Welcome to the Webmaster's Question and Answer page.
All questions here were submitted by members to our messege board.
All questions here were submitted by members to our messege board.
Questions answered on 2nd July 2003:
Q. Have you played Smackdown Here Comes The Pain yet?
A. I have indeed. Im pleased to say that I am the very first person outside of THQ to play the game in the World!
Q. What are your first impressions?
A. The new game looks fantastic, and Im very excited about its new features.
Q. What do you think is the best new feature?
A. There are so many to choose from! I am very impressed with the new grappling and weight systems. They add a whole new dimension to gameplay.
Q. Are the crowd still 2D?
A. No, they are in full 3D and look fantastic.
Q. What new matches will be in Smackdown 5?
A. Bra and Panty, Elimination Chamber and First Blood!
Q. How many playable wrestlers will there be?
A. Over 60, including approximately 12 Legends wrestlers!
Q. Legend wrestlers? Who are they?
A. THQ has finally decided to add wrestlers from WWEs past, including The Ultimate Warrior, Million Dollar Man, Legion of Doom and Nikolai Volkoff. Other wrestlers are still being decided.
Q. Will Mr America be in the game?
A. Not only will there be Mr America, but also there will be TWO separate versions of Hulk Hogan! Each Hulk will have a change of clothes and will include: 80s Hulk Hogan, NWO, Mr America, and the current Hulk Hogan!
Q. Will Jeff Hardy, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Crash Holly be on the roster?
A. Only Roddy Piper is still in the game. The other wrestlers have been removed, but their move-sets may still be included.
Q. What other wrestlers are 100% confirmed in the game?
A. We know of 46 confirmed wrestlers at present, including: Animal, A-Train, Bill Goldberg, Booker T, Brock Lesnar, Bubba Ray Dudley, Chavo Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, D-von Dudley, Eddie Guerrero, The F.B.I, Hawk, Hurricane, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Kane, Kevin Nash, Kurt Angle, Lita, Matt Hardy, Nathan Jones, Nikolai Volkoff, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Rhyno, Scott Steiner, Shawn Michaels, Stacy Keibler, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Test, The Big Show, Ted Dibiase, The Rock, The Undertaker, Torrie Wilson, Triple H, Trish Stratus, Ultimo Dragon, The Ultimate Warrior and Victoria.
Q. How near is the game to completion?
A. The game will be finished by the end of September.
Q. When will Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain be released?
A. Its predicted to be released in the 2nd week of November 2003.
Q. Can you go under the bottom rope in the Royal Rumble?
A. No.
Q. How many wrestlers can you have onscreen at once?
A. 8.
Q. How does the new money feature in season mode work?
A. You earn money by winning matches. It can be used in the Shopzone to purchase (unlock) new characters, movesets, and environments.
Q. If a WWE Superstar changed their gimmick or Costume now, would it be included in the game?
A. Probably not, THQ are now reaching the cut-off point for roster updates.
Q. In a steel cage match, will you be able to exit through a door?
A. No.
Q. Will wrestlers suffer area specific damage?
A. Yes! Injure a leg repeatedly for example, and the wrestler will start to limp.
Q. Is there a way to tell which body parts are becoming injured?
A. There is indeed. THQ have thoughtfully included a body-shaped metre at the top of the screen. It starts off as completely blue, but attack a body part and you will see that area flash from green to orange and finally red.
Q. Will you be able to edit the WWE Wrestlers clothing in Create mode?
A. Yes.
Q. How come you havent posted any screen shots yet?
A. THQ has requested that no screen shots be released at this time. In return for holding on to them, they will be providing us with official high-resolution shots very soon!
Q. That all sounds fantastic, but theres still a lot that I want to know!
A. I have a lot more answers for you, which will be revealed in our exclusive 45-minute interview with THQs Nick Wlodyka! I have a LOT more to tell you, including a few suprises!
Stay tuned!Questions answered on June 25th 2003:
Q. Is Rey Mysterio going to be in Smackdown 5? (Winemedineme69me)
A. Yes.
Q. In Hell in a Cell, can you fall through a cage and go through the ring? (Redmonkey911)
A. Probably not, as it would render the ring broken, and continuing the match would be difficult. They might incorporate it into an angle in season mode however.
Q. Will the all the moves connect better? (Thegame1712)
A. Collision detection always causes a problem in wrestling games. As the wrestlers are various sizes, sometimes when you perform a move it doesnt look like they are fully connecting (like WWE anyone?). THQ has vastly improved their collision detection in previous games, and I expect Smackdown 5 to be no exception.
Q. Will you be able to change superstars' clothes? (Redmonkey911)
A. The superstars will most probably have several changes of clothes, selectable on the character section screen, like Smackdown: Shut your mouth.
Q. Will the sd5 demo be available in Michigan soon? (Shaneomook)
A. Game demos are normally available about a month before the games release. They are available from games magazines, and sometimes from shops when you pre-order a game. Smackdown 5 is currently scheduled for release in November, so look for the first playable demo a little before then.
Q. Do you work for THQ? (Redmonkey911)
A. No, but I do work very closely with them. I have several links inside THQ, which provide only reliable information for the site. I am also linked with their PR company, and will be running some very exciting competitions in coming months!
Q. Will this certain wrestling move be in Smackdown 5? (Everyone)
A. THQ are still working on the game engine, with many of the games specific parts still to be made. Match types, moves, and characters are still being determined. I can't release information before they do!
Q. Can you do specials on a guy with a ladder on him? (Redmonkey911)
A. I expect that there will be more weapon activity in Smackdown 5. The last game introduced special weapon moves, which were accessed by pressing the circle button. Expect every aspect of the latest game to be more interactive, so weapon specials are a possibility!
Q. Will there be a elimination chamber match? (Death363)
A. All signs point to yes!
Q. Will you be able to pick your attire during season mode? (Redmonkey911)
A. Very doubtful, as season mode follows a set story. In Smackdown 4, Hulk Hogan was part of the NWO until Wrestlemania, and then brought back Hulkamania. Costumes reflected the current story, so I think they wont be changeable in Smackdown 5.
Q. Will it be a more exciting season mode? (Hbk4life)
A. The season mode will accurately reflect real life storylines, as well as offering new ones. If you enjoy WWE on TV, youre going to love Smackdown 5!
Q. Will the rock have that new tattoo that he has right now? (Redmonkey911)
A. Yes, unless he has it removed with laser surgery before the game is released!
Q. Will both heavyweight titles be in the game? (Death363, Ctfc)
A. Yes, as well as the re-established Intercontinental and US titles.
Q. Can you only perform double team moves on the turnbuckle like SD4? (Redmonkey911)
A. You could perform mid-ring moves in Smackdown 4. When your partner is grappling an opponent, press circle to perform a double team move. This feature will be included in Smackdown 5.
Q. Can you batter the fans and cameramen and commentators? (Cooldude260)
A. Due to the memory restrictions on Playstation 2, this level of interactivity isnt yet possible. The PS2 is only capable of having 6-8 people on screen at once. You will have to take your frustrations out on the ref for the time being!
Q. Where will the announcer tables be located? (Redmonkey911)
A. As the arenas are accurate representations of their real life counterparts, the Raw announce team will be at the top of the stage, and the Smackdown team at ringside.
Q. Will there be more counters for normal moves and finishers? (itsmeitsme)
A. Absolutely!
Q. Will there really be blood this time? If yes, in what places? (Redmonkey911)
A. Blood has been introduced to Wrestlemania X9, so its looking promising. If blood is used, it will probably only come from the forehead. Wrestlers rarely bleed from other parts of their bodies any more.
Q. Will tables disappear in Smackdown 5 when they break? (Redmonkey911)
A. Yes, otherwise the ring would quickly become very messy!
Q. Will you be able to reverse double team moves? (Redmonkey911)
A. You already can in Smackdown 4. Doing so normally causes you to perform a double clothesline on your opponents.
Q. When is the next Webmasters Q and A Session? (Everyone)
A. I aim to do one every 2-3 months. They take a lot of time, and I prefer to wait until I have enough information to answer all your questions properly. Please submit any further questions to the Webmasters Q and A thread, in the Website Discussion area on the Message Board. Please check to see if I have already answered the question here, or on another part of the site before submitting a question!
Q. Will Goldberg be in Smackdown 5? (Jackhammer08)
A. Yes, unless he gets fired before the game is released.
Q. Can you do double team moves anywhere? (Redmonkey911)
A. Double team moves can already be performed backstage. Expect more moves then ever to be added to Smackdown 5!
Q. What is the big announcement you are making tonight? (Everyone)
A. Stay tuned to www.Smackdown5.com as I will be posting the fantastic news this evening! Not long to go now, thanks for your patience!
Questions answered on February 26th 2003:
Q. Will there be voice-overs? (619)
A. There are voice-overs in the forthcoming WWE Crash Hour so it is certainly a possibility.
Q. How many polygons will there be? (619,edge_head_4life)
A. There is expected to be 6000-7000 polygons per character.
Q. Will the game play and graphics be better? (million$pimp)
A. THQ is working on a new game engine that will make the game better then ever before!
Q. Will Season mode be better? (million$pimp)
A. The season mode is being worked on with the help of WWE Writers. This will mean both televised stories and original ones will be used in Smackdown 5.
Q. When will there be more pics and videos? (million$pimp, edge_head_4life)
A. The first demo of Smackdown 5 will be unveiled along side Wrestlemania X9. This event takes place on Sunday 30th March 2003, So not long to go! Stay tuned to smackdown5.com for the latest information as it breaks.
Q. Will the Elimination Chamber be in the game? (everyone!)
A. No word from THQ yet, but all signs point to yes. They recreated every ppv arena for Smackdown 4 Shut Your Mouth, including the trucks from No Way Out and Steel Chair from King of the Ring. They can't do Survivor Series without the chamber!
Q. How many wrestlers will be on the roster. (edge_head_4life)
A. It is expected that approximately 60 wrestlers will feature in Smackdown 5. They will include all of the current WWE Roster, provided they don't leave or get sacked before the games release. The roster will be up to date until late September, but it becomes hard for THQ to introduce new wrestlers after this date, due to their release schedule.
Q. Will authentic wrestler music be in the game? (edge_head_4life)
A. In most instances yes. However when WWE use third party music such as Victoria's theme by T.A.T.U ( All the things you said), it is up to their music label whether the song is included.
Q. Is story mode going to be longer and not repetitive? (edge_head_4life)
A. To add longevity to the game, THQ concentrate most of their efforts towards creating an exciting season mode. There will be more options then before, with the inclusion of women to season mode. There will be more belts to go for, and more varied storylines. You will now be able to walk around backstage in third person mode ( like Tomb Raider), offering more interactivity. Smackdown 4 only became repetitive when you started season mode for a second time, to unlock more stuff. THQ are working on ways to make this more interesting.
Q. Will the commentary be livelier this time? (edge_head_4life)
A. The problem with commentary is that if you play the game for any length of time, the commentators will repeat themselves. This is why the developers made the commentary more spread out. There is only a certain amount of disc space, so to have a constant, varied commentary would not be practical on a game of this size. Be assured that whatever commentary is used, will be entertaining, and relevent to the match in progress.
Q. Will there be more weapons in TLC like ladders and chairs? (edge_head_4life)
A. There already is, look under the ring!
Q. Will there be Special woman's matches like bra and panties? (edge_head_4life)
A. THQ are working very hard on improving the woman's roster and matches. They have been included into the season mode, which means more woman's speciality matches will be introduced. The specific matches have not been announced at this time.
Q. Will there be full entrances and outros, instead of cutting them short? (edge_head_4life)
A. There will definitely be more realistic entrances, featuring the latest superstars music and moves. The 'outros' will offer more varied options, which will be triggered by pressing different buttons after the match, like Smackdown 4.
Q. Will we see the Hell in a Cell lower down before a match? (edge_head_4life)
A. Probably not, except maybe in Season mode.
Q. Will you be able to unlock former WWE and WCW wrestlers? (edge_head_4life)
A. I doubt it, but many of the more popular wrestlers move sets will be included in the Create a Wrestler feature.
Q. Will everything be more interactive? (edge_head_4life)
A. Yes!
Q. Have you played Smackdown Here Comes The Pain yet?
A. I have indeed. Im pleased to say that I am the very first person outside of THQ to play the game in the World!
Q. What are your first impressions?
A. The new game looks fantastic, and Im very excited about its new features.
Q. What do you think is the best new feature?
A. There are so many to choose from! I am very impressed with the new grappling and weight systems. They add a whole new dimension to gameplay.
Q. Are the crowd still 2D?
A. No, they are in full 3D and look fantastic.
Q. What new matches will be in Smackdown 5?
A. Bra and Panty, Elimination Chamber and First Blood!
Q. How many playable wrestlers will there be?
A. Over 60, including approximately 12 Legends wrestlers!
Q. Legend wrestlers? Who are they?
A. THQ has finally decided to add wrestlers from WWEs past, including The Ultimate Warrior, Million Dollar Man, Legion of Doom and Nikolai Volkoff. Other wrestlers are still being decided.
Q. Will Mr America be in the game?
A. Not only will there be Mr America, but also there will be TWO separate versions of Hulk Hogan! Each Hulk will have a change of clothes and will include: 80s Hulk Hogan, NWO, Mr America, and the current Hulk Hogan!
Q. Will Jeff Hardy, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Crash Holly be on the roster?
A. Only Roddy Piper is still in the game. The other wrestlers have been removed, but their move-sets may still be included.
Q. What other wrestlers are 100% confirmed in the game?
A. We know of 46 confirmed wrestlers at present, including: Animal, A-Train, Bill Goldberg, Booker T, Brock Lesnar, Bubba Ray Dudley, Chavo Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, D-von Dudley, Eddie Guerrero, The F.B.I, Hawk, Hurricane, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Kane, Kevin Nash, Kurt Angle, Lita, Matt Hardy, Nathan Jones, Nikolai Volkoff, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Rhyno, Scott Steiner, Shawn Michaels, Stacy Keibler, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Test, The Big Show, Ted Dibiase, The Rock, The Undertaker, Torrie Wilson, Triple H, Trish Stratus, Ultimo Dragon, The Ultimate Warrior and Victoria.
Q. How near is the game to completion?
A. The game will be finished by the end of September.
Q. When will Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain be released?
A. Its predicted to be released in the 2nd week of November 2003.
Q. Can you go under the bottom rope in the Royal Rumble?
A. No.
Q. How many wrestlers can you have onscreen at once?
A. 8.
Q. How does the new money feature in season mode work?
A. You earn money by winning matches. It can be used in the Shopzone to purchase (unlock) new characters, movesets, and environments.
Q. If a WWE Superstar changed their gimmick or Costume now, would it be included in the game?
A. Probably not, THQ are now reaching the cut-off point for roster updates.
Q. In a steel cage match, will you be able to exit through a door?
A. No.
Q. Will wrestlers suffer area specific damage?
A. Yes! Injure a leg repeatedly for example, and the wrestler will start to limp.
Q. Is there a way to tell which body parts are becoming injured?
A. There is indeed. THQ have thoughtfully included a body-shaped metre at the top of the screen. It starts off as completely blue, but attack a body part and you will see that area flash from green to orange and finally red.
Q. Will you be able to edit the WWE Wrestlers clothing in Create mode?
A. Yes.
Q. How come you havent posted any screen shots yet?
A. THQ has requested that no screen shots be released at this time. In return for holding on to them, they will be providing us with official high-resolution shots very soon!
Q. That all sounds fantastic, but theres still a lot that I want to know!
A. I have a lot more answers for you, which will be revealed in our exclusive 45-minute interview with THQs Nick Wlodyka! I have a LOT more to tell you, including a few suprises!
Stay tuned!Questions answered on June 25th 2003:
Q. Is Rey Mysterio going to be in Smackdown 5? (Winemedineme69me)
A. Yes.
Q. In Hell in a Cell, can you fall through a cage and go through the ring? (Redmonkey911)
A. Probably not, as it would render the ring broken, and continuing the match would be difficult. They might incorporate it into an angle in season mode however.
Q. Will the all the moves connect better? (Thegame1712)
A. Collision detection always causes a problem in wrestling games. As the wrestlers are various sizes, sometimes when you perform a move it doesnt look like they are fully connecting (like WWE anyone?). THQ has vastly improved their collision detection in previous games, and I expect Smackdown 5 to be no exception.
Q. Will you be able to change superstars' clothes? (Redmonkey911)
A. The superstars will most probably have several changes of clothes, selectable on the character section screen, like Smackdown: Shut your mouth.
Q. Will the sd5 demo be available in Michigan soon? (Shaneomook)
A. Game demos are normally available about a month before the games release. They are available from games magazines, and sometimes from shops when you pre-order a game. Smackdown 5 is currently scheduled for release in November, so look for the first playable demo a little before then.
Q. Do you work for THQ? (Redmonkey911)
A. No, but I do work very closely with them. I have several links inside THQ, which provide only reliable information for the site. I am also linked with their PR company, and will be running some very exciting competitions in coming months!
Q. Will this certain wrestling move be in Smackdown 5? (Everyone)
A. THQ are still working on the game engine, with many of the games specific parts still to be made. Match types, moves, and characters are still being determined. I can't release information before they do!
Q. Can you do specials on a guy with a ladder on him? (Redmonkey911)
A. I expect that there will be more weapon activity in Smackdown 5. The last game introduced special weapon moves, which were accessed by pressing the circle button. Expect every aspect of the latest game to be more interactive, so weapon specials are a possibility!
Q. Will there be a elimination chamber match? (Death363)
A. All signs point to yes!
Q. Will you be able to pick your attire during season mode? (Redmonkey911)
A. Very doubtful, as season mode follows a set story. In Smackdown 4, Hulk Hogan was part of the NWO until Wrestlemania, and then brought back Hulkamania. Costumes reflected the current story, so I think they wont be changeable in Smackdown 5.
Q. Will it be a more exciting season mode? (Hbk4life)
A. The season mode will accurately reflect real life storylines, as well as offering new ones. If you enjoy WWE on TV, youre going to love Smackdown 5!
Q. Will the rock have that new tattoo that he has right now? (Redmonkey911)
A. Yes, unless he has it removed with laser surgery before the game is released!
Q. Will both heavyweight titles be in the game? (Death363, Ctfc)
A. Yes, as well as the re-established Intercontinental and US titles.
Q. Can you only perform double team moves on the turnbuckle like SD4? (Redmonkey911)
A. You could perform mid-ring moves in Smackdown 4. When your partner is grappling an opponent, press circle to perform a double team move. This feature will be included in Smackdown 5.
Q. Can you batter the fans and cameramen and commentators? (Cooldude260)
A. Due to the memory restrictions on Playstation 2, this level of interactivity isnt yet possible. The PS2 is only capable of having 6-8 people on screen at once. You will have to take your frustrations out on the ref for the time being!
Q. Where will the announcer tables be located? (Redmonkey911)
A. As the arenas are accurate representations of their real life counterparts, the Raw announce team will be at the top of the stage, and the Smackdown team at ringside.
Q. Will there be more counters for normal moves and finishers? (itsmeitsme)
A. Absolutely!
Q. Will there really be blood this time? If yes, in what places? (Redmonkey911)
A. Blood has been introduced to Wrestlemania X9, so its looking promising. If blood is used, it will probably only come from the forehead. Wrestlers rarely bleed from other parts of their bodies any more.
Q. Will tables disappear in Smackdown 5 when they break? (Redmonkey911)
A. Yes, otherwise the ring would quickly become very messy!
Q. Will you be able to reverse double team moves? (Redmonkey911)
A. You already can in Smackdown 4. Doing so normally causes you to perform a double clothesline on your opponents.
Q. When is the next Webmasters Q and A Session? (Everyone)
A. I aim to do one every 2-3 months. They take a lot of time, and I prefer to wait until I have enough information to answer all your questions properly. Please submit any further questions to the Webmasters Q and A thread, in the Website Discussion area on the Message Board. Please check to see if I have already answered the question here, or on another part of the site before submitting a question!
Q. Will Goldberg be in Smackdown 5? (Jackhammer08)
A. Yes, unless he gets fired before the game is released.
Q. Can you do double team moves anywhere? (Redmonkey911)
A. Double team moves can already be performed backstage. Expect more moves then ever to be added to Smackdown 5!
Q. What is the big announcement you are making tonight? (Everyone)
A. Stay tuned to www.Smackdown5.com as I will be posting the fantastic news this evening! Not long to go now, thanks for your patience!
Questions answered on February 26th 2003:
Q. Will there be voice-overs? (619)
A. There are voice-overs in the forthcoming WWE Crash Hour so it is certainly a possibility.
Q. How many polygons will there be? (619,edge_head_4life)
A. There is expected to be 6000-7000 polygons per character.
Q. Will the game play and graphics be better? (million$pimp)
A. THQ is working on a new game engine that will make the game better then ever before!
Q. Will Season mode be better? (million$pimp)
A. The season mode is being worked on with the help of WWE Writers. This will mean both televised stories and original ones will be used in Smackdown 5.
Q. When will there be more pics and videos? (million$pimp, edge_head_4life)
A. The first demo of Smackdown 5 will be unveiled along side Wrestlemania X9. This event takes place on Sunday 30th March 2003, So not long to go! Stay tuned to smackdown5.com for the latest information as it breaks.
Q. Will the Elimination Chamber be in the game? (everyone!)
A. No word from THQ yet, but all signs point to yes. They recreated every ppv arena for Smackdown 4 Shut Your Mouth, including the trucks from No Way Out and Steel Chair from King of the Ring. They can't do Survivor Series without the chamber!
Q. How many wrestlers will be on the roster. (edge_head_4life)
A. It is expected that approximately 60 wrestlers will feature in Smackdown 5. They will include all of the current WWE Roster, provided they don't leave or get sacked before the games release. The roster will be up to date until late September, but it becomes hard for THQ to introduce new wrestlers after this date, due to their release schedule.
Q. Will authentic wrestler music be in the game? (edge_head_4life)
A. In most instances yes. However when WWE use third party music such as Victoria's theme by T.A.T.U ( All the things you said), it is up to their music label whether the song is included.
Q. Is story mode going to be longer and not repetitive? (edge_head_4life)
A. To add longevity to the game, THQ concentrate most of their efforts towards creating an exciting season mode. There will be more options then before, with the inclusion of women to season mode. There will be more belts to go for, and more varied storylines. You will now be able to walk around backstage in third person mode ( like Tomb Raider), offering more interactivity. Smackdown 4 only became repetitive when you started season mode for a second time, to unlock more stuff. THQ are working on ways to make this more interesting.
Q. Will the commentary be livelier this time? (edge_head_4life)
A. The problem with commentary is that if you play the game for any length of time, the commentators will repeat themselves. This is why the developers made the commentary more spread out. There is only a certain amount of disc space, so to have a constant, varied commentary would not be practical on a game of this size. Be assured that whatever commentary is used, will be entertaining, and relevent to the match in progress.
Q. Will there be more weapons in TLC like ladders and chairs? (edge_head_4life)
A. There already is, look under the ring!
Q. Will there be Special woman's matches like bra and panties? (edge_head_4life)
A. THQ are working very hard on improving the woman's roster and matches. They have been included into the season mode, which means more woman's speciality matches will be introduced. The specific matches have not been announced at this time.
Q. Will there be full entrances and outros, instead of cutting them short? (edge_head_4life)
A. There will definitely be more realistic entrances, featuring the latest superstars music and moves. The 'outros' will offer more varied options, which will be triggered by pressing different buttons after the match, like Smackdown 4.
Q. Will we see the Hell in a Cell lower down before a match? (edge_head_4life)
A. Probably not, except maybe in Season mode.
Q. Will you be able to unlock former WWE and WCW wrestlers? (edge_head_4life)
A. I doubt it, but many of the more popular wrestlers move sets will be included in the Create a Wrestler feature.
Q. Will everything be more interactive? (edge_head_4life)
A. Yes!
I will be doing more Q and A's in the near future, so keep the questions coming!
