Gamervision reports: 7-Eleven's gaming experience started with Halo 3, where they staged midnight openings all around the United States and forced gallons of Slurpees into unsuspecting fans' bellies (needed to get those collector's cups!). Since then, they've remained on the scene, breaking occasional street dates thanks to employees who don't give a damn about gaming. Thanks for that copy of Gears of War 2, guys. Well, the saga might be coming to an end... or ramping up for a big holiday push. We're not sure. All we know is that the 7-Eleven near us, and many others around the country, are cutting game prices to 50% off, as the awesome camera phone shot above confirms.
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Kotaku:

Times are tough, and money is tight. Who has $50-60 to spend on new games? Not as many people as there used to be, that's for sure. Now $30, that's more like it.

Which brings us to the two latest titles in Sony's Greatest Hits range for the PS3, Saints Row 2 and WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009. Both have just turned up on GameStop's site, and while a listing like that would normally only be good for a "rumour" post, both also have Great Hits box art, so these are a lock.
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During its recent quarterly earnings call, publisher THQ revealed a mysterious in-production title known as WWE Online.
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The latest Playstation Pulse provided a list for the top ten game add-ons downloaded in April.
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From the Daily News A 9-year-old wrestling fan jumped off his Brooklyn apartment roof wearing a homemade parachute in a fatal imitation of his favorite video game character, friends said.

The broken body of Damori Miles was found on the ground outside the Albany Houses about 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 contains just about anything you could want in a fighting game, including Inferno Matches, improved tag team battles and even a Create-A-Finisher mode. But even with all that and more than 60 playable characters, some gamers have been left wanting more ...

Now, for the very first time, the WWE Universe has an opportunity to download updated costumes and even new Superstars for the game. Check out the details for the download packs below and then take a gander at our exclusive photo galleries (Pack 1 | Pack 2), including character models and screenshots of the Superstars in action.
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G4TV writes: "The first DLC for THQ/Jakks Pacific wrestling juggernaut Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 is currently available on XBox Live. For a relatively svelte 320 Microsoft Points, you can get a package that includes superstars Charlie Haas, Ted DiBiase, and Evan Bourne, and gear that is usable for Y2J himself, Chris Jericho. (Presumably, the Ted DiBiase character is not The Million Dollar Man, but his son, who is part of Randy Orton's Legacy stable.)"
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As promised, THQ has delivered a patch for WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 that directly impacts the Create-a-Superstar.

The patch, which is now available on the PlayStation Network, will allow players to give their created superstars increased attributes after the completing the game's Career Mode once. Previously, you'd have to play through career mode to increase a superstar's abilities and attributes which was, quite simply, pretty silly. Additionally, entering the code "MAXCAS" will let players max out their characters, instead of going through the Career Mode.
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AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Jan 08, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) today announced the availability of the first downloadable content package for WWE(R) SmackDown(R) vs. Raw(R) 2009, the latest release in the leading fighting videogame franchise. Now available for download worldwide via PlayStation(R)Network for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system, the content enables players to update their virtual WWE experience with new playable Superstars and ring gear. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 originally launched on November 9, 2008 and is available at major retailers worldwide.

The content package for PlayStation Network, available for a suggested retail price of $4.99, will include Evan Bourne(TM), Ted DiBiase(TM) and Charlie Haas(TM) (playable Superstars); Kelly Kelly(TM) and Maria(TM) (holiday costumes); Kane(R) (masked); as well as new ring gear for Chris Jericho(R), MVP(TM) and Edge(R). In addition, future content is planned for PlayStation Network, as well as the first content for Xbox LIVE(R) Marketplace for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.
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Playstation blog writes:
We at THQ have some great news for all of the PlayStation Blog readers out there. For the first time, the world's leading fighting franchise will offer downloadable content starting in January 2009. Owners of SmackDown vs Raw 2009 will be able to download updated costumes and even new playable Superstars on their PS3 through PlayStation Network. SVR09 is already chalk full of new features such as the all-new Tag-Team Gameplay, the Create-A-Finisher mode, an all-new Highlight Reel mode and the first ever tag-team storyline. Not to mention, the 100+ match types and updated roster of over 60 playable characters. However, we didn't feel that was enough. We are proud to announce the first roster update pack for the SmackDown vs Raw franchise. Check out the details for the first download pack below:
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SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 contains just about anything you could want in a fighting game, including Inferno Matches, improved tag team battles and even a Create-A-Finisher mode. But even with all that and over sixty playable characters, some gamers have been left wanting more...

Coming soon, for the very first time, the WWE Universe will have an opportunity to download updated costumes and even new Superstars for the game. Check out the details for the first download pack below and then take a gander at our exclusive photo gallery, including character models and screenshots of the Superstars in action.
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IGN Says: If you ran out and picked up WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 today with dreams of creating dozens of Superstars, you might be in for a surprise. Currently, the only way to drag your created Superstars from their low-30 overall rating to something that can contend with the WWE heavyweights is to take each one of them through the game's Career Mode and spend hours earning attribute points. Needless to say, if you're looking to make 30 great Superstars, that's going to take some time.

However, THQ has just announced that a downloadable patch is in the works.

"The patch will allow fans of the leading fighting videogame franchise to give all of their created Superstars full attributes after completing the new Career Mode one time through," a statement from the company reads. "Given the overall popularity of the Create-A-Superstar feature and the fans' ongoing demand for more flexibility, this new patch will greatly enhance the player's ability to fully customize many created Superstars at the same time."

The bad news? All THQ would say about the patch's release date is that it'll be before Jan. 31, 2009. Hope you weren't in a hurry to create your biker gang/sewing circle.
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Everyday a code for a new character on the new WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2009 game

[UPDATE] More codes Including wal-mart pre-order codes
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You can play as more than 60 Superstars on six different systems. You can create a Superstar, create their entrance and even create their finisher. You can attack your opponent with tables, ladders, chairs, trash cans, sledgehammers and who knows what else. But for some members of the WWE Universe,The WWE knows this still won't be enough. That's why SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 contains a slew of unlockable content.
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THQ issued the following press release today:

WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2009 Playable Demo Now Available for Download via PlayStation®Network

Leading Fighting Videogame Franchise Offers Consumers Game Sample and Exclusive Retail Incentives Prior to November Launch

"Our exclusive PLAYSTATION 3 system playable demo and North American retail program will allow consumers to embrace the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 experience in several unique ways prior to the November 9 launch," said Bob Aniello, senior vice president, worldwide marketing, THQ. "The strength of this year's campaign demonstrates retail's continued support of the brand as we prepare to deliver the next installment in our leading fighting videogame franchise."
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From NextGen Player:

"Last month EB Games Canada unleashed an amazing 'Gaming Guarantee' and it looks like we can add yet another title to receive this promotion as WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2009 is also getting a guarantee. Just like the previous Haze and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed promotions, if you pre-order WWE SVR 2009 EB Games and don't end up liking the game, you can return it for full in-store credit within 7 days of purchase."

More after the jump.
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This past week WWE has attempted to control the media. There is some heat towards UK's magazine the Fighting Spirit for their preview of SmackDown vs. RAW 2009 video game.

In the latest issue, the magazine printed a memo sent out by WWE to the video game press regarding coverage of their upcoming video game with how it's portrayed in previews. WWE told the press that there are to be no screenshots released showing superstars bleeding or using weapons. Triple H's character is also not to be seen "in a defenseless or vulnerable position."
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IGN SAYS: Let's be frank: the single-player career in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 wasn't that great. WrestleMania was in the same city every year, the storyline repeated, and characters were forced into situations that they'd never be in on the show so the players never felt like they were actually walking in that Superstar's boots.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is looking to change all that with Road to WrestleMania.
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The United States Champion is back.
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IGN Says: Grab your steel chair, elbow pads, and Magic Marker-laden poster board -- the SmackDown Countdown is finally here.

For eight years IGN's been teaming with THQ to bring you videos, screens, and information for every playable character in the latest WWE videogame, and this year is no different -- except for the fact that it's very different. Rather than hand you the entire roster at the onset of this feature and then profiling the people on it day by day, we're going to give you the roster one person at a time.
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