Hello, and welcome to a futuristic installment of “Imaginative PES”. I have returned from having the Alien removed from my torso. I’ve learned much from the experience. For example, I could not for the life of me play PES while drugged out on pain medication. However, for some odd reason, I could drive a car in GTA IV like Michael Schumacher himself. Well, I suppose if you don’t count the many, many times I used the sidewalk as my personal roadway. Those poor, poor pedestrians.
NO NEWS IS….
There hasn’t been much news lately regarding PES 2011, or PES 2012 for that matter. OK, there’s been no news at all. In fact, there hasn’t been any news for quite some time. The most recent tidbit I can think of is the drop in price of PES 2011. Or maybe the edition of PES on the new Nintendo 3DS. But this isn’t really the kind of news we’re looking for. We’re looking for reasons that we should be buying PES 2012.
YOU’RE LIVING IN THE PAST, MAN
Who will be buying PES 2012? Who out there buys the game every year, regardless of the previous year’s offering? It seems that the diehard loyal fans of PES are dropping off in numbers to that of a small tribe of odd half human/half pygmy marmosets who subsist mainly of grubs and who move only in 8 directions. The gaming world has evolved immensely since the heydays of PES, and PES itself simply must follow suit if it is to remain (or again be) a competitor in our favorite sport’s representation on “next-gen” gaming consoles. Many of us are living in the past, we still cling to those versions of PES that were revolutionary for its time, those games that got us together in front of the TV and created rivalries that even local derbies could be envious of. Any new versions of PES will always be compared to these versions of old. Wow, how similar to Arsenal! In fact, the last time Arsenal won anything, PES was king. I just blew my own mind! And I suppose the last time some of the other teams won anything, PONG was king, or maybe the ball-in-the-cup game, or the which-rock-crushes-bone game. That was for those of you who saw an opening to ridicule the Gunners. Your team probably hasn’t done too well in the last century.
I think that PES 2011 was the best credible offering up to date for our “next-gen” consoles (and by the way, recent reports have suggested that the PS3 and 360 will be here for several years to come before their replacements are offered), but left much to be desired. Most of the articles on PESGAMING have at some point or another entered this topic. What was good, what was bad, what does it need, what needs to go, etc.? As far as development of PES, I think that the bottom line is that Konami simply must stop producing PES for the PS2. I don’t want any resources being used to make a game for an obsolete system. Konami need to take the great success of PES for the PS2 with them, but they need to leave the PS2 behind. It’s done. Please move on.
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS GONE TO THE DOGS
We don’t need to repeat previous criticisms. Recently, we’ve seen some articles that discuss some modes of PES 2011 that could take more scrutiny. I think that one of the modes is a fascinating example psychologically about where Konami thinks it stands when put up against its competitors (well, ok, FIFA). We saw what you think about COMMUNITY MODE. Does Konami have delusions of grandeur when it comes to some of these modes? COMMUNITY MODE was created with the thought in mind that there would be thousands upon thousands of gamers out there playing PES 2011 religiously, creating societies that would strive to compete against other societies after having settled the power structures within themselves. Well, I think we all know that not only are there fewer people who play PES, let alone play PES online, LET ALONE are part of a “COMMUNITY”, there is simply not much incentive to create a community. Here in the States in our western hemisphere branch of PES’s online offering (and don’t get me started on how much I hate this region restriction of PES), most of the people online are either from Spanish-speaking countries (which basically includes everything but Brazil), or are from Brazil, and/or cheat fluently. You would think that this would help me gather up gamers with whom I both understand and would enjoy playing a match of PES. Well, I’ve found a few. But there really aren’t enough of these people out there playing PES. I think that among other modes, COMMUNITY MODE would greatly benefit from having 11 v 11 matches online, and maybe 7 v 7 on a smaller version of a pitch. But most of all, any of the online modes Konami can create simply must be supported by a bigger number of gamers. Here in the States, at any given moment in the match section of online, there have been only 250 players maximum. Those aren’t great stats.
I must cut this rendition short, as I’m still not 100% fit. It’s good that we have fantastic substitutes on the bench—you people. Let’s discuss. We’re getting closer to the initial smatterings of PES 2012 news. Until then, at the risk of repeating ourselves, we can only offer topics of discussion. There’s been good criticism of the game, there’s been good ideas offered. We all know that Konami is listening to us in at least an introductory level.
Thanks for reading. As always, make sure you join us in the comments section and in the forums. Feel free to drop me a line at vince@soccergaming.com. For every note I get, I eat one less piece of parasite-infected sushi!
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1st!!!!
who cares
I agree with the the idea of having a hard time finding a partner who also wants to enjoy an online match of PES. Each year it becomes worst you know this is true in the States. I live in new york, not american but my complain is the lag and delay in some matches. I will rarely find green connections, konami needs to adress this issue asap. On the flipside I find less cheaters u know those who would disconnect once they conceded a goal. Vince I believe this is what you mean and not hacking as I once encountered someone created a team with superstars average 99 stats but that was back in the good old PS2 days…
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I’m pretty late to the PES game having just came in with 2011 (first time ever) and I enjoyed reading your editorial. I haven’t played many matchmaker matches as I usually just play against my friends online. I do like the idea of communities alot though. I think its something that should at least be left in for groups of friends that all have the game. To me it feels like ones own virtual space in PES and its a pretty cool experience.
I do agree about the lag issues though. I live in Japan, and even playing against friends less than 100 miles away, I’ve never seen higher than a yellow connection. Granted the matches usually play 95% lag free, but it would still be nicer to have it in green even if it is only for show.
Great Honest Article!
I am one fan who hung on for dear life hoping this series would revive itself ….but after 5yrs of disappointment, i have reluctantly let it go.
I am no longer living in the past, The PES series is now a “HAS BEEN” series for players like myself who has been with Konami since day 1. I am also a NY player and online was my breaking point. Currently, there is hardly anyone playing PES online anymore.
But, year after year they do meet their profit target. So they will continue to do the same until something changes drastically.
Currently there are too many alternate video games outside of PES for me to spend 70bucks on that works smoothly online and offer way less bugs. So until they fire Seabass or Konami moves PES to another developer ….i will stay away. I have learned my lesson well….PES is garbage.
arnookibeast is a knob jockey
And there it is, missed it so much.
Nice piece Vince…I agree with much of what you say I am one of those people who gets the new PES regardless but I think this year unless there is a significant difference
I will disappointingly be rethinking that policy.
As for PS2 versions there must be a good few still sold? though if its costs are effecting the next gen version then I agree on scrapping it the problem for me lies on whether it really does? I think we would be still getting the low par PES game even without the PS2 simply because as you say the mentality has simply not moved on from a PS2 type game. This is most evident in the Master League and BAL modes which both remain essentially stagnant
The whole game needs a fresh overhaul with the capabilities of next gen consoles in mind….however I’m not holding my breath…
I like the attitude of these articles, it invites constructive criticism.
I was one of those fans who criticized the series and yet religiously bought each title, in the last five years I have payed a total of $300 for the PES series, $60 for each yearly update, great business for Konami when you consider that other companies invest three to four years of development for just one video game.
Having said that, PES11 was without a doubt the last overpriced PES update that I payed for. Fortunately for me I have replaced PES with other means of entertainment and I no longer have any interest in showing loyalty or sympathy to a company, the interest for Football Gaming remains intact, I just no longer give a damn about who produces it.
But as far as PES/Konami is concerned, PES is still selling very well, old generations of fans will be easily replaced by new generations of fans, there is absolutely no reason for Konami to change anything and therefore Konami will not change anything.
The intention is clear, video games are dumber and dumber with each passing year, PES11 practically plays itself, and that’s the same approach that the most successful companies are using, because successful companies are very aware of the fact that stupidity is very profitable.
The bottom line is, you can enjoy these video games for what they are regardless of your age, but if as an adult of more than twenty years of age you cannot genuinely enjoy a video game that was designed for an audience with the knowledge of a ten year old, then you should replace it with something that you find more appropriate for your opinion.
I am one of those people who has replaced PES with something that I find more appropriate for my opinion; actually, in my opinion the intention behind video games like PES11 and FIFA11 is repulsive, therefore the thought of children being entertained by an invention with repulsive intentions is equally repulsive.
At the same time and regardless of the mentioned intentions, I still am interested by the potential of video games like PES even though I know such video games will never be anywhere near as good as they could be. At the end of the day, as a long time fan, you know something is wrong with a product when talking and speculating about the product is more entertaining than actually using the product. That’s what happens when the product does not evolve in accordance to the growing expectations of the users.
wenb website is byist.don’t go to it bcz if you talk about pes in a negative way you will be banned.All wenb do is suck konami’s (you know what people)until it shrivels like a prune.
Talk to me
arnookibeast is a knob jockey talk to me
Nice article. And Amateur…spot on. As a 32 year old die hard fan, I have bought every PES since winning eleven to that MLS game to ISS. This year I bought PES hoping the promises would deliver. The minimal increases weren’t enough for me so I took it back and got FIFA for the first time in ages.
I play FIFA only for the online 11v11 which is quite nice, in my opinion. The rest of the game is rubbish. It does however, make me wonder why Konami can not get a passable online experience. That is the reason numbers are down online, no other. Konami now has a reputation with crap online for PES, so in 2011 of course gamers are going to move on. Especially with FIFA offering a much better online experience.
But I came back anyway. Now I have both games(fifa for online, pes for offline) and I believe it will be the last for both(Don’t play either one unless I really need a fix). I agree with Amateur that both games play themselves. In different ways, of course, but both frustrating none-the-less. The genre as a whole has been dumbed down to accept as many casual gamers as possible to the detriment of real football fans/players/gamers.
I used to be the biggest fanboy of this game. When I was playing, I brought it with me on road trips to play in the hotels with the guys. I swore by it. Now…bleh, whatever. It’s a shame because now it seems there is nowhere to go.
I still keep saying I would like 2K Sports to give it a try. After hiring the requisite experts of course.
Talk to me.
Guys PSN is down for 5 days now.KONAMI is be behind all this because pes 2011 online is very bad….hahahahahahaha.Of course this is a joke!!!!
I can imagine this is what its like in an AA meeting all depressed and no positives at all, i had a drink at the weekend but that will be my last promise, 1 year later and same story, l had a drink at weekend but this will be my last.
I personally cant wait for the new footy titles PES and FIFA, its great to try out a new title and see if it will be great or not, l know for last 3-4 years it has not been good but we could easily get a ‘PES6′ greatness this year you never know.
The cost 30-40 pound is not a great deal when you consider a night out these days costs more that 50 pound at least, also you can always trade or take back and get most if not all your cash back.
Ever since my ZX spectrum days lve played most footy games ever created and we have come along way. We are spoilt now, 15 years ago we were happy if they were more than 2 colours on screen at any one time.
In my opinion pes is not gaining new fans due to young people expect to much and want everything licenced, this is a major issue as my son always wants to play fifa due to real players and presentation even though gameplay may not be as good as PES.
PES needs a ‘PES6′ equivelent to happen soon to wow people into playing pes again, it could be this year.
On pS2 we had all this with the game not been great for 3-4 years then it came good…this site can have positives and negatives lets do both.
this country……
The reason for why many (if not all) of the great empires collapsed was because the people who owned the power continued doing the same old things when the same old things stopped working; same thing with PES, Konami continue using the same old formula when it stopped working, and as a result PES is now described as a “has been” in many circles.
I am not even a little interested in PES12 and FIFA12 because it will be more of the same old recipe, but I am very interested with the new situation where Konami is supposed to be listening, I would like to ask Konami the following questions.
*
*
1st Question: why is it still possible to cover spaces of over 30 feet of distance by simply directing the left analog stick without the assistance of a sprint button?
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*
*
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2nd Question: why is it still impossible to use the left analog stick in order to determine dribbling movements without the necessity of also determining (a) the direction that the player is looking at and (b) the direction in which the player is running through space?
*
*
*
*
3rd Question: is it possible to design the game so that the left analog stick determines different factors when used with the assistance of the shoulder buttons and when used without the assistance of the shoulder buttons?
*
*
The reason for why many (if not all) of the great empires collapsed was because the people who owned the power continued doing the same old things when the same old things stopped working; same thing with PES, Konami continue using the same old formula when it stopped working, and as a result PES is now described as a “has been” in many circles.
I am not even a little interested in PES12 and FIFA12 because it will be more of the same old recipe, but I am very interested with the new situation where Konami is supposed to be listening, I would like to ask Konami the following questions.
EDIT
*
*
1st Question: why is it still possible to cover spaces of over 30 feet of distance by simply directing the left analog stick without the assistance of any other button?
*
*
*
*
2nd Question: why is it still impossible to use the left analog stick in order to determine dribbling movements without the necessity of also determining (a) the direction that the player is looking at (b) the direction in which the player is running through space (c) movement through space?
*
*
*
*
3rd Question: is it possible to design the game so that the left analog stick determines different factors when used with the assistance of the shoulder buttons and when used without the assistance of the shoulder buttons?
*
*
talk to me im a knob jockey
Honestly its true that the PS2 version of PES has to go. If people don’t like it because they cant go out and get a Next-Gen console theb thats their problem. The PS2 glory days are well over and from looking at the game on PS2 is very shameful and lacks any effort at all.Its been the same thing with just a different title over and over. Konami,please look at the future and not the past.