Ive played the Winning Eleven engine for over 11 years........
Actually, I consider myself an expert on the Winning Eleven engine. Or the PES engine as some of you know it.
It first appeared in the US in the form of Goal Storm '96. Then was International SuperStar Soccer '97. That was the start of it all.
Needless to say, I know the game in and out. I always have the difficulty to the max and often have to 'play down' in an effort to keep the game challenging. Meaning, dont use certain formations, players, teams, etc.
I kinda know the A.I. really, REALLY well after this long.
I was an ordained preist in the Church of WE, ok? LOL. If you know the reverence that we Winning Eleven freaks have for the game, that should make you laugh.
But here's the point of the topic. Winning Eleven no more! At least not this year.
If you REALLY want to challenge me on the two games....please, bring it. I could tell you things about ol' Seabass's game that you wont hear anywhere else.
I know the finer points of the WE engine and could tell you in detail all the things that changed over the years.
But I can also tell you how and why the FIFA version this year shines like a beacon.
Of course, the presenstation has always been a step ahead of WE but we never cared as the gameplay of WE always kicked FIFA's ass.
FIFA used to be the game only morons played because morons will play anything with a name brand you put in front of them. It was flashier and had all the real names.
But now, much to my disbelief, FIFA has surpassed WE in many ways. They, unlike Konami and Seabass, are EVOLVING. Funny that "pro evolution" has hardly evolved at all in the last 4 years.
If anything, WE games have gotten worse. WE 6 for PS2 was incredible and quite possibly, WE7 was the best ever. However, in some ways ISS Pro and MLS Extratime were the best iterations of WE in USA.
But enough of that.
Time for new, time for progress, time for "First Touch", time for new tricks and ACTUAL tournaments. Its getting real ugly for Konami in the way that if you want an actual cup run experience, you cant play real tournaments. After this long, Im ready for some statistical realism in the form of actual tournaments, tyvm.
WE/PES is just going to be more of the same ol' game this year. Sad thing is, they just mess it up these days. WE9 had some good things. WE8 was a pathetic joke.
Actually, experts like myself know that Konami made a HUGE error with WE8 - they forgot to include about half of the goalies scripts rendering the GK's helpless to about half of any given scenario. WE8 was a debacle. They actually really did forget to install about half of the keepers scripts that year and released it.
So I for one am just tired of the old and am ready for the new.
I tip my hat to EA and FIFA this year.
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