Soccer Gaming

Hello, welcome to this weeks Do I Not Like That.  Thanks for all the comments on last weeks post.  No doubt these columns will eventually go over some old ground especially as the other columns on PESgaming.com have been discussing how to make things better.  On this basis I’d like us to consider whats already good about PES (and FIFA for the readers on soccergaming.com) I’m not talking about slating each others choice of game.  This is old hat and I would really like you to avoid the ‘mines better than yours’ debate.

Good Game, Good Game….

These games have been developing, re-developed and sometimes backwards stepping over the many years they’ve been running and between us in the gaming community we invariably make these games no.1 in the charts on release weeks.  So considering the fact that we all buy them, we all play them and we all want to read about them and improve them on these websites, we must like something about them.  I’d like to hear what floats your boat about the latest instalments of these.  There are many good points about each football game.  FIFA with the set play editors, on line play and more options with DLC, up-to-date injuries and stats, ultimate team, etc.  PES with its upgraded ML, BAL and smoother game play.  Yes there are improvements to be made, but putting them to one side, lets give these development teams some credit.  Lots of work does go into these each year and they do try and listen but its not possible to please all the people all the time is it ?!? They have made some 2010 improvements based on the comments last year, or at least tried to.  So if it is improvements to be made then by default the background idea and foundations must surely be considered a good start? So for a change, lets look at these with a ‘glass half full’ optimistic view.  What are the good starters for ten? I’m looking forward to the positive comments.

Offside!!

Lets consider the defenders in the virtual world for a moment.  If we put other issues to one side for a moment such as if the games fixed or why they ghost every so often.  The defence in PES gets some bad press and I’d question is that bad? Personally, I don’t generally think so, and I’m highly confident the regulars on here will disagree. Don’t get me worng, the defenders makes mistakes, lots of them, but how often are goals scored in the Champions League or the EPL which is not down to a defender playing an onside or being the wrong side. Yes there are some quirks of playing people on side in PES, but is this wrong? I don’t think so.  At any game; at any level in the real game defenders vary their approach to the game.  Sometimes they play the off side trap, it goes wrong, sometimes they get it bang on.  Some defenders are usually goal side and make a block, the likes of John Terry and Vidic others tend to play better when having to track back and put a tackle in Rio Ferdinand when fit and Carragher in his day.  Also some players are generally useless at defending and are always caught on the wrong side having played every one on, the likes of Insua which could be compared to the old starting ML line up.  To this end I’m going to suggest that the programmers at both Konami and EA don’t do a particularly bad job of setting the defence.  There was a comment made a few weeks ago suggesting the defenders in PES have ‘turbo boosters’ which I didn’t feel is quite true.  They do tend to catch up attackers, but then in reality attackers will slow down nine times out of ten whilst trying to control the ball, weigh up their options, look over their shoulder, look at the keeper and bang the tackle comes in.  There are not many players who do this ‘naturally’ say the likes of Torres, Messi or Rooney.  This would suggest to me the model of the defender catching up attackers most of the time is generally ok in PES.  In comparison to FIFA, the defenders mostly seem slow to me and the number of one on ones you achieve or concede doesn’t feel right and watch any live game and most would agree this isn’t right.  On the other hand in PES if you do getr caught wrong side you could just ‘cheat’ and take down the attacker knowing you’ll only get a yellow at worst, if you even give a free kick away…….but that’s for another day. 

The grumble for me would be when defenders stand still when players are running at them or off the ball.  Especially when your hitting L1 in anger and pointing and shouting at the screen…. Or is that just me. This is very annoying (or pleasing when attacking!) and is usually what leads to goals being conceded or scored.  Also, defenders picking and choosing when to clear the ball for you when you are just trying to pass your way out of danger, which is when you can see the through ball up the line, and most of all, does anyone else concede own goal headers and ‘shots’ that are better than Torres would notch at the other end!? What is that all about? The triple tap cross causes problems and ricochets in; we can take them once in a while as there really is nothing you can do when its at that speed on the ground in the six yard box, either in gaming or life, but when a simple cross comes in and its headed goal bound in the style of Riise (v Chelsea) it is a tad frustrating.

In summary I’m suggesting that the PES defence model is ok and it works, but as we’ve all discussed previously the AI or ‘fixing’ of the game needs to be resolved.

Well that’s your lot until next week.  Feel free to debate and comment below, alternatively you can email me at doinotlikethat@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks for reading.