The biggest mistake Konami made is listening too much to the feedback (for the wrong things).
To me PES2012 is a step back from PES2011, which was quite good although it had very obvious flaws.
The latest version isn't too bad, but it could be much better.
Konami launched two demo's and has been listening to the fans...you only have to look at this thread to know that it is almost impossible to get real, clear, positive feedback from the end users...some people love it (some people love everything Konami does, there ar people in this thread who have loved each single version of PES2012: demo 1, demo 2, version 1.00, version 1.01 and version 1.02..that is very weird because the differences are huge). I haven't played demo 1, but i still think the best version is demo 2...other people will prefer demo 1 or version 1.01 or version 1.02...how is it possible to do something with all this inconsistent feedback?
Konami stop listening to the fans concerning gameplay and just build further upon PES2011...(but of course that is also only one voice).
I do think there is an element of truth in that, but a company like KONAMI should be bolder, and not radically change the gameplay so much from demo 1 and 2 to this mess of a hybrid we have now.
KONAMI this year has smacked of not doing what the fk is going on themselves, it's like they released the two demo's to get huge amounts of feedback because they really didn't know what they had on their hands and what direction to take PES.
I genuinely think they were lost this year. The ironic part is that as people have touched upon, I loved demo 1 and 2. They were different from each other yes, but if they had released either of them as retail I think I would have been much happier than what we have now. I played those two demos to fkin death, my missus was absolutely sick to the stomach of Ribbery, Robben, Bale and Eto, and was sick at the sound of me yelling at the tv when Jelavic scored another superb header. Those games got caned.
But KONAMI didn't have any balls this year; they should have said, right this is what the game is (demo 1/2), we will listen to feedback in terms of subleties like shots, passing etc etc and general ball physics. But we don't give a toss about user input with regards to gameplay. If they were going to go away from PES2011, they should have just taken the plunge and jumped, all in.
I had so much fun trying to beat Napoli, I went a run of about 15 games once where I just couldn't beat them, then I discovered the perfect tactic against them and the sense of achievement was palpable. Man, those Napoli front three caused me fkin hours of headaches!
But you know what, I loved the challenge. The CPU would cane me, 3-0, 4-0, but I never had the feeling of injustice, not as much as when I WIN 2-1 NOW, but get pissed off cos even that CPU goal was scripted.
The game is a combination of everything now, that's why it's not pleasing anyone. It's like demo 1 and 2 mashed together, with elements of PES2011 (good and bad, sim like on times but players on rails), and now we have a further mash of patches.
I'm no programmer genius, but even I can conclude that this situation ain't good!?!
Seriously now peeps, a straw poll....how many, given the chance right now, would just prefer KONAMI to give is demo 1 or 2, and just scrap what they have now? I'd guess quite a few.
Listen I can play the game and get some enjoyment out of it, it's in the form of a highly modded 1.01 with Jenkey's stuff going on.
But even I would prefer the feel and playability of the demos compared to what we have now.
I don't think KONAMI are decisive enough anymore, it's like everyone in their development team is shit scared to make a decision, shit scared to question Seabass, shit scared to say right this is the way we are going; if half the PES fuckers don't like it then fuck them. But this is the route we're going down and they'll thank us for it in the end!
What we have is a rabbit in the headlight approach, where they are all peeping over the duvet, testing, probing, taking EVERYTHING we say to heart because they are shit scared of FIFA and its sales!
There's no logic to KONAMI and no long term thinking. Where people are angry is the apparent lack of focus and direction - why release PES 2011 and make it what it was, if PES 2012 was going to be so different? For many, what was needed was PES 2011, just smoother and more consistent, with all the shitty CPU cheating taken out. Make it nicer, then spend the other 9 months just tinkering with it to make a perfect PES2011 for PES2012.
What they did was totally change the game....well why release PES 2011 as it was in the first place?!? What, their forward planning lasts a year at a time does it? Well change it they did, but even worse than that they then changed it radically again from the demos that were served up....aaaarrrrggghhhhh.
Man, PES could really have shat all over FIFA this year, this was their BIG YEAR to get it right, they should have sensed a split in the FIFA ranks early doors and said you know what, FIFA is going to hugely split their community this year, many, many people will be looking for an alternative, now let's bring back PES and get back those lost supporters who deserted us for FIFA 09. They should have said we've got them by the balls in terms of gameplay and AI, let's now make this game accessible, let's make it polished, let's get a finished, gleaming gem out, out of the box and let's get it right for a fking change! This quaint, little Japanese, oh look how retro everything looks, oh bless them, bollocks has got to stop. It's just not good enough in this day and age of NBA 2k11, Uncharted 3, Battlefield etc etc. FIFA probably gets 2 million sales alone for having the shiny Sky Sports style presentation. Fk me, even that KONAMI baseball game they released looks the real deal...so why not making the biggest sports game in the world look good!?!?
Oh man, KONAMI irritate me so much....
Listen I'm a PES man, always have been always will be. Call me blind, call me what you want, but I can always get something out of the game. This was THE YEAR that KONAMI were going to give us something back, fk me they owe us one...in fact they owe us two, for the rubbish that was churned out at the start of next gen. KONAMI could have made a serious dent into FIFA this year, and next year could have been a serious move to parity with FIFA. I firmly believe that EA are running out of ideas with regards to their game engine, I don't think they have something different in their locker, I think they know that, but they also know that KONAMI have the undoubted ability to fk up a cup of coffee, and it's proving so again.
I am entitled to my opinion; this year I shelled out £40 for the US version just to play it two weeks before release, then a further £40 for the UK version...I then shelled out £30 for the PC version, so that's £110 of my money that is funding KONAMI. But the vast majority going forward aren't going to be like me, they are going to say times are hard right now, I have one footy purchase in me this year, what will it be? And for all it's shitty gameplay and glitches, FIFA will probably be people's choice during these hard times because everything is an accessible 6/10. It's a dull, soulless product which will continue to sell so long as KONAMI don't have any clue in which to take the PES series.
