Here is the transcript of most of the questions during tonight's WWE.com's Live Chat with Jon Durr of THQ Headquarters regarding WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2010. Most typographical errors have been fixed.
Corey Clayton, WWE.com Community Leader: Lots of "when's the demo coming?" questions....
Jon Durr, THQ Headquarters: Wow, right off the bat with the big questions! Unfortunately, there will not be any demos this year. Wish I had a better answer on that one, but that's the case. The good news is the game is coming out in less than a month here:)
Q: How exactly have the Royal Rumble and TLC matches been improved?
Jon: We've done a lot of exciting things to polish our match types this year. We've also added some new match types that the fans will dig. Right now, I can't say more than that, but we will be officially announcing what those changes are within the next 2 weeks.
Corey: Let's talk about the one really big new feature, the Create a Story Mode. Is it true that fans will be able to create their own storylines with WWE Superstars, then share them online?
Jon: Absolutely! I've been a wrestling and wrestling game fan for years. And as a fan this is a feature that I've always wanted. I know the community is going to really love what they can do in this mode.
Corey: What consoles are the new Create A Story available on?
Jon: Story Designer is in every game except for DS. On PS2,Wii and PSP you have fewer moments, I think there's 55 on those. 360 and PS3 have 500 moments you can use!
Corey: I think "moments" in the Create A Story mode needs more explanation. Moments = story points, correct?
Jon: Moments are either Cut Scenes or Matches in Story Designer.
Q: Once you make the story in story mode. Can you watch it? Or do you have to play it?
Jon: As for watching or creating your shows, you get to choose! You are able to create a single player storyline or you can set the matches to be AI controlled. Each scene in story designer is self contained animation. Some have 1 superstar, others have up to 5. Additionally there are over 100 scenes, and they are very customizable. Change out the superstars...locations...emotion on their face... sound... camera angles and text. You can also reduce how many superstars are in a scene by leaving that "cast" slot empty
Q: Will there be storylines on SvR2010 already on the game that we can just play instead of creating our own?
Jon: We have 2 "sample" stories that come with the game. A third one can be unlocked.
Q: Road to WrestleMania returns this year, correct? With a Divas road?
Corey: Many fans, are asking about DLC [Downloadable content] this year ... any plans for future packs of Superstars? New game modes?
Jon: Users that pre-order at GameStop will be able to download Stone Cold Steve Austin! At this point that's all that we have announced on the DLC front.
Q: Will the show WWE Superstars be in the game?
Jon: Unfortunately we don't have WWE Superstars... not enough time:( But we do have 16 other arenas.
Q: Have you guys ever thought about Create-An-Arena? or Create-A-Match? There’s something that would be good for us fans
Jon: I'd love to have Create-An-Arena and Create-A-Match. Hopefully one day we'll get them in there.
Q: You don't have to give us details, But are there unlockables in the game we don't know about yet?
Jon: There are unlockables in the game that you don't know about yet.
Q: Like in past games, will you be able to import music for CAW entrance music?
Jon: Entrances are allowed online. But you will not be able to used custom music... You can use custom music offline though.
Q: Will we ever be able to, in future games, get ALTERNATE costumes/outfits for Shawn Michaels, or The Undertaker?
Jon: I sure hope we'll be able to get those alternate attires in. I'd love to see all of Undertaker's old looks. But this year you are able to edit the look of all our Superstars, with the Superstar Threads feature. This allows you to change the color of their outfits. For example, we have the blue logo for Cena in the game. But you can change that to green really easily and make him look more up-to-date. And like always you can update their movesets, customize their entrances and add create a finishers, like the new diving create a finisher. Also the superstar threads that you create can be seen in online matches.
Q: Will the backstage areas finally be connected to the ringside area like in previous Smackdown games from years past?
Jon: Nope, still not connected.
Corey: I know Create-A-Finisher is expanded a little this year, to give more freedom to gamers. Can you give us more details on what users can do move-wise?
Jon: Well, last year we had front grapples. This year we added 30% more animations to that. And then we also added diving finishers too. The diving finishers are a blast to create. You can make totally unrealistic moves that just look sick, or do something that looks straight out of what you'd see on Monday Night RAW. And like Story Designer you can post and share those created moves online.
Q: Can you give Divas created finishers?
Jon: Yes, you can give divas created finishers. Also Divas can now participate in every match type (except first blood).
Q: Can you make submissions or just finishers?
Jon: Just finishers this year.
Q: Is there a way to have some Create a Finisher moves that involve behind moves? Holds like Skull Crushing Finale or Dream Street?
Jon: The focus is really on front grapples. That said, you can branch the moves to go behind, like getting in a reverse DDT clutch.
Q: Is there a Diva-centric match this year? I've been missing them lately.
Jon: Sorry, guys. Can't announce anything relating specifically to match types...but I will say we do have something there for the divas:)
Q: Can you assign attributes to your created guy or is it the same system as last year?
Jon: The attributes have been updated from last year. You still gain experience from matches, but depending on what you do during the match will allow you to add those earned attributes to specific categories... for example if you use a lot of strikes you will be able to increase your Striking stat. Also, you will be able to develop your CAS from career, exhibition and also Road to WrestleMania!
Q: Why the sudden change with the layer bit? I mean doesn't the new points system for CAS limit CAS a bit?
Jon: With CAS we added 3D parts this year and ripped out all of the painted on parts (like the tie). The points system is there to support that change. And because of it you can create cooler looking characters than ever before.
Corey: Many are asking if the new WWE pay-per-view events like Bragging Rights, Hell in a Cell and Breaking Point are in the game. Those are probably too new to make the cut for this year. What is the cut-off point for the yearly version of the WWE game? Late spring?
A: Yeah, those events should be awesome, and I would expect them all next year. Spring is a fair guess for cut-off points.
Corey: I have to laugh ... this is one of the most submitted questions tonight ... Will there be "crotch blur" and "breast blur" in Create-A-Superstar? (I can't believe I just typed that.....)
Jon: Yeah, we can't get rid of the crotch blur.
Corey: Thought so.
Jon: We'd all love to see that restriction go too, but it's just the way the world is.
Corey: This is the first year for new commentator Matt Striker in-game, correct?
Jon: Yeah, Matt is in the game and he's teaming up with Todd Grisham. They did a fantastic job! You have to love Striker!
Jon: The commentators for each brand are: Cole/King, JR/Tazz, and Grisham/Striker. The reason this is a bit dated is in order to get all the commentary and Road to WrestleMania VO in the game. We have to start early or we'd never make it in time.
Q: Will there be more backstage areas?
Jon: Yes, we have added a few more backstage areas.
Q: Has online lag been reduced for the PS3?
Jon: Yep, the lag has been improved.
Q: Are there going to be better reversal techniques?
Jon: What do you mean by techniques? We have moved everything the RT instead of both triggers. This also means that you have to have better timing to hit the reversal. It's a very nice balance and we think you'll dig it. We also added more options once you block a kick. You can do strikes or grapples from there. You can also get that punch/block trading sequence that you see on WWE more frequently... in a good way.
Corey: Jon, has the new Havok engine for the game fixed any major glitches of the past, like collision and so on?
Jon: Havok is new this year. We're excited about some of the polish it's brought to the game. You'll see less clipping and some really natural looking animation interactions... for example when one superstar walks past another they will hook arms...when you walk near the ropes your arm will dangle over it... those types of polish things are what you can expect to see and they make the action look more like the real thing.
Corey: We're out of time tonight Jon, thank you so very much for stopping by and answering as many questions as you were able to. Go to SmackDownvsRaw.com for all the latest news and info about the game before it hits stores Oct. 20!
Jon: It was my pleasure Corey. Thanks for having me.
