www.ProWrestlingGames.com recently had the opportunity to speak with the editors of WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 from THQ. The interview has a great selection of information and news from Dan Ryan for those who are chomping at the bit for the new game. The complete interview is below:
ProWrestlingGames.com: Will the storymodes be different across the systems or follow the same story arcs?
THQ: The story mode will be pretty much the same on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and PSP; however the Nintendo Wii and DS will each offer completely different single player experiences. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 on the core SKUs marks the debut of WWE 24-7 Mode, where the player’s goal is to become a WWE Legend by proving he or she has what it takes inside and outside the ring as not only a Superstar but a General Manager as well. The Wii Main Event Mode, however, is less story-driven and more open-ended, letting the player decide which Superstars they want as their allies, which brands they want to jump to and which championships they want around their Superstar’s waist. Finally, the DS version of the game will feature its own unique SmackDown, RAW, and ECW storylines, allowing players to navigate freely behind the scenes of the WWE.
ProWrestlingGames.com – How exactly will the wii remote be used within gameplay?
THQ: When designing WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 for the Wii, it was of the utmost importance that we took full advantage of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk’s unique capabilities. In fact, a majority of the Superstar’s offense is done by waving the Wii Remote in the appropriate direction while holding modifier buttons to perform strikes, interactive grapple moves, taunts and finishers. It was also vital for us that the manner in which the player swings the Wii Remote matches the Superstar’s movement on screen so players actually feel like they are physically a part of the in-ring action.
ProWrestlingGames.com – Will there be backwards/forwards compatibility between the three Playstation systems?
THQ: As far as the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 and PSP versions of the game go, it unfortunately won’t be possible to share content between the three systems. However, this idea is something that we’ve definitely been considering for future games in the series.
ProWrestlingGames.com – Will female characters and Legends be available in storymode?
THQ: Players will have to select a WWE Superstar in order to actually compete in WWE 24/7. However, rest assured, there will be plenty of interaction between them and brand new roster of WWE Legends and Divas, this year representing all three WWE brands.
ProWrestlingGames.com – What online features will be available? In terms of match types or Leaderboards etc?
THQ: Unfortunately, I can’t get too specific regarding our online features just yet. However, I can tell you that up to four players will be able to settle their differences online in over 50 match types. In addition, players can let their Create-A-Superstars battle it out, put their Create-A-Championship up for grabs or just concentrate on climbing to the top of the online rankings.
