WWE SmackDown! (video game series)

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WWE SmackDown! series
The SmackDown! logo
The SmackDown! logo
Developer(s) Yuke's
Amaze (Nintendo DS, 2007)
TOSE (Nintendo DS, 2008)
Publisher(s) THQ
Yuke's (Japan, 2000-2005)
Platform(s) Current systems: Mobile game, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360
Past systems: PlayStation
Release date 2000 - present
Genre(s) Professional wrestling
Rating(s) ESRB: Teen (T)
PEGI: 16+
Media Blu-ray Disc, DVD, CD

WWE SmackDown! (formerly WWF SmackDown!) is a series of professional wrestling video games published by THQ, based on World Wrestling Entertainment's television program, SmackDown!. Games in the series are primarily developed by the Japanese based company, Yuke's Future Media Creators.[1]

The original series (2000-2003) was titled under the SmackDown! name, while the present series (2004-) is titled SmackDown! vs. Raw. In Japan, the series was published by Yuke's and known as Exciting Pro Wrestling up until 2005. Following SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, THQ took over as the Japanese publisher and the series adopted the western name.[2][3]

Initially, the series was exclusive to PlayStation video game consoles. But by 2008, the series would now be featured in all of the seventh generation consoles. The SmackDown! series to date is among best-selling video game franchises with (as of 2008) 37 million copies shipped.[4]

The game engine for the games were based on the one used by the Japanese professional wrestling video game series, Toukon Retsuden, which was also developed by Yuke's.[5] The engine was also used in Yuke's fictional professional wrestling series, Rumble Roses.[6]

Contents

[edit] Main series

[edit] Original series



 Consoles:[7] (2000) - PlayStation
Original release dates:[8]

JPN - August 3, 2000
NA - February 29, 2000
PAL - 2000
Notes:

  • Known in Japan as Exciting Pro Wrestling[8]




Consoles:[9] (2000) - PlayStation
Original release dates:[10]

JPN - January 25, 2001
NA - November 21, 2000
PAL - January 1, 2001
Notes:

  • Known in Japan as Exciting Pro Wrestling 2[10]




Consoles:[11] (2001) - PlayStation 2
Original release dates:[12]

JPN - January 24, 2002
NA - November 19, 2001
PAL - November 16, 2001
Notes:




Consoles:[14] (2002) - PlayStation 2
Original release dates:[15]

JPN - February 6, 2003
NA - October 31, 2002
PAL - November 15, 2002
Notes:

  • Known in Japan as Exciting Pro Wrestling 4[15]
  • Was the first video game released under the WWE acronym, due to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) changing their name to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).[13]




Consoles:[16] (2003) - PlayStation 2
Original release dates:[17]

JPN - January 29, 2004
NA - October 27, 2003
PAL - November 7, 2003
Notes:

  • Known in Japan as Exciting Pro Wrestling 5[17]


[edit] SmackDown! vs. Raw series



 Consoles:[18] (2004) - PlayStation 2
Original release dates:[19]

JPN - November 24, 2005
NA - November 2, 2004
PAL - November 12, 2004
Notes:

  • Known in Japan as Exciting Pro Wrestling 6: SmackDown! vs. Raw[19]
  • Was the first video game released under the SmackDown! vs. Raw name.[20]




Consoles:[21] (2005) - PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
Original release dates:[22]

JPN - February 2, 2006
NA - November 14, 2005
PAL - November 11, 2005
Notes:

  • Known in Japan as Exciting Pro Wrestling 7: SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006[22]
  • Was the first video game into the series that begun using a year in it's title.[23]
  • Was the first game in the series to be released to a handheld console.




Consoles:[24] (2006) - PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360
Original release dates:[3]

JPN - January 25, 2007
NA - November 14, 2006
PAL - November 10, 2006
Notes:

  • Was originally going to be released also on the PlayStation 3, but was canceled mid-way into production.[25]
  • From this game onwards, the exclamation mark from the title was removed.[26]




Consoles:[27] (2007) - Mobile game, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360
Original release dates:[28]

JPN - February 14, 2008
NA - November 13, 2007
PAL - November 9, 2007
Notes:




Consoles:[30] (2008) - Mobile game, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360
Original release dates:[31]

JPN - TBA
NA - Fall 2008
PAL - TBA
Notes:

  • Nintendo DS version will be developed by TOSE.[32]


[edit] Features

Since the series introduction in 2000, each video game has included a roster based on actual superstars from World Wrestling Entertainment. Beginning with the release of Here Comes the Pain, legends from World Wrestling Entertainment have been included in every game from then onwards.[33] Musician Fred Durst remains to date the only celebrity to have been made a playable character in any of the games. He was an unlockable character in Just Bring It.[34] Different matches are included for gameplay in every edition of SmackDown!, such as the Elimination Chamber, Steel cage match, Ladder match, Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, and the Hell in a Cell match, among others.[35] Also included into the series is the ability to play in arenas based on actual pay-per-view events and television shows from WWE.[35]

Also included since the series introduction is a season mode, an arcade like feature where the player chooses a superstar to work with through a series of storylines that involves challenging for championships and choosing options that affect the superstar's career in the mode.[36] From the first edition of SmackDown! up to the release of Here Comes the Pain, challenging and defending championships was exclusive to season mode, however, beginning with SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006, a championship mode has been included in every game since then, where players have the option to challenge and defend actual championships from World Wrestling Entertainment.[37] General Manager mode is a feature that also begun with the release of SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006, as players are able to play as the general manager of WWE's brands, where they draft superstars onto their brand, set champions for their brand, and set up rivalries for their brand; all to compete with the opposing brand(s).[38]

After the Brand Extension of WWE, Shut Your Mouth was the first game released to feature the Brand Extension between the Raw and SmackDown! brands. Since the release of Shut Your Mouth, every game from then on featured the Brand Extension.[39] In 2006, the ECW brand was revived by WWE, and was first featured in SmackDown vs. Raw 2008.[40]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Yukes's Future Media Creators Information. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  2. ^ (Japanese) YUKE'S Future Media Creators games list. YUKE's Future Media Creators. Retrieved on 2008-05-12. Translation
  3. ^ a b WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 Game Information. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  4. ^ THQ (2008-03-28). "The Number One Fighting Videogame Franchise Returns to the Virtual Ring with WWE(R) SmackDown(R) vs. Raw(R) 2009". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-03-28.
  5. ^ New WWF Smackdown Screens. GameSpot (1999-11-19). Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
  6. ^ Rumble Roses review. GameSpot (2004-11-13). Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
  7. ^ WWF SmackDown! (PS1). IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
  8. ^ a b WWF SmackDown! Versions & Release Dates. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
  9. ^ WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role (PS1). IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  10. ^ a b WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role Game Information. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  11. ^ a b WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It (PS2). IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-08. “The first WWF title for the PlayStation 2 has arrived with WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It!.”
  12. ^ a b WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It Game Information. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  13. ^ a b World Wrestling Entertainment to drop the "F" to emphasize the "E" for Entertainment. World Wrestling Entertainment Corporate (2002-05-06). Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  14. ^ WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth (PS2). IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  15. ^ a b WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth Game Information. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  16. ^ WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain (PS2). IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  17. ^ a b WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain Game Information. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  18. ^ WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw (PS2). IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  19. ^ a b WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw Game Information. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  20. ^ Dunham, Jeremy (2004-05-05). Pre:E3 SmackDown! vs. Raw revieled. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  21. ^ WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 (PS2). IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  22. ^ a b WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 Game Information. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  23. ^ WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 World Premiere. IGN (2005-07-04). Retrieved on 2008-05-08. “Officially known as WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2006 (a title meant to reflect its new direction towards a sports and simulation feel”
  24. ^ WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 Features. THQ. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  25. ^ PS3 SmackDown is Smacked' Down. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  26. ^ Dunham, Jeremy. World Premiere: SmackDown vs. Raw 2007. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-08. “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.”
  27. ^ WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 Features. THQ. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  28. ^ WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 Game Information. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-05-08.
  29. ^ Casamassina, Matt (2007-06-09). Pre-E3 2007: WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  30. ^ WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2009 Game Information. THQ. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  31. ^ WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2009 Game Information. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.
  32. ^ Miller, Greg (2008-03-27). WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is Official. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  33. ^ IGN Staff (2003-06-02). First Details WWE Pain. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-08. “For the first time ever in a WWE videogame...LEGENDS.”
  34. ^ D'Angelo, Joe (2001-11-19). Fred Durst's Butt Ready For Whuppin' In New SmackDown! Game. MTV. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  35. ^ a b WWF SmackDown! Exhibition Review. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  36. ^ WWF SmackDown! Season Overview. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  37. ^ Dunham, Jeremy. WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 review. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-09. “One of the best multiplayer features, though, is the ability to win and defend championship belts. Be they individual or tag team, you can win up to ten of them and even bet people money for belts if you want to raise the stakes. With a couple of friends and a pizza, the title match option can take up a good chunk of your time. The only thing I would have liked to see added is the ability to create your tournaments to help you out.”
  38. ^ Dunham, Jeremy. WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 Review. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
  39. ^ Smith, David. WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth Review. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-10. “When it comes to matching with the real-life programming, Shut Your Mouth is accurate up to earlier this year, around the time of the brand-splitting draft that created separate rosters for the RAW and SmackDown! shows.”
  40. ^ Dunham, Jeremy. WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008 Official. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-05-10. “The inclusion of ECW arenas, weapons, and superstars have also been verified, as have new rosters, more environmental hotspots, a combined Season and General Manager mode, and touch screen control for the DS version.”

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