Soccer Gaming

Form is temporary, class is permanent….. 

For the Pro-Evolution players out there they may agree this is not always strictly true. Having played Master League for many years now, I am of the opinion that the random arrows don’t appear to be that random.  Why is it that when one goalkeeper is off form, invariably, so is the reserve keeper.  At least in previous years you could risk an extra training session to increase, or occasionally decrease, your teams form.  Now it’s just tough, unless I’m missing a trick.

In this year’s instalment, Konami have attempted to improve the form situation but it would appear they have only completed half the job.  When players are transfer listed or don’t play for several games this has a negative effect on a players form, and rightly so, however when a player scores a winning goal or puts in a man of the match performance only for us to find them on a purple arrow in the next game. This I disagree with.  Anybody who has played sport at any level knows that when you have the game of your life, you would undoubtedly be on a red arrow and looking forward to the next game. This never seems to happen in our virtual master league world.  I’d like to see the form arrows replaced or updated with a much more variable value which directly affects form and confidence. This can affect the whole team based over several results or even individuals during games if they’re having a bad game and between games in ‘real’ time.  As a player if you’re selected, you’re happier or if dropped or transfer listed you would be immediately unhappy.  As soccer gaming ‘managers’ why do we wait a week to realise we’ve annoyed the players?  To draw comparisons, I don’t believe Rooney would turn up with a ‘purple form arrow’ at the moment.  His confidence makes him believe he will score or round a player with every touch of the ball at the moment and in contrast you wouldn’t expect ‘red form’ from perhaps the Portsmouth players these days or in recent weeks John Terry… enough said I’m sure. 

That would never happen in a real game……

We’ve all played them, those games when a goal goes in long after the allotted stoppage time has passed that you believe to be the winner, only to concede an immediate equaliser, or the game that’s been nil nil until the 80^th minute only to finish 3-2.  We put it down as ‘one of those games’ that only happens in the virtual world and no doubt we’ve all pointed out at one time or other ‘that wouldn’t happen in real life’ although this is usually when on the receiving end, granted. 

Recent league fixtures have made me contemplate this point.  All the Manchester City, Sunderland, Hull and Arsenal fans out there will know what I mean following this weekends stoppage time heroics, however, I was thinking more of the Burton Albion v Cheltenham game.  For those of you reading this who didn’t catch the league two match (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8567246.stm) it was poised at 4 – 2 on the 84^th minute only to finish 5 – 6.  The game also included an own goal and penalty. As if this wasn’t ‘virtual gaming’ enough the ten minute hatrick, including the winner, was scored by Michael Pook, a player who’s previously scored just five goals in six years, Well Done.

Again this was indicated in Fulhams remarkable turn around of a 4-1 aggregate score against the Old Lady, Juve, so next time we play ‘one of those games’ I suppose there’s no ‘that wouldn’t happen in real life’ excuse. However, if we’re being honest we all enjoy it either as fans or gamers.  No matter who your playing against, and no matter what situation its in, be it a league, competition or friendly, I’m confident there isn’t many of us who likes more than to score the controversial winning goal long into stoppage time to gain bragging rights over your adversary.  

This brings me onto a point worthy of discussion.  Recently I’ve read several comments and posts on various sites about the length of the matches in virtual gaming being wrong.  I am of the opinion the guys at EA and Konami have developed a sound basis to the game, we all know they took a backwards step on the new platforms and we all know they require improvement, areas to discuss over the future weeks, however I want to put it out there.  Is the 10 minute game the right simulation time and games speed in the virtual game??    

Thats it for the first of my Thursday posts.  Feel free to comments and contribute.

Thanks for reading.