As Real as it Gets

Consultations With TWG Vol. 1

Part One: Smackdown vs. Raw 2010, or Smackdown vs. Raw 20HASBEEN

I was thinking the other day; “WWE has spent the past 5 years with the Smackdown vs. Raw series, and they just announced that WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 is underway…what kind of things do we, the fans, want to see?”

I definitely believe that we need to see an updated character animations and models. If you played Smackdown vs. Raw (the first one), you can blatantly see that the way that Batista moves is no different than the way he moves about in the ring in 2009. I’m not saying graphics; I’m just saying more animations and what-not. I know that every year they try to include newer renderings of some moves (the new RKO for 2008 looked amazing!). However, when I was going through the Create-A-Moveset feature, I ran into the same moves that I’ve been accustomed to seeing from the yearly installment of the series.

As well, I believe we need a true-to-the-tee General Manager Mode. Where you can do everything; upgrade stages, upgrade shows (fireworks and stuff), bring in musical guests, and even inter-promote some things with another brand (or, if THQ is feeling really antsy, with people over the internet via PSN or XBL). Let’s face it, we were all pretty upset that THQ took out General Manager Mode in the last game (2009), and I was just itching to get my show up and running so that I could get all the cool unlockables that they just love to throw in there. I was thoroughly disappointed by THQ’s decision, and I am hoping to see that the GM Mode makes a comeback in 2010.

Alas, the next logical thing to talk about is that terrible Road to Wrestlemania mode. Well, I’ve been a fan of the WWE games for a long time, and I almost stopped playing them all together because of Road to Wrestlemania. So…we get to choose one of 5-7 characters to play through a fully operational ‘story’ mode, leading up to the biggest event of the year. And, they gave us this pile of terrible gameplay. Not only were the storylines terribly written, but the animations and models that were used during the cutscenes looked like they came from the PS2 era. So, my advice; take out Road to Wrestlemania, and insert, like 2007, the ability to play through a selection of 30-40 different, shorter storylines. However, this time, make them more indepth. Make them feel like the gamer is right in the middle of the action, sitting right next to Michael Cole or Good Ol’ JR. Make the gamer feel that their accomplishing something when they exit the ring, leaving a heaping helping of good ol’ government mule meat!

Music! THQ has got to continue using wrestler themes in their menus. This was an amazing concept that brought a new sound to the game, and really helped me keep the volume up. The only problem was that there were a total of, maybe, 6-7 different wrestler themes, and they were all the super-popular ones (John Cena, Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, and Batista come to mind). So, with that being said, THQ needs to do what (most) other sports games have; a jukebox. An option to turn off certain tracks, or make one track play more than another track, or, even have your own music play during the entire game, loading screens and all. The problem with that is this; they have to have some of the mid-card and lower-card themes up there as well. I mean, I love Dolph Ziggler’s intro music, and I want to hear it when I plug in Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 the first time!

Keep your promises, THQ. When 2009 was getting underway, THQ told us that they would try and keep up the downloadable content to once or so a month. It’s been 7 months, and we’ve only had 2 DLC packages. Personally, that’s a letdown. Especially when they (THQ) said that they we going to “keep the brands and rosters as up-to-date as possible.” I think that they spent too much time on the WWE Legends of Wrestlemania game, and not enough time perfecting the game’s weakpoints and/or promises that were made to the loyal fans that shell out $60-70 every year for, essentially, the same game.

Every dog, has it’s day! I mean, yes, it’s cool to get to have a game called “BLANK BLANK 2010.” But, what happens when you beat a dead horse? Nothing, absolutely zilch, nada, zero! Maybe it’s time for the developers to get a handle on what the crowds and fans really want, and take a year or so off from programming, and get the true feeling and atmosphere of a WWE program, and overall universe, into one game. Maybe, start a new series. I mean, the Day of Reckoning games were fantastic, and I personally loved Wrestlemania 18 (Wrestlemania 19 and 21 were not wrestling games, so don’t even try to go there with me!). Maybe, just maybe, if THQ and Yukes took some time off and researched into the heart and soul of what the WWE really is, and capture the actual essence in a well-rounded game, the fans would be louder in their praise.

Enough about gaming, huh?

Part Two: Mr. Kennedy; Loss or Gain?

“MMMMMMMRRRRRRR. KEEENNNNEEEEDDDYYYY”
Some words that we’ll probably never hear in the WWE again, unless it’s from an old DVD or something. Did the WWE make the right call in firing one Mr. Kennedy? I think not! As a superstar, Mr. Kennedy had many, many good accolades going for him; his in-ring work was decent, and improving every time he stepped into the ring, his mic skills were absolutely amazing. I mean, WOW! This guy could make comebacks like The Rock in the good ol’ days of the Attitude Era, and even rival that of Chris Jericho when he was on a roll. Now…what really buried Kennedy? The movie; Behind Enemy Lines. Wow, what a garbage film that was. As we all know, Mr. Kennedy has been injured for the better part of a year, with shoulders being dislocated, and him screwing up an RKO that made Randy Orton fall awkward, and WWE officials were afraid that Kennedy was a liability in the ring. However, they pushed Kennedy to the moon, and he got caught under the dubious steroid scandal, did his time, got injured, and was basically put on as a mouthpiece for random snippets wherever the WWE wanted him. And, Mr. Kennedy had the potential of being the next Rock. Kennedy, everytime he was on the television, entertained fans more-so than some of the people that are getting their 15 minutes of fame (not going to name names, *cough* Miz *cough*). In reality, Kennedy being released opened up Kennedy for some better things, especially if he wasn’t exactly 100% This will give him the chance to heal properly, and more than likely show up on ROH or, dare I say it, become the umpteenth ex-WWE performer to join the ranks of Booker T, Kurt Angle, and Rhino over there in TNA.

Part Three: PG Rating Going Too Far? Nah.

Unlike many fans, I still enjoy the WWE product. Through its PG movement, we’ve not really seen the full effect of what will be coming in store for us. First off, the no-blood thing isn’t really going to make an impact because most, if not all, bloody fights are in result of a blade job that looks bad, but really isn’t as bad as it looks up on the TV screen.

Second off, as much as I was fond of the yearly Playboy/WWE promotional magazine they did every year around Wrestlemania season, I understand that the WWE doesn’t want their 10 year old viewers to be seeing naked women, especially if it’s the same one who’s wearing the belt, and for the very few younger female audience, could be setting a bad example for the future mothers, wives, grandmas, and great-grandmas of the world. However, as this was a huge source of revenue for the WWE (and Playboy, for that matter), I don’t believe that the hit will be so hard that WWE will be losing much sleep over it (although us men in the audience will be!).

Thirdly; when was swearing really a big part of WWE programming anyway? I believe, in my 14 years of watching WWE, I’ve never heard anything that has gone over-the-top (language-wise, not content wise). TNA uses swearing as a crutch because they don’t cater to a worldwide audience, and are definitely not using their show as a launching pad for some sort of global media-friendly venture. However, the WWE is. And they have cleaned up their act considerably, of course, comparing that to what they did in the past, the change is miniscule and will go pretty much unnoticed by the general public.

You’ve just been Consulted, how did that feel?

About the Author

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