Smackdown vs Raw 2007

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/699/699303p1.html

March 30, 2006 - 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.


Want to know what John Cena thinks of SmackDown vs. RAW 2007? Then head on over to IGN Sports' Exclusive Interview and find out.

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.

This is awesome news But too bad theres no more info on whether it'll be released for the PSP One of the main factors I purchased the PSP was to get SDvR2006, hoping that the next one would also release for the PSP. I don't want to get another console just for this game, so THQ better make a port All that aside, the game looks slightly better than SDvR2006, not much graphical difference, and they gotta really tune up the customization in the next gen one. What do I mean by customization?
- More indepth Create-A-Entrance with Pyro descriptions or preferably screenshots.
- Alot more moves, especially reanimate all the retro moves that have been kept on ever since SD1. (Oklahoma Slam absolutely looks atrocious)
- An Alternate simplistic CAW mode, ability to edit existing wrestlers etc.
-Better Create-A-Belt material. Alot better.

Just read about this on a wrestlng site but this is the first time I've seen the screens. Cool. I'm gonna check the article

Seems like this is a clue on who will win on Wrestlemania

Just read about this on a wrestlng site but this is the first time I've seen the screens. Cool. I'm gonna check the article

Seems like this is a clue on who will win on Wrestlemania

I seriously hope not. John Cena has received so much hostility from fans due to his "Superhuman" booking and constant imitations of The Rock and Stone Cold he's not even the original freestyle rapper anymore. Triple H better win the title at Mania.

Sounds cool. I know not everyone feels the same way but I thought Smackdown vs RAW 2006 delivered big time in most areas, so any improvements would be making a great game even better. One thing I hope is actually improved this year is the storylines in Season Mode though. The chosen character needs to behave and use dialogue the real life equivalent would use though. I know it's there to an extent but more character-specific situations would be much better.

Less linear/more varied storylines like No Mercy on the N64, Shut Your Mouth! and Here Comes The Pain on PS2 would also be welcome. Once you've played through the current season mode a few times, you've basically seen it all. Impressive as it is on the first play through, you do become finished with that portion of the game very quickly. Having the goals/challenges is a great idea though, certainly extends the replayability of the title as a single player game.

I hope I'll be able to get a console this time around since I missed the last gen consoles. I hope I get to play the TNA video game as well although I'm still reserved about that one since it might suck since Midway is publishing it.

Ah, Midway...together with Acclaim they were at the top of the gaming industry with Mortal Kombat and NBA Jam being so popular back in the 90s. Funnily enough, THQ was copping a bit of flak back in 1995 for a few flops on the SNES, yet the WWF/WWE titles they've released starting with Wrestlemania 2000 for the N64 have been the superior titles.

Although there is still some hope since I've heard that even though Midway is the publisher, AKI is the one developing the game.

AKI used to work with THQ back in the days of the N64, so it certainly could work out alright.

Those graphics look fantastic.

AKI used to work with THQ back in the days of the N64, so it certainly could work out alright.

Yeah, I'm still playing No Mercy on an emu. Someone made a TNA vs ROH mod and it's pretty cool.

it is on psp. and ps2. and ps3. and XBOX360. finally, a multi-platform wrestling game.

And for PC?...Damn those fuckers The game looks amazing.

You'll have better luck waiting for this game.

www.prowrestlingx.com

He, that looks awesome. But by the time it gets released I'll probably be 24, yay!

AKI used to work with THQ back in the days of the N64, so it certainly could work out alright.

Yeah, I'm still playing No Mercy on an emu. Someone made a TNA vs ROH mod and it's pretty cool.

I just remember being so impressed, so blown away when Wrestlemania 2000 was released on the N64 back in the day because it delivered in every way that Acclaim's final WWF release (WWF Attitude) did not.

You'll have better luck waiting for this game.

www.prowrestlingx.com

I've been waiting for that game since last year. The developmental process of Pro Wrestling X is just too long and too hopeless that I'm inclined to believe that Yuke's would put in a more solid effort to bring a Smackdown vs Raw title that would address the issues that Pro Wrestling X claims to address, which is to bring a game that not only pleases the casual gaming audience, but also the games craving for a more realistic experience. No game since No Mercy has done that. And the PC Platform desperately needs a wrestling game, because WWE Raw for the PC was so pathetic it shouldn't even exist.

Funny you should mention WWE RAW for the PC. I downloaded the demo back when I was testing out my ADSL connection after having some problems (just needed something big and game demos came to mind) and was very underwhelmed. I certainly hope the finished product was at least a little better than the demo.

Just saw the video for this game. Pretty cool, still has some animation problems but it's still early

Funny you should mention WWE RAW for the PC. I downloaded the demo back when I was testing out my ADSL connection after having some problems (just needed something big and game demos came to mind) and was very underwhelmed. I certainly hope the finished product was at least a little better than the demo.

WWE Raw was truly disappointing. It reminded me of a button mashfest reminiscent of Dead or Alive, and a counterfest too.

This game looks pretty good, I enjoyed 2006, but I lost interest of it about 2 months after it, maybe because I played it during the summer holidays like 8 hours a day

I lose interest once I've seen the storylines run through but then I find I can pick it up every so often to complete the challenges or have a two player game.

Yeah the storylines were a bit sucky for me, they weren't really that interesting, but it was great seeing "The Jugs" win WWE Champion

Did you give your self-CAW the voice with the British accent?

I find I can pick it up every so often to complete the challenges or have a two player game.

The game is fantastic when played with friends especially when there are 4-6 persons.
The Iron Man match is also great for a two player game. Set the time to 30 minutes or 1- hour. As the match goes on, winning becomes less of button mashing and more on strategy.

i hope they add some stuff to the ladder match, especially in matches with 2 ladders. last year you couldn't do shit other than climb both ladders and knock the other one off by jumping.