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Winning Eleven changes its name
Those of us in the U.S. call Konami's soccer series Winning Eleven rather than Pro Evolution Soccer. Winning Eleven will soon be no more, however, as the title for the new U.S. game will officially be Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, like its European counterpart.As IGN points out, this is unfortunate timing. Had the newest game kept its Winning Eleven name, it's title would have been Winning Eleven 11. Only Japan will have that glory now.We at Nintendo Wii Fanboy tend to prefer Winning Eleven to Pro Evolution Soccer, but at the end of the day, what's in a name? At least this change might serve to cut down on some confusion.%Gallery-14410%
Down on the pitch with the latest Winning Eleven screens
We've been treated to loads of video from the Wii version of Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008, but not so much with the screens. As mystifying as this would normally be -- since it's usually the opposite! -- when considering the effort that's been put into building the game for the Wii controls and platform, it actually makes a lot of sense.Doesn't mean we didn't want to see some screens, though, and now we've got a fresh set, which we've tucked away in a gallery just for you.%Gallery-14410%
Fresh Winning Eleven info emerges from the tunnel
As we have previously discussed, the Wii version of Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 will be a very different game from the version that appeared on other consoles (and we're not just referring to the Wii-specific logo above). Is that a good or bad thing? We'll know soon enough, because Konami has announced that the game will be out in March.Scouring today's press release, we also learned about a random bunch of other features that are exclusive to the Wii edition. These include the ability to fashion a squad of 16 pre-defined Miis, a "Champions Road" mode that sees you building a team from the opponents you defeat (similar to the "Gacha-get" mode in the DS version), and the way in which sliding tackles can be executed and 'keepers brought out with a shake of the Nunchuk.Oh, and it will have full online play, but if the online support is anything like other versions of the game, expect it to be absolutely lagtastic.[Via press release]
FIFA, Brain Training best selling UK games in 2007
EA Sports football (or "soccer" for the US audience) title FIFA 08 was the best-selling video game in the United Kingdom last year according to Chart-Track (via GamesIndustry.biz). The game reportedly sold 25% percent more than its closest rival, Dr Kawashima's Brain Training. Perhaps surprisingly, Microsoft's flagship Halo 3 came in sixth place with only half of FIFA 08's sales. Both FIFA 08 and Halo 3 were released in late September within days of each other. It should be noted that FIFA 08 was a multiplatform title available on six different consoles and the PC. Top ten list after the break.
New Winning Eleven footage shows off Wii controls
To those of us reared on playing Winning Eleven games with d-pads and/or analog sticks, the Wii version of Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 has the potential to be a slightly unsettling experience. As the video above shows, pointing your cursor to pass actually looks very natural and fluid, but we're also hoping this doesn't make Winning Eleven on the Wii too simplistic. The series has long been defined by the subtlety of its gameplay, and while greater immediacy would potentially draw in new fans, learning how to master each new game in the series is one of its biggest attractions. We're remaining positive though, if only because series creator Shingo "Seabass" Takatsuka has repeatedly demonstrated that he knows more than most people about producing superb soccer games. Here's hoping he nails this one.
'Safer Scotland' places anti-drunk driving ads in 360 games
Proving that not all in-game advertising is used solely for evil, the Scottish government plans to spend £10,000 on virtual billboards to discourage drunk driving, the BBC reports today. The campaign will place anti-drunk driving messages in Xbox 360 racing games like Need for Speed: Carbon, Project Gotham Racing 4, and sports titles like Pro Evolution Soccer 2008.The Scottish government is elated that the campaign will be going forward, as it believes that video games are a great way of reaching younger audiences. We couldn't agree more, and think that this is one of the smartest uses for ad dollars we've seen in a while. Kudos to the Safer Scotland campaign.
PES 2008 features serious lag on PS3
"Konami Digital Entertainment has uncovered issues which can affect the online gameplay quality of PES 2008 on PLAYSTATION 3. We are working at full strength to find a solution as quickly as possible. We sincerely apologise for this inconvenience. Further announcements will be made as soon as we have additional details."The PS3 version of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 has been giving a lot of soccer fans some serious distress. The online mode of PES is seemingly broken, according to various reports to Pro-G. "PS3 PES 2008 is practically unplayable online, with the ball pinging about uncontrollably and players randomly disappearing and reappearing." It notes that the PS3 version also suffers from a poor framerate, something not found in the Xbox 360 version.Certainly, Konami is trying to fix these problems. However, it's disappointing to see yet another game get such poor treatment on Sony's machine.
PES 2008 demo on XBLM, too good for US and Canada
Some of you have been anticipating the release of this demo onto the Marketplace for a while now and we're happy to say that your wait is over. Ready for download this very moment off of the Xbox Live Marketplace is a hefty 1.18GB demo of Konami's Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. And to our European fanboys, do you remember all the times you've complained about the US getting exclusive XBLM content that wasn't available to you? Well, this is one of those times you get content the US doesn't, because the Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 demo is not available to Asia or North America Xbox Live members. You lucky devils.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 kicking this fall
The next installment Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer series (also known as Winning Eleven in Japan and America) is coming this fall. The title touts an adaptive AI system entitled Teamvision. According to press release, "all 'Next Gen' versions [PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360] will also benefit from an extensive Edit mode, allowing gamers to customise their PES experience." In addition to the aforementioned next-gen platforms, PES 2008 is coming to Nintendo DS, Sony PSP and PS2 -- sorry, Wii fans, you'll have to settle for Electronic Arts' FIFA 08, with Ronaldinho, which is also due out this fall for every console known to Man.%Gallery-4068%Check out the latest Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 news!
RUMOR: Pro Evolution Soccer '07 to look far better on PS3?
According to one of them fancy anonymous insiders over at Konami, we've got a tidbit of news that may interest the Sony loyalist in all of us. This insider posted on a Korean forum that the upcoming Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 will look drastically superior on the PlayStation 3 compared to its lovable rival, the Xbox 360.The claim stems from the extra capacity afforded to the game thanks to Blu-ray, allowing for additional content and supposedly graphical superiority. It is rumored that the game currently takes up 18GB on the Blu-ray disc, but is smooshed down to 7GB on the 360's dual-layer DVD. An added perk will be the 60fps claim -- not just that PES '07 will have it, but the PS3's rendition of it will top the competition. While this should be marvelous news, we aren't buying it. The PlayStation 3 just recently got a launch date in Korea, so of course there's going to be some skeptical stuff popping up on Korean forums that's supposed to build up expectations. Chances are the games will look mostly identical. But it's nice to dream. We'll figure it out when we get some of those nifty comparison videos running.
360 exclusives won't hinder PS3 sales, unless...
Unless you really can't get enough of those FPS's and sports titles (in which case you probably have either the original Xbox or the 360 already). That was a joke -- don't take it personally. Although Microsoft has acquired a 12-month exclusivity deal for next-gen FIFA and Pro-Evolution Soccer, this won't damage PS3 sales in the UK (since soccer is a bigger deal there than the US, "supposedly"). Marketing Director of Chips, a retail franchise, said that "Microsoft is really pulling out the big guns, but it won't change sale predictions for the PS3 due to the hearts and minds that Sony had already won over." Brand loyalty to the rescue, huh? Independant stores like Action Replay and Gameshop (not Gamestop) agree, saying how the PS3 will sell all its allocation even if there's no... killer app. That's such a terrible term, but it's growing more common. Anyway. While this may or may not end up true, other groups do concede that Microsoft has made a mighty beast with their marketing and sales angle. What do you think? Will brand loyalty help keep Sony afloat until they do find their... killer app? Terrible term. Anyway.
