THQ wins WWE suit against Jakks News

Jakks is not the devleoper... that would be Yuke's...

Does this mean THQ won't be doing any of the future Smackdown games past 2010?

Yearly sports game are always nothing but small updates, but Smackdown is about the only one that seems to be getting worse with each itteration.. Removing key modes, features and moves, only to bring them back in later years as "new features". I'd even rather see EA do them, even if it means sitting through 2 or 3 sucky games before the series gets going.

EA do them?! Do you not remember Backstage Assault?

To be fair the games have got worse each year, with seemingly less content and more glam to cover it up.

EA have improved massively over the years, and it obviously wouldn't be the same team that made Backstage Assualt that would be working on it now. The point was, giving it to anyone would be an improvement at this stage.

I remember when THQ were ace dudes, what's happening to them? For shame.

Damn where are the guys that made No Mercy? The greatest wrestling game of all time.

Their most recent output has included Sim City DS and the lamentable Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution. I believe they said they'd never work with THQ again after being treated badly by them, so we won't be seeing another good WWE game until THQ lose the licence (something I've been hoping for for years).

I'm sure EA would love to get their hands on the license, if only to get one over on UFC and Dana White after all the trash talking between the two companies.
That would give coverage in nearly all areas of 'fighting' - Boxing, MMA & Wrestling. Though, I've got to agree with some people that it'll take a few years for the best version to come out.

No wonder devs want to publish themselves when they get taken to court by the publisher to claw back 4% royalties on a game they made.

BTW did Jakk make PS1 beat em up Evil Zone, remember a demo of that, well mad but pretty fun, wish I had a copy.

Aki developed No Mercy I believe, then THQ decided that instead of following the path of the N64 games(the good ones) they would follow the shallow pap Yukes created. I'm not even a wrestling fan at all but No Mercy was the dogs bollocks!

I believe Aki also developed Def Jam and Def Jam: Fight for New York for EA, so if EA did get the license it is possible they would be brought in as developer. Def Jam 1 was a pretty straight forward no frills wrestling sim with Def Jam Characters but also the deep character creation move set of NM. fight for New York was less of a wrestling sim and more of a fun albeit shallow brawler.

@Hunam

Seriously? THQ used to be shite, as a publisher they've really got it together these days.

There hasn't been a good Smackdown game since Smackdown 2

"THQ has a sturdy leg to stand on, of course - as new fighting series UFC 2009: Undisputed enjoys critical and commercial success."

Sweep the leg.

Cobra Kai!

I actually think the smackdown series have improved with time. It's my favourite fighting game series...or was untill UFC came along anyway.

I really don't get how they have gotten worse. The only thing that's gotten worse is the roster, and that's down to wwe and it's lack of talent, not really the developer's fault.

I also thought Legends of Wrestlemania was great fun.

I will agree snowblind though, it is odd they take back some things and insert them in later.

I don't see why they don't keep it all in and just add more the next year, not take stuff away and then add stuff.

I used to love the timed hardcore matches, but they scrapped that. they scrapped create a title which I enjoyed, the ability to play for belts online.

I do love the series, but that is one thing that has always bothered me. Though I don't mind not having those crap old diva matches like bra and panties, that was just humiliating as a fan.

Day of Reckoning on the Gaemcube was awesome in 4 player mode. I'd take an updated version of that over a new Smackdown any day of the week.

The SMACKDOWN Vs RAW series is abominable. Has been for years, but it's a surefire seller.

- Way too many restrictions (some gratiutously so).
- Creaking combat engine.
- Some diabolically weak-looking motion captured moves.
- Clipping polygons left, right, and centre.
- And a thousand other major and minor problems.

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What is needed is a new game (a NON- WWE/TNA one), with an ultra-deep wrestler creation mode. Even the much heralded Fire Pro Wrestling Returns doesn't have anywhere near the depth of configuration and design that a great grappler game requires. It's not rocket science.

Couple that with the option to either play the game in a KAYFABE manner (i.e. pretending the in-ring grappling is 'real', like most games haved tended to do so far), OR to play the game as a series of SCRIPTED matches (i.e. 'storytelling' an in-ring match with proper build-up and calling 'high spot' move sequences. Where winning is not the key, but putting on an exciting match is).

.

Oh, and a decent 'crowded ring' game mechanic to provide a intelligent and fun way of playing 10-man battle royal matches.

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There's too many strings attached to the WWE (and TNA / ROH) brands to allow a truly excellent and unrestricted pro wrestling videogame. One example is with the women wrestlers, which year-after-year get disallowed from being included in playmodes such as cage fights and backstage brawls. For no good technical reason. Such a needless boneheaded restriction in a WWE videogame is merely to 'align' with what the WWE/THQ wants to reflect of its weekly television product. To the detriment of videogame players.

@The_Mountie

As good as that idea might be without the names and branding, it wouldn't sell the units to be worthwhile or get green lighted by THQ or any other developer/distributor.

IF THQ do one year UFC and one year WWE, then we might see some improvement, but I doubt it, too much money to be made.