THQ brings WWF to New York
by Jolex Del Pilar

Friday, November 23, 2001

Wrestling icons invade THQ's New York launch party to help promote new game.

On the evening of Monday, November 19, THQ had much reason to celebrate in regards to one of its top gaming franchises, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Not only was it an exciting night of WWF Raw is War—a live WWF event broadcast every Monday evening—but it was the evening following the release of THQ’s WWF Smackdown!: Just Bring It! for the PlayStation 2.

THQ set up shop at WWF NYC—a restaurant where you can get your fill of burgers, brews and of course, WWF sports entertainment. THQ’s release of Smackdown!: Just Bring It! for the PlayStation 2 marked the first WWF game to be released on the PS2, and last night, it was being played on stylish kiosks by the craziest WWF fans in New York City.

iemag.com joined the festivities just in time to meet Linda McMahon, WWF executive and wife of Vince McMahon—owner of the WWF. McMahon was in great spirits when she introduced herself to the THQ staff and media at hand. Soon afterwards, she kicked off the beginning of WWF Raw is War, on stage at WWF NYC. The crowd was definitely pumped for the evening’s main events—one of which was the chance to play WWF Smackdown!: Just Bring It! before it hit store shelves the following morning.

Clearly, the success of THQ’s WWF franchise of games has helped bring about the massive revival in sports entertainment wrestling. Wrestling icons such as The Rock, Triple H and Kurt Angle would not be the household names that they are today without giving gamers and WWF fans the chance to play as these superstars.

After playing the game, it is clear that the transition the Smackdown series has made from the PlayStation to the PlayStation 2 is a tremendous one. The WWF superstars are practically photo-realistic, and the gameplay rocks just like its predecessors. WWF Smackdown!: Just Bring It! will without question, be a top-seller for the PS2 this holiday season.

--- Jolex Del Pilar, VGLN Warlord