Archive for July, 2008
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Tue 29 Jul 2008
Welcome to a slightly shorter Interfering With Play this week. Due to personal commitments, I am unable to spend too much time writing this week’s article, but have still given the same research levels as usual, just in a more condensed form. All being well, this column will be back to regular length next week, and with the news surrounding PES2009 starting to hot up, the next few articles will hopefully begin to answer a lot of questions.
Won’t Go Away
Last week, I made a big song and dance surrounding the rumours circling the Internet regarding PES2009. Since then, more have come to light, some of which have been made public, others which have only been passed on by word of mouth. However, I try to look at the facts, and this is the factual information we know so far. Konami will release Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 in the forth quarter of 2008, for PC, PS2, PS3, PSP and X Box 360. That is it. Whilst I do not deny some of these rumours may come from people in the know, and some may be the Stonecold truth, until a press release makes these official, I refuse to be sucked in, and urge readers to take everything they read regarding PES with a pinch of salt. Over the next month, especially by mid September, the news will be arriving on a daily basis, with screenshots and videos to back up information, and until that point, everything is up in the air.
Time Is Ticking
Interesting point here, and something that has lead to a genuine discussion with my mates. How long to you, as a PES gamer, play per match? Obviously the times settings run up in 5 minute blocks from 5 minutes to 30 minutes per half. This varies in over football titles by going up in 2-minute blocks, and games of the past even allowed for a 45-minute half option. Personally, I play 10 minutes in league or cup matches, with 15 minutes being reserved for games against mates or just friendly matches. But I am sure many of you will differ. Do you prefer having quick 5-minute games to experience the rush of a quick match, or a long 20-minute per half match to evolve your gaming experience? Do you find that playing different length matches increases the difficulty, or even makes the game more realistic? A huge criticism of the 90-minute matches on games was that the score would usually end up in double figures! Is there a way developers can get around this to create a full-length game that could end 1-1, perhaps by increasing the size of the pitch? Or would this be a feature that would bore you? Your input, as always, would be greatly appreciated.
Interfering With Play League: Contenders, Ready!
The IWP league is almost finalised, with no further applications being accepted. The 10 gamers who have been chosen to play in the league will receive e-mail in the next 48 hours or so, with further instructions. If you are not involved, I thank you greatly for your interest. I have limited the number to 10 gamers for a number of reasons, but hopefully, with a better online mode in the future, the league will be run on a much larger scale. Once again, I would like to thank all of those who have shown an interest in the IWP League, and to those that are chosen to take part, good luck!
Not In My Backyard
A comment was made a few weeks back that the Spanish league played much slower than the Premier League on PES, and following a bit of research, I can confirm to truth to the statement. Again, I open it up to the floor, how many of you find that playing different domestic leagues result in different styles of game play? Is there a formation and tactic that is universally successful? I personally find playing in the Champions League in the Master League easier than playing domestic league matches, as the style fits my team slightly better. Your comments and views are always welcome, and can be expressed in the usual way.
Calling All Artists
I put a comment out about six months ago seeing if anyone was interested in designing a logo for Interfering With Play. Despite getting a few decent replies, I decided against going for these designs and scrapped the idea. However, to coincide with the new era, PES2009, I am opening the floor up again to potential graphic designers, or people who just love messing around with Photoshop. If you are interested in designing a logo for this article, it needs to be 300×300 pixels and be in JPEG format. Ideally, it would feature the letters ‘IWP’ or the words ‘Interfering With Play’ and be unique and eye catching (no pink though!) All logos sent will be replied to, and if a design is chosen, full credit will be given to the designer. PESGaming.com gets 100,000’s of visitors on a monthly basis, and this is a great opportunity to have your work seen by all these people. More information is available on request, so feel free to contact me should you wish.
That’s your lot for this week. Slightly shorter, as promised, but hopefully featuring a few points that can provoke some discussion. As I said, those taking part in the IWP League will receive e-mail in the next day or so, with all you need to know. If you wish to design a logo, or just to get in contact, the e-mail address, as always is danbolas@hotmail.com please include Logo in the subject title, if you are sending a logo. Comments as always are welcomed.
Thanks for Reading
Posted by Peter Willis in PES 2009 News on Thu 24 Jul 2008
Over on the forums Hunter posted an Interview with a supposed Konami insider, which he found over at PellUK. The insider is said to have playtested the game as part of his involvement in the games development. Here is what forum member Hunter summarised from the interview:
1. Man Utd & Liverpool are the licensed teams.
2. Spanish League has not been axed. Same leagues as PES2008.
3. You CAN use Master League teams online!!
4. New Game mode entitled “Become a Legend” more on this later.
5. There is NO Official Licensed Champions league mode. Despite the rumours. More to follow.
6. 19 Stadiums including Wembley. Ps3 version though so could be different.
7. No Bayern Munich.
8. The team replacing Bayern is Zenit St Petersburg, with an improved Arshavin.
You can read the full “interview” here. To make it clear, I am in no way confirming any of the above information… but everyone appears to be reporting on the leak so I figured we best too.
Posted by Peter Willis in PES 2009 News on Wed 23 Jul 2008
WENB are reporting that Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 will feature Liverpool and Manchester United as the two licensed sides.
Forget Merseyside Red… strong rumours coming through that Liverpool FC and Manchester United are this year’s two licensed Barclays Premiership clubs in PES 2009! We are currently working hard behind the scenes to confirm this rumour but as it stands the rumour has solid ground. As with the previous rumours we have posted this season we are confident that this one will be true. Stay tuned for more lads….
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Tue 22 Jul 2008
Welcome to this week’s Interfering With Play. For the first time in a while, Interfering With Play provided a huge debate following last week’s column, with dougiedonut and nikicampos leading their respective arguments. One thing I would like to point out at this stage is that, just like pretty much every blog, pod cast and forum post, Interfering With Play and the resulting comments that occur from it are totally that of opinion, and should be treated as such. If we all had exactly the same opinion, there would be no need for this article and personally I am glad there are clashes. Whilst everyone is perfectly entitled to their opinion, please try and respect those of others, even if you are arguing against them. With that said, lets get moving.
Told You So
Two weeks ago, I started a section of Interfering With Play “I refuse to get drawn onto a PS3 vs. 360 debate at this stage”. That resulted in a select few commenting back, which lead to a greater topic on the subject in last week’s column. I do not want to put the topic totally to bed, as I am sure it will constantly pop up throughout the year, but would like a line drawn under this chapter of the argument. Following the views read by a number of posters, both regular and first time, the overall view is at the moment, most gamers will be sticking to their next generation console of choice. If you have just spent a great deal of money on an X Box 360 with X Bow Live Membership and a HD DVD Drive, the last thing you are going to want to do is lose a chunk of that money in order to buy another console, or vice versa regarding the PS3. The selection of quality games, at this stage, is pretty evenly split, with 360 maybe having the slight market share on top quality titles, although some of these games are scheduled for release on PS3 in the next 6 months. The argument really stems to gamers who are yet to purchase next gen. Do you go for the vast amount of titles and purchase the 360 now, or do you purchase a PS3, and rely on both Sony’s reputation and upcoming releases. Personal taste, coupled with the same system as your game playing mates will also play apart, and although on paper the PS3 is more expensive, in hindsight, including a couple of years worth of X Box Live, it works out pretty even. Its great to see so many people feeling so passionate about their console, and like I said last week, it’s like defending your football team, no matter what they do wrong, you will always stick by them.
Speeding Cheat
A few weeks ago I mentioned the variable speed of PES, and whether or not the game was too quick. Unsurprisingly, most PES fans feel the game moves at a much quicker speed, backing the theory that Konami used the extra power of the next gen consoles to add the speed element, and not the graphics or features of the game. This was followed last week by me bringing up the ‘cheating’ AI featured in PES. Certain games, most notably Mario Kart on the SNES, gained a reputation for giving the AI super powers when it was losing, making a great performance seem less great. In particular on PES2008, the AI has started to turn the screw a bit more, utilising LAG and Slowdown, Player control and even unrealistic positioning to give itself the upper hand in games. The huge advantage of online gaming is not having to deal with these problems, as you will be playing against another human being, but the bread and butter of any game is still the single player mode. Many gamers last week backed up my theory about the AI having unbelievable advantages at certain stages, with a couple of gamers even praising it as a feature. In real football, conceding a goal sometimes gives the opposition a lift, and therefore maybe this should be applied into the gaming world. Perhaps teams should have determination ratings, where a side is more likely to come back from a goal down, or, like Arsenal, are very susceptible to a quick equaliser after scoring. This stat could be coupled with a discipline stat for players losing their cool after conceding, or even time wasting when ahead.
The reason I have mentioned the speed of the game alongside the AI is that those to features have become more noticeably entwined. When losing, AI players seem to become much quicker, be able to change direction at will, and turn on a sixpence in ridiculously tight spaces. Set pieces seem to become more devastating due to the game speed, giving you less time to react as a defender, and strikers seem to move at unbelievable pace. Couple this with you own situations, and Lag starts to play apart when your up, Power bars charge at variably pace, and your players seem slower, irrelevant of their stamina or condition arrows. People have moaned that PES is too quick, but I ask you to play a number of games on the higher difficulties, and see if the game speed in any way relates to the score line. You findings would be appreciated.
Interfering With Play: The League
Anyone who has e-mailed me regarding the IWP league should have received an e-mail in the last 24 hours. If you are still interested in taking part please could I receive a response as soon as possible, to begin to get an idea of numbers? By the same token, if you are a PS3 PES player who is wishing to take part in the league, I reckon there will be one or two places available, and therefore ask you to e-mail me with your name, age and location as soon as possible, in order for me to send you some more information. Unfortunately, PES2008, like many other games, can only played online on the same consoles and therefore I decided to chose the PS3 due to receiving greater interest from those gamers than 360 or PC gamers.
Camera Shy
I finally got my hands on a PS3 eye, meaning I could use the Scan feature on PES2008 to bring my own badges into the game. Whilst using this feature, two things dawned upon me. The first was how poor the edit mode of PES 2008 on the next gen consoles truly is. The selection of pre-designed shirts is very poor, and the lack of flag/logo editor is borderline embarrassing. The second thing that shocked me, maybe even more than I realised was how unnecessary it is to include a scan feature on a football game. For faces, yes, I agree it should be a feature available in many games, but for logos and badges, your better off providing gamers with a pixel editor and saving yourself the implementation time and costs. The idea is still quite revolutionary, with very few games including a feature to include your own face via cam, but when it comes to logos, Konami are much better off going back to the tried and trusted method.
Self-Supporting
My final comment this week is something that I feel very strongly about, and although I have mentioned it before, I believe it will never get old as a point. Certain people constantly speak ill of PESGaming.com, stating it doesn’t feature enough news about PES. Interfering With Play is my own personal column, and therefore is of total opinion, but I am speaking mainly of the number of posts the site delivers as a whole. There are a number of other Pro Evolution Soccer sites out there, that post daily articles about the latest rumours regarding Konami and Pro Evolution Soccer, but unfortunately, these are exactly that, rumours. PESGaming.com has always prided itself on reporting as accurate information as is available, and not fanned the flames of any rumours regarding PES or Konami. There are plenty of sites out there that will put information about release dates, features and images just to get a few extra hits. Our regulars know that when it comes to PES, we only report official news, and have no intention of selling out in order to become more ‘successful’. I personally would not wish to write Interfering With Play for any other PES site, and am exceptionally proud to be part of this site. Like anyone, I hear rumours and gossip, but try to include these things in my column, as it looks silly when they are then proven to be false. Bottom line, we have a solid base of visitors that is constantly growing, and anyone who visits this site on a regular basis knows what we are all about. If you want lies, hype and rumours, feel free to go elsewhere but for the truth about the Konami franchise, this is the place to be.
That’s it for this week. Once again, I will like to thank you for your continued support with Interfering With Play, as I am sure Peter would like to thank you for the constant support this great site receives. Please feel free to leave a comment about anything you have read on here below, or e-mail me on danbolas@hotmail.com. That is also the address you need if you are interested in joining the IWP league, although entries need to arrive as soon as possible.
Thanks for Reading
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Tue 15 Jul 2008
Welcome to this week’s Interfering With Play. Last week saw some technical difficulties with PESGaming.com, and as a result this article could not go live until a whole 24 hours later than was planned, which means the Champions League news solved the main argument from the column! Not that I am too concerned however, as the announcement seems to be the best possible news for all parties involved, with the likelihood of the most licensed PES game ever being primed for release later this year. With this said, I would like to move into this week’s Interfering With Play.
Simply The Best?
Over the past 10 months, I have stayed as neutral as possible regarding the 360 vs. PS3 battle that seems to dominate forums, message boards and blogs all over Internet. I have made it no secret that I own a PS3, and have been a Sony fan since the Playstation inception in the mid nineties. By the same token, I am fully aware and respect the fact that the 360 has been the dominate next generation console in this recent battle and for the first time, Sony are not market leader. Figures currently show Sony is now out-selling the 360, but this may be too little too late, with the divide and the battle lines clearly drawn. For many people out there, it’s a case of your either Sony or Microsoft, X-Box or Playstation, PSN or X Box Live. The question I am wondering is, why?
Up until the arrival of the X Box 360, there was no denying Sony was the top dog when it came to consoles. The original Playstation ended the Saturn and Dreamcast, pretty much obliterating Sega as a hardware company, and eventually saw off the challenge of the more powerful N64. The Playstation 2 followed suit, beating the Game Cube and the original X Box in the process. The secret, in my opinion, was both consoles had a seemingly infinite catalogue of titles to cater for every taste. 10 year old girls could pick up and play games about horses or Britney Spears, whilst older generations could play simple puzzle titles, with every other genre and niche catered for in-between. The temptation to buy a new console to play a specific title was not huge because there were several games similar to that one title on a system you already owned. Many of my friends would end up buying new consoles, only to take them back in return for more games for the PS One or PS2. Whilst other systems released ground breaking legendary titles, (Goldeneye, Zelda, Nights, Halo etc.) it was Sony’s era as people always ‘went back’ to their Playstation.
Whilst the original X Box was far from a flop, it was loud, bulky, had uncomfortable controllers and felt very dated. The 360 completely changed its image, and apart from the noise, changed all its cosmetic flaws to make an attractive console. Its release gave it a head start on Sony in the next generation wars, and Microsoft pretty much cast the original X Box to the scrap heap, solely concentrating on titles for its new machine. This meant, that just like the PS1 and PS2 before it, the 360 had a large back catalogue available before a single game had appeared on any of its competition machines, and as a result built up a market lead. This is still a key point in the wars today. Sony still increase the Playstation 2 catalogue, offering new releases every couple of weeks, whilst still trying to develop a new audience in the form of the PS3. Instead of 5 games being released on a Friday, you might get one or two, and if these genres don’t appeal to you, it might be another month before another title comes out that does.
So back to my original question of why is there such a divide between the 360 and PS3 gamers. Just like supporting your football team or listening to your favourite band, gamers will blindly defend their own machine; unable to see the benefits the other has to offer. My points last week were pounced upon as such. I mentioned the ability to use a number if different keyboards or controllers on the PS3, and 360 gamers fired back saying that was a feature on their machine. I meant to take this point further, saying that any Bluetooth headset or device is compatible with the PS3, be it your mobile phone or keyboard, and can be used as such. I also meant to take this further, saying Graphics Tablets, Desktop Fans and even phone chargers can be plugged in to the PS3 and used in the same way they would be on any PC. By the same token I am sure most PS3 gamers would love to have the wide selection of titles available on X Box Live Arcade, yes the PSN is getting more, but the retro games like Paperboy or Sensible Soccer would be a welcome addition to anyone’s gaming collection. I have used both X Box Live and PSN, and have never had any connection issues with either, although I have heard horror stories about both. PES withstanding, I have experienced no lag on any PS3 games online, and further state that as the free service, I am more pleased with it. 360 fans will disagree more.
So does it come down to personal taste? The PS controller is a familiarity for so many gamers now that is would be hard for some to imagine anything else. By the same token, those familiar with X Box machine would struggle to use the PS controller. Statistics can be used to show anything, but with the number of ‘exclusive’ titles linked to about one a month, the choice of which console really boils down to which you’re comfortable with. Some hate Bill Gates, and these will always stick by Sony, whereas other gamers are furious with Sony’s pricing structure and delayed release, meaning the opted for the 360 and have not looked back. Really, the winners here are us, the consumer, because while this war rages on, the quality of games and consoles will only improve!
League Of Our Own
A little more news regarding the potential for an Interfering With Play league. I have received around 30 possible entrants who have provided an e-mail address and over the next 7 days will be getting in touch with them. As this is a sample of things to come, the league will only feature 10 teams, with the more experienced online gamers getting an invite. Therefore over the next few days, if you are interested in taking part, please play as many online matches as possible, in order to get you game count up. Win Loss averages will not be taken into account for the league, but number of disconnections will. The league will also feature a mid-table policy, whereby no gamers will be able to be one of the ‘go to’ sides online. By thus I mean no Barcelona or AC Milan will be available, instead it will be more likely sides like Aston Villa or Athletico Madrid. Teams will drawn a random following the leagues creation, and gamers must stick with the same team throughout the 18 games of the season. More information will arrive in e-mail form over the next few days. If you are a PS3 owner who plays PES online, and is interested in entering a league, please e-mail me on the usual address with your name, age, location and a valid hotmail e-mail address.
Unbe-Wii-vable
This week’s IWP does seem to focus a great deal on consoles, but is merely a reaction to comments made by posters during previous weeks. Regular poster MN9AJAS made a valid point that the Wii in next generation based upon its control system, not just on its graphics, which many would consider to be last generation. He also states that developers aren’t making enough gamers orientated towards adults, and are happy to cash in with mini games and kid based titles. This of course harms the Wii as being called next generation, and developers have struggled to get to grips with making ‘grown up titles’ for the console, but I believe this is down to the blessing/curse of the Wii-mote. There is no denying the Wii-mote is excellent when playing certain sports games, with the potential for other sports games in the future (Brian Lara Wii anyone?) but unfortunately that’s where perfect control system ends. Super Mario Galaxy is the only game to get close to making a quality none sports title on Wii, and the control system that works so well for sports is a huge hindrance for all other genres. (Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart also get special mentions) The lack of button combinations mean there is no way a game like Halo, Metal Gear Solid or Grand Theft Auto would ever work on it, and as soon as you start limiting games because of your control system, you begin to take away the title of next generation.
Cheaters Never Prosper
One quick final point, and it may be just me, but does the AI on PES seem to get unbelievably good following a goal. A case in point being during a recent friendly between Barcelona and Derby, following an Eto’o tap in, the Derby players suddenly seemed to be playing on steroids, with ridiculously sharp passing and electric pace. The fact that Robbie Savage outpaced Lionel Messi over half the length of the pitch made me wonder if this is an experience unique to me, or anyone else notices it. On further development, I have found opposing full backs turning up in the penalty box, undefendable crosses and set pieces and intentional slow down in order to bring the AI back on level terms. Anyone who has been a victim of this, please share your experiences with the rest of the community.
That’s your lot for this week’s column. Please feel free to send comments, I would rather people disagree with me than say nothing, that’s the whole point of the community. If you decide to not leave your name though, I will not acknowledge the comment during this article, it doesn’t even have to be your real name! danbolas@hotmail.com is the place you can find me on e-mail. In am not very bi-lingual and therefore only message me in English, you would be surprised the number of Spanish, Korean etc. e-mails I get on a weekly basis!
Thanks for Reading
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Wed 09 Jul 2008
Welcome to this week’s Interfering With Play. As always, this is a weekly column that outlines news and views from the football, gaming and football gaming worlds. By the numbers of e-mails, messages and msn adds I have received this week; it is pretty obvious that PESGaming.com is starting to pick up the seasonal visitors, looking for the latest news on PES2009. However, it is the hardcore members that have kept the site going through the bare, winter months. To these guys, my hat goes off to you. With that said, let’s get going.
“Sell Out, With Me Oh Yeh!”
Firstly, those of you who know your gaming music will appreciate the irony of the above lyric coming from a Fifa game, but the news that Konami have picked up the UEFA Champion’s League license is one that has produced many valid opinions over the past few days. The basics are that Konami have acquired the license from UEFA to produce a computer game featuring the Champion’s League. Based on previous experience, this will include licensed teams within the competition, licensed stadiums, especially that used to host the final, the famous Champion’s League music and a pretty accurate replica trophy. Previous Champion’s League computer games have also featured match footage from past tournaments, and unlockable content such as classic winning teams from previous seasons. All of the above would be hugely welcomed to Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, and should this be the case, I am pretty sure 100% of PES gamers would be exceptionally pleased. But unfortunately, this would be a best-case scenario, and the way the gaming industry works implies that there is more to this. I have been very vocal in the past about the way EA Sports release a ‘new’ game in April time, using practically the same game engine, minimise the number of available teams and pass it off as the official game for a tournament. This year it was UEFA Euro 2008, which retailed for the same amount as Fifa 08, yet featured half the features and a fifth of the teams (and that’s being generous). Konami have always had a very credible reputation for releasing one football title a year per format, even if that title was an ISS on N64 and Pro Evolution on Playstation. They gave their all to that title, then spent the next year improving it for the following release. With the acquisition of this license, and no doubt heaped pressure from UEFA’s marketing boys to make a separate game, will the cop out and sell out, releasing an ‘official game’ 6 months after PES2009. Personally, if they do, I will have lost a heck of a lot of respect for a great company that have brought us some innovative and brilliant games over the past 20+ years. If Konami decide to release a game which features a mere 32 teams, many of which will not even be in the competition on its release, in order to please its licenses and sponsors, and by doing so rush PES2009 or take men off the development team in order to work on this other game, the result will be an uproar from the loyal gamers who have stuck by the company and helped make it what it is today. Good stuff only happens once a year, be it Christmas or the FA Cup Final, and most credible games companies follow this suit. It’s your move Konami, make it the right one!
Public Service Announcement
Writing this article has not given me an illusion of grandeur by any stretch of the imagination. I know, like many of you out there I am a simple gamer who loves PES, and spends a fair amount of time in front of my console or PC doing what I love. Some people however do think I am a guru of knowledge. I know this sounds odd, but I get e-mails every week asking the same questions. Do I know when PES2009 is coming out? Can you get me a copy early? Have you played PES2009 yet? Which teams are licensed? So I would once again like to set the record straight. Everything I know about PES will be featured on PESGaming.com, and will normally have been reported by Peter Willis the day the news broke. If it’s not on there, I will have brought it up in Interfering With Play that week. I have no intention of keeping people in the dark and at the same time, don’t repeat or follow rumours. PESGaming.com has a reputation for reporting the truth and as a result, Interfering With Play will stick to that code. If you have a question that has not been answered on here, please e-mail me, but if it has been answered, do not expect a response!
The Human League
Following my shout out regarding an online league or competition for PES 2009 last week, I have received over 50 e-mails or messages with gamers expressing their interest. As a result of this, I am tempted to set up an online mini league on PES 2008, even though it would suffer terribly from lag, as a way of preparing for the new game. My research shows that over 70% of gamers who have responded are PS3 players, and therefore the league would take place on PES2008 on PS3. So this is the plan. Over the next three weeks, I will be taking entries for a PES2008 mini league on Playstation 3. If this sounds like something you would be interested in doing, please e-mail me on the usual address with once again, your Full Name, Age, Location, and a valid Hotmail account, which you have MSN Messenger on. Should demand be high enough, I will set up a separate hotmail account and add all league members, which will take planning stage to the next level. Nothing is set in stone yet, but if the demand is there, I am more than happy to supply. I apologise to 360 members, but I have had to play it by numbers. The ball is in your court!
The Great Debate
I refuse to get drawn onto a PS3 vs. 360 debate at this stage, with PES 2009 news picking up and many talking points still to occur. The one comment made though by an individual simply called L was that the PS3 was a flop, and this is a comment that surely needs addressing. Even the most hardcore 360 gamer must admit there are certain features of PS3 that they would like on their console, be it the motion sensing controllers, free online gaming or the simple ability to use generic Bluetooth and USB items in their system. At the moment, there is no denying that 360 is market leader, but in one years time, with more exclusives and games like Bioshock being converted across, the table may very well be turned. PS2 was an incredible console that shocked the world, with families buying them as a ‘cheap’ alternative to a DVD player! As a result, and with games still being made for it, people are reluctant to move onto something new when the faithful black rectangle has looked after them for many years. My surprise that PES2009 was being brought out on PS2 was one on Konami’s side, as last years title was a carbon copy of PES6, give or take new menu screens. And finally, I would like to say that in many people’s mind, including my own, the Nintendo Wii is not a next generation console. It is very much last gen graphics, power and speed, and simply features new controllers. Yes they are excellent fun, and yes they are selling exceptionally well, but the next gen battle is a two horse race.
At Least In Heaven I Can Hate
A little question to the many PES haters that constantly bombard the message sections of this fine site. I wish to simply ask which console you are playing the game on? No more than that, but is it PS3, PS2, PSP, 360 or do you play the game on PC? Answers would be appreciated in the usual way
Again, there are many more points I could have raised in this weeks column, but I try to keep the word count manageable and the content easy to read. The e-mail address you can reach me on is danbolas@hotmail.com, if your going to add me to msn, I ask I receive an e-mail first as I am having to start refusing people, my contact list is getting too full of people who don’t speak! You can also leave comments at the bottom of the page. That’s the big red button bout 5cm below this text. Interest in the Interfering With Play league can be registered on the same address, if you have already e-mailed me you do not need to do so again, and I will get in touch with you with further information. Like I said, it will be PS3 only as the game is not cross console compatible, or so I have been told.
Thanks for Reading
Posted by Peter Willis in PES 2009 News on Sat 05 Jul 2008
So, as I have already made perfectly clear… PESGaming does not report rumour. I hate them, I always have. That said, I did briefly mention something which has been circulating of late in yesterdays article regarding the recent trade show in France.
The Rumour: PES 2009 has acquired the Champions League licence.
I have since been hunting high and low for answers. Well – not that high, or low, but certainly been speaking to the right people and can now bring you…
The Truth: Konami have acquired the Champions League licence.
Double check those two sentences incase you think I just typed the same thing twice. All week we have been hearing that PES 2009 will have the Champions League licence. This is not true – or, at least, this is entirely unconfirmed. What I can now confirm to you, though, is that Konami have indeed acquired the licence.
What does this all mean? Basically that Konami now have the rights to the Champions League, but whether or not they include it in PES 2009 is a whole different question. Surely it would have been mentioned at the trade show if indeed Pro Evolution Soccer was to include it this year? It wouldn’t make sense not to inform the people who will be distributing the game of such a huge fact. All they ended up saying was that they had a new licence which would have a major impact. Like I said yesterday, Konami’s definition of a major impact is likely to be very different to yours or mine.
It turns out that Konami may well be releasing a SEPERATE game altogether, exactly as EA did when they have the licence. It’s believed UEFA are pushing hard for this and I can’t see Konami refusing. After all, it would be a huge money spinner for the company.
You may well notice that there are no direct quotes from any individuals in this article… this is purely as a protection of sources and I would like to remind you that you are reading a website that does not report rumour. It is still possible that PES 2009 will feature the Champions League, but with UEFA pressing hard for a standalone game and the financial benefits of a second game clear, I just find it very unlikely that we’ll be playing it in PES 2009.
With that said, all is left to do is for you to air your views in the comments…
Posted by Peter Willis in PES 2009 News on Fri 04 Jul 2008
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 is still a long 3 and a half months away, but following last weeks press release comes more “news” about the new game.
At the IDEF event last week (basically a trade show that’s exclusively for distributors and not press) in France an image was leaked which gave a description of what to expect from PES 2009. From the 3 short paragraphs (in French), WeArePES representative and long-time PES addict ThomasGOAL translated it and divulged the following:
- New exceptional ambassador (a new star for the games box – PESGaming continues to back a Messi/Torres combination)
- A lot of new stadiums, some of which will be exclusive to the Pro Evolution Soccer series
- New licence with a new partnership
Now, about this “new license” business. Over the past few days rumours have been flying around (mostly thanks to WENB) that Konami will be teaming up with UEFA and have gained the exclusive licence to the Champions League. Call me a pessimist, but I just can’t get really excited about this news until I hear something concrete from Konami. I have thus far avoided mentioning the Champions League licence rumour here on the site as I don’t want anyone to be let down when Konami end up announcing that they have in fact sealed a new partnership with the Austrian 2nd Divison.
But, I guess it doesn’t harm us to dream. Running out at your clubs official stadium to the tune of the Champions League music for that crucial semi-final second leg. Could it be true?
Maybe Konami really have finally realised it’s now or never for the series, with FIFA 09 shaping up to one hell of an impressive title.
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Tue 01 Jul 2008
Welcome to this week’s Interfering With Play. Two subjects, Euro 2008 and the PES 2009 release date, have dominated this week and in true Interfering With Play fashion, we will take a look at both of these topics, as well as another couple of points raised for e-mail or comments. Lets get started.
Viva La Revolution
Firstly, may I highly congratulate Spain for an excellent showing in the Euro 2008 final. Many people around me tipped Spain from the start, and on paper, there is no denying they have the strongest squad, with maybe Holland for company. However, as many England fans know, potential doesn’t win you anything and only sets you up for heartbreak, so it is great to see a side come through and win a tournament in this manor. Yes, I personally wanted a Croatian win, but I would begrudge the Spanish their victory.
Watching the Euros these last few weeks has brought out a few interesting points, some which are not worth mentioning now, but a couple which I would like to share with you. The first is a testament to how teams play their football. Whilst Turkey’s smash and grab style was a times entertaining, the tournament was won by a side that played progressive attacking football throughout. Not only were they the better side in each one of their matches but also they looked to create opportunities at all stages of the game, irrelevant of the score. Two points spring to mind, the first against Russia in the group stages and the other in the final. In both games, the Spanish took the lead but instead of trying to sit back on it, they pressed for another goal. They kept on working for one another, and they looked solid in defence, but when they got the ball, they tried to make things happen. In other words, just like Manchester United in the Premier League, they were rewarded for their attitude to the way they played the game. If Klose had scored in the first couple of minutes of the final last night, I am pretty sure the Germans would have shut up shop and tried to defend out, a policy which has been a trademark of German sides for years. Spain’s victory was a victory for progressive entertaining football, and that sits well with me.
The other thing that has made me smile throughout the tournament has been people saying ‘99% of the Russian/Italian/Spanish Squad play their football in their homeland’ as if this is a dig at too many foreign players ruining the English game and national team. Looking at the recent England games, the only English player to play outside the Premier League is David Beckham. You can question the coaching, the tactics, the manager, the player’s commitment, the attitude or the performances, but one thing that is definitely not to blame for England’s problems is too many foreigners in our domestic leagues.
Pre-Order or Not Pre-Order
With the unofficial release dates of PES2009 starting to flow through, it is no surprise that he online stores are beginning to offer a pre-order service to get people committed to purchasing a copy of PES2009 from their site. Having been a sucker for the pre-order service in the past, my advice is pretty simple, wait a bit closer to the time, or even pick the game up from a high street retailer on the day. As soon as you pre-order the game, it is a semi commitment to picking it up from that e-store. Yes, you can cancel but chances are by the time it comes to release you will end up sticking to the purchase. I have picked up every update of PES in local game shops earlier than the official release date, and in some cases days before the sites like Play.com dispatch their copies. Anyone who knows anything about this industry knows that release dates are very much subject to change, and your best bet would be to wait until a month or so before you start making your decisions about pre-ordering. Any views on the pre-ordering situation would be welcomed.
We Are Top Of The League
This next topic is something I have been planning for a while, and have found it impractical for PES2008. However, with the 2009 edition starting to gather up pace, I was wondering about the interest in an Interfering With Play league. As I am not responsible for the content of PESGaming.com, the league would be linked to regular posters on this very article, with league tables updated weekly alongside each new column. The online play on PES2008 was exceptionally disappointing, so we will be waiting with baited breath to see if PES2009 sorts this problem. If it does so, just out of personal interest, how many gamers out there would be interested in taking part in such a thing. If so, could you e-mail me to the usual address (found at the bottom of this article) stating your name, location, age and system of choice for playing PES.
Your So Last Generation
The biggest surprise for me on a personal level, when reading about the new PES, was that it is going to be released on Playstation 2. I am fully aware that in the past, PS2 PES was released on Playstation One for a couple of years, as a way of covering for the change over to PS2, but we are in an age where technology is moving so quickly, that concentration needs to be focussed upon the future, and not consolidating sales by the past. Most of my PES playing mates are waiting for PES2009 to buy their next generation machine, and those that are left behind with PS2 systems will have to make do with playing older versions of the game. Granted, I say this as a PS3 gamer who sees very little need for ‘new’ PS2 titles, but other gamers out there, what do you think about support for the last generation. Should it still be receiving developer’s time, or should they just pull the plug and concentrate on PS3 and 360?
Unfortunately, due to a hectic week, that’s your lot for this week’s column. I have a couple of points, including those regarding the speed of PES2008 to address, and will do so during next week’s article, along with feedback regarding the potential Interfering With Play league. danbolas@hotmail.com is the place you can contact me, or just leave a comment below.
Thanks for Reading
