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Originally Posted by Andrew

I have that problem in all pants.

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Than you my friend, got some problems. Either that, or you like them choked. Whatever floats your boat.

the ladies call it anything but a problem.

Korly, some new pics were released the other day, and thus far, the only WWE belt design that has been seen in the CAB is the lightheavyweight title one.

I'm downloading a developers commentary from Gamespot as we speak.