WWE SmackDown vs Raw Online (lost build of cancelled online professional wrestling PC game; 2010-2011)
WWE SmackDown vs Raw Online (also known as WWE Online) was a cancelled PC free-to-play professional wrestling game. Developed by Vertigo Games, it was planned to be published by THQ for Windows. Had it been released, it would have been the first online PC game to be released under the WWE brand.
Background
The game was first announced in September 2008, as part of THQ's strategy to primarily target the Korean PC gaming market, with wider Asian market penetration planned. It partnered with Korean organisation Vertigo Games to develop the game, with the game known as WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW Online.[1] According to a THQ press release, the game was intended to have complemented the growing online game market.[2]
Many features from other WWE SmackDown vs Raw games would be included, with single and multiplayer online modes present. Additionally, a hub would enable players to interact with others online, including to challenge them to matches, or trade items. It also would utilise microtransactions, enabling players to buy items, abilities and clothing to complement existing wrestlers, or to improve their own creations. Further, a 3D paint tool would be incorporated to allow for importing of images into the game.
By May 2009, the game was renamed WWE Online, with development centring in Asia.[3] However, by the time the game was presented at E3 2010, it had reverted to its original name of WWE SmackDown vs Raw Online.[4] Ultimately, a release in late-2010 was planned primarily for the Korean market.[5] However, this was then pushed back to early 2011, again exclusively in South Korea.[6]
Cancellation
On February 2nd, 2011, THQ announced its fiscal 2011 third-quarter results. As part of the accounting charges, it was announced that the game, again renamed to WWE Online, was to be cancelled alongside Company of Heroes Online. This was the result of THQ re-evaluating its strategy of releasing primarily western content to Asian markets as part of its free-to-play online game push. As a result of the cancellations, THQ lost $9.9 million.[7]
Availability
Because WWE SmackDown vs Raw Online was cancelled, no build was released to customers and is still not publicly accessible as of the present day. A few trailers, including at E3 2010, help showcase what the game might have been upon release.
Gallery
See Also
- AJ Styles vs Kenny Omega (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2006)
- Alberto Del Rio vs CM Punk vs Dolph Ziggler vs Jack Swagger vs John Cena (partially found master tape footage of untelevised Hell in a Cell match; 2011)
- Awesome Kong vs Melissa Anderson (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2009)
- Bill Longson vs Whipper Billy Watson (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 1947)
- Blood Circus (partially found Santo Gold film; 1985)
- Braden Walker's "Knock Knock" promo (lost original pre-tapes of WWE backstage segment; 2008)
- Bradshaw vs Christian (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 2001)
- Bret Hart-Hulk Hogan photoshoot (lost professional wrestling promotional photos; 1993)
- Bret Hart vs Tom Magee (found untelevised professional wrestling match; 1986)
- Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling (lost early BBC televised professional wrestling matches; 1938-1939; 1946-1947)
- Celebrity Wrestling (partially found ITV professional wrestling reality show; 2005)
- Chowdaheads (partially found unaired professional wrestling cartoon show; 1999)
- Collision in Korea (found professional wrestling event in North Korea; 1995)
- Collision in Korea wrestler sketches (lost North Korean pencil sketch portraits of professional wrestlers; 1995)
- Cultaholic (found debut video of professional wrestling YouTube channel; 2017)
- ECW Anarchy Rulz (lost build of cancelled Nintendo 64 port of professional wrestling game; existence unconfirmed; 2000)
- ECW at E3 2000 (partially found footage of professional wrestling at gaming trade event; 2000)
- ECW Hardcore TV final episodes (lost episodes of Professional Wrestling Show; 2001)
- FMW at E3 2000 (partially found footage of professional wrestling at gaming trade event; 2000)
- The Game (partially found Disturbed cover of professional wrestling theme song; mid 2000s)
- GFW Amped (partially found unaired professional wrestling show; 2015)
- The Giant's moonsault (lost footage of professional wrestling move; existence unconfirmed; 1990s)
- Girls Gone Wild: Live from Spring Break (found WWE/Girls Gone Wild crossover special; 2003)
- GLOW (lost unfinished final season of Netflix comedy-drama series; 2019-2020)
- Goldberg's pre-television debut matches (lost footage of professional wrestling dark matches; 1997)
- Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film (lost world championship match; 1908)
- Gotch-Hackenschmidt Match Film (lost world championship match; 1911)
- Jake "The Snake" Roberts DDTs Hulk Hogan (lost Snake Pit segment; 1986)
- Johnny Gargano vs Velveteen Dream (lost footage of alternate finish to professional wrestling match; 2019)
- Kurt Angle vs Owen Hart (lost footage of professional wrestling match; 1999)
- The Last Battle of Atlanta (found untelevised professional wrestling steel cage match; 1983)
- Lita's training matches (partially found training videos of professional wrestler; late 1990s-2000)
- Low Ki & Mercury vs Ric Blade & TCK (partially lost footage of hardcore wrestling tag team match; 2000)
- Mark Jindrak in Evolution (partially found unaired vignettes of professional wrestling stable; 2003)
- Pat Tanaka vs Rocco Rock (lost footage of "Body Count" professional wrestling match; 1993)
- "Plane Ride From Hell" (lost photographs of drunk wrestler incidents; 2002)
- Radio WWF (lost professional wrestling radio show; 1993-1994; late 1990s-2000)
- Screwed: The Bret Hart Story (lost unfinished wrestling documentary film; 2005)
- Sex University (lost WWE webshow; 2006)
- Shin Nihon Pro Wrestling Gekitou Densetsu (lost build of unreleased Virtual Boy wrestling game; 1995)
- Strange Kentucky People (lost recording of Chris Jericho "tribute"; 1994)
- TNA Impact! 2 (lost build of unfinished professional wrestling game; 2009)
- TNA International and TNA Wrestling Collection (completely lost pro-wrestling TV shows; 2006)
- TNA Xplosion (partially found TV series; 2002-2016)
- WCW 2000 (lost work on unfinished PlayStation 2 game; 2000)
- WCW All Nighter (partially lost professional wrestling compilation show; 1994-1995)
- WCW Classics (partially found professional wrestling compilation show; 2000-2001)
- WCW Internet-only Special Events and PPVs (lost audio streams; 1997-1998)
- WCW/nWo Live (lost build of cancelled PlayStation professional wrestling game; 1998)
- WWE 24x7 (lost professional wrestling compilation show; 2007)
- WWE Brawl (lost build of cancelled fighting game based on professional wrestling; 2012)
- WWE Crush Hour (lost build of cancelled Xbox port of vehicular combat game; 2002)
- WWE Wrestlemania 36 (lost footage of alternate finishes to professional wrestling matches; 2020)
- WWF Attitude (lost professional wrestling recap show; 2001-2002)
- WWF Backlash (non-existent unfinished Nintendo 64 professional wrestling game; 2001)
- WWF Excess (partially found professional wrestling talk show; 2001-2002)
- WWF In Your House 8: Beware Of Dog (partially found untelevised professional wrestling matches; 1996)
- WWF Livewire (partially found professional wrestling recap and talk show; 1996-2001)
- WWF No Mercy (lost Game Boy Color games based on Nintendo 64 wrestling game; 2000)
- WWF Shotgun (partially found July to December season of syndicated wrestling show; 1997)
- WWF Xperience (found pay-per-view event footage; 1996)
References
- ↑ GameSpot article discussing THQ announcing WWE SmackDown vs Raw Online back in 2008. Retrieved 23 May '21
- ↑ Archived IGN article containing the THQ press release, and details of the game. Retrieved 23 May '21
- ↑ Escapist Magazine discussing THQ's 2009 announcement of WWE Online. Retrieved 23 May '21
- ↑ Footage of E3 2010 trailer, revealing the game's title being reverted back to WWE SmackDown vs Raw Online. Retrieved 23 May '21
- ↑ IGN article detailing WWE Online, its announcement in 2009, and being intended for the Korean market. Retrieved 23 May '21
- ↑ License Global article detailing WWE SmackDown vs Raw Online and its delayed release. Retrieved 23 May '21
- ↑ THQ announcing the cancellation of WWE Online. Retrieved 23 May '21