Merry Christmas!
Posted by Don Sweey in PES 2008 News on Tue 25 Dec 2007
Merry Christmas to you from all at PESGaming.
Archive for December, 2007
Final week for GOTM
Posted by Peter Willis in GOTM on Mon 24 Dec 2007
It’s your last chance to get entries in for our PES 2008 GOTM contest. Full details can be found over at the GOTM section on the forum here.
Your feedback on the GOTM is welcome and will help us improve it for the future.
Interfering With Play 18/12/07
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Wed 19 Dec 2007
Welcome to the final Interfering With Play of 2007. The last few months have been truly groundbreaking for both me as a writer and for the PESGaming.com community, with so much discussion about PES2008 and general for support for the best Pro Evolution Soccer site on the web, in my opinion. Seeing as it is the final one of the year, I would like to crack on and get moving with the topics straight away.
So Sick Of Being Tired
My first point tonight relates to one of the criticisms raised by many PES gamers, and something that until my recent journey into a league season as Blackburn Rovers, I had not experienced first hand. The levels in which player fatigue levels grow is highly unrealistic, and one, which means the only possible solution, is top play with accumulated fatigue switched off. I personally like to make PES as challenging as possible for myself, and will play on top levels using anyone but the top four when playing an ‘English League’ season. Up until PES2008, accumulated fatigue would mean you would have to rest a player every 3-5 games in order to avoid running the risk of injury. This was coupled by having the conditioning arrows set to green or above, meaning that you could budget for the loss of your strike partnership, knowing the two players waiting in the wings would do a decent job. PES2008 sees not only the need to rest players after 1-2 games, but also a large amount of blue or even white/grey arrows, meaning the replacement ‘squad’ players will not come in and do a half decent job. For those unaware, the arrows either increase or decrease certain physical attributes, for example a red arrow will make your player run above their normal speed, or a blue will make their touch slightly less deadly, meaning players who are below a green (average) arrow are best left on the subs bench. It is no secret that more than ever, football is a squad-based game, and the Liverpool players can appreciate that more than most! However, most sides try wherever possible to field an unchanged side, especially if results are going their way, and it is highly unbelievable to be resting someone like Lampard or Ronaldo after just two games, especially when there are no Champions League or International fixtures to add into the equation. I am sure these opinions will not have fallen upon deaf ears, and your views on player fatigue, especially in the Master League would be most appreciated.
Club Vs. Country
I have spoken to Peter about this week’s current poll, and it gives you, the PESGaming.com fans, the option to solve the argument plaguing many a overpaid mind. What is more important for you, success for your club domestically, on the continent, or to see your nation win the top prize in world football? As always, get your views in, the previous poll saw over 300 votes cast, which is pretty immense for a 10 day poll. Please keep up the good work.
Letter Of The Law
The topics for the Seabass letter are flying in from all sources and some of the ideas are brilliant, whilst others are a little questionable. The bottom line is, we are going to be sending the most popular ideas in a letter to Seabass in late February, and are still looking for the PESGaming.com fan’s input. There are some fundamental errors in both the programming and features of the latest PES offering, especially on the next generation consoles, and whilst we will try to cover every base in our letter, there are bound to be things that will get overlooked. Please get your views in over the next few weeks, as we will be beginning the letter writing process in the New Year. The basic format will be each week, Interfering With Play will feature one area, which will be concentrated on, for example Online Mode, or Presentation, and then the next seven days will be your opportunity to support, add to or disagree with the comments made. The poll will also be related to the letter, and your votes will play a massive part in determining the final content. Following this, a draft copy of the letter will be made available on the home page and in the forums of PESGaming.com, as well as be e-mailed to all those who have e-mailed with ideas during the writing process. This will be available for proof reading, before the letter will finally be sent via e-mail and hopefully post, to Seabass, and Konami. As I said from the start, this letter is getting your views across, whilst being supported by a massive website and online PES community. We have a credible reputation, and as a result, any opinions attached to that will have a greater chance of being taken on board than standalone e-mails and letters.
Your So Last Generation
One more point to get your teeth into over the Christmas period is regarding the potential to scrap PES for PS2 and other ‘last generation’ consoles. Many gamers turned ‘next gen’ in order to play PES2008, and those that didn’t were overall disappointed with the lack of improvements and overall result of the product. Seabass himself complained that making so many different versions of the game had become too difficult for his small team, and as a result it was the product that was suffering. My question now is should Seabass and Konami forget about making versions of the game for PS2, PSP, Wii, DS and even PC in order to make a top football game for the two next generation big hitters? Obviously those who own a 360 or PS3 will think so, but what about those still waiting to make the step up, would have a top version of PES be enough to tilt you splash the cash. As always, all views and opinions are welcome.
That’s your lot for this week’s Interfering With Play, and indeed, this years Interfering With Play. The article has been running for four months now, and I would like the thank everyone for your continued support, feedback and generally getting involved. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your responses and writing for your enjoyment over the past few months, and hope to do so long into 2008!! We are taking a two-week break now, as the following two Tuesdays are Christmas Day and New Years Eve respectively, meaning the chances of me being found at a PC are slim! The article will be returning in the New Year on the 7th January 2008, and will be freshly released every Tuesday after that. Bookmark us or add us to your favourites if you haven’t already done so! Please take the time to answer the poll questions, and if you have any ideas, no matter how big or small, be they regarding game play or features, please e-mail to me at danbolas@hotmail.com or leave them as a comment at the end of the article. I will be online gaming during the Christmas period, my current poison being Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Add my gamer tag TheBolder to your PS3 friends network if you get one over Christmas, and will be up for a game on there.
Other than that, I wish you all a very safe and happy Christmas, and hope to see you back here on Tuesday 7th January 2008!
Thanks for Reading
PS2 Master League problem?
Posted by Peter Willis in PES 2008 News on Thu 13 Dec 2007
It’s been quiet on the news front lately, so I thought I would share with you a problem a reader has been having with Master League on the PS2 version of PES 2008.
I’ve got the Ps2 version of PES2008 and was just wondering if u’ve heard of anyone having a similar problem in Master League, when i try and turn off classic players, i put the setting to ‘no’ but once i’ve started the master league up the settings always say Classic players ‘yes’ as if i haven’t turned it off. Its Been frustrating, leading me to restart my masterleague 3 times having played a number of games, and most recently having to completely remake a team (AFC Wimbledon) which i had already made, (very time consuming) so i could use a new memory card with fresh option file so i wouldn’t have any of the classic players on it. I’m just desperate to play a realistic master league without George Weah popping up for Liverpool or the like. Any clues?
Any advice for the guy? I don’t personally have the PS2 version so can’t help.
Interfering With Play 11/12/07
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Tue 11 Dec 2007
Welcome to this week’s Interfering With Play. I would like to start off by saying a quick thank you to everyone who has been in touch with their thoughts and ideas for the letter I am planning to send to Seabass in the early months of 2009. I was fully aware that PESGaming.com had a large UK fan base, but was both surprised and delighted with the geographical boundaries both PESGaming.com and Interfering With Play is reaching. The points that have been raised will all be taken into full consideration, and the most popular ones will be spoke about in the first few articles of 2008. Please feel free to continue to e-mail your suggestions or comments about PES2009 to me, as I will still be taking everything on board in the next few weeks.
Radio Edit
The response to my previous editing posts have been underwhelming, and therefore and going to give one final opportunity for people to get involved in a website that is currently in its very early planning stages. I am looking to create a site that will feature tutorials, diagrams and even pieces of software to aid with editing PES2008, mainly on the next generation consoles. There is no denying the editing tools on this version of Pro are unacceptable, however, I am in the frame of mind to make the best of what is available and am looking for people to help with squad lists, shirt details and the latest comings and goings of players from all the teams involved on the game, including international squads. Any work done will be credited directly to the contributor, and unlike a forum or message board, submissions will be checked for authenticity and realism. My e-mail address can be found at the bottom of this article and as always, I am available on MSN Messenger using the same address.
Ron Bassett: England Manager
With Jose Mourinho ‘out of the running’ to become the next England manager, and at the time of writing Capello being tipped to take over ‘the poisoned chalice’ I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on my own personal feelings regarding International football, with the option of PESGaming.com’s loyal visitors to do the same via comments or e-mails. It has been spoken before about club fans wanting the best for their club ahead of the national side, and I can understand this point. Die-hard fans follow their club all over the land, spending hours on motorways and thousands on tickets and merchandise. They want the best for their team, and seeing their star striker going off in an International game is a real kick in the teeth, knowing that it will effect the fortunes of their beloved club. Of course for these seven or eight clubs who provide most of the England squad, there are another 80+ professional sides in the English Football League that have no players involved, and their fans are therefore expectant of these top quality players to do the business for the one common denominator, the nation which we all live and work in. As a nation, England tends to jump on the bandwagon of supporting the underdog, for example the Rugby World Cup squad and Ricky Hatton, or being overcritical of a side that features some world class talents that fail to gel, in other words both the England Cricket and Football teams. The press make things twice as bad, stirring up controversy and trouble at every possible opportunity in a way of selling papers and in turn making money. Again, this is the world we live in, agreeably or not. My personal opinion is quite simple really; I want the best for my country, both sporting and in general. I have grown up watching a number of England sides come close, and fall at the last hurdle, Euro 96 being the prime example. I was very critical of McClaren because he wasn’t right for the job, and everyone with some basic football knowledge, my girlfriend included, could see that. But now, we have a fresh slate, a new chance and a real opportunity. We have no major tournament to prepare for; we have no managerial regime to stick to. It is a fresh start, and one that the F.A and everyone involved with English football, fans included should embrace. It will be easy to tar the new England manager with foreigner brush, or the inexperienced brush, or even the ‘never won anything’ brush, but I ask you all to get behind England for the next 12 months, because there is a World Cup to qualify for in 2010, and more than anything England NEED to be there.
No, Not Graham Poll
I have been speaking to Peter Willis, owner of this fine site, about the poll that you can find on the right hand side of this home page, which allows you to vote on various things in relation to both PES and this site in general. In upcoming weeks, we will be paying close attention to the results of this poll, starting with the one currently running as regards the letter being penned to Seabass in early 2008. If you are yet to fill in this poll, please take the time to click your preference, as it will give us a number of different avenues to go down when it comes down to writing the letter.
USB And The Headset
I have had quite a few comments and e-mails over the past month or so regarding the PS3 and the use of Keyboards and Headsets on the system. I apologise to all those X Box 360 gamers, as this section may be slightly redundant to you but I would like to put the subject to bed now, as opposed to having to answer several mails each week with the same answer. Sony have not released an ‘official’ USB Keyboard or Headset for the PS3 at this time. However most USB Keyboard’s work perfectly fine with the system, and are the best way for either browsing the web or sending mails to other online gamers. I personally have a cheap £8.00 wired USB keyboard from PC World that is more than up to the job. Sony claim that all current Bluetooth headsets work with the PS3, so in other words if you have a Bluetooth headset for your phone, there is a good chance it will link to your PS3. There are a number of lists available online, stating which ones work best, but I have a Sony Ericsson one, and have found it to be both very clear and have excellent battery life. Sony issues a Jabra Headset when you purchase Warhawk, however, my experiences of this headset are it to be slightly crackly in sound, albeit may do as a cheap alternative. I have not tried any USB headsets, mainly as they cost more than the Bluetooth equivalent and are wired, but have it on good authority that they work to a satisfactory standard.
Hook, Online And Sinker
The online mode on PES2008 is far from acceptable. Poor connection levels, jittery game play and the ability to quit mid match are just some of the exceptionally annoying aspects of Konami’s unacceptable attempt at creating an online gaming community. EA Sports are striding forward in moon steps with their online modes and the PES options have stayed the same for at least 3 years of the series, which in an industry that moves forward to quickly, is far from acceptable. Having got into online gaming much more over the past 12 months, and played a number of different titles online, there are definite features that need to be included in the next version of PES, as well as an outright more playable experience. Personally, I have mates away at University, along with mates who work until all hours of the morning. I myself have unusual work hours and therefore it is highly unlikely we are all going to be in the same place at the time in order to complete a tournament or league. Surely the logical step, and one that was perfectly implemented in NBA2K7 is to create your own online leagues and tournaments, making them invitation only, and even select times and days when matches are allowed to take place, or when you are available to meet opponents. The shoddy menu system needs to be updated and the track record system needs to be more in depth. Again, I go to the example of NBA 2K7, but it is a game that Konami could learn so much from. By clicking on your opponents ‘VIP Data’ you can find out not only their win loss ratio, or their previous results, but their most commonly used shot types, how they tend to defend or attack, which players they score most of their points with and their general gaming tendencies, making planning as important as the actual in game action itself. For example, if I was playing someone whose preferred formation was to play a lone striker, I myself might for three at the back to offer a more attacking performance myself. Yes, it sounds simple, and yes it might take time to implant, but there are games on the market doing it, so why should Konami and PES not follow suit. Your suggestions for possible online additions that you have experienced in other titles would be most welcome.
And with that little rant I am drawing this week’s Interfering With Play to a close. Your suggestions and opinions for the Seabass letter regarding PES2009 are still very welcome, in particular with options for the online mode being focused on. The e-mail address as always is danbolas@hotmail.com and anyone with any interest in the editing website should contact me there, or alternatively add me to msn on the same address. Please take the time to fill in the poll if you haven’t already done so, and check back regularly for any poll updates that need your results to keep us ticking.
Thanks for Reading
GOTM reminder
Posted by Peter Willis in PES 2008 News on Wed 05 Dec 2007
Just a quick update… the GOTM contest will be ending at the end of December, when we will choose the 5 best goals to put up for the public vote. Here is a quick summry of the GOTM - sponsored by ConsoleGoals.
- All goals must be from PES 2008
- Score the best goal you can on the hardest difficulty (we have final say as to who the 6 finalists are)
- Record your goal as a movie file on your PC. Full instructions and methods can be found here.
- Upload your goal to www.consolegoals.com
- Post your goal in the GOTM forum as a new thread with a decription of the goal in the subject line (starting with GOTM Nov/Dec), which can be found HERE
To post your ConsoleGoals video’s directly into the forum, copy the Forum BB code that can be found on your ConsoleGoals video page under ‘SHARE DETAILS’ and then place it in your post/thread - It should end with [/cgvideo]
All goals MUST be submitted in the correct format and on ConsoleGoals to be considered.
Interfering With Play 04/12/07
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Tue 04 Dec 2007
This week’s Interfering With Play is, as always, filled with points, which will require some interaction from you, the reader. With PES2008 having been in stores for coming up six weeks now, the initial hype, excitement and in some cases, disappointment has subsided and what is left is still a very strong football game. Over the next few months, I am looking to compile a letter to Seabass and Konami regarding the future of the PES franchise, but more on that letter in the article. Lets get going.
Talking Bout Next Generation
There is no doubt that in spite of a graphical improvement in the PES series, the 360 and PS3 versions of PES2008 do not feel particularly ‘Next Gen’. With Sony’s console almost a year old in the UK, and the 360 entering its third year, I feel it is time that games begin to move towards the standards of those expected by many gamers. I would like to point out that for many years, my PS2 was used for Pro Evolution Soccer, the latest WWE title, and then either Grand Theft Auto r Metal Gear Solid, depending on whichever was newer at the time. I would have defiantly put myself in the ‘casual gamer’ bracket and was quite content to stay there. However, upon purchasing a PS3 with Resistance: Fall Of Man, my eyes became open to a whole new gaming world. Yes the graphics were impressive but the game play was a new experience for me, and as a result it felt very ‘Next Gen’. Since then, I have taking my interest in gaming to a new level, playing games such as The Darkness and Heavenly Sword through to completion and even trying my hand at games like Stuntman: Ignition and Warhawk, games that are far from new ideas, but had been given a fresh look on the new consoles. The purpose of this section is really to look at two sections. Firstly, how far behind are football games, and in particular PES in relation to other gaming genres. Whilst both PES and Fifa 2008 have impressed me graphically, there is defiantly a world of difference from the facial animations of say The Darkness, or the lighting effects used in Heavenly Sword. These games are designed for next gen, and at the risk of being unpopular does this mean that Konami should forget about creating for PS2 and PSP, and start looking towards the future. Your views would be much appreciated on this. The second point is simply down to PESGaming.com visitor’s favourite games. With Christmas fast approaching, and a great variety of games available for both next gen consoles, I am asking which games you have played over the year which you would recommend as a gift for Christmas, and which you would avoid like the plague. Obviously games like Call Of Duty 4 and Halo 3 will be on most peoples lips, but any other gems you have played which you would like to share would be greatly appreciated, with potential for a follow up in next weeks column.
Moaning Makes The World Go Around
As PES has been out for a while, and the latest news is no longer of exciting features or interesting images, sites such as PESGaming.com are susceptible to criticism for lack of features or information. As a result of this, some sites will start rumours about the latest patch, or brilliant new option files, or even claim to have exclusive interviews with PES creators, in order to boost hits on their website. Having been visiting this site for many years now, and writing this article for over 3 months, I am proud to say that Peter Willis and the rest of the PESGaming.com team stick to the facts, and provide credible sources and quality background for any stories posted on the main page. As a result of this, there may be days on end when no news is posted and as a result, the site has been taking some stick from ‘loyal’ visitors claiming that we are going downhill. In response to this, I would like to ask these ‘loyal’ visitors to stop taking the easy way out and start doing some constructive with their time. There is a lot of editing to do regarding PES2008, and should they have managed to get hold of a top option file, please fill the rest of the community in on it, otherwise they could spend their moaning time working on making the most realistic PES2008 experience possible. The same is to be said for people saying how ‘rubbish’ PES2008 actually is, instead of suggesting ways in which is could be improved that are both implement able and likely. It is easy to say something is so bad, but its more difficult to pick out exactly where is goes wrong and how it can be made better, and as a result, this is my challenge to all the moaners out there.
Someone Press Play.com
A subject, which was all the talk of Play.com, and has now seemingly died out, is to do with the Play.com £50,000 tournament taking place in December. There was a lot of hype about this on message boards that if you purchased your game from Play, you would be automatically eligible for this tournament, but since the games release, and poor online experience, news of it has dwindled out fast. Anyone who knows any more on this subject would be asked to post a comment explaining the situation, along with the status on the actual tournament.
Taking The Law Into Your Own Hands
This past weekend, I decided to start on the long and exceptionally arduous task of editing PES2008 myself. I have not gone to the extent of changing letters from upper case to lower case, but have began work on the Premier League team kits, and making sure that all formations are in check. I also created Kenwyne Jones for Sunderland, and used the FM to PES stat converter to create the most realistic model possible. Of course, I could download an option file from the Internet to save me the time, but having unlocked many features, and am proud of my own Win-Loss record, I have decided to do it myself. With so many problems with uploading X Box 360 option files, the photo kit feature being far from perfect, and the loss of all personal data when installing a new option file providing mammoth reasons for editing the game yourself, I am sure it is an avenue more PES gamers are going to be looking towards, especially this year of course. The PC game is exceptionally editable, and anyone who has access to a high spec PC would be better playing the edited game upon it, but those who are committed to their console version and want to do the editing themselves, I am sending out an invitation. I would be looking to be involved with a site that provides the information on how to edit the game as well as possible, alongside featuring stats and appearances for players that may not be featured in the game. This would include things like correct names for all hidden players and certain national teams, updated transfers or dealings that occur in the continental circuit and even information for local sides not featured in the game. Anyone who is interested on working on this project should contact me on danbolas@hotmail.com any time within the next seven days, as I will be looking to sort a site out in time for the January transfer window’s opening.
Dear Mr. Seabass
Finally onto the letter mentioned at the start of this weeks column. Like many people out there, the news that Seabass is taking a lot more time when developing the next PES is music to my ears, but I am sure they will still miss out fundamental things which will both frustrate and annoy gamers well into 2009! I am therefore looking to put some options, ideas and suggestions together, using the PESGaming.com visitor’s opinions as the main purpose of the letter. PESGaming.com is one of the biggest PES based websites available, so much so we have attracted the attention of the Premier League, and have Play.com the largest UK online retailer as a sponsor. We are gaining a reputation for being an honest an informative place to find out the latest PES information, and receive thousands of hits and hundreds of comments a day, as well as having a very long running and popular forum section. The opinions of PESGaming.com’s visitors will more than likely mirror those of the general football gaming nation, and as a result, it would be in the interests of any developers to at least take them on board when making a game. Over the next few weeks I will be taking suggestions via e-mail or on this site for things which PES2009 should feature, or things that you feel would make the game better. The best or most frequent requests will then be built upon in 2008 and the letter will be hopefully compiled and sent by the end of February. As I said, this is your opportunity to get your view to Seabass whilst being supported by one of the biggest PES websites in the world, so make your ideas good, and I look forward to hearing them.
That’s your lot for this weeks Interfering With Play. It was great to see some of the debate regarding Mourinho for England in last weeks comments, and the divide of the north and the south, both having very different views on Liverpool and Man United fans. This is the area to event you opinions, and I welcome all opinions, although from a personal point of view, I am more likely to take on board those not filled with cheap insults and overuse of swearing. It doesn’t express the point further and sounds much more immature. If you want to get in contact, do so via the comments on here, or via my e-mail danbolas@hotmail.com, especially anyone interested in working on an editing site.
Thanks for Reading
New official patch for PC PES 2008
Posted by Peter Willis in PES 2008 News on Mon 03 Dec 2007
Thanks to StrategyInformer for the heads up on this one.
Now available is PC patch version 1.2 for Pro Evolution Soccer 2008… this new patch fixes:
1. Searching for opponents in “Quickmatch” tries first to pair you with
players having a good connection
2. Occasionally appearing slow downs during matches have been fixed to
improve game play quality
3. Some changes to the network structure have been introduced in order to
solve issues for users which are not able to connect to opponents
4. Issues with Windows Vista causing PES 2008 not to recognize the full
amount of the video card’s VRAM have been fixed.
5. Various other minor issues have been corrected
PES 2008 20 quid (or less) for 24 hours!
Posted by Peter Willis in PES 2008 News on Mon 03 Dec 2007
If you are looking to pick up PES 2008 do so in the next 24 hours at Play and you will pay just 19.99! PC version is just a tenner…
