First off, thank god it wasn’t EA. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk a bit about this news. I for one, was a huge fan of the THQ WWE Franchise from it’s early N64 days, through Gamecube, and then revived with Smackdown vs. Raw 2009. So let’s say I know a thing, or two about wrestling simulators by now.
Take two, in my opinion is a great home for the WWE Franchise. It seems like a bit more creative control is given with other IP’s like BioShock and the GTA series. The sports titles Take Two publishes are typically the type that have lasting appeal as well.
I’m excited/worried about the future of Pro Wrestling in Video Games, but it could be a brand new horizon for them. The other good news is that Yukes will continue to develop WWE titles so there shouldn’t be a drastic change in formula (it isn’t needed). The improvements need to be subtle. They need to be comparable to the type of animations and reactions a seasoned worker (wrestler) develops over a long career. The foundation is already there, and I’m hoping for the best.
MIT Gamelab