PPV Experiment Results

[ZX]

For those who don't know, I was conducting an experiment with the Condemned PPV as I was simming it. I spent most of the weekend (besides seeing You Don't Mess With The Zohan, playing Soul Calibur 3: Arcade Edition, finally catching up with T-Bone whose in Iraq right now, and brainstorming the next month of storylines for the fed) simming the PPV not once but 3 different times in 3 separate games - WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2006, and Fire Pro Wrestling Returns.

Here's what I've discovered upon watching the matches in 3 different games:

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008

• Overall, this game has the weakest AI period out of any current wrestling game out there - but there's the possibility of having decent matches under VERY controlled scenarios.
  
  For example, the AI suffers greatly as you add more characters in a match type. For the best results, turn OFF the ability to leave the ring and change the fighting styles to fit the current match type. You wouldn't want Jeff Hardy in Hardcore as his primary fighting style in a standard tag team match. That's just idiotic.
  
  Speaking of fighting styles, I see now why about 80% of you have High-Flyer - it's AI is the best out of the bunch with Technical and Brawler running a close second. My only complaint about this style is THQ need to work on the glitches with the Possum Pin. It's cool that you can catch people with almost any move with it now but the teleport for correct positioning looks VERY slack. Powerhouse abuses the Rampage mode to death - even to a point where the AI relies on this more than their own finishers. FYI folks, Rampage mode is NOT invulnerability. A chair shot would still down the Hulk/Festus wannabes.
  
  
• Regardless, the best matches from the PPV I watched on this game was the one on one matches. The tag team matches and triple threats were spent mostly with the AIs chasing each other in and out of the ring for like about 10 mins. with little to no moves even being executed.
  
• Overall, I see what THQ does from game to game now, they boost up the AI in certain matches (Money In The Bank has the best AI hands down, especially compared to 07's) but just look over or nerf the stuff that people DIDN'T complain about in the previous games.
  

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2006

• Ah, Chuck's lovechild aka fav SD! game. Don't worry I won't bash this, especially after my fav song "Miss Machine" came on as soon as I loaded up my save.
  
  For those who've been around since the 06 days, I'm gonna admit I like your 06 versions a LOT more than the 08 ones. It's either that the CAWs on 08 look too bulky or too skinny. That kinda makes me wanna puke when I'm simming matches in 08.
  
  
• I've truly forgotten why we stuck with 06 for so long. It's STILL a good SD game - much better than 07 and 08. I just wish 06 had 08's in-game roster. Regardless, CAWs look so much better on this - maybe it's the more varied face textures and hair styles.
  
  
• Anywho, enough with looking at the past, now for the AI, 06's AI is better than 08's but that's not saying much. 06's AI drags a match on for about 10-30 mins. until it FINALLY ends. I found myself flipping back and forth between TV and the Video options on my TV as I was nodding off watching some of the matches. Once again, one on one matches are done the best on this game. 06 drags on tag team matches ringside for about an hour until a finish which makes me wonder that THQ's game testers are just playing one match type when they test their own AI. 06 was a great game but seriously after you set aside the pretty CAWs that a LOT of us are still very attached to we have yet another SD! game with lackluster AI.
  

Fire Pro Wrestling Returns

• Before anyone goes to think that I'm going to sugarcoat this game, well think wrong. Fire Pro's default AI is decent but just as bad as a SD game. The AI's repeat the STUPID test of strength struggle as their AI's "clash" (when you try the same level of grapple this happens automatically) so you're in a loop with default AI logic where next to nothing cool happens until 20 mins into the match.
  
  Before the other Fire Pro marks flame me to hell, I'm not talking about the in-game guys when I talk about the AI, I mean for the CAWs' default AI Logic.
  
  Now that being said, if you spend hours (you WILL trust me) of testing and perfecting how you want your CAW or edit (as they are referred to in-game) to react, you'll create an AI that you wouldn't never dream that the SD games would ever have. From setting AI actions from every stage of your opponent's health and positioning in the ring, you can even create your character to emulate real wrestlers down to their DNA in AI Logic.
  
• Another reason I've favored this game over the SD games is I can speed up the game speed for watching matches - Right now I've settled for 175-200% of the normal speed. I love you guys but I don't want to spend my ENTIRE night watching matches.
  

All in all, I gotta say we got a win here in Fire Pro, but 08 and/or 06 can be used until I get everyone finished in Fire Pro (or people do me a favor and send me a save - I MUCH rather NOT have formulas for Fire Pro - those take a TON of time to type up and it would be a speeder process to just send me a save).


Also, for those wondering, PPV results will be up by the end of the week as I got some unexpected stuff going on IRL so I doubt we'll have Xplosion this week. Don't worry the PPV results will make up for it. Just be patient.

[Dean Maddoxxx]

Nice to see we're on the same page when it comes to AI...even though I love SD!vR 06's AI.
Maybe you should try simming some matches on SD! Shut Your Mouth. Their AI is what the new games SHOULD be!

[ZX]

LOL SYM is one of me and T-Bone's top 3 fav SD games to play - SYM, original SDvR (trust me with hacks this is best one match and AI wise lol), SDvR06.

I LOVE the parking lot with the exploding cars. I would give up every other match type in the SD games for that and Ladder Triple Threat Tornado Tag to be back in for 09. xD

I would go back that far but don't you remember how bad CAWs looked in that one? *shudders* T-Bone and I look like children in that game.

Side note: For those wondering how the did actual results go, most of them were about the same result as it was in either 08 or 06 then in FPR it was usually a blow out reverse decision as I've given a lot of you better moves to fit your fighting styles in Fire Pro as there are way more moves to have in that game. Annerley, I know you're gonna slap me when you read the PPV results on what new move a certain Vixen has now that NO ONE has thought of yet. I think our Vixens will be better than the Knockouts after people read the PPV results LMAO.

[❤AC❤CC❤]

I'm really curious to see the results now. Lol ..too bad that they dont have Fire Pro for PSP here. Shit, would love to create my caw in it