Interfering With Play 13/11/07
Posted by Dan Bolas in Interfering With Play on Tue 13 Nov 2007
Welcome to the hardest Interfering With Play I will probably ever write, as it this week I will be reviewing PES2008. There are two points I would like to draw to you, the reader’s attention before I actually get down to reviewing the game itself. Firstly, this is the view of Interfering With Play, and this view does not represent the views or opinions of PESGaming.com, Peter Willis or any other pesgaming.com contributor. Secondly, I would like to point out that is very difficult to review a game, which has been an integral part of your life for the past 10 years. Since the year 2000, neutrals and fans of Pro Evolution Soccer alike would have to say that the series is the most realistic football title on the market. I agree with this and even if PES2008 had been the worse game ever, it would have been hard to destroy it in a review. My point is I am a PES fan, so even though I will try to make my review as unbiased as possible, I will still finish the article and go for a quick game on it. So with that, let Interfering With Play commence.
The Review
Not one to rush my opinions of any game, I have held my tongue for nearly a 3 weeks before writing down my review for PES2008. I have allowed the honeymoon period to wear off, the time when the game is new, fresh and exciting. I have also got used to the control system and had time to take the flaws of the game on board. Having checked my game timer, it shows I have played well over 40 hours of gaming, and have played single player competitions and multiplayer both online and offline. With all this said, its hard to say it is anything other than best offering Konami has given us, but it is far from the finished article. There are certain things that are definitive improvements and yet other things that have been needlessly removed. I am going to approach this review covering five sections, followed by the best and worse parts of the game. As with all Interfering With Play, your views are more than welcome, and I will be more than happy to read your own personal reviews either as comments on this site, or in my inbox, with my e-mail address being present at the bottom of this article. The version of the game I am playing is on Playstation 3.
Presentation
The presentation element of PES2008 is one that does follow suit with previous years, in the fact that certain things seem slightly over done or make simple actions unnecessarily complicated. The opening video is a step backwards, again not featuring any in game footage or any real football. Simple things such as recreating real life moments using the game engine rather than having bikini glad cheerleaders dancing around would make a world of sense more. It’s something so simple, yet it seems to be neglected by Konami year in year out. The menus are much more arcade based than previous years, and whilst are not everyone’s cup of tea, I appreciate they have gone for a completely different look which should be acknowledged if not praised. The team selection screen and options menus look especially modern, which again proves Konami have at least tried to change the appearance of the game cosmetically. The in game presentation, whilst still not on a par with Fifa, is constantly improving. The option of quick formation changes on the pause screen, coupled with quicker in game loading and the in game replay system are all improvements over Pes6. It is important to remember that there was a time when Konami wouldn’t let you view replays for anything other than goals, and that now these extra long replays are taken slightly for granted. Yes, they should be included, but it’s important to remember that they are. The highlights packages at half and full time are as slick as ever, but one element of the presentation baffles me slightly. Whilst the rating system is still available, there is no option to view ground covered, completed passes etc. This was a something my mates and me would use as to see who was the hardest worker or best passer when playing on fixed camera mode, and seems odd that they would remove this feature from the game. Master league and league and cup menus have improved presentation, which is something that was long overdue and is a welcome addition. The final problem with presentation is the jerky frame rate experienced on in game replays, making some camera views almost un-watchable. There is no excuse for this and it is something that defiantly needs sorting out for future instalments of PES. The whole point of having replays is to see what you have done well or badly, not to have the frame rate mess up the experience.
Game Modes
Fans of PES will not be particularly surprised with the game modes featured. As usual you have the exhibition mode, allowing you to play as any national or club team on the game in a friendly match. Strangely, it seems they have removed the option of a playing a quick penalty shoot out, although it was a feature that was rarely used, and therefore no great loss. Along with Exhibition, there is League mode, in which you can pit yourself in any one of the 5 European leagues or play a custom one using teams on the game, and cup mode which allows you to play a World Cup, Continental Cup (such as the African Nations or European Championships) or the Konami cup, which can act as a Champions League format or a straight knock out competition. One thing that Konami should be praised for is the ease in which these can be set up and played, be it alone or in a party environment with mates. All options are pretty customisable, and things like Home and Away legs or Accumulated Fatigue make the games more realistic. Again, these things are not new options, but with Konami having a tendency to remove things from their games, it is nice to see these things remain. The game also features an edit mode, which I will pick up on in next weeks Interfering With Play, a training mode where u can play in a pressure free environment or practise set plays, network play, again a feature I will pick upon further on in the article and a gallery. The gallery allows you to view your saved replays and to check out stats on the game such as time played, games won etc. alongside setting you different badges to achieve (for things such as your first 5 Hat Tricks). The strangest feature of all is the option of listening to the games music and customising your own play lists, a thing which PES 2008 should not be proud of. As I have mentioned before the games music is far from acceptable, and as a result, a showcase of it should not be present. The absence of the PES Shop is again unusual, as it gave gamers something to aim towards, although features such as ball trails and dog heads are defiantly not going to be missed too much. The final feature is of course the super impressive Master League, which although may be slightly dated now is still one of the greatest features on a sporting game. Taking a group of no name individuals you work your way up through the leagues, buying better players with the ‘points’ you are awarded for winning games. Whilst the lack of real currency still will annoy many players, most gamers will spend hours building up there dream team, and then pitting them against their mates’ teams. It’s a feature that although has been around for so long, is better the 90% of other game modes on any other game.
Graphics
Konami has taken a great deal of stick for the graphics not being ‘Next gen’ enough for the PS3 or 360, but I am more than pleased with the results. Certain things such as shirts being pulled or players facial expressions changing have been added, and it is really enhances the gaming experience. On two separate occasions I have people approach me whilst playing the game believing it to be a real match on TV, only to see at closer examination it be a game, which I feel is the biggest compliment graphics can be given. Certain players look identical to their real life counterparts (Makelele and Drogba look scarily realistic) and those that don’t look picture perfect still bear some resemblance to who they are meant to be. Overall, the graphics are a huge improvement over the PS2 version of PES6, and as a result, they go down as a success in my book.
Game Play
PES has always prided itself on having the most realistic game play, and as a result the next gen version of the game had a lot to live up to. In all honesty, and after a handful of games, it has to be said that it is the best on market when it comes to game play. Players move like they are actually dribbling the ball, and not like it is an extension of their body. Passing moves are all about angles and the way in which you can create space by drawing defenders with runs. Little deflections now rebound more realistically than ever, and goalkeepers make far more realistic saves, with a powerful shot or cross more likely to be spilled than a lofted one. The diving feature, whilst criticized upon its announcement has been implemented close to perfectly, with timing needing to be spot on in order to win a free kick. Shooting is as good as ever, with players favouring their stronger foot more than ever, with weaker footed strikes resulting in much tamer efforts. New tricks such as the nutmegs and the side steps are realistic and don’t make the game feel too arcade like, a criticism of tricks that other football games have employed in the past and overall the game play feels more ‘real-life’ than ever. This is reflected further in the team vision aspect of the game. Computer controlled teams will now pick up on your strengths and weaknesses throughout the course of the game and adapt as such. This could mean that your star midfielder will find himself being fouled every time he receives the ball, or your tiring full back being double teamed should you fail to sub him. Little things like this make the game that little bit more challenging. There is nothing more annoying that being one nil down, and seeing the opposition bringing down your midfielder in harmless positions, to break the flow of the game. The big problem that many gamers have been experiencing is lag, and slow down during busy moments on the game. For example a crowded penalty box or packed centre midfield. Personally, I have not really struggled with this very much at all, and as a result can’t comment too much on it. I would like to hear from those gamers whose offline experience of PES has suffered from such lag that it has been made unplayable.
Online
The online feature in PES2008 is quite frankly unplayable. The lag is ridiculous, and the game is never free flowing. I have a fast Internet connection and have yet found myself getting frustrated by the exceptionally slow games and the massive skips in the frame rate. Having played a number of games online, a great percentage of which were disconnected, I can only recommend that the game is limited to being played offline by yourself, or having your mates round your house for multiplayer on the same console. Unless Konami release a patch improving the online experience, the game should not be played online.
The Best Bits
I have decided to include my five favourite things about PES2008, features that are either new or are things that make the game so good.
Team Vision
Diving and Shirt Pulling
New Tricks and Turns
The always-impressive passing and shooting system
The option to send your CB’s up for corners
The Worse Bits
I am also going to include the five things, which frustrate me greatly about the game, and hope will be rectified for next years PES
The sub-par edit mode (which will be picked up in next weeks column)
The terrible online lag
The lack of licensed teams
No PES Shop
The lack of ability to play Random Selection Mode (a personal favourite from PES6)
There you have it. My review of PES2008. I am not going to give it a score out of 5 or 10, as there is nothing to compare it too, and therefore ranking the game would be pointless. I am looking forward to hearing your views and reviews about the game, and suggest that you do it in the form of your 5 favourite parts and 5 worse parts of the game. In spite of all the moaning that has gone on about PES2008 on this site, and many others across the web, the overall feedback seems to be highly positive and the poll seeing most people rating it 4 or 5 stars only adds to that fact! As always, any comments or criticism regarding Interfering With Play is more than welcome at danbolas@hotmail.com.
Thanks For Reading
1st post booooooooooooooooyaaaaa
2nd post booooooooooyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayaaaaaa
3rd post ahahahahah u slowww
HA HA HA HA HA AH AH no!!!!!!!!!!!!! go play somewhere else
Do u know when a updated online features will b on pes2008 ps3 such as competitions as of pes6,do u know where the online interacting which was laugh to read players comments as gone will it return? swearing etc gud laugh though please help
Great Review!,
The one thing that frustate’s me beside the things that you sad already are the freekicks. When i get a freekick almost at the half-line the opposition still makes a ‘wall’ of 1 to 3 players. Why would you make a wall from that distance? I think Konami should do something about that. Also when i get a freekick on my own half, mostly if i pass the ball it gets in the feet of the opposition.
i think that this is a fair enough review, only thing i disagree with is i think having no pes shop is good. it makes the game much longer having to win world cup with the teams, and winning leagues, cups and almost forcing you to play master league to get everything out of the game. if this game fixed its little problems like lag, it would be really good. i have to say this game is not as addictive as pes6 or pes4 but not as bad as pes5. good try for the first one on a ps3 just needs some polishing.
i agree with ‘S_Torres’ about freekicks. In some positions, namely near the half way line, you are forced to hoof the ball up field as if u go for the safe and simple pass, then it will often go straight to the oposition.
also, great review! altho i feel that the PES shop was a lame feature anyway, you still unlock things now, but in a better way by simply winning competitions.
Nice review, but very conservative when discussing the gameplay. I’ve yet to notice the AI messing with my star players’ position or rendering them useless. Actually, my best players seem to always be available and always be of great importance to the game, not even the best defensive teams have been able to neutralize them (and no, I don’t play Barcelona nor are they Messi, Ronaldinho and the such). I don’t feel Team Vision is oh so good, or even greatly noticeable. Passing and shooting, I think, are much better than PES 6’s, so we agree there. However, you didn’t mention how EASY the game is in single player! ML is a breeze as soon as you get the first 1 or 2 signings. Also, running while dribbling is out of control, players run too much, fatigue sucks, etc. etc. These are negative things that weren’t there in PES 6, and I think you should have included them in your review. I’m sure you must have noticed them.
i bought pro evo. i dont ever play it.
not good enough.
ive got pro evo and i know it is really good. Thething is, it is fantastic. my game only lagss a bit. but it hardly ever does. it didnt even lag on a normal crap tv. I would give it 8 out of 10. By the way who needs a pes shop. The game has made really good imprvements anyway. I cant wait for the wenb option files now.
I write interfering with play.
Fuck PES, let’s all play FIFA
I think they should have included the mix and match kits which was on PES 5 so that you can have different socks for different shirts and shorts. J
Just like in real life where brazil might wear the blue socks instead of the white and white shorts instead of the blue.
Ive played pro evo for years i love thegame and used to play it all the time now this one has come out and i hardly play it, online is pathetic, you cant chat and have a laugh with people , theres no competitions to enter and the ranking games are boring as well as extremly laggy, they have created a patch for the pc version but its still not good enough,tackling is also poor, giving away penaltys with standing challenges, also the good players are i possible to muscle off the ball
Brilliant review, one which i think represents the majority of pes players. For all those who want to ditch pes for FIFA, by all means do as ur probably not good enough for the game and we want u gone quite frankly.
Just not good enough! Until a decent patch comes out, this game is broken. Nerazzurri88, get off your high horse and realize that you have been ripped off by Konami, keep giving them your money and they will keep supplying you with sub standard PS2 ports. Mug!
Fuck Fifa, lets just stick 2 PES when you play footie games its about how da game is played, whoever palys fifa just plays it as any typical footie game Pes aint despite the kits and commentary. Fifa feels like ur wasting ur time. I do play it a bit though.
Great review!
I think in terms of player animation and ball control, this games is by far the best in the series. Not to mentioned the improved passing and crossing system. Do not yet feel the AI effect, though I do get really frustrated chasing the game when 1-0 down, the AI does a great job in playing the ball into the corner and just keeping possesion to waste time, making the game even more realistic.
As to offline lagging, I play the game via an HDMI cable and really lagging here depends on the stadium you play on. For example, playing in Camp Nou caused the game to lag quite a bit, basically, everytime an attack was broken and play started to shift in the other direction. It did not make the game unplayable though, but broke the fluidity of the gameplay. However, when I switched to Louis II, lagging affected gameplay very slightly.
Dan Bolas, great review. As you obviously seem to be in the know how, When is the patch for the ps3 coming out????????
Why does this seem to be ignored??? Even you have not given us hope of the patch coming out, im sure you would hasve heard some sort of rumour. Dan would appreciate your comment on this.
Thanks
Class review, does anyone else notice you cant pick top player when your playing an online match?
The framerate issues on the ps3 are the big problem for me.The slowdown is terrible altho it appears worse while playing at certain grounds.I also think that the game is far too easy on 3 star setting you can get down the wings so easy its stupid lol.And the edit mode is shocking and a real letdown.Not a crap game but not a great game either it needs a few tweaks to it.Anyone who thinks fifa is better tho is talking out of their ringpeice
how do you voice chat on the ps3 version??
Nathan
well, I can’t really agree with the gameplay aspect of your review..
the game plays a little to fast. fast is goed, but not how it is in PES 2008. It’s just not realistic anymore. They should nodge it a bit down.
Scoring is way too easy and crappy… The shooting system has been improved in a way, but also made worse in a way, very strange.
The movement of the players is a “dumbs up” for konami. Also the faces and master league are great. But still… toooo easy!! I’ve always played single player mode, and still will, so that’s important to me..
Team Vision isn’t really noticeble. hmmmm i’m sadly to say it but i’m really disapointed this year, the first time since 2000.
We Pes-fans simply just can’t be happy because it’s better than PES 6 , nooo noo… we deserve more… hopely they can restore the damage with pes 2009. Otherwise…
Top 5 Things:
1) Ability to score so many new types of goals. Previous versions had ’set’ methods and locations for scoring goals but this one seems a lot more free.
2) Ability to super cancel to a greater degree by depressing the R2 button different ammounts and without making them stop in their tracks before they set off again!
3) Movement of the players off the ball. Perhaps the reason why the game feels a lot easier now. Most noticable if you create your own players and give them specific abilities like wing play etc
4) Graphics. I think they’re much better than FIFA any day of the week
5) Ability to scan faces and pictures in. You just have to look at that thread on the forum to see how well you can put random characters in your game!
Crap 5 Things:
1) Quick free kicks - They seem practically impossible to pull off!
2) The ball occasionally ‘glides’ really quickly across the screen, especially after a rebound. Looks odd and not realistic.
3) Despite the scanning feature, the edit mode is quite weak.
4) Bring back handballs - the amount of times it hits an arm in a match is rediculous!
5) Obviously online play at the min. Hope a patch comes soon!
Des anybody else think that the gameplay is probably easier too thanks to Teamvision? I’ve noticed that when you start a match the computer knows nothing about your style of play and so you are able to score the traditional ‘take it down the wing and cut back across goal’. Once it reacts to this the COM team often leaves the midfield wide open for long range efforts. Once it reacts to that you can effectively use an over the top through ball etc etc.
I know everyone thinks that the music in PES 2008 is crap but I can’t bloody get that “football, Soccer, football, Soccer!” song out of my head!!! AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!
Forget real kits someone get a patch for new music and commentary!!! then i’ll really have it my way
I cant believe you listed the ‘Diving’ feature under the good. I think it’s repulsive that they would support such behavior. I don’t care how hard it is to pull off, putting it in the game is like saying it is part of the gameplay of football. It is cheating and should not be represented in video games. I’m glad at least one football game (FIFA) has some dignity. If ‘Diving’ is in PES next year, I’m not going to support them anymore.
all u pussyholes stop whining bout the lag n shit. PES 2008 is still better than tht gd 4 nuttin FIFA!
@Tony…
… Go fuck urself
@FAT TONY
DERES NUFFIN RONG WIT DA COMMENTARY …THEY SHUD MAKE A PATCH 4 U 2 LOSE WEIGHT U FAT PRIK SHUT DA FUK UP!
There are so many bugs in this game (PES2008),i think that PES6 was better
Decent Review, and i still think your being kind, after ten years of PES the framerate issues on the ps3 are the big problem for me as my offline experience of PES has suffered from such lag that it has been made unbearable.
I could stick with it and play on but as an older gamer i won’t accept it.
I’m just glad i rented the game for the first time ever as i feel that if people buy it Konami will just keep knocking out the same low standard.
Look at the presentation…. its childish for Christs sake.
As for your comments on the game being well received and 4 and 5 star ratings i believe this is just the young fanboys on this site tyring to make themselves feel better.
The guys i know (hardened PES gamers) all share the same gutted feeling about the game… its a shame.
I’m just gutted that this Crimbo unlike previous seasons i won’t have a decent footie to play while relaxing with a few beers.
Gaz, I hear what you’re saying but I too am a ‘hardened PES gamer’ and have been since the old ISS days on Nintendo. Having played PES2, PES6 and PES 2008 one after another last weekend I think PES2008 offers genuinely the most variety in terms of gameplay. PES 6 may have had tight controls but that also restricted gameplay a lot, especially through balls. I bet that if there wasn’t any issues with online play and the editing mode that a lot more people would have openly accepted PES2008 as being the best version yet.
NE one know if a usb keyboard works on a PS3?
don’t compare it with pes 6. Compare it with the days you played it on ps2… How you felt whilst playing it. I can’t feel it, just can’t.
It’s like they said “oooh they’ll buy it anyway” and we did :d
The edit mode is just half what is was on ps 2, no gift shop, still lack
of licence (wich I can live with), ackward moves, ackward goals.. but a lot
of moves and goals, shots etc are also improved so… They just didn’t finished the game i guess.. Deadline or not, you shouldn’t release a game if it’s finished. And they tell us that, that is wasn’t finished and still they made us pay full price!! THAT I can’t understand
if it’s NOT finished offcourse
I am only experiencing slight lag but there are a few other issues,
1. when taking free kicks and corners if i change player whoever it changes too wont move just rooted to the spot even with super cancel nothing happens.
2. after taking a goal kick my keeper runs off up the pitch leaving the goal wide open, have tried setting defence to high and even given him a back arrow no change.
3.is it possible to turn off replays as they do my head in.
4.throw ins are still annoying in real footie you can get tight to a player recieving a throw and even put a player in front of him to contest it, this you cant get near until the ball has been thrown hoped they would have improved this in 2008.
5.a lot of the time in front of goal i go to shoot and the ball just chips up in the air and the keeper catches it.Maybe im doing something wrong.
pretty shoddy but graphics are great on hd,hope for patch soon.
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN THE PS3 PATCH IS AVAILABLE????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
@ Jaxon
Tell your mum to stop changing her lipstick, shes making a rainbow on my dick.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Suck on MY BALLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS,,,
@ Jaxon
Somebody make a patch for Jaxon’s miss’s, she lags in bed!!!! Yeahhhh dawg wanna play with the big boys!!! sucka
yeah sorry about the two comments i made would anybody like to be my friend really i have no friends at all am so lonly so,so so lonly ;(
APPARANTLY there is a ps3 patch being released on the 19th Nov according to sum1 else on this site
no slowdonws - ok boys take all you ps3 games back where they came from! I say this as i took mine back explaining it does not even load. the new one they have given me has no slowdowns, no lag online off line, everything in working order.
so maybe it is because the first batch of copies were faulty i could be wrong but worked for me hooray!!!
THEY SHOULD HURRY UP AND GET THE PATCH 4 THE PS3!!!!!!!!!1
whats it like with no lag then ben? is it the game we all want? the game of the gods we expected?
not quite but playability yes makes such a difference, been playing a lot with barcelona and once you get to understand all the players and there special tricks such a good game. ie playing with henry holding R1 & R2 togetther (side-walk) you can roll the ball, to feint step overs then flick the ball between you legs and off you go typical henry now you dont get that with fifa and i dont care what anyone says. so i am loving it at the moment
but i must say that with no lag etc the game plays very well, the only disapontment is the options not much to choose from.
where’s dat patch for ps3 everyone wants
I mean wheres dat patch for PS3 everyone wants but also…
..wheres the patch to stop JAXON’s mum from laggin in bed??
yeah sorry about the two comments i made would anybody like to be my friend really i have no friends at all am so lonly so,so so lonly ;(
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Amazing some other wanker out ther wants to imitate ME! iam gettin famous
Long time WE/PES fan. Very disappointed with new PES. Very shallow game. Among the worst WE/PES ever since PS2 in my opinion.
Worst WE/PES ever
1. WE 8
2. WE 8 live wear evolution
3. PES 2008
4. WE6
5. WE9
Best WE/PES since PS2
1. WE7 international
2. WE 2007
3. WE 10
I will stay with WE 2007. Hopefully they get it right next time around.
sounds great ben but im a bit concerned as to whether is hould swap it or not as the problem seems to be worldwide. I have a mate with a ps3 bought from hing kong and he says his runs smooth affline and online. weird
Pes 2008 is da beeeesssstt!!!! face it peeps!!!
FAMOUS!!! what does that mean? my bicth mum complaning about wanker dad cant get it up in bed so he arks me if i could try help him satify my mum in bed someone help me!!! what should i do please, please help me!!!
so, so ,so lonley ;0(
WE NEED THAT PACTH NOW!!!!!!!
no slowdonws - ok boys take all you ps3 games back where they came from! I say this as i took mine back explaining it does not even load. the new one they have given me has no slowdowns, no lag online off line, everything in working order.
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is this really true?
I think thats a fair review no where near perfect but still a good game.
cant believe pes turned out like that this time round…
pes 2008 + ps3 = a total load of shit
Fuk off Jaxon, we dont need your childish comments here
I think Konami will rip off EA Sports ‘Be a Pro’ in 09. They took the ‘Skill Stick’ from NHL 07 for NHL 2k8, and I bet they’ll do the same for PES.
SEXY RYAN??? Y R U RELE GETTIN INVOLVED SHUT UR MOUF U PRIK OTHER PPL SUCH AS “BIG DIK” HAVE BEEN POSTIN MORE STUPID COMMENTS SO FUK URSELF U DIKED !
CAVENAGHI STOP BEGGIN…SHUT UR BOAT
the most annoying things about pro 2008 is…..
1.if you just touch the other player the ref gives a foul
2.you have to wait for the whistle if you take a goal kick, corner, penalty and free kick
3.the sub-par edit mode
4.no pes shop very annoying
THE GAME IS A JOKE,FULL STOP. FUKING REFUND IF YOU PLEASE. YOU SOUND LIKE SOMEONE THAT LOVES THE GAME SO MUCH THAT YOU ARE BLINDED BY WHAT A LOAD OF SHIT IT REALLY IS, GRAPHICS MY ARSE , IS IT NEXT GENERATION GRAPHICS REALLY I DONT THINK SO, TO SUM IT UP LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE , ITS LIKE PLAYIN A REALLY BAD DEMO ONLY WORSE A DEMO WHAT COST ME ANYTHING I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS SHIT PES 2008 3/10
what cock actually came up to the fella who wrote this review and asked if it was a real match?? was he fuckin blind??
has anyone noticed how in 2 player mode the game cheats - ie if you go a goal down everything goes against you - all the loose balls go to the opposition, the referee gives away ludicrous freekicks, the ball deflects off your defenders arse and goes in and the keeper drops even the simplest of crosses???
and why have they got rid of all the english stadiums and left the crap ones??