WWE Smackdown! Vs Raw 2007 News & Updates.

WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 (Exciting Pro Wrestling 8 in Japan) will be the latest installment to the WWE SmackDown! video game series on PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and the first to launch on the PlayStation 3. After the final game, WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role on the PlayStation the next WWE SmackDown! game was released only on the PlayStation 2 but it was announced that this game will be on PlayStation 2 as well as PlayStation 3. Previous games in the series have only been available on Sony consoles but now it is also planned for release on Xbox 360. As with previous games in the series, it is set to be playable online. [1]

THQ aims to bring a more realistic fighting experience with a new analog control grappling system. A lot more interactivity in the arenas will also be present. Signs and objects from the crowd can be used to beat down the opponent. For the online modes, voice chat will be in the game to communicate with other players.

On March 31, 2006, THQ, YUKE's Future Media Creators and the WWE will officially confirm the game.

screenshot:http://i2.tinypic.com/snf5up.jpg, http://i2.tinypic.com/spj3om.jpg
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http://i2.tinypic.com/sxn3b6.jpg


wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. And IGN.com

okay more info ( long) http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/smackdownvsraw2007/news.html?sid=6146959&mode=recent

Last year's SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 was one of the better received wrestling games of this console generation. It's blend of high intensity with surprising depth delighted critics and wrestling fans alike. The Yuke's development team is aiming to make this next game in the series, SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007, even better. Today, THQ unveiled the game at a press conference in Chicago, just ahead of WrestleMania 22, which is being held in the Windy City.

The biggest news for SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007, even if it isn't that much of a surprise, is that it will be the series' debut on next-generation consoles. In addition to making expected appearances on the PlayStation 2 and the PlayStation Portable, the game will be available on the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 when it's released close to the holiday season. Of course, THQ folks were most interested in talking about the next-gen versions of the game which, as you might expect, boast some truly amazing-looking graphics.

Considering the quality of player models found in the previous game--which seemed to push the PS2 to its upper graphical limits--SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007 ups the ante even more, with player models that seem to be virtually indistinguishable from their real-life counterparts. Several in-game screenshots were shown during the THQ-guided demo (unfortunately, the game won't be playable until E3), which showcased big-name WWE stars such as Rey Mysterio Jr. and John Cena. The amount of detail visible in these screens was amazing--from the fine lines that comprise Mysterio's intricate back tattoo, to the veins and muscles that bulge from Cena's biceps it's clear to see that the Yuke's folks have invested major effort into making the game take full advantage of next-gen platform power.

If you're looking for numbers, consider this: The wrestler models here will be made up of more than 20,000 polygons apiece--several times more than those found in SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006. Other details, such as more-detailed facial animations and even a realistic sweat system--something no next-gen sports game can do without, it seems--make for a great-looking package all the way around even if, as one Yuke's developer told us, it's been no easy task to get the wrestlers looking as good as they do. Shortcuts that the graphics team could take in the previous generation simply won't do on the Xbox 360 or the PS3. Consider a simple T-shirt, for example. In the previous game, placing a T-shirt on a wrestler was a much simpler task than it is now. The increased graphical power means the art team has to be much more mindful of how the shirt interacts with the player's body, because otherwise it just won't look right.



John Cena and his sweat, brought to you courtesy of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
It's not just the wrestlers that are getting the royal graphical treatment. The crowd also looks markedly improved, with full 3D models that showcase a good deal of variety in animations when they are cheering the action in the ring. One THQ producer told us that a typical crowd will consist of around 1,000 3D models, and that sense of excitement and movement makes the action on the screen that much more palpable.

While the graphics are getting an upgrade, it certainly isn't the only aspect of the game that's going to change this time around. While the game will still differentiate between strong and weak grapples, these moves have been mapped to the right analog stick. Now, when you want to grab ahold of your opponent and execute a move such as a suplex or a slam, you'll do so by pressing the analog stick in any direction. Presumably, your position relative to the position of your opponent will determine which moves are available to you at any given moment. What's even better is that when using the right analog, you'll have greater control over the execution of that move than ever before.

CONTINUE:

For example, by pushing up on the right analog, you can pick up your opponent and set him up for a suplex. By holding the stick forward, you can keep your opponent up in the air and even walk with him around the ring for a little showboating. Only when you let go of the stick will you drop your opponent back down on the mat. Similarly, you can use the right analog stick to perform airplane spins on opponents you've picked up, or even interact with various interactive hot spots found in the wrestling environment, such as pushing back and forth on the stick to ram your opponent's head into the ring post. Good, painful stuff.



SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007 will let you take the action outside the ring or, in this case, WAY outside the ring.
Another new twist on the gameplay formula is more interaction than ever with the crowd. We've all seen WWE matches where the wrestlers leave the squared circle and take the action into the crowd. And this time you'll be able to do that very thing. Once the fight is outside of the ring, you can toss your opponent over the wall or into the front row of the crowd. The crowd is more interactive as well--they'll pat you on the back or loudly cheer for you as you duke it out. One of the more boisterous fans might even hand you a weapon that you can swat your opponent with. In all, the team wants to add more interactivity to any environment in which you're fighting--be it in the ring, amid the crowd, or backstage.

It wouldn't be a SmackDown! vs. Raw game without plenty of different game modes, and the 2007 version certainly won't disappoint there. Popular features, such as the season mode, create a wrestler, and general manager mode will return, though details are still sketchy. We do know the season mode will have more branching paths than the previous game, making it a slightly less linear experience. And we can expect to see plenty of WWE superstars make appearances (and lend their voice talent as well). Speaking of the superstars, no official roster has been announced yet other than mainstays like Kurt Angle, John Cena, and Rey Mysterio Jr., but you can expect to see a full slate of members from both the Raw and SmackDown! television brands. If you like, you can even create your own character using the game's improved create-a-wrestler feature, which will include more than 250 customizable items to choose from when designing your virtual grappler.

Last year's general manager mode was a new addition, and it let you take control of either Raw or SmackDown!, draft a roster of WWE stars, and book your own shows in an effort to create the best promotion possible. We know that GM mode is making a return in SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007, and THQ reps told us you will have more control over your respective brand, but that was the only information available. Since it was one of our favorite modes in the previous game, we'll be curious to see how it's changing in this game.



New analog controls will put you more in control of your grapples than ever before.
Online play has been around for two SmackDown! vs. Raw entries, so of course it will be returning for this game as well. Of special note will be the ability to use voice chat during online sessions (a requirement, since the game will be online for the Xbox 360, of course), and more than 50 available match types will all be playable online. Other details--such as the number and type of Xbox Live achievements--were not released.

In all, SmackDown! vs. Raw 2007 looks like it will make an auspicious next-gen debut, with impressive graphics, a richer and more varied sound palette, and control tweaks that look to put more control than ever before into the players' hands. The game is currently scheduled for release during the holiday season of 2006, but we'll be bringing you much more in the coming months.

http://media.ps3.ign.com/media/775/775530/vids_1.html go there for new vids.

May 10, 2006 - For the first time in a long time, THQ has made the next iteration of its popular wrestling franchise available for play at E3 (behind closed doors, where a legion of eager grappling fans won't overwhelm the booth). This is an important year for the franchise too, as it marks the first time in the series' history that the game will arrive on multiple platforms, and it's also the first time that it will release on multiple generations at the same time. These developments have been big news in the "wrestling gamer" community, and knowing that a vast majority of them patron IGN for their news, THQ allowed us to come in early and check out the next-generation E3 version of SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 before anyone else.



There are four major features that THQ and Yuke's Media Creations want to drive home for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007. The first is the need for user-controlled grappling moves. Animations are no longer limited to whatever the canned AI says they're supposed to be as certain move types are now entirely determined by the user. Let's assume that a player grabs another user in a grapple and hoists them up on their shoulders. This position leaves a wrestler with a number of options -- they can perform a military press, an airplane spin (controlled with the analog stick), or go ahead and slam the guy outside of the ring (that's right, it's no longer a special move). There will be multiple grapple moves per character too, so it won't always be the same options for every character.


Another nice feature is that movesets are no longer based on the same arbitrarily-assigned types that the last game had. Now, a wrestler's class determines what kind of moves will be available to them in the ring. Divas, luchadors, power wrestlers each have their own types of wrestling abilities that can't be performed by other classes... so don't expect to see The Big Show pull off turnbuckle hurricanranas or Stacy Keibler powerslam some fat dude into the steel steps.

Speaking of the steel steps, they lead us into the second major feature that THQ wants to focus on, and that's the environmental hotspots. There are more than 20 different interactive areas in all (though the E3 build is still limited in what works), and it will include everything from the ring ropes, cage wall, and ring post, to both announcer tables, ladders and more. As an example, players can now pick up an opponent with the new user-controlled mechanic and drop them on a rope groin first (no kids for them) and then grab onto the ropes and move them up and down for additional damage. The good news for hapless opponents is that this affects the stamina of your character just like anything else does so it can't be abused, and any hotspot move is completely reversible. We've also been told that ladder matches will feature some rather spectacular new improvements (you can lay ladders across one another and can also run across one Shelton Benjamin style).


Perhaps the most talked-about new feature so far, though, is the third big feature -- the crowd interaction. As hinted in the target render teaser we ran last week, players can grab weapons, items, and even signs from the audience when fighting outside the ring. Subtle touches have been incorporated into the obvious too -- giving gamers the choice to rip up a sign if they're a heel, or to hold it up and shake it like a spaz if they're a face. Some animations will even allow wrestlers to pat fans on the back after a sign grab, and if they want to put some extra hurt on their opponent, they can pick up umbrellas, crutches, bottles, and other cool goodies to dish out the painThe bad news for most of you (it was for me), is that crowd interaction doesn't spill over into the audience as we hoped it would. While users can definitely duke it out in certain designated areas, they can't keep moving through a swarm of show-goers like they do on TV. Even so, there are some cool little options available to players while in crowd interaction mode, such as specific interactive hotspots like tables and giant speaker sets (the same one that Angle moonsaults off of in the trailer). As an added bonus, certain special finishing moves can be performed in particular situations.



The fourth and final new feature on THQ's to do list is the brand new chain reversal system. Reversals are no longer limited to a couple of transitions either -- now reversals can be infinite if users are astute enough at countering an opponent. A lot of the grapple animations were still be worked on when I played the game, however, and I wasn't very good at countering either... so I didn't get to experiment with it much.


Now for those of you who have been following our WWE coverage over the last couple of years, you may be wondering how the guy that writes about all the previous SmackDown's didn't do so well at the countering... and no, it isn't because I suck. The difficulty is the result of the brand new analog grappling system that brings a definite learning curve with it. In theory, it works similarly to the old digital system that was used in the earlier games, but for special maneuvers like the 360-degree turns mentioned earlier, the only way you can pull them off is by moving the stick in a 360-degree rotation. The same sort of technique holds true for slamming an opponent into something too; bang an opponent into the steps, and you'll have to move the stick up and down just like the animation on the screen.

The good news for veterans is that SmackDown still retails several of its old-school conventions. Strong Irish whips, regular Irish whips, grapple types, and all that other good stuff still works in the same way it always did with the same exact buttons. The same can't be said for the graphics, though, as they benefit from a number of new improvements including an all-new sweat system (think Fight Night), more realistic blood, and a fully 3D crowd with more than 1000 polygonal crowd members. Other new improvements include a streamlined interface (its less cluttered by far and can be turned off), better fatigue and pain animations when a wrestler is hurt, and more than 20 different facial reactions dependant on the situation.


So what's wrong with it (there always has to be something doesn't there?). Up to this point, the game is still pretty early so it's hard to tell what a major problem is and what isn't until we get closer to the release. But evaluating it as is, the game is definitely a little on the slow side (the walking animations look a little rehashed too). On a personal level, I did find it a little disappointing that more wasn't shown on how SmackDown is taking advantage of the next generation, but I have to be fair and mention once again that this the earliest a build in the franchise has ever been shown -- so there's still a long way to go before making judgments.

Luckily, THQ is giving us the chance to follow that progress with a number of cool articles planned in the future (it's almost that time of year again). To hold you over while you wait, we've included the official E3 screens on our media page below, as well as the first-ever direct feed videos taken from an early build of the next-generation version. Enjoy!

UPDATE!!!

Think of THQ's WWE games as legendary Superstar Hulk Hogan. SmackDown vs. Raw 2006 was the time in a Hogan match where he points at the villain and waves his finger at him -- in a defiant sign that he's not to be messed with. That makes SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 the equivalent of the part where Hulkster goes on the offensive, throwing punches and clotheslines until the inevitable big boot/legdrop combo for the win.

Last year's PS2 game took the wrestling genre to new levels; and like Shelton Benjamin's theme song says, "Ain't no stoppin' me now!" This year, we have a slew of enhancements to look forward to, a new control scheme, and next-gen graphics. The first news item is that the game is coming out on several platforms. It looks like the days of console-specific WWE titles may be over with. Not only will SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 be headed to PS2, but also Xbox (which has yet to get a decent wrestling game), and next-gen platforms Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Whatever system you'll be rocking come next fall, you can rest easy knowing you'll be able to tap your opponent out in the coolest game possible.

SmackDown vs. Raw 2007's mantra is, "Don't just watch it, live it." You control what you do, when, and how. The game accomplishes this, first and foremost, by switching most move controls to the right analog stick. With this shift, gameplay should be both deeper and more user-friendly.

For example, let's say you're Chris Masters against Rob Van Dam. Hold up on the stick to lift Van Dam for a vertical suplex. Keep the stick held up to let RVD hang upside down while you move to the middle of the ring to set up a pin attempt. Even throw in a taunt to get the crowd really ticked off before you let go to drop him. Raw 2007 will also embrace quick and strong attacks, which are a throwback to N64's WWF No Mercy -- perhaps the greatest wrestling game of them all.

This game is getting a lot more hardcore. Arenas are filled with hotspots where you can execute special environmental interactions. Toss your foe into the ringpost, or throw them into a speaker near the entry ramp. Here too you have lots of control over what you do, like how far back you pull their head before smashing it into something. You can even fling your opponent over the barricade into the crowd or leap off balconies!

All of the last game's features are being enhanced. Season mode has a complex, branching story that promises to make the experience different for every player. This is huge, as the writing in 2006 rivaled that of the actual WWE programming. Where last year's game had voiceovers recorded for around 20 Superstars for Season mode, developers tell us around 90 percent of the active roster has contributed lines for this year's Season.

GM Mode -- a new feature that allowed players to be a general manager to one brand -- is coming back with more options and a slicker presentation. As for online, there are around 50 match types you can play and it will support voice chat. Create-a-wrestler will have a host of new parts to craft your ultimate superman (or woman), and the roster has been updated and will feature new Legends.

As the series is headed next-gen, we've got to talk about the graphical improvements. THQ showed a real-time match on Xbox 360 between new SmackDown champ Rey Mysterio and RAW's big dog, John Cena. Both characters looked unbelievably realistic, and were made up of upwards of 20,000 polygons. Rey's mask and pants shined under the arena lights, and all of his tattoos were crystal clear. Cena's muscular frame was an intimidating sight, with even the veins being visible. It's one thing to see fictional characters square off, like those in DOA 4; but when it's real people you've seen on film countless times, it's even more impressive.

Facial expressions have been done up to an amazing degree, showing emotions ranging from fear to shock to pain. As the match progressed and these two beat the ever-loving heck out of each other, sweat started to drip all over their bodies. The crowd is fully 3D and looks incredible -- even interacting with the wrestlers as they were chucked into the seats. Even with normal- and bump-mapping in full effect, THQ boasted that the game was running at a smooth 60 frames per second.

WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 was easily the best wrestling game in the last five years. For the 2007 installment, the scouting report couldn't be more positive: Next-gen graphics, a revamped control system, and more hardcore gameplay should pop the wrestling-game crowd like never
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UPDATE!!

WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 (Exciting Pro Wrestling 8 in Japan) is a video game that will be the latest installment of the WWE SmackDown! video game series released by THQ. It will be released on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and the first to launch on the PlayStation 3. After the final game, WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role on the PlayStation the next WWE SmackDown! game was released only on the PlayStation 2 but it was announced that this game will be on PlayStation 2 as well as PlayStation 3. Previous games in the series have only been available on Sony consoles but now it is also planned for release on Xbox 360 after a series of lackluster wrestling games THQ released on the original Xbox.[32] The game is the successor to WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006.


Character models will look more realisticTHQ aims to bring a more realistic fighting experience with a new analog control grappling system. A lot more interactivity in the arenas will also be present such as fighting within the crowd arena. Signs and objects from the crowd can be used to beat down the opponent. For the online modes, voice chat will be in the game to communicate with other players.

On March 31, 2006, THQ, YUKE's Future Media Creators and WWE officially confirmed the game.


Confirmed roster
So far, the superstars confirmed to have made this installment's roster from screenshots and videos are:

John Cena
Kurt Angle
Rey Mysterio
Wrestlers from WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 that are likely to not be included in this installment include:

Charlie Haas (released for the majority of last year)
Chris Jericho (indefinitely retired)
Eddie Guerrero (passed away; possible Legend)
Christian (now wrestles for TNA)
Heidenreich (released)
Mark Jindrak (released)
Muhammad Hassan (requested release)
Spike Dudley (released)
Tajiri (requested release)

thanks to www.answers.com/smackdown%20vs%20raw%202007
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Thanks to AFM for the screens ( page 5)
Latest Screenshots of in game play

http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/720/720093/wwe-smackdown-vs-raw-2007-20060721023309797.jpg

http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/720/720093/wwe-smackdown-vs-raw-2007-20060721023310484.jpg

http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/720/720093/wwe-smackdown-vs-raw-2007-20060721023310484.jpg

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http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/article/719/719573/wwe-smackdown-vs-raw-2007-20060718054350078.jpg

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Thanks to atique
August 1, 2006 - The wrestling team at THQ was on tour late last week, dropping by the offices of publications all over the Bay Area to show off the latest build of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007. The trip wasn't without its juicy little details either, as Creative Manager Cory Ledesma offered a number of interesting tidbits regarding both the PS2 and Xbox 360 versions of the game. As an added bonus, the trip also gave us an opportunity to go hands-on with the product for the first time since we played it at E3 this past May.

If any of our readers attended the San Diego Comic-Con in late July, then our sample build would probably look familiar to them -- as it's the exact same one that was on display there. Nine different superstars were available for selection in all, and if you haven't been following our earlier coverage, those superstars are Booker T, Chris Benoit, Triple H, John Cena, Rey Mysterio, The Undertaker, Johnny Nitro, Shelton Benjamin, and Kurt Angle. Most of their ring walks and introductions have been included as well, but they are still rough, incomplete, and missing their Titan Trons and final audio.


But wrestlers aside, what specifically is different since the last time we've played? To start, the game is pre-alpha now as opposed to... well, whatever it was before (pre-omicron?). This build status means that a large number of SmackDown's final feature set is here and working in some fashion or another (including match types, match rules, crowd interactions, etc). We also learned that the PlayStation 2 version is a port of the Xbox 360 game, not the other way around. As a result, the PS2 iteration is running a little behind in terms of its completion percentage, but will be caught up entirely by the time the game ships in November.

We also learned that the differences between the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2 discs will be minimal at best. Besides the obvious achievement system available to 360 owners (the specifics of which haven't been finalized), the only other real advantages for next-gen are visual and technical. The 360 version, for example, will benefit from the sweat system that keeps showing up in screenshots and videos, while the PS2 edition won't have it at all. Moreover, the PS2 version will only allow crowd battles and interactions during certain match types and circumstances, whereas the Xbox 360 version will allow for them for most match types (it's a horsepower/ performance thing). Content-wise, the games should be near-identical.


On the subject of crowd and environmental interactions, those are working a lot better now too. In the few stages we tried the feature out in, there were a lot more objects and hot spots than there were before (boxes, electrical thingies, etc). There are a higher number of weapons that you can steal from the crowd too -- including canes and signs. Sadly, the script to allow for the tearing of signs isn't in the pre-alpha build yet, but it is coming.

The most important addition to the gameplay since we last toyed with it, however, is that the analog grappling system works much more fluidly. Response times are quicker than they were before and transitions from the "grapple type" animation to the actual grapple itself is a lot less robotic. At most, you're looking at a one-match learning curve before you get the hang of it too, so don't expect to be on foreign ground for long. From what we can tell, the new system doesn't look like it's going to revolutionize wrestling games the way Fight Night did for boxing titles when it moved to analog control, but it does make SmackDown feel more interactive. Want better news? If you don't like the new system, you can decide to use the old one instead (thank you options menu!).

One area that could definitely use some work, though, is the counter system. Though the mechanic now allows for infinite reversals if you can find two players good enough o keep it going (positional reversals mind you, not move-specific ones), the timing is still twitchy and hard to figure out from wrestler to wrestler. THQ tells us that this is because it has fully been tuned yet and the HUD that will appear when a counter opportunity presents itself hasn't been implemented yet -- so we anticipate a positive change here.

For more on what WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 will be bringing to the table last year, be sure to follow the links to previous previews located below. Our media page has been updated with a small selection of screens and direct-feed movies too, so be sure to check those out as well. If that's still not enough wrestling for you, take heed -- we'll be back in a few weeks with the full roster reveal and the beginning of our annual SmackDown Countdown. Be there!
Here is a link to some of the latest screenshots
http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/820/820799/imgs_1.html

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Thanks to AFM
Credit to IGN.com

It has been a relatively quiet summer for THQ's upcoming WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007. Other than its appearance at E3 and the confirmation of two new additions to the roster, the annual grappler has remained somewhat of a mystery since its pre-WrestleMania debut earlier this year. Luckily, a familiar season is starting up again -- a season where the wrestling marks at IGN and the creators at THQ team up to bring you the most comprehensive SmackDown coverage in the world... and it all starts today.

Though our yearly "SmackDown Countdown" series won't begin for a few more weeks, we still have something cool lined up for the weekend -- an updated list of SVR 2007's improved match types. More specifically, these are the bout variations that we'll see the most dramatic changes in this year (not to mention a new one altogether: the Money in the Bank Match). Highlighted below are the different match types and the changes you can expect to see in them.

As an added bonus, we're also pleased to announce that THQ has confirmed two more superstars in addition the pair of personalities revealed earlier this week. Yes fans, The Undertaker and Johnny Nitro will definitely be in the game. This brings the current WWE superstar roster to nine, with plenty more yet to be announced.

Now, as RVD would say, "On with the whole F'n show!"


Money in the Bank Match (New!)
After two consecutive WrestleManias, THQ has finally brought the wildly popular Money in the Bank match to SVR. In it, six different WWE superstars battle it out for a shot at the title from their particular brand (SmackDown or Raw).

Similar to a traditional ladder match, this contest places a briefcase with a championship contract suspended high above the ring. The first wrestler to successfully navigate his way to the top of a taller ladder and grab the briefcase wins the match. Being successful guarantees that superstar the right to a title shot any time they want. Sadly, the exact way in which this works during the career mode (re: if?) is still unknown. But at least we know that it's in there.

Incidentally, the first two people to win the "Money in the Bank" match (Edge and Rob Van Dam) went on to win the WWE Championship later in the year. By coincidence or not, John Cena was the man who lost the belt on both occasions.

Ladder Match
Before we reveal the changes in this match type, consider this bit of background info first: The moment in which Shelton Benjamin ran up a leaning ladder (which was resting against an already-setup ladder) and clotheslined Chris Jericho off the top rung at WrestleMania 21's Money in the Bank match served as inspiration for this year's improvements. In addition, last year's Rey vs. Eddie custody-deciding ladder battle (and the several spectacular moments it provided) also motivated the SmackDown team for this year. You can guess where this is going...

SVR 2007 will indeed give players the ability to lean one ladder against another so that they perform running spears or clotheslines off of it. If that isn't enough, gamers can also position ladders into turnbuckles both vertically AND horizontally. This means that when you Irish whip an opponent into the steep-steps during a grapple initiation that you can perform four different kinds of attacks. You can use the ladder as an environmental grapple too -- just drag a fallen opponent towards a floor-bound ladder and you can sandwich him between it. Also, players can expect the ability to control how many times they can close it on him as well.

But that's not all. The way in which players can grab hanging championship belts has also been changed. As many fans probably remember, the ladder used to automatically fall down once users grabbed the title. Acquiring that belt was then accomplished by tapping the bejeezus out of the controller. No more. Now, the right and left analog sticks are used to reach for the strap via individual arms; Move the left stick up and the left arm extends, move the right stick and the right arms extends. And yes, if you move both up at the same time both arms will definitely reach for the belt simultaneously.

Once the championship is in hand, the next thing to do is locate what THQ is calling its "sweet spot." As an example, if you grab the title with your left hand, the sweet spot can be found by moving the left analog stick around. The closer to the spot you get, the more the controller will rumble. A "Ladder Gauge" will then appear on the screen and start to throb and disappear. If the wrestler can hold onto the belt until the meter disappears, he'll free the title and win the bout. This same technique applies to the other two methods of grabbing the belt as well (right analog or both), but there's more risk involved when using two hands because if he doesn't find the sweet spot quick enough he'll fall off the ladder (after all, there isn't a free hand to anchor himself). Of course, the advantage is that two hands depletes the ladder meter faster than one.

Table Match
The last match type to get a big overhaul this year is the Table match. Previously, it was far too easy to break a table and there was no drama with setting it up in the first place. THQ hopes to correct that in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007.

This time, players who want to put their enemies through a table have to meet two separate requirements. Requirement number one is that your wrestler has a stored finishing move icon (easy enough) and requirement number two is about momentum --that meter must be filled as well. Once both of those goals have been reached, users can then send an opponent through a table.

Keep in mind, however, that breaking a table doesn't just "happen." Once the table is set up (be it against a turnbuckle or in the center of the ring), users must Irish whip their opponents towards the thing to get them to lay or lean on it. Once that has been accomplished, gamers can then execute a finishing maneuver smash their way to victory.

The good news is that there are different table finishers that depend on a variety of factors. Table placement affects the animations and moves that take place on it; superstar-specific finishing moves have been added in there as well. Play as Triple H, for example, and you can pedigree someone right through the top of the wood. What's more is that most superstars on the roster will have their own unique table finisher (no word yet on how many, though). Even better is that the way in which the closing moves are performed will get an upgrade too -- so expect a much a more cinematic presentation at the end moment.

Oh, and there is one other goodie worth mentioning: an all-new feature for SVR 2007 is the ability to double-stack tables. To do it, players just have to set one table up in the ring and then, while holding another table, walk towards the one that's already standing and tap the action button (X on PlayStation systems, A on the 360). This will set the second table on top of the first one. If you perform a finishing move on a double-stack, the wrestler on offense will climb the turnbuckle and superplex their victim through them.


That's all for this week's SmackDown vs. Raw feature. Be sure and check back with us again in the near future for even more information, more superstars, and more media than anywhere else on the Internet!
___________________________________________________________________
Update

July 24, 2006 - There was quite a bit of drama for wrestling fans this weekend, and it wasn't in regards to the Great American Bash pay-per-view that took place yesterday afternoon.

Late Saturday, a number of German SmackDown fans had noticed that the PlayStation 3 logo and game tab had been removed from the official WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 website for both the North American and German-language versions (though it had remained intact on the UK web-space). Talk on THQ's official German forum began to discuss the issue at a quickening pace, to the point where THQ's own Max Stellar addressed the issue in the primary thread:

"The backdrop for this is that the PlayStation version was going to be finished substantially later than the other versions," Stellar said. "The development team would rather concentrate its resources on the other three platforms."


Triple H, a possible PS3 fan, strangles 360 nut John Cena in anger over the game's cancellation news.

Not too long after this statement, the entire thread was removed. No other mention of the game from a THQ official was made for the rest of the weekend.

However, early this morning, THQ's European offices issue an official statement and corroborated both Stellar's statements and PS3 wrestling fan's concerns:

"The next installment in our perennial SmackDown franchise is slated for release across multiple game systems this holiday," the statement began. "The highly anticipated WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 is scheduled to ship for Xbox 360, PSP and PlayStation 2 in November. Consistent with our goal of delivering the highest quality content across all next-gen platforms, we have decided to postpone the debut of the SmackDown series on PlayStation 3 until the holiday 2007 timeframe."
(IGN.com)


« Last edited by COOL OKJ on Aug 8th 2006 »

Nice information. This game will be better than ever.

Thanks, i will try to find new info.

Good, I am getting very excited about this game.

Me too, i hope the season is better!

I ain't as excited as I am for GoWII though. :\

I will try to get more

Pinned, for now.

Thanks i really wanted this pinned.

Yes, but we will need some more updates now.

This is all the info i can find maybe next month they will give more info.

Maybe you should change the title to WWE Smackdown! Vs Raw 2007 News & Updates.

Ok i will.

Looks really good now. Just for some more updates.

yes more updates, the last update was on may 12th :(

I can't seem to find any information.

Me either, they have loads of info but just anit giving it out.

I even tried THQ's offical website and they have nothing.

well we will just have to wait.

I wonder what else they got coming.