Vamp

The CAW is probably the most unfinished thing in the game. It's extremely limited. I think they probably built the CAW with the idea that you'd only create 1 or 2 to run through the story with. Although it's slightly odd that there call names to create loads of actual wrestlers, and music for people like Maki Itoh (her actual theme) when there's no way you could create anything resembling them. Things like Itoh's theme and a Sydal tag entrance make me wonder how much was left out because the game was released too early or because they're planning on selling them to people. Interestingly some of the wrestlers have random gold alternative attires for no apparent reason. Who knows. I assume its another unfinished concept.

Some of the discussion around the game is a little disturbing to be honest. Like, I want the game to be good, but there's people out there trying to convince others that they need to pump all their money in to make this a good game and convincing themselves that they'll be adding stadium stampede and all sorts of things with a patch and there's just no sign that any of that's true. I'm sure it probably happens with every game and I just don't normally pay attention but some of these people seem like they're prime fodder for a cult.

Marvel had two good paths after Endgame. Take a break, make a plan, come back or just make fun standalone super hero movies for a few years. They didn't do either. They really, really need to not fuck up Deadpool. It's a big opportunity for them to process they can do something different with their movies again. Ultimately their problem is the Moffat Doctor Who problem. If every story you do is filler to get to the big one why should I care? Just get to the big one. If the big one isn't blow away good then you've wasted my time.

Mini Games Forever!

What's the point of Meiko Satomura going to the WWE if I can't play as her in a video game?

I hope the War Games match has a roof option. Been waiting forever to see that match in a video game and it'll be a shame if it's only the rubbish no roof version.

There's rivalries and potential rivalries which will trigger cut scenes. Usually you end up seeing the same few over and over again. To be fair, I think the problems with universe mode are to do with making it more sandbox like for those who want to do things like an AEW universe. It's a very generic experience.

I feel like they might want to avoid multiple companions for this series. One of th more prevelant complaints for Jodie's era is that there were too many companions, and while I don't necessarily agree with that, they might be keen to avoid that. I wonder how much sci-fi explaining you have to do nowadays. Ideally every episode is someone's first episode (possibly more so this time) but I think so much of it is socially ingrained into people now that it's probably not as much of an issue. A companion from the past brings up more issues though. Even putting aside explaining things that the audience takes for granted, you're relying on a consistent tone and characterisation that's beyond "modern woman."

Oddly that's the bit of it I really don't like. The rest is fine. RTD doesn't really go "Doctor" for costumes though. Eccleston was deliberately un-Doctory and Tennant's was fairly geek chic. Also, if we're honest, all of the new Doctor costumes have been pretty safe aside from Jodie's. And Jodie's was mainly weird because they seemed to go out of their way to make it gender neutral and gave her something that felt rather confused. Really I'm just gutted that they didn't go through with the vibe the reveal gave off. I love Ruby's name and look though.

I just hope that there aren't any demands from Disney in the deal. Fine if they're just paying a boat load of money for it, but we've seen what they've done with the CGI industry and what it's produced. Doctor Who has also had some cracking model work since it came back and probably needs to utilise it more. More money should mean it can but Disney's strategy, at least with Marvel, is very CGI focused. It'll also be interesting to see how comfortable they are with RTD's vision for the show. I feel like some of his his first 4 series would be seen by some as far more obtusely political and controversial now than they were at the time.

I don't think Matt Smith is a fan of his last episode ever if recent comments are anything to go by. Actually, I get the feeling he thinks his first series was the best and it was all downhill from there. I'd love a more sudden death and intimate regeneration but I get why they don't. Supposedly RTD came up with a smaller, more intimate regeneration story for Tennant but they'd already committed to the big epic. I think this one works through its sheer gusto. Even the Dalek and the Cybermen exchanging a "what the fuck" look was utterly joyous. It's also bizarre that ultimate fan boy Moffat doesn't use any classic companions or Doctors in the 50th and then Chibnall, who started his run by not using any classic monsters, ends his with so many nods its amazing his head didn't fall off. It'd be interesting to rank the final episodes for New Who Doctors. I'd guess Tennant's would top most lists. But this one feels utterly different to the others. There's very little brooding or foreshadowing and a far more celebratory feeling. Sometimes to its detriment, contrary to what others here are saying I was very struck by how unmelodramatic the farewell between the Doctor and Yaz was here and it doesn't feel particularly believable. Is there any reason Ryan didn't appear? Not saying he was missed at all but seemed a bit odd that he didn't even appear in the Doctor Annonymous meeting.

I've been really enjoying this game. It's not the game it was marketed as, unsurprisingly because its literally not the game they marketed at the start, and the crafting and upgrading doesn't make any sense. There's definitely still more potential there then they realised, and promises made that they never reached, and the game would have been better if it was delayed but I'm not sure it would have ever come out if they'd have taken the time to deliver everything they promised. It's clear that there's potential in this world. And I half hope that there's a sequel if they're sensible about the marketing and treat their staff better. Although I do feel like anyone who preorders it would be a complete muppet. The lasting problem with the game is the same as GTA 5. The game can never achieve what it sets out to and sooner or later it'll end up feeling like a hollow, lifeless themepark. I'll also say that I personally enjoy Cyberpunk a lot more than Witcher 3. Which is odd because the setting and story of Witcher 3 appeals to me more and the game is clearly better made. Witcher 3 stresses me out. Cyberpunk rarely does. Open world games really, really, really need to get better at loot and inventory management though. I feel like I was doing the latter a lot. I don't get why. I don't need to sleep, eat or drink, why the fuck do I need to worry about how much I'm carrying. What's the point? What's it adding?

I feel like there's some sort of illustrated YouTube video where the Doctor visits Novice Hame on her death bed.

Family TV needs more gags about getting blowjobs from concrete paving slabs.

I quite liked the Rey mode but I just wish it had been longer (I get that it's probably not a major selling point for the game though). It'd have been great if they could have at least added another WCW match, an ECW match and his first World title win. I wonder if they decided they didn't want Angle in the game for some reason.

I think the Doctor's been able to read minds since 10 (when they randomly decided to have him act like Spock) so I don't really feel like irs much of a stretch to have her enter people's subconscious. And I don't think that's much of a stretch from the mind control the Master has always used. The Weeping Angels were pretty much ruined from their second ever story when they decided to show them moving. Didn't help that Blink hinted that they could look like any statue but they've mostly stuck with the same design. The Division using them feels like a continuation of a dangling plot threat from the RTD era when shamed Time Lords would pose like them. Not sure its necessary but you could say that about a lot of Chibnall's stuff. I've actually quite enjoyed this series. I'm not really sure why when it shares quite a lot of similarities with the Moffat series that I couldn't get on with. There's a lot of questions asked that haven't been answered yet (and I'm not sure how they're going to answer them all with one episode left to go) but because it feels like one contained story it's less irritating than with Moffat when you felt he was constantly making you sit through episodes that don't really matter as much as his bigger overall story. I do long for something a little more back to basics though. They won't do it but I kinda wish that we didn't catch up with the next Doctor until several years into their regeneration.

See, that's an odd take to me. If anything I would have thought RTD's metaphors were like sledgehammers (The Master being Tony Blair, Christmas Invasion being about the Falklands, the Time War largely existing as a metaphor for conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq). I think his run was far more political (perhaps overly so) than Moffat's (space whales aside). Also, wasn't Moffat's very first arc about the end of time and the universe because the TARDIS exploded? If anything his arcs got more personal as he went along. As an aside, not related to the above or what Skummy said, I've quite enjoyed people on social media proclaiming that RTD is going t nsave the series when, if anything, I expect he'll offer more of what people sulk about with Chinnall. If you moan about Chibnall being "preachy" with his politics and world views you're really not going to like RTD.

I'm a big RTD fan and think he's been the best show runner since they've brought it back but it feels a bit desperate and underwhelming. I just wonder what he's got left to do with Doctor Who.

Thank you for this. I've got a few EVE notes: Charlie Morgan - Maybe give her a willingness to do stunt bumps (or however it's worded) and I'd say her gimmick at EVE is probably "fearless" (but swagger based) Kasey - Heel, gimmick to "Mother of Chaos"? Maybe "offbeat" based? Rhia - Not sure "Fighting Irish" is the right gimmick for her anymore. You could probably go arrogant or maybe just Loki. Dunno. She's also a trainer (or was) so maybe that could be reflected somehow? Windsor - No longer injured. Jayne - Could probably do with a boost to hardcore Jayla Dark - Pretty sure her rumble appearance was a one off. You could possibly make her "occasional" and it seems like she's discussed being a manager Jetta - Most definitely a babyface, add a friendship with Erin. Lana Austin - I don't want to get into rating "sexiness" but I think you could probably boost that for her Millie - I'm guessing her NXT UK contract doesn't allow her to wrestle at EVE anymore (could be wrong) Nightshade - Heel Zoe Lucas - Heel

For all the speculation about who will replace Jodie the big question is who will replace Chibnall. I know he's not hard to replace at this stage but there doesn't seem to be any obvious front runner or anyone groomed for the spot. It was interesting to see how little the Doctor Who Thingy in London references Chibnall's era on the show. There was a Kerblam robot (not integral to the plot) and an attempt to situate something after a Chibnall plot point that kinda weakened the impact of that plot point to do something more suited to the RTD era of the show (actually, in the process it ignored a Moffat development but not in a way that challenged it). It very much feels like a whistle stop tour of all the greatest hits of new Doctor Who and that ultimately feels like the greatest hits of RTD and Moffat. Even the tempo of the show feels like a Moffat episode. Then again there's also one "gritty" moment that feels like it's from an entirely different show altogether. My only real problem with the Timeless Child is it makes the Doctor a bit too special super being. I think its an interesting thing to hint at, because that adds to the mystery, but once you start revealing it that mystery diminishes anyway. And it makes the basics of the show a bit more complicated. It doesn't seem like any of the past 3 show runners have wanted to spend any time with the Time Lords (although I'd argue that RTD's era kind of ends up being more about the Time Lords than any other era of the show) and Chibnall's not only killed them off (again) but given an excuse for Doctor Who never having to worry about them again (because the Doctor can now be interested in whatever species she is). I've got no problem with bot spending anymore time with the Time Lords but also we seem to spend quite a bit of time in New Who establishing reasons why we're not spending any time with them. As for daleks, I actually think Chibnall's done a decent job there. They've only appeared twice, right? And both times he's done something a little different with them.

Those are great ideas! I also quite like the idea of Professor X deciding that the best way to get people to accept mutants is to get them wrestling rather than saving people. Plus I've now got the image in my head of Professot X and Vince McMahon cutting dueling promos with Vince yelling "you're a mutant!"

I sort of have my own "universe" but using real wrestlers I've downloaded because I'm lazy. I reboot it every now and then. Currently there's the FPW alliance (like the NWA) with NJPW, STARDOM, SWA (US men), Rumble Roses (US women), World of Sport, EVE and I haven't settled on a lucha promotion. NJPW have had a lame Marvel like reset where titles were vacated and things both did and didn't happen. In this universe AJPW went out of business. The first event was NEVER say NEVER again and saw Inoki defeat Baba (for the NEVER title) and Mutoh, Chono and Shinya beat Kobashi, Misawa and Kawada for the NEVER six man titles. Chono has since won the IWGP Heavyweight title by beating Misawa. Inoki wants to defend the NEVER championship against people from different contact sports (including Ali, Bruce Lee and Rocky Balboa). Onita has challenged Inoki for the title and wants to use it to try and attract people to the dying FMW but has also said he'll put the entire company on the line. Chono will probably defend his title against the rest of the 4 pillars. There is a Bullet Club with Vader, Hanson, Bigelow, Brody and Butcher. I'd like to introduce the other main NJPW stables but with legends involved in them. A Muta, Liger and Black Tiger 2 version of LIJ would be fun. Although I'm also keen to get current day NJPW wrestlers involved for the dream matches. STARDOM is essentially a continuation of AJW with a lot of their wrestlers hanging around the main event scene. The STARDOM women are trying to prove themselves against the legends. WWF, WCW and ECW basically killed each other and mainstream wrestling in the US during the Monday Night Wars. The SWA is the first mainstream promotion since. Eric Bischoff is trying to take over with the NWO, Vince is kicking around with his army of Titans (including Andre, Giant Gonzalez and other assorted big men) and Heyman's Dangerous Alliance (ECW wrestlers who he's managed to get employed) are around to. There's a bunch of former CZW wrestlers trying to out extreme the ECW wrestlers in death matches. DX have an uneasy truce with the NWO and the American branch of Bullet Club are also here. Haven't done much with the other promotions yet. They're there. World of Sport has a fun roster with Big Daddy, Haystacks, Danny Burch, Regal Cesaro, Storm, Fleisch and Saint. Naturally there's also FPW World champions to crown. I want to introduce some super heroes and villains too. Mainly to do Hogan vs The Hulk and NWO Hogan vs Captain America. It'll be fun coming up with a head cannon reason for that.

I enjoyed it, although some of that was just being glad Doctor Who was on the telly again.