More Smackdown this year

THQ wants to get us all into the ring this afternoon, as it announces a fresh instalment to the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw series.

This 2008 version will be available on a staggering amount of consoles, including PS3, Wii and DS for the first time ever. Adding to that list is the familiar Xbox 360, joined by the ever eager PS2 and its little brother, the PSP.

The bare chested brawling is in for a bit of a spruce-up, too, with the addition of eight new Superstar Fighting Styles, each with its own strategy and attributes. There's also a snazzy Struggle Submission System that gives you realistic control over your fleshy fellow, using your analogue controls to dictate the amount of pressure to use on your foes.

The game will also include superstars, arenas and weapons from Extreme Championship Wrestling, on top of numerous fan-requested updates like new rosters, more environmental hotspots, a combined Seasonal and General Manager Mode experience, improved out-of-ring action, enhanced online community support and more. Phew.

"We are excited about the incredible potential for WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 as the franchise expands to six platforms," said Nelo Lucich, vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. "The game’s new Superstar Fighting Styles and Struggle Submission System, combined with year-over-year improvements, are certain to bring the sports entertainment video game experience to new heights with long-standing franchise fans and casual gamers alike."

However, we should point out that the DS version will be slightly different to the others, using its unique touchy-feely interface to create a wrestling experience of its very own.

Ho ho. But we know that it's all secretly fake, no one actually gets hurt in the ring.