How to craft a perfect storyline in WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2010

It’s been a busy 2009 thus far for the WWE. On SmackDown, reigning champ CM Punk has driven Jeff Hardy into premature retirement after an epic summer-long battle, and now seemingly has the backing of WWE management as he enters a feud with the Undertaker over the World Heavyweight Title. Meanwhile on Raw, both D-X and John Cena have endured a miserable year thanks to the attentions of Randy Orton’s Legacy group. Exciting times for sure, but could you do even better in 2010? Now’s your chance to find out!

Time to complete
The Storyline Designer mode can last either a single night or up to two whole years of WWE programming – including Raw, SmackDown, ECW and some 14 unique Pay-Per-View (PPV) events.

Best bit
There are some pretty cool animations to choose from – cars can explode, friendships can turn sour, sneak attacks can occur at any time. Make sure you use the big angles sparingly though – there’s only so many times John Cena can get run over by a car before viewer fatigue sets in.

Hardest bit
Planning the storylines out so they climax at the right time – draw out a rough outline on paper before starting work on a new story. Ideally, one-on-one confrontations should wait until the Pay-Per-View events – but screwy finishes and run-ins from allies and enemies alike should help keep interest levels up should you need to throw them in the ring together before then.

Q. How do I know if my storyline’s any good?
A. Once your storyline goes online, it’s completely at the mercy of the online community – they have the ability to score your creation out of five stars and leave a full review if your tale has touched their soul sufficiently. Take constructive criticism on board but be prepared to take the odd abusive comment on the chin – chances are that it’s nothing personal.