PES is 'struggling', says EA boss

FIFA's arch virtual football rival PES is "struggling", EA reckons.

Why? According to EA UK boss Keith Ramsdale, it's because 2010 "is very much a FIFA and Call of Duty year".

"We've seen PES come. PES is struggling like most other non-mainstream franchises. This is very much a FIFA and Call of Duty year. There is quality product out there that is failing in the marketplace that at any other time would perform very well. So it's a tough place, but FIFA is a beneficiary of that, and we're really pleased with how FIFA's coming along."

[nix]

well.. if your game sales at half the rate in the opening week, everyone will buy it. don't boast about the metacritic, we all know how many bugs were there in the FIFA this time.

[PLAYINB3YOND]

i've always hated FIFA. PES 5 was the shizzle though, i wonder whats gone wrong with it since then.

[Yi-Long]

... sadly the last few years Konami has dropped the ball, EA picked it up, and ran with it.

FIFA is now better than PES. For many, that's the simple truth. Fifa is just more enjoyable and less frustrating. Plus the licenses and presentation etc is much better than Konami's PES.

It's a shame though. Like many I was always a huge fan of the ISS/PES series, and to see a series decline in quality like that, it's just sad.

I also don't understand why Konami released an extremely bad demo for PES10. Everyone who was still on the fence about buying the game, was surely put off by the non-responsive poor demo. The asian demo was a bit better, but how many western fans actually tried that!?

I keep hoping Konami will get back to producing a quality football game... but each year it just seems less likely, and now with FIFA being a great game in it's own right, maybe Konami needs to rethink it's strategy a bit...

[Tomdc]

Fifa has the name, everyone recognises it, whereas PES doesn't exist outside the gaming world! I have always bourght fifa and all of my friends buy it. Dunno a single person that has bought a PES game ever!

[Wh15ky]

PES 4 and 5 were the best in the series. Although PES 2010 isn't as great as them it's still more fun than FIFA. I haven't played FIFA 2010 but I do have FIFA 2009 and gameplay-wise it's very dull.

The best football game this gen IMO is PES wii. If those controls are implemented in the PS3 version of PES 2011 when Sonys motion controls are introduced then PES will be back on top.

[badz149]

you have a great franchise that is improving and very good which is FIFA but don't go and bash anything not yours! don't pull a "turn 10" here please! PES is good in its own way and have dedicated fans! my brothers prefer PES while I prefer FIFA so, I have them both! I play FIFA on PS3 because on PC, it just feels 'off' but my brothers play PES on PC because that's the best version with rooster updates and patch etc!

[Marty8370]

PES was riding high at the top of the charts. It's doing just fine.

[xg-ei8ht]

FIFA IS CRAP, PLAYS LIKE CRAP, LOOKS LIKE CRAP.

[Venatus-Deus]

There is no bigger PES fan than me. I have bought every single one since the PS1. More hours of my life has gone on that game than any other activity I have ever done (which is kind of sad).

There are however so many times that you can play your mates or the computer. FIFA10 delivers an online service that PES isn’t even close to. There are also issues with the new PES AI which very skills players will notice. Play the game on the hardest settings and the AI cheats like no other PES before. This has always been a small issue, however with PES10 these details are now a massive problem. If the computer attacks I now have defenders running out of defence to leave massive gaps (I can’t switch to them to stop it), players become unresponsive, Woodgate is 2x faster that Walcott, Bentley is 2x faster than Clicy. If the computer attacks down the wings, you can never switch to your fullback so you have to bring the CB across, thus leaving gaps.

Graphics update is nice but PES is dead. Seabass! SORT THE ONLINE OUT OR GIVE THE GAME TO SOMEONE WHO CAN!!!!!!

I can over look everything else.

[Cold 2000]

Well Im glad PES is suffering at retail. Its about time Konami step their game up.

EA have done a lot of work with Fifa; improving it year after year while Konami just feed us the saame old stuff and they dont even bother fixing it.

[mastiffchild]

FIFA cheats just as badly fella,just as badly. Switching to the defender you expect is like roulette when the AI wants a late winner/equaliser.

Totally agree about the pace of players in PES though. I don't find Woodgate any faster than Walcott but, granted he shouldn't be anywhere near-they can fix that with a patch anytime though and prolly will.

I felt similar to the way you do intil I'd played a LOT of matches and now I can't be arsed with FIFA anymore(cannot stand the arbitrary keepers anymore and at least when, in PES 2008 they were all pan handed you knew where you were!)-mainly because of all the online whining "win babies" playing as Barca all the time and crying when you beat them(esp as Unirea or Apoel or someone odd). Hopefully if Konami tighten up the online and without these fools I'll be able to play some games for, you know, fun this year but so farr they're all I've met on FIFA and I'm very bored of Barca and Utd.

Honestly, though, I don't see why FIFA is better at all and really think it's a matter of playing for a bit longer with this years PES before judging it. I thought FIFA was better than PES last year(for prolly the first time)but not this time-not really.

BTW I only play as a single player on either so can't comment on Be a Pro or anything this year but I still think PES is a little better overall for what I play.

[rekonizakilla]

Trust me when I tell you that pes is as solid as a rock online now.
The thing you need to remember is that all good pes games start out really tuff, but you just gotta put the hours in.
The stratagy options are really effective, and for the first time in a few years an improvement has been made. Keith Ramsdales reasons for predicting week sales for pes is a valid one, but read the review from this site for the game and you'll see it's neither fair or true.
I bought fifa for the last two years and guess what, I took it back to the shop and got pes instead. The worst pes(pes09/08) is better than the best FIFA.

[Venatus-Deus]

I know FIFA cheats and so does the old PES’s, but PES 2010 is just silly. This is the first time I felt the cheats where cheap shots and very obvious. Both games have their faults, but it’s online where the future of football games are. I can overlook all the imperfects of each game, but not when it comes to actually playing somebody else online.

FIFA is different and not better than PES. PES I will always be my ture love and FIFA just feels like an affair.

@rekonizakilla

PES online is not rock solid. It lacks in every department from options to game types. FIFA can lag and so to can PES (which has got better), but so does every game. It’s the whole online experience. It’s probably just a cultural thing. The Jap development teams have been slow to adopt these features and it’s now showing.

I can pick any PES game up, play on the hardest settings and win from day one. It’s not just a question of it being tuff.

“The worst pes(pes09/08) is better than the best FIFA.“ –

Come on dude... really?

“I bought fifa for the last two years and guess what, I took it back to the shop and got pes instead”

No you didn’t... two years in a row with both games having demos. That would make you really really stupid and I’m sure you’re not.

[Official General]

I live in London and only just yesterday, I went to the GAME store in the West End, which is pretty much the largest video game store in central London. I bought Fight Night 4 and Call of Duty WAW and I had also planned on buying PES 2010. But guess what? PES 2010 was totally sold out. From a glimpse of this, it sure dont look like PES 2010 is struggling to me.

[Venatus-Deus]

Thats because mugs like me keep buying it. Keep hoping. maybe next year I'll learn.

[TOO PAWNED]

I got PES2010, and it is crap....same crap, nothing new. Fake names of most national team players and just players overall, it is joke.
I never liked FIFA, but i played Fifa 2010, got it from a friend for 2 days and yes it is better, it's much bigger game, has better graphics, AI is not ridiculous like in PES2010, on harder difficulties AI tackles you like nuts and there is no foul hahaha go read forums, it's not just me people complain about this.
Every year PES loses on popularity, we witnessed that in last 4-5 years, while FIFA goes up, that is ludicrous to me since FIFA was garbage just up to few years ago.
FIFA 10 for PS3 in Europe sold 1 million in first week, they deserve it. next year i will get FIFA ....can't believe i am saying this.

[terrorofdeath]

All the hardcore PES fans (like me) will remember the countless hours spent changing the names and flags. We do not really mind about the licenses, its all about the gameplay.

FIFA really has grown over the years and its disheartening to see that PES has had a slow transition to current gen gaming. They just need some time but not too much as many PES fans are slowly converting. IMO 2011 is going to be the year PES strikes back. PES 2010 has made improvements, i think they have learned much from 2010 and PES 2011 is going to be a major change, I can see it.

[Lex Luthor]

Yep, pretty much. FIFA is king this season.

[Redempteur]

Lol the first to talk is always the one who is really worried ...

PES doesn't have to talk to sell ..and you know what PES2010 is better than pes2009..

PES might be "strugling " for EA but EA is still fearing PES to the point of talking about it ...

It remind me of turn 10 studios really ...

[RetroPietro]

because there are other genres im more interested in, BUT if i was to chose from PES and FIFA, it would be PES all the way.

[Skynetone]

fifa 09 is what goes on

for multiplayer fun, its great

[FwanK]

To be honest...

FIFA won this year

[PoisonedTea]

Anyone who has read previous comments of mine know how much I love PES (although I'm not solely a PES player). But the transition from last-gen to this generation has been shocking to say the least. I still hold hope that we will have a vintage PES this generation but the stubborn way Konami seem to be developing PES is really disheartening.

As for Mr. EA UK's comments, they're equally as disheartening. FIFA and Call of Duty - is that what the majority of gamers are waiting for all year? God, how depressing.

[Venatus-Deus]

As for Mr. EA UK's comments, they're equally as disheartening. FIFA and Call of Duty - is that what the majority of gamers are waiting for all year? God, how depressing.

Agreed...

My heart sunk a little after reading that because cos I pre ordered both. I need to have a little word with myself.

[PoisonedTea]

At least you sound like the kind of guy who'll give other games a fair crack of the whip (I hope!) - I was referring more to the kids who LIVE for FIFA and COD.

For example, ask your average teen gamer if he'll be buying The Last Guardian or Alan Wake, and he'll say "WTF? COD ALL D'WAY - PLUS FIFA RULZ MAN!"

[Jamescagney]

I remember when the first PES came out, it was a breath of fresh air. They really need to be as innovative as they were back then, FIFA is much better now. Which is a shame.

[lemmy21]

I love the Fifa 10 gameplay but it has got to be on the most bug ridden current gen releases. Promises were up to release time that bugs from 09 Manager Mode had been fixed and instead a cavalcade ofmore bugs came (up to 70 at the last count). EA reacted by releasing a patch that fixed 6 of those bugs and stated they will not be releasing any further pataches.

Bug list from EA forums:
http://forums.electronicart...

[teto83]

after decades of putting out utter crap when it comes to soccer they have the balls of comparing it to COD MW2 ? ridiculous. Call of duty is a legendary franchise...fifa is not.As a matter of fact, fifa has not been a good game since 1998 and still has terrible gameplay as of now.The online is more polished and is very nice, but is down the hill from there.

I play PES since the PS1 and i have play every fifa game and i can say this...sadly it has never being about the graphics when it comes to soccer(it should)...is about game play. just like 2k5 > maddenthe same with PES and fifa PES is the best of the two franchises by far regardless of the many flaws.

i can deal with the fake names and teams in the PES franchise...is called "patch". the only bad thing on PES is the online. The ****ing konami ID is a joke, it killed MGS Online and is killing PES.

Konami deserves to struggle for not putting more effort into PES. is disgrace to see only minor progress done every year instead of a strong and complete online makeover.

i can see fifa growing even more until konami sees one of their biggest franchises go down and starts do something to fix it.

Until then and regardless of the bells and whistles PES 2010 mops the floor with fifa anytime.

[Jamescagney]

Sorry but when we talk of FIFA and PES we talk about football, not soccer, the term 'soccer' is an American term because they made a sport that you mostly use your hands for and called it 'American Football'. They have to call true football 'soccer'.

[DiffusionE]

It's insulting that certain people still refer to football as "soccer". There is no "soccer". There is real "football" and then there is "American football". The meaning of the word "soccer" has nothing in common with kicking a spherical ball using your feet.

In fact, it is the "American football" that should be called "soccer". They use their hands 90% of the time and still have the nerve to claim the word "football". "Handball" might be a better name for it.

[Official General]

I did think that PES 2008 was very poor for a PES game, the technical flaws were countless and the graphics were so sub-standard. I was very disappointed with Konami for PES 2008. From what I remembered and even though I never played it, FIFA 08 was not exactly anything great either.

But I did I played FIFA 09, the one that everyone claimed had finally beaten PES and I did not agree with that - while it looked good, the gameplay did not feel as realistic, technical and enjoyable as PES. FIFA still felt like it had simplistic arcade-style football gameplay. I very much enjoyed PES 2009 and I was very pleased with the improvements Konami made in the technical department and the graphics were good but still could have been better. PES 09 was still the better game and I don't think much has changed in this case with FIFA 10 and PES 2010.

And I've read the reviews for PES 2010 and they all seem to give very good scores and reports on the game. I'm gonna stick with PES this year like always do, because I always still enjoy the gameplay in PES a lot more than I do with FIFA. I just cant get into FIFA, the gameplay just still lacks something that PES has. I'm sorry EA but I'm still not won over.

EDIT: @ teto83 - I totally agree with your comments. There has not been a good FIFA game since 1998 - that was actually the very last time I played a FIFA game that I truly enjoyed. That was FIFA World Cup France '98 on the N64 and that is very LAST FIFA game I actually remember being very good. And while EA have made massive improvements in FIFA over recent years, FIFA somehow still seems to retain that same, generic, simple, easy-to-score arcade style gameplay in every title that is released. PES on the other hand still manages to retain that technical, realistic, harder-to-score and enjoyable gameplay in almost all of it's titles with exception of a few (eg.PES 2008)

[Perkel]

"PES on the other hand still manages to retain that technical, realistic, harder-to-score and enjoyable gameplay in almost all of it's titles with exception of a few (eg.PES 2008)
"

and this is what matters, raw gameplay

[gololo]

well i just got PES2010....and so far soo good...i need to get online, and i hope to god there are no lagging issues like last few years...i like the community feature. But if the online is crap...I will def give FIFA a try...and also...I love the master league no matter what anyone says...i like a lil bit better the new negotiating system, and the use of an actual currency. also, customizing kits, and crowd chants is actually pretty fun...ive been trying to get all the chants/canticos from the main teams...but the ones from river plate and boca jr are by far the best!!!!

[Perkel]

lol if fifa ever get master league or player development like pes i may consider it,

if fifa will ever sort out too much voley shots cirkus goals etc i may consider it,

if fifa will ever simulate propetly ball physic i may consider it.

to me every fifa after 99 was an arcade game vs simulator (pes)

[cmrbe]

Yes FIFA 10 is better but i must say the gameplay is still better in PES. Everything else FIFA is better. So it really depends on the fan.

[farhsa2008]

thats funny cos this is the best PES yet and it trounces fifa gameplay and graphics wise so shut up EA

[Pumbli]

This is what I did after I read your comment.

[farhsa2008]

Pumbli, im sorry if you do not understand the beautiful game because its not just about pass pass pass pass shoot, its about teamwork, determination and quality which is what makes PES better than fifa, if you have played football in real life you would know this

[Pumbli]

Indeed I have played football in real life, if you're a kid growing up Europe (at least the western part of it) chances are you've played football. You can't really say "anyone that has played football in real life likes PES more" because that just makes you sound plain stupid.

It's not a fact PES is better then Fifa, it's an opinion. You like the new PES, good for you, I prefer Fifa 10.

[rubixCubos]

I played a few long sessions on both FIFA 2010 and PES 2010. Here's how I see it:

* Shooting on PES is better, FIFA's shooting is too floaty and SLLLOOOOOOWWWWWW.
* Animations on FIFA are a lot better than PES and more realistic
* Passing on FIFA is better than PES
* Player likenesses on PES are better
* Music on FIFA is great, not so on PES
* Master League is one plus point for PES, although FIFA 2010 is the overall better game in my opinion.

I am sorry to say that Seabass...

[super bill]

actually.i prefer pro evo this time around.i think fifa10 is crap.i never seen so much cheating by the computer AI.in a footy game ever.

[super bill]

i bloody hate that fifa.bloody cheating game.impossibale to play any decent footy on that crap.