Well, I'm surprised Batista is in the game. I can imagine that 2 of the legends could also be Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase and Dusty Rhodes. And almost certainly that will see Andre the Giant.

Well, there's finally some news to report here.

IGN has a video up that details WWE Universe mode, and really it looks pretty damn cool. The link has a short article, and this video.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/112/1122960p1.html
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In other news, 4 of the Unnamed have been revealed:

SmackDown:
Hornswoggle
Paul Bearer
Shelton Benjamin

RAW:
Mr. McMahon

Unfortunately that means that they're including non-playable characters as part of the roster, which is kind of lame. Here's the roster page if you want to see how the entrances and finishers look for many of the wrestlers:

SmackDown Vs. Raw Roster

And that's it for now.

WOW! That's something I've always wanted in a wrestling game!

wow i haven't bought a WWF game in years, they have really come along way. looks amazing

I'm contemplating picking this up this year. The last one I bought was 2009, but I only played it a handful of times. The weapon physics look better this year.

Wait, the aborted WCW reboot is in this game?

WCW has been in as a brand for years. They've also had the WCW Classic Championship Belt for years. (The belt used from 1991-1993 when Ric Flair took the current World Heavyweight Championship with him to WWF)

However, there are no WCW arenas.

Also, you can use the paint tool in game to make your own brand logo, so in theory you could have a TNA or ROH brand as well. You'll also be able to download these paint tool creations from others like you can with CAWs, finishers and storylines in 2010.

The WWE Universe mode looks awesome and they finally brought back RANKINGS! It's something we haven't seen since Smackdown 2 for the PS1 (which is still my favorite Smackdown wrestling game of all time). Now, my only question is this(this will probably sell me the game), will created wrestlers and belts be allowed in this Universe? If yes, I will pick up a copy, no I'll keep playing 2010. I wouldn't assume yes, because Smackdown has made a habit of leaving something out like Rankings (until this year) or removed something that made a lot of sense like belts, modes (I was half expecting for them to remove blood this year, but I'm glad they didn't).

Wow that video really makes me want to play this game. I don't really watch wrestling anymore (stopped watching regularly after Wrestlemania XXIV pretty much) but I still enjoy playing the games from time to time. The last one I bought was the 2009 edition but I barely played it. WWE Universe mode looks awesome though!

Create-A-Belt is not in the game this year. But there are several unlockable belts. You can defend these belts, but there won't be rankings for them, just the current titles in WWE. CAWs can be used in Universe, and if you want you can only use CAWs. You'll probably have to manually add them to cards early on, but as you use them and play the game will adapt and your CAW or CAWs will move up the rankings.

Also, I'll use this post for the latest update. WWE revealed 2 more legends for the game on Thursday, along with one of the SmackDown question marks:

Stone Cold Steve Austin
The Rock
Mike Knox

That leaves 5 legends and 2 SmackDown question marks.

Today's update:

Match Creator is in!

This had been rumored for a while, after one of the producers of the game said there was only 1 new match type, while another producer said there was over 100. Today, IGN revealed that it made the game.

Basically, you can finally pick multiple stipulations and combine other matches. Want a table inferno match? How bout a first blood Hell In A Cell? These are options that have been mentioned. I'm hoping for Extreme Rules Hell In A Cell (Tables, Ladders and a cell? Oh My).

The article also confirms that you can now have an online Royal Rumble match with up to 12 players. 6 can play at once, while the others get to answer trivia questions as they wait to come in.

They also give more information about the Road To WrestleMania involving The Undertaker. You can choose between Kofi Kingston, John Morrison, Dolph Ziggler, R-Truth or a created superstar, with the goal of going to Mania and ending Undertaker's streak. Personally I don't like the real options here, so I'll be using a CAW.

The article is a pretty good read. And if Match Creator isn't too limited, it might end up being right up there with WWE Universe mode in terms of cool new things.

Also, the roster page has unlocked Zack Ryder, Vladimir Kozlov, Goldust, Chavo Guerrero and MVP, if you'd like to see their entrances and finishers. On Thursday, more question marks should be revealed.

wow (again!) This game is looking more and more promising!

And Match Creator has limitations:

No ladders or tables in Hell In A Cell matches. The only tables in cell matches are going to be the announcer tables. Still, you will be able to do finishers off the top of the cell through those tables (i.e. Chokeslam, Sweet Chin Music, Attitude Adjustment).

Still, you could have a Last Man Standing Cell Match, which would be pretty cool. But I'm disappointed as the lack of tables, as it would be awesome to set up a table in the middle of the ring and put someone through the top of the cell and the table, but it won't happen this year.

Today's Update:

3 More legends have been revealed:

Terry Funk
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
"Superfly" Jimmy Snuka

Not really excited about any of these, except for maybe Jake Roberts.

The Roster site has also opened up the pages for Yoshi Tatsu and Gail Kim if you'd like to see their entrances and finishers.

Other info:

In addition to the Online Axxess Code (The one you get with the game new to play online, $10 if you buy used), there will also be a Fan Axxess DLC pack.

Fan Axxess is premium content for the ultimate WWE fan. With its purchase you get the All Unlockables and WWE Superstar Attribute Customizer store items and a special customizable Xbox LIVE Leaderboard Fan Axxess badge. Fan Axxess is also a discounted pre-payment for all future WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2011 downloadable content. Please note: This purchase does not include Online Axxess or WWE Legend Bret Hart. Visit wwe.thq.com for more details.

That's from the XBOX page, but it's also going to be available on the PS3. Basically, if you want to unlock everything without having to play through all the game modes, you can buy this and it will unlock everything. Also, it does look like they're charging to use the ability to edit the attributes of Superstars, but I've heard that will only be $1, as will the Unlock everything code.

The Fan Axxess pack will be $10, but it will include those, plus it sounds like you get the other DLC Packs as well when they're released.

Has it been confirmed, then, that you WILL be able to edit downloaded CAWS this time out.

* * *

Also, nice news about the Rumble being able to be played now online.

Oh yes...this was my biggest complaint about 2010, and it was one of the first things they came out and confirmed about 2011.

You can edit the downloaded CAWs, but you can't re-upload them. But you can change everything this year, making it a real functional feature.

To me, I was sold on the game on this and the weapons physics. The rest of the new stuff is just icing on the cake.

The funny thing is I'm still playing 2010 when I'm bored. I'm not sure I want to start 2011 LOL. But I do think I will buy this game at some point. It looks awesome and it really is selling me on physics, Universe mode, Rankings, and editing downloading CAWS(one of my big complaints too). I'm thinking $40 as my personal price point. I have to factor in that I want to play the AAA wrestling game too.

YES! I had no patience, say, to create a perfect Macho Man like some online but was pretty pissed when I couldn't add his music.

Now, if they allowed us to import CAWS from 2010 that would be nice

Well, I don't know about $40, but if you pre-order it at Amazon you get $10 credit for another game.

As a matter of fact, the AAA Lucha game has the $10 credit too. You could pre-order that today, get the credit later this week after AAA ships, then use that credit on 2011. You get another credit with that and the Orton Viper Pack code.

So, wait, what comes free if I buy the game new?
I am mainly interested in the wrestlers and the WCW arena.

The ablility to play online. That's all.

I'll answer that by spelling out the entire DLC plan for the game, as THQ finally revealed almost everything about it.

Unlock Everything ($1 or 80 MS Points)

There are over 60 unlockable items in the game this year. This purchase will unlock them all without having to play the game.

Superstar Attribute Editor ($1 or 80 MS Points)

Allows you to edit the attributes of the Superstars in the game.

DLC Pack #1 (Available when game is released) Free With Online Axxess
"The Masterpiece" Chris Masters
Alt. Attire For Rey Mysterio
Alt. Attire For Kelly Kelly

DLC Pack #2 (Available Holidays 2010) - $6.99 (560 MS Points)
NXT Arena
Wade Barrett (Nexus)
David Otunga (Nexus)
Justin Gabriel (Nexus)
Layla
The British Bulldog
Lex Luger
Alt. Attire For Shad (Heel Attire)
Alt. Attire For Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania VIII Attire)

DLC Pack #3 (Available Early 2011) - $2.99 (240 MS Points)
WCW Monday Nitro Arena
Alt. Attire For The Undertaker (American Bad Ass Attire)
Alt. Attire For John Cena (Current Purple Attire)
Alt. Attire For CM Punk (SES Mask)


WWE Online Axxess (Free With New Game) - $9.99 or 800 MS Points

This is the online code you get when you buy the game new. It's required to play online and to download from WWE Community Creations (CAWs, finishers, Paint Tool items, etc.)

Also included with Online Axxess is DLC Pack #1.

WWE Fan Axxess - $9.99 or 800 MS Points

With Fan Axxess, you get:

Unlock Everything
Superstar Attribute Editor
DLC Pack #2
DLC Pack #3
Badge For your name online.

Basically if you buy the game new, and spend $10 for Fan Axxess, you get everything except Bret Hart. Bret Hart will be available as DLC eventually.

The other items could be in the game already (Orton Viper Pack, Ministry Undertaker, Tribute To The Troops arena), as these items are not part of the DLC packs.

Bret Hart is available as a pre-order bonus from Best Buy in the US. Everybody in Canada gets him.

Hrmmm, kinda meh honestly. I'm pretty sure I will buy my copy new but only spend the 80 points to edit Superstar Attributes (which is lame and should not be charged for, but whatever). The DLC stars, it's called Community Creations for free. And I'm not sure why I would want to unlock everything immediately, I'm more of the earn type than instant gratification.

Today's Update:

Mickie James has been revealed as one of the remaining question marks. The other SmackDown question mark has now disappeared from the roster page, but it's been glitchy all day. Mickie is in and you can see her now along with Chris Masters.

The final two legends will be revealed on Tuesday.

Also, it's been confirmed that there will be 70 slots for Tag Teams/Stables in the game this year. In 2010 there were only 27, so this is a major improvement, almost to the point of overkill.

EDIT:

OK, apparently the final SmackDown question mark was removed because it represented a playable Druid. I guess they decided that since the Druid isn't an actual WWE character, that he shouldn't have a roster page devoted to him. But there is a playable Druid in the game.

I guess he's the Red and Green or the Tony and Masked Man of the last two games.

I have this on pre-order for my brother-in-law. I was going to go via TRU and get the Taker pack, but the Orton pack at Amazon is cool as well (that and he's a big Orton fan) so I went that route.

I am sure he will have no problem with spending $10 to get all the DLC.

In fact, I ordered him a new 360 (he's never had one and wants one) for him when he gets here on leave from Iraq at the end of the month.