WWE suing THQ and Jakks again

Pro-wrestling federation files a second suit against game publisher and toymaker with the same goal of having its game-license agreements terminated.

Two years ago this week, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) filed suit against the publishers of its games, THQ, Jakks Pacific, and their joint venture THQ/Jakks Pacific LLC, as well as a number of individuals working for or with the companies. That suit alleged that the defendants conspired to unfairly win the WWE license agreement, resorting to racketeering and bribes in order to land the coveted deal after the wrestling company's license with Acclaim expired.

That case is still making its way through the courts, but THQ announced that the WWE filed another suit against the companies last week, this time alleging improper sales of WWE games in Japan and other Asian countries. Like the original legal action, the new suit seeks monetary damages and a declaration that the WWE can terminate its licensing agreement with THQ, Jakks Pacific, and THQ/Jakks Pacific. Both THQ and the joint company have said the suit is without merit and that they will fight it.

The legal battles haven't stopped the companies from working together in the meantime, however. THQ is set to release WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable next month.

129 Comments

  • zero-g-1

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 10:20 am PT

    why all this crap
    THQ rulz at making the WWE games and WWE are getting money out of it too and the new WWE is Set to be the best so far

  • edub272

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 6:40 pm PT

    Lets see EA Sports make a WWE game
    that'd be funny

  • adam045

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 11:59 am PT

    THQ makes good games

  • Kfoss

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 9:19 pm PT

    all this for a half ass WWE game...WOW nice to see my tax dollars at work!

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 8:31 pm PT

    Bring back AKI baby!!!

  • SnuffDaddyNZ

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 7:30 pm PT

    THQ YOU CANNOT WIN!

    If you win, Smackdown VS Raw 2007 will be the last WWE game you make.

    Go where the money is for the sake of wrestling gamers worldwide. Pay the WWE what is due to them, and ensure you have the license for next year..

    GENE: Mayhem was and is one of the best wrestling games ever made.

  • Geneyuss5555

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 1:15 pm PT

    Why is everyone getting excited over an EA wrestling game? Has everyone forgotten WCW Mayhem? The only good thing on that was the PPV password system, where you could play the matches for that PPV. Otherwise, the game flat out stunk.

    Midway has the TNA license, and I personally would like to see how that plays out. It'll either tank horribly or be on the quality of the new-gen Mortal Kombats.

    I think AKI getting the license back would rule, but I wouldnt mind some revisions to their system. The reversal system should stay, but past that it should be the AKI setup. It made for a very balanced type of game, and someone could still make a comeback if they were getting beat up.

    I seriously wish there was a risk/rewardish type setup. The slow moves and the high risk stuff could give you either a bigger momentum boost or flat out kill it if its reversed or if it misses. And vary it out alot. Everything from a little taunt nudge (Hurricanes Eye Poke), to jumping off the top of "Hell in a Cell".

  • yanks1112

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 11:09 am PT

    WOW

  • Simulator_Shock

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 11:06 am PT

    WWE has been a joke ever since WWF changed its name to WWE.

    I stopped watching wrestling like 4 years ago when they started doing the whole riducules pathitc "Raw and Smackdown as thier own separate shows" thing.

  • xplayhousex

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 10:54 am PT

    THQ BLOWS!!! I used to work there so I know first hand.

  • Dualmask

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 10:13 am PT

    I didn't care for any wrestling games since N64's WWF No Mercy, the greatest wrestling game ever. They need to give the reins back to AKI and get back to using that wonderful fighting system. I've always hated the Playstation wrestling games.

  • exbrklyngangsta

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 8:46 am PT

    if wwe wins thq will sign with tna and make the best game ever

  • vince956

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 8:00 am PT

    AKI!!! AKI!!!! AKI........................

  • Irve

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 5:51 am PT

    playa42018 : if the WWF wins and gets it's agreement cancelled it will be the end of decent WWF games .. EA will throw money at the WWF and everyone is happy apart from the poor suckers that buy another all flash and no Bang EA game.

  • darksoulhunter

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 3:14 am PT

    Why would WWE have THQ make thier games just to sue them in the end? I think WWE is being stupid and unfair.

  • 0blivi0n

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 11:26 pm PT

    They should let AKI make the games again they were FUN! WCW/NWO Revenge was so bad ass even though I really only liked wwf.

  • playa42018

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 10:28 pm PT

    I hope they terminate their licensing agreement ASAP so we can start getting some good wrestling games.

  • dendae_2

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 6:36 pm PT

    If the smackdown games go expect fire pro to come back with a Fury.

  • drangel_jam

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 4:13 pm PT

    bad boys! THQ is becoming like Rockstars the gangstas of the video game industry. Now, they are event evolved on court issues.

  • Deagler_

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 1:18 pm PT

    lol flipping Vince is so greedy, his a Pr*** I can't stand him anymore

  • Sw0rDMaN

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 12:27 pm PT

    Pointless thats the bottom line

  • OfficialBed

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 11:01 am PT

    uh..ok

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 10:55 am PT

    Hope a good company will get the license....

  • gohanssj7

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 9:32 am PT

    damn.................

  • wenbin09

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 9:14 am PT

    i hope the law suit don't affect the release date!!! THQ is doing a good job and i don't understand why WWE is making big fuss over such issues!!

  • garydbzfan

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 6:53 am PT

    i think its really stupid the suing whats the point there making money from the games toys . and its advertising for the wwe all from the games we all love the games and we wont more in the future cos we love the wwe so much and it would be a big blow if thier games stopped comming out

  • King_Scorpion

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 6:29 am PT

    THIS SUCKS You know that if they want fans they should not stop this because half of their fans are fans because their wwe games and their toys so if they'll stop this stuff they'll lose half of their fans

  • jayme22

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 5:57 am PT

    they should also get sued for the abismal loading in wwe on psp

  • Azuredude456

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 12:00 am PT

    "ultimate_zero
    Who wants to bet that EA signs a contract with the WWE If they win the lawsuit?"

    pwned!!.Actually that would be cool.

  • Kantwon

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 10:06 pm PT

    Sued again. Not surprised

  • CaptianPeachfuz

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 7:57 pm PT

    It could mean the end of wrestling toys/ wrestling games all together. Doesn't WWE just think of the fans for once? I can't picture some other company then Yukes/Jakks/THQ making another WWE game or toys for that matter (I'm a huge collector of WWE toys , that's why I keep mentioning about the toys as well).

  • littlestreakier

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 7:40 pm PT

    i thought the wrestling games that THQ/Jakes did so far were pretty good

  • ultimate_zero

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 7:39 pm PT

    Who wants to bet that EA signs a contract with the WWE If they win the lawsuit?

  • rashmaster

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 7:35 pm PT

    Business comes first. Besides I think THQ saturated the license with Here Comes the Pain (the best in the series) and the Smackdown vs Raw series got off to a horrible start. It'd be nice to see new ventures and styles of wrestling gaming for next gen.

  • clownofpoetry

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 6:57 pm PT

    This is why I keep telling people to stop complaining about the games they make because eventually they won't make them anymore and you'll have to enjoy what you got since there won't be anymore. Despite my ideas, people still complain about bs things like the red, white, and blue ropes at GAB or overalls being too high. I'm glad that my point will probably be proven true, but I'd still miss THQ/Jakks WWE games.

  • jdbthexboxgamr

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 3:27 pm PT

    This affects me 0%,never liked wrestling or wrestling games.

  • MACMALLEON

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 2:24 pm PT

    There you go!

    Thats why the game will not come out on the PS3. WWE is shooting themselves in the Jugular! So many other companies were trying to make a successful wrestling game for the X-Box, but have failed. Looks we have to wait another 5 to 7 years for a quality wrestling game.

  • johnlucas1

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 1:48 pm PT

    Thank you DemonKaiba & Ebigmike2003 for the compliments. Nice to see some kindred spirits who believe the N64 Wrestling games were where it was AT for REAL wrestling game action.

    Let me elaborate further on WHY the AKI engine was the best.
    Before AKI's wrestling games all we had was:
    •NES WWF Wrestlemania & WWF Wrestlemania Challenge WOEFULLY not capturing the true feel of wrestling but it was forgivable knowing the technological limitations of the time. We were just glad to see the stars on the game screen.

    •NES Pro Wrestling which was fun but not nearly as complex as the real wrestling shows. Plus it had made up characters bad if you wanted a game representation of the reallife leagues NWA/WCW & WWF.

    •Some nice games from Tecmo Tecmo Tag Wrestling & some other good game from that NES era that I can't remember. I just knew it did closeups on the special move which was a cool effect.

    •Those LAMEASS SNES titles like Super Wrestlemania & Royal Rumble which played more like a fighting game & were HORRIBLE if you were playing with somebody else. NO ONE would EVER get the advantage in the struggle meter!! ARRGGH!! Handlocked forever until one of you just plain gave up pressing! And Super Wrestlemania didn't even have any special moves! Acclaim should've been burned at the stake for making that mess!

    •Slightly more promising ones on the SNES like Hammerlock which used no real wrestlers & WCW Superbrawl which DID have some complexity & resemblance to what was on the show but still not quite there.

    A HOST of varied wrestling games & then the N64 came out in 1996, the year of nWo.

    Some unknown company out of Japan named AKI (backed at the time by Asmik later Asmik Ace) known for their Virtual Pro Wrestling titles in Japan comes stateside with the VERY FIRST wrestling game that actually FELT like wrestling:
    WCW Vs. nWo World Tour!
    The complexity yet accessiblity of the moves. The mixture of fighting AND grappling. The levels of light & heavy grappling. Ability to ropethrow or run in 8 directions! Character models & different outfits just like the show. BRAGGING! TAUNTING!! as an integral & strategical part of the game. And most importantly the existence of the unofficial "power meter" in real life wrestling: The "SPIRIT" Meter!!! Not about beating until your health goes down but RATHER beating when the crowd is on your side. As long as your spirit stays high you can ALWAYS get back up. Limb damage & bleeding. KO's. Tag team moves. STEALING your opponent's special move!!!!!

    They thought of everything! It was FINALLY the first game that captured wrestling in-ring action. Sure the crowd graphics were a little bland on this title but the action was furious & the variety of modes to fight in were great. And the parody non-WCW characters based on real-life wrestlers boxers from international leagues was a nice touch as well.
    Good music too I might add.

    Meanwhile all WWF had was War Zone & Attitude which DID capture nice sound & audience features but the inring action sucked. The moves were too complicated to remember. Wasn't as accessible or fun but it had a nice presentation.

    AKI improved GREATLY on their sequel WCW/nWo Revenge. Coinciding with the popularity of wrestling at that time, the game made SURE to touch up the background problems of the original game. Now crowd looked decent with signs & the stage looked just like the ones on TV. Wrestlers did their entrances to a TEE. JUST LIKE they looked on TV. Scott Hall's stampede my God! Managers to the ring as side (and secretly controllable characters). A smoother (and slightly more forgiving) spirit meter (danger! instead of a sudden KO). More moves & WEAPONS from the crowd! Ability to partially alter costume & fully change name of wrestlers. A career mode that keeps track of the belt you won. Scoreboard AND a combo meter for God's sake! If the N64 didn't have the cartridge multimedia holding problems we ALSO woulda had full themes from each wrestler as well but they did a good job with what they had. The roster was cool in real life & they were all represented here on this excellent game.

    Attitude & War Zone couldn't compare! And neither could those other upstarts for both WCW (Nitro Mayhem Backstage Assault) AND WWF including Smackdown though they had some parts that were worthy.

    WWF, passing WCW in real life, took the best wrestling engine for themselves & we got WWF Wrestlemania 2000. Building upon what was done in Revenge with matching the models to the actual wrestlers NOW we had The Rock, HHH, Stone Cold, & Undertaker matching their reallife counterparts movewise & entrance wise. Uncanny! Looped snippets of themes this time to REALLY get you into it. And NOW a create-a-character feature!!! WOW! Noticeably leaving in many of the same taunts, moves, & mannerisms of the WCW roster so you could recreate them to make your own unofficial interleague battle. It was all depending on your talents.
    A nifty career mode & ability to play for made-up belts. More game modes. Make you own PPV! AKI just kept getting better & better!

    And then before wrestling lost its luster we got WWF No Mercy. A game so packed that it glitched due to technological limitations. But they tried to cram as much as they could in this last hurrah now adding backstage fighting scenes & an intriguing branchable story mode (one that inspired to me write my OWN storyline to the WWF for D'Lo Brown...Ask around about the D'Lo Master Plan). YOU CAN CONTROL THE REF NOW!!! Amazing. More freedom in the create-a-character now to almost create anybody. WOMEN TOO. The game that absolutely captured what was wrestling was & supposed to be. The models may have a little blocky & polygony but the action & presentation was more real than any other wrestling game on the market.

    We haven't gotten that back since. WWE Raw 2 on XBox is the only TRUE one I consider worthy of pretending to the throne. They captured the feel of wrestling & the complexity the show even allowing tag team unified names when two men can come out at same time & a hard drive to put together ANY theme you want. Even fully customizable entrance & personalized Titantron. The wrestling engine may not have been QUITE as tight as AKI's but it was inspired by them & nearly as accessible. Then the game modes were varied & inspired. That's really the only 6th gen wrestling game I can be proud of.

    Since I have only a Gamecube I got WWE Day of Reckoning 1 on promotion from my friend. The engine is pretty nice obviously based on AKI's & the create-a-character has lots of customization (its big selling point for me) but the roster sucks & that music can be annoying. Also no true wrestler customization (I always hated that about the Smackdown games. Wrestlers change & you want to be able to keep up with their evolutions) But it's the 3rd best & outside of that I don't think any other wrestling games are worthy of purchase.

    Just as well though since my interest in wrestling died about the same time as the generation jump in consoles. 2001 was the last year wrestling was any good to me & that's stretching it. The games naturally followed I suppose.

    I'm hoping on a wrestling game done by AKI that allows you to totally create every aspect from show, logos/designs, PPV, roster, ring, ruleset, everything from top to bottom leaving templates fo quick creation but urging you to wanna totally create your own wrestling league. Adding in all those old features from the N64 games (i miss the league points feature from the 1st one) & allowing you to essentially create ANY league in the world from Puroresu to American wrestling big league & independent to Lucha to ol' school leagues BEFORE the pyrotechnics became commonplace, everything!

    I can make a league from the 1970's using Andre The Giant, Dusty Rhodes, Dick Murdoch & Ric Flair. I can recreate NWA, AWA, WCW, WWF 80's, WWF 90's, original ECW from the bingo halls, GLOW, Clash of the Champions, Wrestlemania, nWo, 4 Horsemen, Nation of Domination, Superpowers, any team, any wrestler, any era even back to the 1950's with Gorgeous George if I want. It can be a wrestling history lesson as well as wrestling future.
    Even use some fantasy elements like mystical dungeons/caves to temples to spaceage venues for fun.

    I'd love to see a game like this made & I want AKI to be behind it.
    Open-ended with the emphasis on making you want to create or recreate whatever league you want. Giving you plenty of room to do this in where it seems like the sky is the limit.

    But enough of my visioning for now...
    John Lucas

  • Fenton_meiks1

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 12:06 pm PT

    I've played many a wrestling game in my day, and for years the only decent titles that we got were imports from Japan.

    And then came the last few games of the Smackdown series. Well, Here Comes The Pain and Smackdown Vs. Raw 2006 were pretty good. They were enjoyable games that had good replay value.

    And now the WWE wants to end the relationship with the companies responsible for putting out decent games? Well, I tell you what. If they win the lawsuit, expect THQ an Jakks Pacific to put out a game based on a fictitious wrestling organization. I know I'd buy it.

  • SecretWasianMan

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 11:28 am PT

    Wrestling is fake right?

  • yugimasa9999

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 10:33 am PT

    Yuke? Does anybody care about BETTER wrestling games these days?

  • Dinghy_Dog

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 9:41 am PT

    Ok, the WWE needs to quit being greedy. They don't do anything in these games, so what's the big deal? They're lucky they even use their name.

  • Gmacrusher

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 9:11 am PT

    If problems keep up there won't be any good Wrestlying games any more!

  • Satanmar

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 8:19 am PT

    I love the Smackdown games and if this relationship between the two companies finishes then I will have to say that the series will go downhill. I'm fed up of these people who say that the N64 had the best wrestling game, well it didn't. The PS2 had it in Smackdown Vs Raw 2006. I think WWE would be stupid to cut there deal but I can understand why they are angry.

    Theres a good chance that Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 could be the last game :-(

  • AzureLivesOn

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 7:26 am PT

    I'm in agreement that the THQ/AKI era of the N64 was the height of WWF wrestling games, but to those who think the license should be given back to AKI as opposed to EA you're almost contradicting yourself. AKI is a freelance developer operating out of Japan, whose latest works include the Ultimate Muscle series and several DS games. Their most noted works in recent years by us and in the future would be their collaboration with a corporation that owns (you can almost sense it....) 17% of their shares: Electronic Arts. The games? The Def Jam series. There's a reason why the series felt so much like the old AKI engine. Because it was AKI fueling the game's design from the get go for Vendetta, Fight for New York, and the upcoming next-gen Takeover.

    Hey I'd love to see AKI develop another WWE game, despite not having watched wrestling in almost 10 years. But bear in mind that handing them the license would almost certainly send that diablo from California in with suits writing big checks. Last thing we need is handing EA the golden ticket to a chocolate factory they never earned.

    Once all the monopolies are in place, it's only a matter of time before an "EA Entertainment Console" is released. And god fear the future should that day ever occur....

  • The_Weekend

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 7:05 am PT

    THQ did a good job so far, wonder why the bashing are still coming in ... i'm quite pleased with the effort so far to improve the game with each release !

  • _AbBaNdOn

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 5:53 am PT

    N64 had THE best wrestling games and they kept getting better and better its to bad the n64 died and took wrestling with it. The ones on the playstation have completely and utterly sucked and I dont even understand why. They should have been able to reproduce them completely and even give them high rez graphics. WWE was stupid for making such a long time commitment anyways. I would have tried bailing on the contract after the first giant turd came out on the playstation.

  • Mr_Saturn26

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 5:33 am PT

    Oh its was EA nevermind

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