THQ Announce Re-Branding As They Unveil WWE 12 Teaser

THQ and developers Yuke’s have decided to shake up the WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw videogame series this year and the first step is to drop the name. Their new game – due out November 25th in the UK, will simply be titled WWE 12, and will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and Nintendo Wii. Superstars confirmed so far are Randy Orton, John Cena, The Miz and Alberto Del Rio, but expect a full roster to be included. There are a whole host of new features planned for the game, but THQ have overhauled the basics too such as the animation and collision systems, to make a more realistic title.

Yuke’s Creative Director Corey Ledesma went on to outline some of the core changes that are being addressed: “We aren’t changing the game entirely or completely ripping everything out to start over. That wasn’t the goal, what we are doing is taking the basic essence of what is good in the past games and making a new experience that feels fresh, fun, responsive, faster, smoother and is of higher quality. If you’re played the SmackDown vs. Raw games in the past, I have zero doubt you will notice the difference as soon as you pick up this year’s game.”

Changes such as analogue stick grapple combos reverting back to simpler button-based grapples, a new, zoomed out, camera angle and a new taunt system have been put in place. Add to that an increased overall speed, a Dynamic Comeback recovery system, and – most importantly – an improved animation system, where moves can be interrupted in mid-flow without glitches occurring and finishing moves no longer warp to the centre of the ring, and the game seems to be shaping up to be the most exciting entry in the series for years.

Also, some of the new features planned are:

EXPERIENCE THE NEW WWE! – WWE Action is redefined with new Predator Technology! This new system delivers a fresh and strategic gameplay experience that looks, feels and plays better than ever before. the gameplay you have demanded is finally here with the most fluid WWE action and realistic animations to date in a WWE videogame, improved A.I. and an all-new Breaking Point submission system!

DYNAMIC TV PRESENTATION – Witness the most electrifying presenation in all of sports entertainment. A dynamic new broadcast camera system and badder visual presentation replicate everything you see on WWE’s television broadcasts. New rendering and lighting technologies will provide the most realistic WWE Superstars, WWE Divas and WWE Legends and best-looking in-ring action to date.

CREATE AND SHARE YOUR WWE – WWE ’12′s best-in-class creation suite gives you the ability to create Superstars, entrances, finishing moves, storylines, Highlight Reels and all-new capabilities never before seen in a WWE videogame! Go online and upload your creations to share them with the WWE Universe and download creations from others to add to your own experience.

WWE UNIVERSE 2.0 – Take control of your WWE career in a bigger, badder and better WWE universe. Your actions determine your destiny and shape your experience, as storylines, matches, alliances and rivalries are built based on your decisions.

ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA – The Road to WrestleMania is fraught with action, drama, challenges, storyline twists and truns, and surprises. Which road will you pick, and what story will you tell, on your way to the biggest spectacle in sports entertainment?

Check out the teaser trailer and screenshots below:

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WWE 12 will release in the UK on November 25th and in North America on November 22nd. It will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and Nintendo Wii. Look for more details following E3.