New rumors and hints about Smackdown vs Raw 2012 released...

So, there has been some talk from WWEGames, Marcus Stephenson and Cory Ledesma about the direction that SvR2012 is going to be taking this year....

First off, there's been some hinting and talk that the two are finalizing plans for what's going to be in the new game...

But the most telling thing are what some people on wrestling game boards have been saying, and a game that THQ has been playing on twitter, with revealing new details via crypic anagrams.

"Change is coming" was said to be one of them, to which the team themselves on the SvR website then rhetorically started asking if that means that there are changes to the overall engine or the submission system perhaps.

But then the other anagram has been tweeted by the official team that translated to "Advanced Tech Invades The Engine"


There's been a lot of speculation lately before this that Smackdown vs Raw's basic gameplay engine is being switched over to the gameplay engine of WWE All-Stars developed by THQ San-Diego, instead of the one they've been using that was developed by the japanese company Yukes.


If this is true, this could be a very big deal.

But honestly, I think that after playing All-Stars for a while, I really like the many things that the game did. Especially when it comes to moves being able to connect and have interactivity physics which they didn't before.

Most notably, the ability in that game to hit RKO's and Sweet Chin Musics and other various finishers in the middle of other moves and animations, which the Yukes engine has never really been able to do.

Also, the way that the reversals work are also something that may make it into the next game.

So, I think chances are looking very good that the entire gameplay engine is being revamped and re-coded into the physics tech that All-Stars has for the next game.

That is all fine and well with me, but at the same time, I don't want SvR to lose any of it's features like the Story Designer, or the level of detail that the CAWs have, either.

So hopefully none of those things are going to be sacrificed for it.


Regardless though... I personally think the idea of the graphics and realism of SvR 2011 combined with the techinal things that All-Stars does that the Yukes engine can't is a pretty good idea.


But from what the WWEGames people have been saying and revealing lately, Smackdown vs Raw 2012 is going to be the game where the overall theme is change, and everything is changing. A complete re-invention of it's core ideas.


That's good and all. Just as long as they also switch away from Gamespy servers. Those servers are still godawful.

P.S....

Apparently, also Cory has said that the roster is finalized right now.

They are NOT saying who or what the roster is, but it's been decided, locked down, and apparently are moving ahead with the modeling and creation now.

I think there's a very good chance that Daniel Byran, Kharma, and Sin Cara are all going to make it in.

And a "maybe" on the Uso's and Mason Ryan. But who cares about them, anyway?

I think Daniel Bryan is a definite. Sin Cara and Kharma I'm less certain on. The Usos I doubt very much. Mason Ryan - just stare at the box the game came in. Its got roughly the same depth of personality and character, and has about the same level of wrestling skill.

As far as changes to the game are concerned, I'd also be pretty happy of they went with Smackdown roster size, create modes, game modes, and list of moves, but then wrapped it in All-Stars gameplay and physics.

I'd like to be able to customise movesets, maybe pick from a list of stringed moves and combos if that's necessary to make the gameplay work, but I do fine All Stars fantastic fun to play so I'm happy if they work from that as a base.

BTW, update on why its unlikely Kharma will be in the game:

Quote :

As noted earlier here on the website, WWE Diva Awesome "Kharma" Kong will be sidelined for the remainder of the year.

In an update on this, the reason Kharma is will be off TV is because she is indeed pregnant. As a result, she will not be in active competition for the duration of her pregnancy. She may also miss additional time after the pregnancy for obvious reasons.

I know these things happen, but really STUPID timing on her part!

Eurgh rank. Who the hell would sling one up her? A braver man than I. Or a real dirty dog!

Sadly, she was the one thing keeping me watching the WWE right now, watching her decimate the Divas.

Well... the one last remaining aspect I cared enough about to tune into WWE programming, and this happens.

It's not like I can blame WWE creative for this, but still... my interest in watching is going to be gone for a while.


....weelllll, except for Tough Enough. It's still the best thing they have going on television right now, by a large margin, and i'm still very much enjoying it.

But when that ends, what will I watch for a while? Eh. Ionno. Certainly not Impact Wrestling, that's for sure.



Yah, that's it. I'm gonna start renting some ROH and Dragon Gate DVD's, and watching Chikara, and see what that's all about.

The only reason i've been putting that off for so long is because it's hard to get aquantied to new wrestling when i'm not familiar with the majority of the wrestlers.

But I have to jump in somewhere, I suppose.

I just saw that they actually had Kharma come into the ring and start crying on Raw.


Remember how I said I couldn't blame WWE for what happened with her? They could have put her on the sidelines and then came back to what she was doing.

But no. They end it like this.

Yeah, Fuck WWE. I'm done with them now. Officially.

I'll check back in 3 years to see if they've gotten any better. But i'm done with them.

Check out IPW:UK. Their website has an on-demand service allowing you to buy their PPVs as downloads, and their shows are excellent.