Archive for March, 2009
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Tue 31 Mar 2009
IWP League Champion 2008: Martin Ginnelly (River Plate)
Welcome to this week’s Interfering With Play. As always, this weekly column takes a look at various aspects of the football gaming world. If you’re a new reader to this piece I would like to welcome you, and invite you to comment on any of the subjects within. If you’re a regular reader, why not make this week the first week you contribute something. As a community, PESGaming.com is the largest unofficial Pro Evolution Soccer site in the world. We have regular visitors and forum members from all four corners of the globe, all with contrasting views and opinions. This is what makes PESGaming.com so unique. Freedom of speech, coupled with the fact we don’t need to answer to anyone. As long as your views are well thought out and you take on board the views of others, you will be respected and welcomed here. With that said, lets move onto this week’s Interfering With Play.
“Now’s The Time”
Contrasting views this week regarding the free downloadable England kit. For those of you who missed the information, the latest PES update features the new England kit, along with a handful of stats updated for certain players. Some people feel this download is too small, and the update should have included the new international shirts of all sides. Others feel that the information updated, for example the return of Gudjohnson to the Barcelona squad are issues that should have been addresses before. One thing is perfectly clear though, these regular updates are a huge improvement on any of Konami’s previous after sale offers and updates.
Nowadays, it seems people have developed some sort of anger or aggression towards Konami. This is an opinion I don’t share, but more than that genuinely struggle to understand. Whilst issues such as shoddy online play have dogged Konami’s next generation football offerings, there have been many successful years of Konami gaming that makes me for one feel that they are more the capable of taking PES into the future. From a sea of seemingly hundreds of football gaming franchises, some with a much more storied history than Pro Evolution Soccer, there are just two left FIFA football, the multi million pound company backed by EA Sports, a license filled, multi sport company, and Pro Evolution Soccer, a scrappy underdog that managed to keep pace and keep with the big boys, before seeing them all fall.
The fact that many gamers feel ‘let down’ by Konami may be because the franchise has dropped the ball in the online department, or it may simply be because the games haven’t come on leaps and bounds since switching to the next generation consoles. In my opinion, and the opinion of many PES 2009 is still a very good game, but it maybe hasn’t progressed in the same way the Call of Duty franchise has. This could be down to Konami maxing out power of the last generation consoles to the point that PES 6 was punching two or three years above its time. It could be that Konami were so far ahead of the field that they have left themselves stumped, or even worse become complacent. However, it is more than likely that Konami simply were not ready for the demands next generation gaming was going to make on their team.
Graphically, PES 2009 is better than any other member of the series, as should be expected. Shading and player models are arguably the best ever seen on a football game. This one step alone is a huge improvement, but obviously, in some people’s eyes, this had led to the game play suffering. I personally clock up well over 10 hours of PES a week, so I don’t feel this, but I know it is a feeling amongst some members of the community.
Back to the initial point now, and the views on Konami, the bottom line being that this content is free. Most games, football or otherwise would have slapped on a couple of pounds price tag for any new graphical changing feature, but Pro Evolution Soccer has had all its changes of kits done for absolutely nothing. This gets a big thumbs up from me, and whilst I am aware it is as much an Umbro PR stunt as it is caring about the game, it is still a welcomed addition. What will be very interesting is whether Konami will show this kind of commitment to updating transfers and kits in August! Both Manchester United and Liverpool, the two licensed clubs, are due for a new home kit, and whether Konami will slap an update in upon these kits being released remains to be seen. Your views on this will be greatly appreciated.
“Shearer Certain To Score”
Huge thanks to all those people getting in touch regarding the wonder goal compilation. If anyone is interested in adding a gaol to the video, please e-mail me on the usual address and I will give you step by step instructions on what to do. I must say the following though, that all goals must be scored on the EU version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, as I do not have the US copy of the game, and the files or incompatible. I found this out the hard way and have been turning down American goals all week, so I must apologise and ask for European goals only. Goals must be scored by players at their original club, so in other words Tevez at Manchester United or Martins at Newcastle. The compilation will hopefully run for about three minutes, and feature a wide variety of goals. The goals have to be quality finishes, so no one on ones or tap ins, but at the same time, don’t have to just be thirty yard screamers. Runs, flicks, passing moves and chips are all more than welcome. I look forward to seeing some more ‘beauties’ this week!
“Let’s Go Outside”
An issue I raised this time last year and something which I would like to put to the community once again. How many of you would like to see five a side or seven a side football in Pro Evolution Soccer? I know that seven a side leagues are becoming more popular, and as a result are featuring more in people’s football experiences. The games, which don’t last as long as the full eleven a side variety feature more emphasis on quality passing, control and the technical attributes of football. Many leagues are played using smaller goals, and on Astroturf, two things which would bring further unique game play.
It is no secret that in the past, EA Sports offered this gaming mode first in the form of five a side football of FIFA 98 and then in the form of the much criticised FIFA Street. The former of which was one of my favourite game modes at the time, and added a whole new dimension to playing the game. Adding walls or kicks ins would change the dynamic of the way a side plays, and it would be a genuine alternative when playing with a group of mates, especially if all seven of you played fixed player on the same console. As for game modes, the option to have custom leagues and randomised teams would really give a feel of unpredictability, and it would further limit the ability of those players who just rely on speed, as there would be a smaller space to accelerate into, with more time being required to get the ball under control before firing off a shot.
I am well aware that this is not top of Konami’s priorities, and may be a few years off, but the game mode itself would open up a whole new world of opportunities. Your views on this, along with everything else in IWP are greatly appreciated.
“If Only I Could Turn Back Time”
It is a common view on this board that PES 6 is better than the latest version of the game. In my opinion, I highly disagree with this, yet I am fully open that some people may prefer playing the game. If that is the case may I go back to an old topic and say if you would rather play PES 6, go ahead and play it. The game is cheap in the shops now, although I am sure most people still own their copy, so pop it into your console and forget about the newest edition. I played my old PES games recently and then realised just how much I enjoyed the game in its current format. I crave a decent online mode, but thoroughly enjoy the one player experience. Master League on Top Player with the original boys is still enough of a challenge, and that’s keeping me happy alongside the other games I play.
But if you don’t like the newest version, or you think the older ones are that good, then stick to them. I know many people who prefer Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare ahead of the latest edition, and therefore they play that. There is no harm in it at all. Once a company bring out a newer title, that doesn’t mean the older one has to be disregarded, and if you prefer the older title, stick to it, it will save you money!
“And You’ve Got To Let Me Know”
Building up to a topic in a few weeks, my final point in this week’s article is actually a question, one which I would like as many answers to as possible. I have been playing ISS since the early nineties, with the NES being my first ever games console that I owned. (Spectrum, C64 and Amiga prior to those) I have, therefore, been brought up for many years using the D Pad, the four directional buttons situated on gaming controllers since the beginning. Since N64 and Dual Shock hit the shelves, I know the way forward by many gamers has seen to be the Joystick. The X Box 360 controller and the PS3 controller both use the Joystick, but still have that basic D Pad on there. For some games, I fully understand the importance of the joysticks, and find them very usable, but for sports games, I have always preferred using the D Pad. The same could be said for games like Street Fighter and most generic racing games, when given the option I will opt to use the D Pad as opposed to the Joystick.
My question is, which do you prefer to use when playing PES 2009, the Joystick or the old school D Pad? Furthermore, it would be interesting to have the genuine ages of all those who prefer the D Pad, and the ages of those using the Joystick. This must be for PES 2009 only, as I know other games require you using one or the other. The more opinions I have, the more data I will have collected for the piece I am putting together in a few weeks time. This piece will run at the end of the IWP League.
That’s your lot for this week. If you have some views or a goal you wish to send me, get in touch via interferingwithplay@hotmail.co.uk. All comments can be sent using the comments option below. Next week, I am looking to bring back the poll option for PESGaming.com, as a way of preparing for the future article mentioned above. Next week, I will be giving the views of the community, as well as my own views on the Nintendo Wii version of PES 2009.
Thanks for Reading
Posted by Dan Bolas in PES 2009 News on Sun 29 Mar 2009
I am not going to spend time copying and pasting any PR comments from Konami or England, and instead just get straight to the point. To coincide with the launch of the new England kit in Saturday’s 4-0 win against Slovakia, Konami have added a free download of the full kit on Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. In the same way you updated the game following the January Transfer Window patch, simply go to System Settings on the main screen, select the download button at the bottom of the page and follow the on screen instructions.
The update also, ”Updates the Stats Of Players” although I have no personal experience of this. If anyone has noticed some of their favourite players increase or decrease in ability, feel free to post a comment in the section below.
Granted, the new kit does look a little bit like a cross between a cricket shirt and something you can pick up in any good supermarket, but this is hardly Konami’s fault, and it should be said that little perks like this are welcomed.
Posted by dougiedonut in PES 2009 News on Thu 26 Mar 2009
Thank you guys for the quite mature set of responses to my post last week. I was half scared we’d have a 360/PS3 war, but thankfully it didn’t quite materialise. The 360 is restrictive in allowing us to play with option files, and unfortunately it will be the reason for which many people like me will eventually abandon their 360 in favour of the PS3.
I have been in touch with Major Nelson of the Xbox team, but haven’t had a response back from him yet.
To be fair, I only got round to sending it earlier this week, so I should give him another week to respond before moaning about him not getting back to us with a Microsoft reply to our issue with the 360!
I have to say that I am going to miss my 360, because I have grown really fond of my 360 controller.
I was used to the older PS/PS2 controllers for years, and found them brilliant. But the 360 controller feels sturdier in my hands, and has definitely served me well with various games. I even found PES6 very playable with it.
I’ve had a bit of a bash on the original PS3 controller, and found it way too lightweight. I felt as though I had to hold it very carefully for fear of crushing it (i am heavy handed!) during an intense gaming session.
I understand the new PS3 controllers with rumble are a bit more sturdier, but I guess I will grow used to them in no time. I will however look into gadgets which may allow 360 controllers to be used on PS3s.
I would like to now just talk briefly about the Wii version of PES2009. If you guys are not familiar with the Wii version at all, then where the hell have you been?? It is a completely different ball game, and is definitely worthy of looking into, especially if you own or have access to a Wii.
I am now in possession of the competition copies of the games, and will look to give my competition one more push before deciding who wins. We have a few candidates with some very good entries, and thanks very much to them for making the effort. As it stands, there is very little competition for the copies, so you stand a very good chance of winning a copy if you partake quickly.
I intend to give a comprehensive review of the Wii game very soon. I wish to play test it thoroughly to do the review justice. It should be a cracking review – early signs are that it is a very good game, and I’m not just saying that now that I have contacts at Konami. Anyone who has played PES2008 on the Wii will testify to the wonderful experience the game is. It’s more akin to honing your football management skills. You both orchestrate the play of your team, as well as actually control individuals. So if you consider yourself a budding Rafa Benitez with mesmerising tactical skills, or just a good old British bulldog like Sam Allardyce and prefer old skill hoofing it to the front man, then this is the game for you.
If you own or have played Wii PES 2008, please consolidate my claim that it is a very good game – that would be very much appreciated!
Thanks for reading.
Dougiedonut (dougiedonut@pesgaming.com)
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Tue 24 Mar 2009
IWP League Champion 2008: Martin Ginnelly (River Plate)
Welcome to this week’s Interfering With Play. A busy week for me has included testing out my new video capture software, and I have to say it works like a charm. More information about how I intend to use the software in this week’s article, but if you’re interested in capturing footage from your Playstation 3, X Box 360 or Nintendo Wii, I strongly recommend trying out Easy Cap 2.0. If you would like more information on the product, please contact me on the usual e-mail address and I will do my best to fill you in. A lot of next generation games currently support the ability to upload files directly onto an online server, something which I would personally welcome in new editions of PES, however until this occurs, Easy Cap 2.0 is the next best thing. With that little bit of promotion done and dusted, lets move on with this week’s Interfering With Play.
“All Creatures Great & Small”
I would like to start off this week by discussing the Nintendo Wii version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. As many of you will be aware, Double D and Francis are running competitions with this particular version of the game as a prize. The game itself is reported to differ greatly from the next generation versions we have been focusing on at PESGaming.com for the past few months, and it would be nice to get the opinions of the PESGaming.com public as to what they think of the game. I am sure Double D will have himself a copy, and write his opinions down in his weekly column, but it would be interesting to see how the rest of you rate the title. I am pretty sure U.S gamers already have the game available, and this Friday should see the European release of the title. So if you only own a Wii, or fancy an original football gaming experience, pick up a copy and let your views be heard in the comments section of any one of this week’s articles.
Arguably the hottest topic in my inbox this week has been U.S gamers requesting to take part in a Nintendo Wii version of the IWP League, something that if I am honest, I had never once thought about implementing. Overall, I have been very impressed with Nintendo’s online gaming experience, and have spent a fair amount of time on both Mario Kart Wii and Call Of Duty: World At War on the console. To fill those in who are less informed, Pro Evolution Soccer is not cross-console compatible. In other words 360 players cannot play against PS3 gamers and vice versa. With the Wii game being very different, both graphically and in terms of the controls, there is no way Wii members could enter the current IWP League, which is Playstation Three only. Upon getting my copy of PES 2009 for the Wii, I will personally test the game out and make a decision on whether the game is feasible for some sort of online tournament. If you would like to prematurely put you name forward for a Nintendo Wii online PES tournament, please e-mail me through on the usual address, stating your interest. If I get enough U.S gamers involved, I may even make this a U.S exclusive tournament!
As for 360 gamers, do not feel left out. I will be announcing plans for the IWP World Cup in a few weeks. If you wish to be considered for entry, please email through with your name, age and location. You will need a valid X Box Live account for the month of August 2009. No matter which console you are playing on, please make sure you include your chosen machine in the e-mail, so I can file the message as appropriate.
“Why Can’t We Be Friends”
Again, a great point raised by Double D last week, regarding changing alliances from X Box 360 to Playstation Three. It is a topic that has so many angles, arguments and discussion points it could quite validly earn its own website. As I have always said on the subject though, you are always more likely to lean towards the console your currently own. If you are lucky enough to own both, then you’re in a position to make a more fair and even argument.
One thing that has come across quite heavily though is that not a lot of ‘casual’ X Box gamers realise that Playstation 3 offers free online gaming, and free wireless connectivity. Whilst X Box Live was definitely the lead runner in the console gaming race, the PSN is starting to catch up with trophies, a healthy Playstation store and novelty items such as Home. The other key aspect about making these features free is that data protection, account cloning and hacking is a lot less potent than on Microsoft’s machine.
Because of these initial problems experienced by XBL, security is exceptionally tight on the service, and transferring data between two consoles is a very long winded procedure. In many cases, it goes against X Box Live’s terms and conditions and is quite simply, not allowed. This is where PES fans must have been less than happy, with something as simple as adding kits or images becoming a wild goose chase, resulting in numerous hours of pixel editing. Playstation offers a simple copy and paste feature from any USB pen (alternatively you can send image files over the PSN) which made kit editing this year a complete doddle. Furthermore, the ability to add music and chants on the Sony version of the game made it the most editable PES ever, outside of PC gaming.
File sharing is such a huge part of gaming nowadays, be it option files, saved data or just simply high scores. X Box need to address the fact that people want to share files, or quite simply get left behind. I know a fair few X Box fans who were less than impressed with the options given to them on PES 2009, and will be looking to change suit to PS3 for PES2010, providing the game delivers on that console.
“Eat My Goal”
Following on nicely, I would like to announce the first ever IWP ‘Wonder goal’ Video compilation. With file sharing so simple on the PS3, this is your opportunity to show off your best goals to the PESGaming.com community. Depending on the quality and quantity of entries, this may turn into an official competition, with a prize for the winning goal. I have two pretty tasty strikes already on my laptop, ready to be edited into a video compilation, and would now like to invite you to add your best and brightest.
If you wish to enter, it is really quite simple to do. Firstly you have to score a wonder goal! This can be one you already have saved on your hard drive, or be one you score this week. The stipulations are it must be scored by a real player at his real club. So in other words, Drogba at Chelsea or Bojan at Barcelona. No master league goals or fictional players will be allowed. As soon as you score the wonder goal, you need to save the replay. When your game has finished, exit PES and go to the XMB on the Playstation main screen. Go to Saved Data Utility and scroll through to find your recently scored goal. Highlighting next to the goal will give you the match details, the goal scored and time of goal. Insert a USB pen into your PS3, and select copy on the goal, followed by pasting the file onto the USB pen. Then finally, put your USB pen into a PC, and e-mail through the goal as an attachment, along with an e-mail including your name, PSN and any other comments. Goal files work out at about 4.4MB, so make sure you have enough space on your USB to save the goal. The rest will be done by me.
All goals will be editing together to form either a goal of the month competition or a simple wonder goals compilation. Credit will be awarded for every goal scored to its scorer, and information such as PSN and e-mail addresses will not be made public. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. At the current time, I do not have the facilities to record goals scored on the X Box 360 or PC versions of PES 2009. I will reassess the situation, based on entries, next week. I know there are a lot of gamers out there who like to show off their goals, and this is the perfect opportunity!
“Nothing Means Everything To Us Tonight”
Before I get into the meat of the following point, a quick shout out goes to anyone who picks up The Dykeenies reference in the above heading. Enough said about that! Some excellent debate raised in last weeks comments section with PESGaming.com regulars Dave O and Amateur entering some valid and solid points towards the improvements of PES2010. There are a couple of issues I do wish to address though in response to the comments made, on varying levels of agreements.
Firstly, I would like to point out that have slightly shied away from firing out lists of potential improvements for PES 2010. This is not to say I don’t have my views, but I feel Double D has done an excellent job in getting in contact with Konami and getting the views of the masses across. Two columns a week talking about identical issues is not only negative towards the website and mind numbingly boring to read, it also makes very little sense, and as I have said many times, if you say the same issues again and again, people end up not listening. Therefore I have passed the buck slightly to Double D with this year’s improvements section, something which I know some of you may have picked up on. If you have any suggestions, Double D has been the man to get them too this week and e-mail I received on the subject (granted only a small amount) has been passed on. The second point was in regards ton a comment made by Amateur
“As bad as it may sound, I do think that My suggestions are amongst the best ones to take seriously…”
It is pretty obvious that everyone believes their suggestions are the ones to take seriously. I kid you not when I say I must have received nearly 50 emails saying ‘the one thing they need to improve about PES is the goal nets’. To me there is nothing wrong with the goal nets, but to some people, they are the most important issue, I think the issue raised regarding not everyone truly understanding the depth of PES with only 4 movement styles is a valid one, but this is a graphical issue as much as a technical issue. If players looked differently in their movements, then subconsciously they would feel different, even if there was no change in stats. There is no proof that any of the four movement styles have any advantages or disadvantages over one another. In a similar issue with boots, it seems from my experience (by editing players with the same stats but different running styles) although the players feel different; the end product is pretty much the same.
As a community project, which is basically what PESGaming.com is, you’re always going to have contrasting views and some completely out there suggestions. I know this because I received them in the bucket loads last year. The fact is the Konami are more likely to take on board these suggestions when backed by a community thousands strong than just one or two individuals. I am a huge stats fan, and completely agree, the more stats, the more realistic the gaming experience will fill, but implementing more stats will take an overhaul of the graphical and gaming engine, as new stats will lead to new animations and a new feel of the game play. The ultimate footballing stat game still is Football Manager, a title that features only a couple more stats than PES, but seems to have ticked all the boxes. I maintain that if Konami can find a way to translate the stats from FM into PES, the result will be an exceptionally accurate representation of football in a gaming format.
Finally, I feel that the majority of gamers are still looking for a decent online PES experience. I feel that for all the stats, suggestions and animation movements, I working 1v1 PES Online, with the option to manage stats and tournaments online, either via the game or a paired website would be top of most people’s wish list. The point about making recycled comments is fair enough, but if Konami missed the target with requests last year, the same issues are still going to be raised twelve months down the line.
The fact is that there is no one right point of view, something that writing this article week in, week out has taught me. If all of Amateur’s suggestions were implemented, a whole lot of PES players would find the game to statistically based, and maybe leave the franchise. This would result in lower sales, which in turn would seem like the wrong decision. For about 4 or 5 years, in the Playstation Two era, PES went through a series of seemingly natural progressions; improving each year and making the previous version feel so badly outdated. Since the next generation versions of PES arrived Konami has struggled to find where it’s next set of evolutions are going to take it. With causal gaming all the rage, bringing PES towards a more arcade feel may attract the numbers, but taking it away from its technically brilliant roots will lose old fans. As I have said, I have left the suggestions this year up to Double D, and think he has done a good job getting the views across, but the direction of PES 2010 is definitely going to be franchise, and in fact genre defining. Amateur, if you have read this, and I presume you will have, please drop me an e-mail, as I have a couple of issues I feel would be worth discussing.
That’s your lot for this week’s column. Get those goals flying in, as I would love to pop a wonder goal compilation up here in the next few weeks, and show the world what the PESGaming.com community is capable of. www.iwp.pesgaming.com is the place to find out the latest league table in the IWP League, and things are starting to get interesting. My email address is interferingwithplay@hotmail.co.uk, anything you would like to mention to me personally can be done through there, or via a public domain in the comments section. Finally, I am looking for sponsors for a new football team. If anyone is interested please feel free to get in touch on the above address.
Thanks for Reading
Posted by dougiedonut in PES 2009 News on Thu 19 Mar 2009
This week I want to talk about PES on the Xbox 360. I only own a 360, and so have been playing PES on it since PES6.
I am in the process of migrating over to the PS3 very shortly – hopefully with a price coming up very soon.
Now, at the risk of starting a fanboy war over the 360/PS3 debate, I would like to just go over why it is I am going to migrate to the PS3, and hence the relevance to this article.
There are two main factors for me wanting to migrate to the PS3:
1) My xbox live account runs out in September, and I don’t intend on paying to play online anymore.
2) The Xbox 360 version does not have the superb ability to modify the option files.
PS3 owners currently have the ability to swap option files whenever they see fit, with our forum section of the site showing plenty of fantastic option files that you can use to create a more personalised PES experience.
I would like to point out that the reason for this ability not being possible on the Xbox 360 is not Konami’s fault, but is in fact Microsoft’s fault. They don’t want to give anyone any access to things like option files, so 360 gamers suffer.
I fully intend to talk to Major Nelson (www.majornelson.com) who is part of the Xbox development team, to try to convey the issue of people like myself migrating to the PS3, not only to play online for free, but because of the Option file situation.
I will send him a link to this article to try get him to see what I’m on about, and would like you guys out there to leave comments which you would like Microsoft to see. Please don’t start using this as an opportunity to dish some serious 360 hate – that is not what I am trying to do. If like me, you would prefer the 360 to have the ability to swap in and out option files, then please do say in the comments as per usual.
I haven’t bought a PS3 to date because of the hefty price tag, and generally because the games haven’t been too great either.
Multiplatform games are very good on the 360, and I haven’t seen enough of the PS3 exclusives to convince me to get one. Though Killzone 2 does look very good, and I’m starting to develop a nervous twitch, and getting closer to forking out for a PS3. Once I do get a PS3, I don’t think I will continue using my 360, which is a shame, since I do think it is a superb gaming console.
Are there many other 360 owners out there that share my stance, or am I alone in this?
I’m sure I will get told by the more depressed PES fans, that I shouldn’t really bother worrying about what I play PES on, since the next PES won’t be worth playing – but I don’t want to get into how PES will turn out just yet.
I fully intend on getting my hands on PES2010 as soon as I can, to see where we are. But that is a good 6 months + away, so we just have to bide our time for now. Dan’s IWP this week did remind me actually that we can expect some snippets of information about PES2010 to start becoming available shortly, and we will try to be amongst the first sites to bring you fresh info, so definitely stay tuned to this site for the latest and greatest news about PES.
Lastly this week, I can see that there really isn’t much interest in the Wii PES2009 competition that I’m running.
Can people confirm whether the main reason is that the don’t own a Wii, or whether it is just general avoidance of PES, given how people feel about the state of PES currently? I think I know why there isn’t much interest from you guys, but hearing from you would be good too.
That’s all from me this week, so please remember to keep the comments clean and be nice people!
Thanks for reading
Dougiedonut (dougiedonut@pesgaming.com)
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Tue 17 Mar 2009
IWP League Champion 2008: Martin Ginnelly (River Plate)
Welcome to this week’s Interfering With Play. My gaming week has been pretty much dominated by the very addictive Football Manager Live. My star striker, Diego Ifran (Who?) has bagged eleven in eleven and is looking ever the snip at a tidy £20,000 initial purchase price. The week’s dilemma has been whether or not to gamble on legendary full back Roberto Carlos, who at 36 years old would be 8 years older than anyone else in my squad. However, his quality is there for all to see, it’s just his age that may prove to be a huge stumbling block. The game really immerses you into the world. There are not easy ways out, no turning off when your side is on a bad run, and it is genuinely a test of tactical and football knowledge. Every game is a new challenge and it comes highly recommended, providing you have the time. With that said, and its endorsement now ringing in your ears, lets move on with this week’s Interfering With Play.
“Hey Now, You’re an All Star”
Great response to my little mental block last week, regarding the game which Alistair McGowan voiced the commentary for. The game was in fact called All Star Soccer, and was, as remember, very much aimed at the comedy market as opposed to the hardcore football gaming fan. One of the issues when searching for information about older games is the lack of details that can be found online. For example, from Game cube and PS2 onwards, pretty much every game is documented to the point of obsession. Not only do you have the big websites supporting them, but independent webmasters and bloggers like to get their own opinions in. Before this, it is very much hit and miss as to whether you can find the relevant information about a game. Big titles will always be spoken about, with games like personal favourites Dizzy and Zool getting appropriate coverage. But lesser titles or cult classics do seem to have fallen by the wayside a little.
All Star Soccer is a prime example of this, although I did find one quite complimentary review. The author’s first comment was one that stuck with me, and was along the lines of “Another title makes its way into an already crowded football gaming market”. Nowadays, as I have mentioned before, two certainly isn’t a crowd, and with licenses meaning smaller companies stand very little chance of getting a foot hold against the big two. It is comparable to the Scottish Premier League, there may be other games out there, but when you look for quality, there are only two conceivable options, every season. It is good to see though, that when the market was crowded, comedy football was being introduced, something light-hearted and more arcade based. A big thanks to all those who got in touch with their memories of All Star Soccer.
“Oh, I Never Meant To Cause You Trouble”
Another excellent week of debate on the forums and message boards regarding the PES and FIFA situation. Of course it’s down to personal taste, and I do own both games, but can only stomach a single game on the EA Sports game before reverting back to PES 2009. Arguably, one of the biggest issues that will have affected people’s opinions of both games is the steps both games are taking. Even the biggest fan boy must admit that both FIFA and PES are improvements on last year’s titles. Up until this point many PES fans have been blinkered to FIFA, only playing a few games here and there. Upon picking up this year’s version, thanks to a great deal of hype, it does feel like a brand new game and is a vast improvement over many previous years. PES fans are seemingly tired by being ignored by Konami. Issues such as online lag have plagued the game for the last couple of years, and nothing has been done to rectify the problem. The game is still a sound title, but because of the reluctance to embrace its consumers views, Konami are starting to frustrate and alienate their fans.
With this said there were a couple of excellent points raised, one by gooderz and another by an individual whose name escapes me. Gooderz wrote that as long as Konami were selling shed loads of ‘Winning Eleven’ in Asia, there were going to be less fussed about the Western market. A very valid point, but if it is a view that Konami are taking, its an exceptionally naïve one. Capcom have bent over backwards to accommodate its mainstay titles within the Western market, and Konami should be spending the same amount of time on developing its game for the European and American fans as they did for Metal Gear Solid. It is said Konami have taken on a great deal of staff these last few weeks, interesting tactics in the current economic climate, but with games like Silent Hill slipping under the radar, panic might slowly be starting to creep in, and the Western audience will soon be relying solely on EA Sports Canada for its football fix, something which would only have a negative affect on the genre.
The second comment, and again I apologise for the lack of credit given, gave FIFA 09 the feel of the emperors new clothes. This analogy was a very clever one, and one that I can relate to. As mentioned earlier, I have both FIFA 09 and PES 2009, and have had both since the middle of October. No one is forcing me to play either game, and in spite of writing for a PES based website, if I felt FIFA was a genuinely better game, I would play it. I have no ‘loyalty’ to Konami as a developer, I simply like to the play the games the best represent the sports the are intending to. For me, this is very much still Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. You can not say I am wrong because in my opinion, the way I play the game, and the amount I play the game, I believe this to be true, end of story. I am fully aware amongst both mates and strangers, that some people will believe FIFA 09 is the better game, for their own reasons. To call either title rubbish is not constructive, because compared to football games 20 years ago, both would be seen as perfect! I have always respected those who make their own choices based on their own opinions, and whilst this site is designed to air your personal views, it is not a place to belittle other people’s equally valid views.
“Meat Pie, Sausage Roll”
I would like to take this opportunity to inform gamers that I now have the ability to capture PS3 footage onto the PC. I will be running a handful of tests over the next week or so, but will be looking to run some kind of goal of the season competition in April. Information such as prizes and details will all be made apparent as appropriate, and I am sure Francis or Double D would like to have some input, but the procedure for entering the competition will be announced in the next 14 days or so. I am still after great goal keeper saves. If you have any excellent saves from goalkeepers made on PES 2009, please e-mail me on the usual address and I will tell you how to get yourself involved.
“Everything Is Blurry”
Just to clear up something that may have confused one or two of you in last weeks article. I mentioned that news about PES 2010 may be imminent, which is based upon the trend for the past few years. Between April and May, Konami usually send out a very basic statement outlining their attention to release the latest version of Pro Evolution Soccer in the autumn, along with a brief piece of marketing hype to buzz up interest on sites that may not otherwise focus on the game. This is usually couple by websites such as Play.com providing a rough release date for the game, leading to mass craze in trying to get the date pushed forwards.
At the moment there is no news on PES2010, and although each year there are some people who claim Konami ‘won’t be making anymore’ the game is always announced around the middle of spring. Keep your eyes peeled to PESGaming.com for the latest official news, as it happens, when it happens!
That’s your lot for this week. I have picked up a copy of Resident Evil 5, and suck quite badly at it! If anyone fancies joining me for the two player mode of the game, please get in touch via e-mail. Obviously, you need a copy of the game! Check out www.iwp.pesgaming.com for the latest news regarding the Interfering With Play League, which is currently rolling into week three. News about the IWP World Cup, exclusively for X Box 360 members will be announced in the next few weeks, so make sure you keep your ears to the ground. Finally, interferingwithplay@hotmail.co.uk is the place to send all e-mail to. I try to respond to as many as possible, but with the league, and receiving hundreds a week, which means this is not always possible.
Thanks for Reading
Posted by dougiedonut in PES Off!! on Thu 12 Mar 2009
I’d like to start this week with what is fast becoming my usual round of apologies for stuff said.
I was trying to stage throwing a mini-tantrum last week to try to wake you guys up to actually having a go at the competition I’m running. I didn’t mean any harm by it, and sorry if you feel hated by me unnecessarily!
It was a bit of a stunt, and I don’t hate you guys for not entering. If anything, the non-participation shows me two things:
1) the Wii version isn’t that popular out there,
and
2) there’s a lot of frustration with Konami over PES, that is spilling over to the Wii competitions we’re running.
I can totally understand about the anger and frustration with the state of PES, but please let’s get some perspective here.
As Dan brilliantly pointed out in this week’s IWP, he has managed to get many many gaming hours out of PES2009.
There are other many mainstream titles which haven’t had as much playtime as PES2009 – so it’s not a total shambles. Yes there are definitely missing ingredients which need fixing, but until then, come on fellas, let’s support Konami.
The first post to my column last week was by some anonymous bloke who called me a Konami whore.
Whilst the comment was laughed off, and doesn’t bother me at all, it did however remind me of the levels of hatred towards Konami generally (as well as me – as was clearly shown!).
I’m an optimist. Life will always have its ups and downs. It’s how we deal with them that makes the journey of life worth living. I think you all will agree that negativity and abuse doesn’t achieve much. It just creates more negativity. This is a PES fan site. I’d like to think we as a community are brought together by the beauty in PES.
PESGaming.com is now materialising as a unique fan site, as we are not only independent and non-affiliated, but we have also managed to get your views heard by Konami. Surely we have enough good nature collectively to give Konami the benefit of the doubt? Like I’ve been harping on for ages, they know what they are up against!
FIFA has finally turned into a proper football game which many people have flocked to. I know many seasoned PES fans who have all converted and for now, ditched PES. In fact, EA’s PR team have even provided me with a copy of FIFA 09 which I intend to play extensively to write a review contrasting the two games shortly.
Konami know that they have their work cut out to get the masses back. We have even managed to get our say into what needs to be improved to get PES back to where it belongs. If Konami continue to work with the fans to improve the game, and achieve that aim – what more can you ask for? For now we need to just sit tight and bide our time. It’s now March, and we’re around three to four months before we start to get snippets on the next version of PES.
The worst case scenario is that PES2010 is a failure, and the sales will reflect that for sure. So for those people who comment on this site about the doom and gloom surrounding the game, save yourself the trouble and go play FIFA.
The fact of the matter for people like me is that even if FIFA is considered better than PES, I will still play PES. If that makes me a Konami whore, then so be it!
I truly believe that PES will return to its former glory, and I will be proud to be able to say that I played a very small part in that, as will many other fans who follow and contribute to this site.
We have some copies of what I believe are truly groundbreaking versions of PES on the Wii – as any Wii fan will testify.
I’ve even finally had a couple of entries for the competition, a couple of which have been very entertaining indeed.
So if you haven’t already attempted the competition – I invite you again to give it a bash – what have you got to lose?
Finally, until we edge closer to information on PES2010, let’s try to enjoy life a little eh? Just because a game isn’t perfect is no reason for the abuse and anger as witnessed in comments on this site.
So drop the hate, and sprinkle a bit of PES loving everywhere!
Thanks for reading.
Dougiedonut
Dougiedonut@pesgaming.com
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Tue 10 Mar 2009
IWP League Champion 2008: Martin Ginnelly (River Plate)
Welcome to this week’s Interfering With Play. As mentioned in last week’s In The Red, the site is a buzz with competitions, news and debate, something which is ever the more impressive when you realise that most versions of Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 have been available to buy for nearly 6 months now. Any week now, Konami will confirm their intention to release an instalment of the franchise for this calendar year, and all the speculation, wish lists and information hunting will start again. Of course, there is plenty going on at the moment to keep the PESGaming.com public interested. Double D’s poster competition gives the opportunity for the creative among you to get you ideas out there, whilst Francis’ “Beat The Bloggers” challenge is open to the X Box 360 gamers. I personally am engrossed in the years IWP League, with everyone beating each other, there is no clear leader at this moment in time, something which I feel may carry on throughout the season. Whatever your involvement with PESGaming.com, may I thank you for your participation and urge you to spread the word further about this site. We are still unofficial, which means we still have complete freedom of speech, and that freedom will once again be present in this week’s Interfering With Play.
“Going Live”
The musical reference heading may be slightly tediously linked to the former Saturday morning children’s entertainment show, but I find it perfectly fitting for the subject, namely Football Manager Live. As promised, I would give my views on the ‘game’ after playing it and following the introduction of the Zola game world last Tuesday, I put my money where my mouth is and joined. Put simply, Football Manager Live is a mix between Fantasy Football and the regular Football Manager series. You start with a minimal budget and have to build a squad with that amount in mind. Forget a side akin to your Pro Evolution Soccer Master League side though! The majority of recognised stars will be well out of your budget, with ability to buy one or two ‘names’ if you get in early and are lucky.
Upon selecting your team, strip, logo and stadium you start playing against other gamers in your game world. This works quite well, as there are a maximum of a thousand gamers in each game world, meaning it never feels too crowded, but you can always find a new challenge. This also means that there is a lot of competition for the big name players, and picking the right time to bid for unattached superstars can be crucial. Within your chosen game world, there are also a number of Football Associations, which relate to how often you feel you will play the game. From the Hardcore Weekday Gaming League (students) to the Casual Weekend League (my choice) most tastes are accommodated for. These FA’s will then divide you into smaller leagues, bringing in promotion and relegation. You can play against any one in the game world to improve player fitness, give trial players a run out and even enter mini tournaments for prize money, but the official leagues are run inside your own FA. A season lasts three weeks, with the fourth week of each month allocated for pre season, and the matches show the appropriate levels of highlights as to feel in control of what’s going on, but not to be boring.
It does sound complicated, and at first, it may be a little daunting. A week in, I am 273rd in the game world, a ranking which changes daily, and my FA start their leagues this weekend. I finished 4th in a mini league, earning myself a cool £50,000, which in turn balanced my books after bringing in a little more experience to my young squad. I would also like to add I have played on the game each day so far in the past 7, and have dedicated a good hour or so to getting myself to grips with the ins and outs of how the game works. I have found this to be crucial, because I am more than comfortable to just drop in and out whilst having a cup of tea, or whilst running a bath, knowing exactly what I am looking for and not feel I am missing out on things. Also, the game is a very decent social tool, and speaking to other managers in the game world is part of the experience that will no doubt offer mind games in future weeks!
I signed up on a four month subscription (via the DVD version of the game) and would definitely recommend a minimum of this, as it will probably take this much time to realise just how good or bad the game is. I feel, in the same way some people constantly maintain their Facebook or Myspace, that my Dynamo Bolas team is almost a part of my daily routine, something which I hope will continue for at least the duration of my allocated time period. As a recommendation, I would advise anyone with decent footballing knowledge and an hour or so a day spent at a computer to give the game a try. It will frustrate those gamers who want to be the best straight away, but offers genuine rewards for time spent and personal knowledge. If you have any questions on the game, please feel free to e-mail me on the below address and I will try my best to answer them. Finally may I point out that I had some problems during my registration process. The Support Team for Football Manager Live were exceptionally helpful and got back to me within 12 hours of receiving my issue. From this point of view, I highly recommend the game over others that may also be available.
Football Manager Live is available to buy from most good video games shops. It is also possible to purchase the game electronically, by visiting www.footballmanagerlive.com
“I Need A Map To Find My Way Out”
Some really interesting points raised on the comments section this week regarding the commentary featured in Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. It is no secret and something that even Konami would struggle to deny, that the commentary featured in previous versions of PES has been woeful. Just look back to ISS Pro on the PSOne, with the controversial pronunciation of the word Nigeria, or Trevor Brooking’s less than insightful analysis just a few years ago, and you realise its an area that whilst not neglected, hasn’t been at the forefront of Konami’s collective mind.
This year’s version of the game seems to have come on leaps and bounds, with the team of Champion and Lawrenceson actually adding some valid points to the action taking place on the pitch, but still many of you aren’t happy. The revelation that people would rather listen to the foreign commentators, even though they don’t speak that particular language, implies it’s the delivery of the words as opposed to just the content that increases your opinions on what is being said. Personally, I find it both frustrating and pointless listening to the Spanish commentary, but if that is how you wish to accompany your gaming experience, it is a good thing that Konami offer a variety of commentaries on the disc.
Again, personal opinion, but EA Sports and FIFA have always led the line when it comes to commentary. They were one of the first franchises to use real TV personalities so provide audio for their games, and the team of Tyler & Gray are, in my opinion, the best two currently broadcasting anywhere in the UK. Some people on the comments have disagreed with this, and if you have a personal distaste towards a commentator, you are less likely to find their views valid, but still, when it comes to football gaming, the scripting and delivery on FIFA 09 is as good as ever, something which Konami could learn from.
So where do these views leave us? Well, it is no secret Konami and PES has a deal with Setanta Sports, and perhaps this could lead to a presentation style similar to that of the PPV channel. Having Des introduce the game may not be a bad thing, and having a TV style set up worked wonders for this year’s Champions League mode. Let’s just hope they don’t go down the route of using ITV as a benchmark. The idea of the game cutting out half way through, only to realise you have just conceded a goal (Everton v Liverpool, FA Cup) may not be anyone’s cup of tea, and having Andy Townsend or Robbie Earle talking over playing the game may just be enough to have me personally reaching for the mute button. Your views on the PES commentary, either from a standalone PES 2009 point of view, or the entire series are greatly appreciated.
Finally, there was a Playstation One game, he name of which escapes me now, in which Alistair McGowan, a famous British impressionist, provided the commentary, in the style of a number of famous footballers and TV pundits. Whilst the game itself was far from great, the commentary was hilarious, and well worth a rental or car boot sale purchase. Anyone who can remember the title of that game, please leave it in the comments section, as it really has been bugging me the last few days!
“Stop Right Now”
Just a quick point to thank everyone for their involvement in the goalkeeper debate over the past few weeks. It’s interesting to hear other people’s views on the game, especially when you consider how much time the majority of people spend playing the game. One thing I do maintain though is that the goalkeepers do need a separate set of ratings. Adding things such as handling, throwing, bravery or even things like crosses and one on ones would bring for a much more well rounded experience. Goalkeepers don’t come for crosses anywhere near as much as they should do on PES, whether this is down to the lack of animation or simply lack of AI, but it is something that would bring a whole new dimension to future games. Playing against a team like Tottenham, there would be a much greater advantage on whipping in swinging crosses towards Gomes, whereas playing Chelsea, getting the ball away from Cech would be more beneficial. I myself am not a goalkeeper, (although I have played in goal) and therefore am glad so many people have sided with realism as opposed to outrageous and unrealistic saving and ball handling.
“Money For Nothing”
Last point this week, and just another little tongue in check point towards those gamers out there who continually bash and blame Konami. I have made my views about the Japanese company perfectly clear and whilst PESGaming.com may have a new ‘relationship’ with them, I will maintain to speak my own opinions, irrelevant of who they are in favour of. One thing I find it very hard to justify though is when people constantly say PES is a waste of money, and that Konami owe us as fans of the game. Yes, you are more than entitled to be unhappy with aspects of the game, and if you wish to vent your frustrations with your wallets and not buy the game, that’s your call, but in terms of value for money, PES is an excellent choice. Granted, the same can be said for FIFA 09, if that’s the game that spends most of the time in your console, but in terms of a general market, here is what I mean. On the last count, my PES 2009 clock was over 100 hours of game time. Bear in mind maybe an hour of this was spent online, that’s over 100 hours of gaming time either playing by myself or with mates. For the sake of the point, I will say 100 hours of game time with me playing. I spent £40 on the game which means I have spent about 40 pence for every hour playing the game.
Compare this with a ticket to a Premier League game (minimum £30 per hour and a half) or even a taxi journey and you realise that your £40 worth of game doesn’t actually go that far within the real world. Take it further and look at in terms of the gaming world. I have played through over half of my forty plus games to completion, including clocking Mirror’s Edge a tidy three times. Arguably, Grand Theft Auto is the only other game that comes close to reaching this kind of play time, with the average time of completion for most games being around 20 hours. That’s 5 times less than the amount of time I have spent of PES2009 so far, and its only half way through its usual lifespan. The game is now retailing at Sainsbury’s for £20, that’s half price, which means all the value for money figures double.
I appreciate in the current financial crisis, times are hard, jobs are being lost and cut backs are being made. I feel though that the people who are complaining that PES is a waste of money should compare that purchase to a new pair of jeans, a nigh on the town or even a holiday and release that when it comes to value for money, it’s very hard to beat Konami’s title, or indeed, any other football game.
That’s your lot for this weeks Interfering With Play. If you have the time, please check out my mini site for the IWP League, www.iwp.pesgaming.com featuring all the latest news and tables from the league season. My e-mail address is interferingwithplay@hotmail.co.uk so feel free to drop me a line in reference to anything you may have read here. Also, feel free to make a comment by clicking on the comments text below.
Thanks for Reading
Posted by francis in PES 2009 News on Sat 07 Mar 2009
Goings On
With the release of the North American update patch, and Dougie’s announcement of the exciting prizes for forthcoming competitions, Pesgaming.com has been surprisingly busy for this time of year! Please get involved with Dougie’s poster competition if you want to win a copy of Pes 2009 on the Wii. As for other news…
Beat The Blogger!
If you want to win a copy of Pes 2009 on the Wii, and posters aren’t your game, then how about trying to give a blogger a sound thrashing at Pes? This competition is to see which Pesgaming.com reader can give a blogger the soundest beating! Unfortunately this will only be open to Xbox 360 owners with a copy of Pes 6, as Dan [with good reason!] doesn’t like playing Pes ’09 online. This does however, even up the stakes for those who were upset that the IWP league could only include PS3 users.
Competition rules;
1) Players can use any Club team, with the exceptions of Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, or Manchester United. Same rules apply for bloggers.
2) Any exceptional foul play such as a sending off (for your team!) will invalidate the game – this is however at blogger’s discretion. For example, if a blogger’s forward is in the clear for a one-on-one with the keeper and you take him out with a slide tackle from behind, this would be considered unacceptable. But if a normal tackle warrants a sending off and the blogger doesn’t see this as having been a terrible offence, then your dreams may live on!
3) Only one copy of the game is available to win. Final rulings reside with the panel of bloggers. Competitors may enter as many times as they wish, as long as the bloggers are available to play. To keep it fair, with regard to who gets to have another match the soonest, preference will be given to the person who has played the least amount of games.
4) Number of games played does not affect the final decision.
5) If you beat us soundly with a less ‘highly-rated’ team rather than Liverpool or Arsenal, this may be taken into account.
6) Deadline – The deadline will be 1st May.
So if you want to organise a few games against Dougie and myself, then please email francis_newall@hotmail.co.uk and we can go from there!
Lookalike
Sorry, United fans… I couldn’t resist.
So, if you’d like a few games and an opportunity to win that copy of Pes 2009, or you’ve got a better lookalike (I hope so!) then please email me on the following address.
francis_newall@hotmail.co.uk
As always, comments on your preferences to what I talk about, whether you liked it, or just general comments on the article, are all very welcome.
Thanks,
-Francis
Posted by dougiedonut in PES 2009 News on Fri 06 Mar 2009
Guys
I’ve just got work from Konami US that the PS3 PES2009 patch 1.20 is now live.
I will update with the 360 patch information as soon as I have it.
Cheers
Dougiedonut
