SmackDown series to miss PS3 launch, making next-gen debut on Xbox 360
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jul 24th 2006 at 10:55AM }
Following rumors that the PlayStation 3 version of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 has been cancelled, THQ confirmed that its perennial wrasslin' series will not boost the PS3 launch lineup this holiday. Instead, SmackDown 2007 will ship for PS2 and PSP, and more importantly, will make its 'next-gen' debut exclusively on Xbox 360. THQ did add that the SmackDown franchise would eventually make it onto PS3, but not until holiday 2007.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Will @ Jul 24th 2006 11:04AM
wrestling sucks anyway
Petrie @ Jul 24th 2006 11:05AM
Though many people will go out of their way to claim this is unimportant because it's just a wrestling game, WWE games are big business and can sell systems. Many an N64 was sold on the basis of No Mercy alone.
Erik Novak @ Jul 24th 2006 11:08AM
I have to wonder if this is due to the complexity of programming for the PS3?
MetaHuman @ Jul 24th 2006 11:11AM
Day of Reckoning's gameplay kicks these games asses. However SDvR beats it in overall content.
That said, I hope they make DoR for Wii and take advantage of the 9GBs that Wii's medium has vs. the 1.5 GC disc.
vidGuy @ Jul 24th 2006 11:16AM
So what games WILL be available on Nov 17?
Tim @ Jul 24th 2006 11:23AM
Today all 7 video game wrestling fans are sad.
Clint @ Jul 24th 2006 11:23AM
Yawn...Wrestling is so last century.
JimmyHACK @ Jul 24th 2006 11:27AM
come november i doubt nextgen owners are worried about wresting.
sony will make up enough with the ps2 version so i doubt they aren't worried...
i'm curious with like 3+ months left, how they can't get a version up and running.
Jerky @ Jul 24th 2006 11:47AM
To those who think WWE games don't sell, last year alone WWE games sold over 1 million copies on just the PS2 alone.
More sales then God of War btw. Wrestling games are still a big, big seller.
JJ @ Jul 24th 2006 11:51AM
Yeah most people dont even watch wrestling yet play the wrestling games, at times they can be pretty fun and if you look at the sales numbers they're right up there consistently every year, So... SOMEONE is buying them. Just like SOMEONE buys madden and live.
PsionStorm @ Jul 24th 2006 11:56AM
Wrestling games do excellent business, and while they might not be for YOU, they are obviously big enough to warrant a new release every single year. What are the only other games that do that consistantly?
Sports titles.
All those football, baseball, basketball and hockey games that everyone buys religiously year after year get the same treatment as the wrestling games do. And, for those that enjoy customization, the wrestling games often offer more replay for your money than most games do. Create-a-character modes, endless seasons, and the ability to modify your roster all bring people back for more.
And now, with online play? It doesn't get much better than that.
Solid gameplay has been the only thing holding back the majority of wrestling games. I'm excited about SvR 2006 on my 360, because I feel like I got screwed out of a quality wrestling title on my Xbox. I bought a Gamecube, just to play Day of Reckoning 1 and 2, because the Xbox was sorely lacking.
I can't wait for September to come around though.
In the meantime, if you don't like the game or don't like wrestling, it's pretty simple: Spend your time and money elsewhere.
Clint @ Jul 24th 2006 11:56AM
If a PS3 user wants this awful title, they can buy the PS2 version since the games will work on the PS3 at least, but I doubt the rednecks who play this crap will be able to afford an Xbox 360 or a PS3.
Jeff B @ Jul 24th 2006 12:09PM
I am so glad all the people going "HAW HAW WHO CARES BOUT RASSLIN GAMES THEIR GAY N STUFF FOR GAY REDNEX" are just internet retards and not actually in a marketing or business position in the industry. You may not find this a big deal, but I guarantee someone at Sony just lost 3 weeks of sleep over this. Exclusivity = potential system sales. That's not something Sony wants when they're launching a brand new console.
Justin @ Jul 24th 2006 12:14PM
It's not coming out for the PS3 because developers haven't received final test versions of the PS3.
logikil @ Jul 24th 2006 12:22PM
So yeah Clint,
That was a pretty asshole thing to say. That is all.
Will @ Jul 24th 2006 12:23PM
*insert random "I'm better than everyone else because I don't like wrestling" comment*
Seriously guys, I don't even like wrestling, but that doesn't mean I have to be an elitist prick about it.
This is a pretty big deal, because the Smackdown games do a lot of business. Losing the exclusivity was a pretty big blow, but compound that with their not being a PS3 version this year, and that's quite the hit to Sony. Their exclusives were hands-down what won them the last generation of consoles, and it seems like that playing field is leveling awfully fast this go around.
jygsaw @ Jul 24th 2006 12:32PM
Clint - So only rednecks play this "crap"? I guess that would make me a asian suburbanite techie redneck! YEE-HAW, the first of it's kind!
Anyhoo, this is a bit disappointing to me, seeing as I was looking foward to this right around the time of my PS3 purchase. Oh well though... it's either the PS2 version for me, or the graphically superior 360 port. Win win? Eh... I dunno.
KawF @ Jul 24th 2006 12:34PM
I would say that the decision to postpone this series for the PS3 in THQ's case is simply nothing but a product of them having too small of a team working on releasing the game for at least 4 completely different consoles. To do something like that you need serious manpower and money. They most likely after carefull consideration came up with that it would not be adventageous for them to spend more money at present time on the PS3 version and instead reallocate those engineers to work on the Xbox360 and other versions.
As a counter argument, could it not also be said by the reasoning of many that it is on the other hand the Xbox 360 that poses the problem since they had to reallocate the PS3-team to that console (Xbox 360) instead (since it was in danger of not being finished soon enough due to difficulties?).
Wild speculation based on no fact at all but ones own wishes sure is fun, isn't it?
LongshotX @ Jul 24th 2006 12:37PM
Come on you guys you really believe PS3 will be ready come November?
THE FETUS @ Jul 24th 2006 12:42PM
Though I was looking foward to getting this title, simply because the graphics looked so good, wrestling games are mostly bought by/for children. Not mature gamers. That being the case, even though a bunch of kids will want to buy it, a bunch of kids will not have the PS3 at launch so the actual sales may not cover the cost of production just yet.
And clint has a point, the PS2 version will work for those true wrestling fans. Not me though, I just wanted it to show off the PS3 graphics ability via my 45" Aquos.
JJ @ Jul 24th 2006 12:46PM
PErsonally though i do hope its just a rumor... i wanted it for my ps3...but i guess depending on the quality the 360/ps2 couldnt hurt much either...
RazorElite @ Jul 24th 2006 12:51PM
As has been said, wrestling games are BIG business. And for all you idiots who don't think it is, just because YOU don't play them, doesn't mean that millions of other people don't. And they're not just for 'rednecks' dumb ass.
insane_cobra @ Jul 24th 2006 1:01PM
Last time I played a wrestling game, it was a lot of fun, but that was in the arcade back in 1990, I think. Maybe I should give this one a try.
Retro @ Jul 24th 2006 1:19PM
I only buy wrestling games for the fun factor really and not about what's going on in WWE. Hell, I haven't watched wrestling since just a bit after HCTP came out. The WWE games are fun playing against your friends and siblings considering you don't really need to be pro to win at this game. Great way to kill some time (and will now spend more time on Live with up to 4 players online, I believe) but in no way am I calling this one of the best franchises. :)
vaylen @ Jul 24th 2006 1:43PM
THQ has made a killing on wrestling games, but seriously, do you think Sony really cares if they don't make a 2006 version for the PS3 with it's installed user base of maybe a million or so units by the end of the year as long as they make a version for the PS2 with it's installed user base of well over 100 million? I didn't think so. It's not like people play WWE games for the graphical bells and whistles. The PS2 would do just fine. Now if GRAN TURISMO decided to not release a PS3 version, THEN you'd have some headlines!
KR @ Jul 24th 2006 1:54PM
Can we have a post about a wrestling game without some ill-informed dickhead saying "wrestling sucks" and nothing else? Who gives a damn if you think "wrestling sucks?" These games are damn entertaining whether you like WWE or not, and they sell well. Not good news for the PS3.
Robotic House Plant @ Jul 24th 2006 2:04PM
Either they didn't have enough time to complete the port from the 360 version, or they're having some difficulty learning the PS3.
We all know the PS3 was delayed from it's original planned launch earlier in the year. So developers have had extra time to work on their products, but at the same time, Sony did not have final hardware totally available until later than they planned, so I'm sure that's probably a factor.
I say hold a product until it's ready, than ship early. Personally I was disappointed in Madden for the 360. It shipped early to make the launch window, and felt incomplete.
wes @ Jul 24th 2006 2:08PM
"Today all 7 video game wrestling fans are sad."
Incase you did'nt notice there dude,the biggest message board on IGN is the wrestling one....
The wrestling games are some of the best selling franchises on all systems...just cause you dont like it dont knock it.Oh and wrestling fans are'nt rednecks you dumbass..
SymetriX @ Jul 24th 2006 2:17PM
No matter how anyone feels about "real" WWE wrestling on TV, this game will be great fun on Xbox Live. What other game can you bust your friend over the head with a chair right when he's at 2 1/2 on a pin attempt?
Sure, the engine may not be Virtua Fighter calibur, but it's more than servicable. I've played just about every release, and some people may be surprised to hear that it's actually gotten quite advanced, with all the reversals and countering you'd expect if you come from the school of "No Mercy" for N64.
Of course, don't let people sell you too much on all of the "content" that comes with it; most of it is addmittedly corn-ball, or boils down to throw-away modes like "Bra and panties!", which may elicit a chuckle the first play or two, but quickly grow old.
At the core, I'd definately recommend any of the titles to fans of fighting games, especially if you have friends to play with who aren't ignorant as to call you names before even giving it a shot. And if you have Xbox Live I really don't think you have any excuses not to at least give it a rental for the online play.
damage control @ Jul 24th 2006 4:41PM
Sony doesn't want multi-platform title close to PS3 launch, because it will make PS3 look bad. When the consumers see it's available on 360 and PS3, and it looks about the same, however the price tag of the PS3 will be a turn off. As the matter of fact, if the PS3 lacks anything, it could really hurt the PS3. For an example, if the player/game matching on the PS3 new online service isn't as good as MS LIVE, Sony will have to stop advertising the PS3 to gamers and instead sell it to terrorists to launch missle.
Neil @ Jul 24th 2006 7:22PM
Land ho, now arriving PS2 to Port 360.
xaviertooth @ Jul 25th 2006 1:34AM
"Today all 7 video game wrestling fans are sad."
Count me in! I'm the 8th!
Rob Holiday @ Jul 25th 2006 7:19AM
Is anyone else, especially Sony people, worried about how well the PS2 is selling and how many games are still being developed for it? I think when the price of the PS3 was revealed, people decided to buy PS2's instead. Sure there is always overlap between console generations, but most games being released are for PS2 and XBOX 360. I would predict that the PS2 will still be selling years from now and games being developed for it instead of the PS3. If I was Sony, I would be worried about how well the PS2 is selling. The Wii's biggest competition will be the PS2.
taker04 @ Sep 12th 2006 12:53AM
"today all 7 video game wrestling fans are sad"
that makes me the 9th i guess!