ESPN

THQSheamus is already money, he doesn't need the briefcase.

Triple H bashes the front windshield of a limo with a sledgehammer, then reaches through the broken glass and yanks a stunned Chris Jericho out of the car in order to pummel the smarmy heel on the hood.

That's just one of the eye-popping scenes I recently witnessed when getting my first hands-on with the new game "WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011".

From performing a sick GTS off the second rope to The Undertaker using his Last Ride to actually throw The Miz through the caged wall in Hell in a Cell to WWE champ Sheamus attacking Randy Orton as the stunned Viper is being carried from the ring in a stretcher, if you've seen it on "Monday Night Raw" or ever even dreamed of the possibility between the ropes, chances are you will see it in the latest update to THQ's best-selling franchise.

After getting the chance to deliver some virtual beatdowns on the computer, I caught up with "WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011's" designer, Dan Ryan, to get the latest dirt on the new features in his game.

Jon Robinson: "WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011" introduces a new mode called WWE Universe that tries to tie story and exhibition modes together somehow. Can you explain how this will work?

Dan Ryan: It's pretty complicated to talk about, but you're right, it's like exhibition mode with story elements tied in, and all the while, the game keeps track of everything going on. In years past, you just played exhibition matches, but they were inconsequential. But now, if you turn WWE Universe on, the game will keep track of wins and losses and you'll see various wrestlers move up and down in the rankings. Teams are going to form, allies and enemies are going to form, so now, these exhibition matches actually mean something, and to top it off, you'll see a lot of cool cut scenes that will add to the storyline of the Universe that is playing out around you. There will be a lot of surprises, that's for sure, and we have four locations where you'll see the cut scenes. You'll see cut scenes when the guy is doing his entrance. You'll see a lot of the interference happening inside the ring when your rivals get in on the action. Your enemies might pop up after your match during your victory scene and double team you with chairs. You'll see divas get mixed up in this. You might get carried off in a stretcher. There are just a lot of cool moments that we didn't have before and it really replicates the WWE experience.

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Robyn Beck/Getty Images"Shaun White Skateboarding" ships to stores October 24 for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii.

Shaun White says his dream was always to be a professional snowboarder and skateboarder. So it should come as no surprise that after helping with the design of a popular snowboarding game for publisher Ubisoft, his next area of focus for virtual action would be to design his own skateboarding game.

Then again, the surprise might be the design of the game itself. "Shaun White Skateboarding" drops gamers into a story-driven, colorless world where skateboarding has been banned along with any type of emotion. As you skate, you literally add color to the world while helping shape the environment around you. Hop on a rail and you can actually extend it any direction for a seemingly endless grind as you go. See an object on a roof, and use the rail to reach it, then morph the rooftop into a ramp and try to make it to an even higher platform. The creation is all performed on the fly and is entirely up to you.

"I still can't believe Ubisoft pays me to make video games," Shaun White tells me with a laugh as we meet in his suite at the swank Standard Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. "It's bizarre, because I never understood what went on behind the scenes with the programmers and the sections of programmers where this one group just focuses on the colors while this other group works on the physics of the characters and how everything looks. It's amazing to see how much work actually goes into it.

"When I was younger, I was in a video game as a character ('Cool Boarders 4'), but it was awful. My character didn't look anything like me, and it was just lame. I never had something where I was pleased with the outcome. So then it dawned on me that I had no input. I was just like, 'cool, you put my character in the game and you do the voice for me.' But this time around it has been awesome. My first game with Ubisoft came out around 2008 and we were able to start over. It's my voice, it's my music, and this is the stuff I want to see and hear in the game. And the game is amazing. Then we did a special Wii version of the game last time around the Olympics that added some new tricks with the Wii Motion-Plus, and this time around it's awesome because we're skating.

"Snowboarding games are tough because you're in the mountains and there are trees. But when you see a game like this where you're skateboarding, there is just so much more to it. You're in cities and schools and parks and you can definitely be more creative with the people you run into. It's not like Joe was just sitting here on the mountain and you run into him then he gives you a quest. I didn't want to just do another snowboarding game just to do it. We're doing something really different and next time it will be something different again. If you're ever-changing like that, you don't ever hit that dry spell."

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Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty ImagesPlaying as Michael Jordan in "NBA 2K11" brings the fun back to virtual dunking.

Has dunking the ball in a video game lost its luster? We've all probably done it millions of times by now. Just another move. But when I dunk the ball as Michael Jordan in "NBA 2K11", tongue out as he throws down a tomahawk jam over Patrick Ewing, knocking the Knicks star to the ground as I watch MJ swing on the rim, I can't wipe the smile off my face. The shine is back.

Next time down the floor, I pass the ball to Michael and as I pump fake, he holds the ball up with one hand in John Starks' face. Starks takes a swipe at the rock then is left looking like a fool as MJ drives baseline for the reverse. Magic.

2K Sports2K Sports has done an awesome job capturing MJ's moves.

Playing as the old-school Bulls, I battled everyone from the Bad Boys in Detroit to Bird, Ainge, McHale, and Parish on the Celtics. I got dunked on by Shawn Kemp, swatted Isiah's jumper, and was roughed up by the Pistons D.

As a basketball fan (or more accurately, a self-diagnosed hoops nut), these moments are amazing and really make "NBA 2K11" a must-own. I played the game for a couple of hours, first playing the classic match-ups in The Jordan Challenge, then drafting Michael to the Heat in MJ: Creating a Legend mode (MJ, LeBron, and Wade ... oh my!), and I have to say, I haven't had this much fun playing a basketball game in years.

Highlights of my virtual time with Mike include:

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EA SportsPrima Games is here to teach you how to call plays better than the NFC East coaches.

Whether you're playing against friends online or knee-deep in your team's franchise, if there's one thing about playing "Madden" it's the fact that gamers are always looking for those one or two plays to help put them over the edge.

That's why Prima Games is here to help, providing a couple of the best plays for every team in the game and breaking down the best way to run them (while at the same time running your opponent into the ground).

This week, Prima gives up the goods for the NFC East. Enjoy.

Dallas Cowboys

EA Sports

Gun Flip Trips, HB Mid Draw: If you watch the Dallas Cowboys then you are very familiar with all of the draw plays that they run. We like this playbook because of how many draw plays we have access to when in the Gun formation. The HB Mid Draw out of the Gun Flip Trips is an exceptional running play because of the tight alignment of two of the receivers to the trips side of the formation.

Once we have the ball in the back's hands, we can read the blocks being set by our linemen and receivers. The tight alignment of two of the three receivers to the trips side turns this draw into a run that feels more like a dominant Off Tackle play. We have the size of our linemen and the height and speed of our receivers to help seal the defenders inside and let Felix Jones get around the edge.

EA Sports

It's rare that we get an aggressive running play out of a Gun formation, and a draw at that. When we can throw a power run game into the mix when running out of the Gun formation, the defense is in for a long day. Use this play to punish an opponent who likes to sit multiple defenders back in coverage.

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EA SportsCreate a character in "NBA Elite 11" and you could be the next KG ... or even better.

In its first year, can "NBA Elite" really contend with the juggernaut that is "NBA 2K11"? If EA Sports hopes to make a dent, they need multiple gameplay modes to really breakthrough and become hits, both online and offline.

Luckily for EA, the producer of "Elite" think they have those hits (and the gameplay to match) with online leagues known as the EASBA (EA Sports Basketball Association) and an offline single-player experience called Become Legendary.

"The whole concept behind Become Legendary is that you take a unique path in order to become a unique type of NBA legend," explains producer Sean Campbell. "We're trying to capture the feeling of working your way into the NBA and being able to create your own type of legendary NBA career, not based on expectation of tradition. If you're a point guard, you don't necessarily have to play like a traditional point guard. You don't have to get assists, steals, and be a good free throw shooter to progress through the mode. If you want to be a legendary point guard who wins the scoring title and rebounding title, you can do that. If you want to be a center who focuses on three-point shooting, offensive rebounding, and steals, you can do that. It's the idea of becoming a legend in your own way."

The mode starts out in a game called The Jordan Brand Draft Showcase where your created character gets to play alongside and against some of this years best rookies. It's a single-game event, and based on your performance, you're given an ESPN projected mock draft position. This game will also be available in "Elite's" demo, and if you play the demo, you will be able to carry over your draft position and your created character into "Elite" once you purchase the game.

"Based on your performance, you're drafted into the NBA, then you start out playing as a rookie in the league," says Campbell. "It's full customization from your face, tattoos, accessories, and shoes to your jump shot style and dunk package. And the one thing to mention with the shoes is you start off only being able to use the generic version, but as you progress through the mode, there are 23 legend levels that you progress through, and there are three levels that let you unlock packages of Jordan shoes. Level 5, for example, you become a member of the Brand Jordan team and are given some shoes. As you progress through the mode, you unlock more of the classic Jordan shoes that you can then put on your character."

As you play through the mode, your character is rated every game on his offense, defense, and team play. Adds Campbell: "So while you're free to play whatever style you want, like a shoot-first point guard, the team play grade holds you accountable to your team and forces you to play good basketball. Then every time you reach a specific statistical threshold, like collect 10 assists, you gain a statistical level. So you can try to be the next Dennis Rodman and try to fill out all of your rebounding levels if you want, or you can spread out your stats and try to be more versatile. Hopefully this encourages users to create their own type of player as nothing is based purely by position. There are also points given for awards like end of season championships and winning stat categories as well as individual game performance like a triple double (this is called leaving your fingerprints on the game). For example, to reach Level 22, you're going to need around 2,000 award points. So if you want to be like Allen Iverson and win the scoring title but not win any championships, you can do that. Or you can be the role player who just hits threes but wins nine championships and still become a legend. The idea is you can combine your statistics and your awards in infinite ways in order to progress through the mode."

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Cliff Welch/Icon SMI If Gerald McCoy is anything like his "Madden 11" character, we could be looking at the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Anyone who has played "Madden NFL 11" as the Bucs knows how much of a beast rookie Gerald McCoy is on defense. When he's not stuffing the run, he's sacking the quarterback or causing some sort of chaos in the backfield.

But when it comes to his character in the game, the number McCoy was most interested in seeing was of all things, his ball carrier vision rating.

"One year in 'NCAA', I didn't even have a number for ball carrier rating. I think all I had were two dashes," he says with a laugh. "I caught an interception in the championship, that should at least give me some sort of number. Anything is better than two dashes.

"But to me, it's a dream just to be in Madden, and to be one of the best rookies in the game is great because they usually don't rate rookies too high. I need to have a great rookie season so they don't drop my numbers."

Aside from "Madden", McCoy says he's a big gamer when it comes to first-person shooters. "'Call of Duty', 'Halo' ... I like to play a lot of co-op with my friends, but I'm probably better at the football games and the basketball games like '2K'. I always play as the Lakers, but my roommate from college is the best person I've ever seen play 'NBA 2K10' ... ever, ever! Adrian Taylor, he's a beast."

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THQSheamus looks to be one of the most dominant characters in "WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011".

When WWE champion Sheamus is stalking somebody on "Monday Night Raw," the night usually ends with a foot to the face, a steel chair to the back or a slam through the announce table. So when I tell the wrestler whose mesmerizing whiteness has drawn comparisons to everything from mayonnaise to the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man that he's rated a 92 overall in "WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011" but only has a 70 charisma rating, and he then asks where he could find the producers of the game, I wasn't sure what to expect.

"No one has more charisma than me in WWE," he tells me. "Seventy percent? I've got to talk to these THQ people. You know where I can find them?"

But a few minutes later Sheamus gets his hands on the game (not on the producers), and as his character beats the polygonal pulp out of a digital Randy Orton, the champ forgets all about charisma, concentrating instead on catapulting the Viper face first into the steel cage.

Then what's supposed to be a quick photo op of the champ playing the game at THQ's premiere event before SummerSlam turns into another virtual match, then another.

The champ doesn't want to leave.

"This is fantastic," Sheamus tells me, championship belt hanging from his shoulder as he plays the game.

Not only does "WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011" mark Sheamus' debut in a video game, but he also appears on the European cover of the product, and as a gamer himself, he couldn't be happier (even with 70 charisma).

"I've been playing video games since the Commodore 64 when I was about 5 years old," he says as we sit down to talk about his character. "Throughout the years I've had PlayStations and Nintendos, and right now I have a PlayStation 3 at home, so I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this game. I grew up playing games like 'War Zone' and the old 'Smackdown,' so I'm very excited to see myself in a game."

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EA Sports"NHL Slapshot" is about to take the Wii by storm.

Head to any video game store and you'll see the Wii wall, or as I like to call it, the wall of shame. I'm not talking about Nintendo's system here, but the countless peripherals that clutter valuable shelf space. From Nerf guns to fishing rods to boxing gloves, if you can jam the Wii-remote into anything related to your product, chances are, it's on that wall just tempting unsuspecting grandma into buying it for little Jimmy.

So when I heard that EA Sports was making an "NHL Slapshot" game for the Wii complete with mini-hockey stick, before I even heard the pitch, I already started shaking my head (while at the same time imagining where it would fit between the plunger gun and the lightsaber).

But then I started playing the game and was shocked by how much fun I was having swinging the little stick to perform one-timers, lifts, and checks. Where other peripherals have failed to find that balance of enhancing the gameplay experience while at the same time looking cool, the "Slapshot" stick actually manages to do both, and do both quite well. Throw in the fact that the game also features Wayne Gretzky and the ability to play as "The Great One" from his first pee wee game all the way through to the NHL, and, well, now I have a game that I never could've imagined myself wanting right up there on my wishlist for the start of hockey season.

After playing a few games, I had the chance to sit down with "NHL Slapshot" producer Joe Nickolls to get all the latest info on his upcoming title, including why fighting was taken out of the product.

Jon Robinson: Why go the peripheral direction with Slapshot? Why not just release "NHL 11" on the Wii instead of making a whole new game?

Joe Nickolls: We haven't done a Wii hockey game before and wanted to do something a little bit different. So basically, David Littman, who is one of our producers, was in a meeting and said: "I want to make a hockey stick for the game so you can swing it around." Next thing you know, we're taking a $300 stick into the back and we're sawing it down, then we took a Wii-remote and a nunchuk and we duct taped them to the stick. Long story short, we thought it was really cool and then we went through nine different prototypes before finding the stick we liked.

And the reason the stick is a game-changing experience is that when you have the Wii-remote and the nunchuk housed inside the hockey stick, they're a certain distance apart and it's exactly the same level, so it triangulates the signal and is really accurate. Plus, if you're playing Wii hockey, wouldn't you just rather play it with a stick in your hands? Our game is more than just random shaking. When you shake the controllers, you can do that for any game. What does that mean?

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EA SportsLearn to coach like Mike with Prima's new "Madden 11" guide.

Love "Madden 11" but frustrated that you keep losing to your friends? Prima Games is here to help, providing ESPN.com readers with a team-by-team breakdown of some plays that need to be in your gameplan.

Let's kick things off with the NFC West.

San Francisco 49ers

EA Sports

I-Form Tight, Power O: One of the staple run plays the 49ers like to run out of I-Form Tight is Power O. This play involves left guard Mike Iupati pulling with fullback Moran Norris as lead blocker. With this play, we are going to bring the flanker, Michael Crabtree, in motion to provide additional blocking.

Once the flanker is behind the line of scrimmage, snap the ball. Once the ball is snapped, quarterback Alex Smith hands the ball off to running back Frank Gore. This is when you want to follow your blockers inside, or if you see that they've sealed the edge you can bounce it outside.

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2K SportsThey might be devil colors, but these shoes completely changed the game.

When Michael Jordan was first announced as the "NBA 2K11" cover athlete, gamers celebrated the return of the greatest player to ever lace up a pair of kicks. Sneaker heads, on the other hand, only wanted to know what pairs of kicks virtual MJ would actually be wearing.

That's because in past "NBA 2K" games, Nike has only allowed 2K Sports to feature a select few pairs of Jordans per title.

But now that the game is all about His Airness, the kick floodgates have finally been opened.

"There are two legacies of Michael Jordan, his playing and his brand," explains "NBA 2K11" producer Erick Boenisch. "And for this game, the Jordan brand guys at Nike were finally asking for us to incorporate all of their shoes into our game. This is something we wanted for years, so we were really excited that this year with Michael, they really got on board with us.

"We have so many shoe heads into our game that when we put out our first trailer for 'NBA 2K11', people were doing freeze frames and capturing screen grabs of the Space Jam shoes he has on in the video. They cut out Michael entirely and put a little box around the shoes to show off that the Space Jams are in the game. All I have to say is people like this are going to be so happy this year."

That's because as gamers play through "NBA 2K11" they will constantly be rewarded with new pairs of cyber shoes. There are 40 shoes total in the game including 25 pairs of Air Jordans along with the CP3s, Melo 5s, and other shoes from the Jordan line to fill out the closet. But it's not about scoring 80 points in a game or grabbing 22 rebounds in order to unlock certain pairs. It's all about time invested.

"The way they unlock is every couple of hours you get a new pair," explains Boenisch. "The shoes also have attributes on them, so this becomes really beneficial both in My Player and MJ Creating a Legend mode. And shoes can be unlocked anywhere in the game, whether you're playing online or franchise or practice mode. Your timer is always running and shoes are always unlocking.

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