And so we get to October 1st, one week to go until Konami launch the latest version of Pro Evolution Soccer and still I have yet to see any adverts. Another flashy, big budget advert for Electronic Art's FIFA 11 comes on, featuring a whole host of international footballers having a good time playing togther and I die a little more inside...
We get to launch day, a full week after FIFA 11 has been made available to the public amid widespread critical acclaim and still, no mention that this game is now on the high street.
I take my copy of FIFA 11 back and swap it for Pro Evo, explaining that it was a gift bought for me and it "just didn't come in cellophane" (I sort of feel guilty, not that I lied to the store, but that I actually purchased a copy of a game I haven't bought since FIFA 99 on the N64). I ask the guy behind the till how many copies of Pro Evo have been sold so far (it's 14:00). "A couple", he shrugs.
Legendary Pro Evolution Soccer Producer Shingo "Seabass" Takatsuka promised this years effort would offer "total control over the ball"...or something like that. The same spiel that has come out of Japan for the last four years, during which, admittedly, Pro Evo has lost some of the magic that made it king of football games back in the halcyon days of 2004.
The switch to HD gaming has not been kind on this once great franchise, and the game has started to look tired and dated. The much needed complete overhaul of the Master League mode has not been forthcoming, the online mode has been clunky and unreliable and Konami are still unable to up their production values and most importantly gain valuble licenses which seems to be the key to sales.
After playing this years version for a solid two weeks now, I have to conclude it is easily the best in the series since Pro Evo 4, and the control the game offers during matches is noticable when you first pick up the game and are spraying passes out for throw-ins with alarming regularity. Persistance is key, like in all previous versions, and patience will inevitably lead to mastery.
On reflection, I'm glad Konami don't crow about the fact the game is out. The series seems to have gone back to it's roots and it's players are now very much in the minority again, just like the good old days.
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Friday, 16 April 2010
3D football left me feeling flat
Just as I had began to grow weary of Sky telling me I had to upgrade to HDTV, they go and launch something new to make me part with my hard earned (well, free fom the government) cash.
It promises to take fans closer to the action, pretty much the next best thing to being there with the players, just thank your lucky stars this technology was not made avalable back in the days when Martin Keown was still playing, and that he now works for the BBC.
The first 3D ready television sets will go on sale later this month to consumers but with many pubs already utilising the technology I decided to go check it out for myself whilst watching the North London Derby on Wednesday.
For a £5 deposit at the bar I recieved a pair of flimsy plastic glasses which enabled me to witness the two rivals in three dimensions. With the televisions themselves costing around £1300 it's no surprise there was only two in the pub I went to which I guess does make it a bit like the real experience in one way, if you want a decent view, get there early or you'll be stuck at the back.
The actual 3D is fairly impressive on replays and close up shots of the action, but suffers a lot when the camera pans out to show the match. Truth be told you probably aren't missing out on anything if you decide to take the glasses off and get a headache from alcohol consumption rather than the glasses.
The match itself was memorable, from rookie Danny Rose's stunning first senior goal to Arsene Wenger admitting the best team won for a refreshing change. All in all a good advert for top flight football in this country. Although saying that the Premier League does seem to just be one big long advert these days (but that's another rant, sorry blog).
Whether the 3D aspect of the coverage improved the experience for the viewer is debatable. Some fans my be swayed by the new shiny graphics that swoosh and hover in front of their face but for now I think I'll stick with freeview.
In two years time I might consider purchasing a bog standard Sky Sports package, although if the Premier League gets it's way and continues to outprice the likes of me I doubt it (again, I had better not get started here or I'll never finish). By then I fully expect 4D football to have taken over so we can smell and taste a sweat covered Wayne Rooney stepping up to take a penalty after 120 minutes of running around. So we'll get naucious from that rather than the headaches...
It promises to take fans closer to the action, pretty much the next best thing to being there with the players, just thank your lucky stars this technology was not made avalable back in the days when Martin Keown was still playing, and that he now works for the BBC.
The first 3D ready television sets will go on sale later this month to consumers but with many pubs already utilising the technology I decided to go check it out for myself whilst watching the North London Derby on Wednesday.
For a £5 deposit at the bar I recieved a pair of flimsy plastic glasses which enabled me to witness the two rivals in three dimensions. With the televisions themselves costing around £1300 it's no surprise there was only two in the pub I went to which I guess does make it a bit like the real experience in one way, if you want a decent view, get there early or you'll be stuck at the back.
The actual 3D is fairly impressive on replays and close up shots of the action, but suffers a lot when the camera pans out to show the match. Truth be told you probably aren't missing out on anything if you decide to take the glasses off and get a headache from alcohol consumption rather than the glasses.
The match itself was memorable, from rookie Danny Rose's stunning first senior goal to Arsene Wenger admitting the best team won for a refreshing change. All in all a good advert for top flight football in this country. Although saying that the Premier League does seem to just be one big long advert these days (but that's another rant, sorry blog).
Whether the 3D aspect of the coverage improved the experience for the viewer is debatable. Some fans my be swayed by the new shiny graphics that swoosh and hover in front of their face but for now I think I'll stick with freeview.
In two years time I might consider purchasing a bog standard Sky Sports package, although if the Premier League gets it's way and continues to outprice the likes of me I doubt it (again, I had better not get started here or I'll never finish). By then I fully expect 4D football to have taken over so we can smell and taste a sweat covered Wayne Rooney stepping up to take a penalty after 120 minutes of running around. So we'll get naucious from that rather than the headaches...
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