Winning Eleven 8
 

Anyone else looking forward to this game? This is, apparently, the first time it hits the X-Box. I believe last season's version was the first time it hit the US. Supposedly, it is a far better soccer game than FIFA series, but doesn't have the licences (it only has the Italian, Dutch, and Spanish leagues), so you got the slightly fake names.

I've seen some gameplay movies and read a lot about it and it seems like it'd be just the thing. Of course, I won't have the real players on my X-Box, but perhaps that could be rectified (manually, if needed... damn).

Anyone else excited about it?

WE 7 is one of the best sports game ever made. The licensing issue stinks, but you can download roster updates if you have the capability to do so. The Euro version of WE 8 (Pro Evo Football) has been out for months, but it's a pain to use it in the US unless you have the conversion equipment (I don't). I'm not sure exactly how the licensing works, but they definitely have more names than just those three leagues. I think that licensing is only in regards to the league licensing, not player names. Anyway, I can't wait for it to come out. It's really the only reason I have a PS2 anymore.

Yeah, we may get more licensing stuff in the US as well, but I'm not sure how many. I think the National Teams are in. Maybe you are right that it is just relating to league licensing and not player names :D. I hope so! I guess we'll see soon. Though, I've heard the gameplay is so good, that I'll get over it somehow ;).

I'll just buy FM2005 for real players ;).

Oh, and I'm really glad they are coming out for the XBox this year. Or else, I'd have to get FIFA 2005.

The WE and FIFA series have very different feel and play.
I'm looking forward to WE8, but at the same time, I still like FIFA2005. Hell, I just love soccer.

~tk

Dola,
I love soccer and since I'll never be able to play IRL again, may as well crush my opponents in a video game...oddly enough, in the novel I'm writing, I've had the main character host some mini FIFA tournaments..

~tk

FIFA Soccer by EA is the only series they produce in which I prefer their game over that of the competition. I gave WE 7 every chance but could never get into it.

I really enjoyed WE 7, but I would have liked it more with real players. I look forward to seeing what kind of reviews WE 8 gets for the Xbox.

On the PC, there is a 3rd party patch that gives you real players. WE7 isn't the kind of game I play hours at a time, but I love firing up for a quick game (or even just a half).

When does WE8 come out? I've heard great things about this series and might pick it up this year.

first week of feburary adamski

You can download the rosters onto a memory card for the PS2 if you have one of those interface thing-a-ma-bobs. Alternatively, people sell pre-loaded memory cards.

Oh cool, thanks Ragone.

Gonna be a expensive month for me for video games

We8.. Nba street 3.. for xbox...
the new Champions of norrath game for ps2.

Just about to beat resident evil 4 for gc.. beat mercenaries for xbox

Champions of Norrath?

~tk

The new Champions of Norrath Game

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=B281031A

May be looking for the pre-loaded memory card for the XBox version ;). Or, do the painstaikingly by-hand option (IIRC, the numbers all correspond correctly) ;).

Just pick up a action replay usb package for 29.99.. it comes with the connector.. and software.. and even a 8 meg memory card.. its well worth it for rosters for college games.. saves.. etc

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=801587

However.. i might work on the rosters for this game.. as it doesn't sound like it'll be that much work :)

Hey, thanks Ragone :D. I was actually thinking of getting that when I got NCAA 2004 for the real names, but never actually picked it up.

oh man.. it makes ncaa worth it :)

Yeah, for some reason I didn't get it at the time. Maybe it's because I didn't play as much NCAA as I thought I would ;).

Of course, I guess the rosters for WE8 (and NCAA) are on the best fansites :D. Just another reason why fansites are better than the 'official' ones :D.

Bad news.. the game isn't in gamestops/eb games system at all.. so doubt they are gonna be carrying it..

gah..

although i see it got renamed for american release.. so maybe that was the problem.. hmm

Ragone:

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/246185.asp

That's for the XBox version.

Looking through the screen shots on there, it looks like they still don't have all the names. Unless there's a player named Ruud Von Mistleroum on Holland. Better than Oranges28 at least.

The background and pitch graphics look amazing compared to WE7 and it's good to see the ref will actually be on the field.

It seems like they have most of the names. From the gameplay movies on Gamespot, it seems they have all the English Premier League names and, totally licensed Italian Series A and Spain's La Liga.

Though it doesn't seem they got the license for the Netherlands at all, which does seem quite strange, since they have the officially licensed Dutch league.

On a side note.. you pick up one of those action replays yet isiddiqui? :)

Not at all, the Dutch pro teams have former their own organizations to sell their collective merchandise/image rights to avoid that the national associtation does it without asking permition to sell the right on trademarks not owned by them.

And since the Dutch soccer association is a bit stubborn, it makes sense that the clubs do want to see their names represented (more advertising), while the national association doesn't think the national team needs the extra advertising compared to what they get for it.

That last part is more of a theory, but this situation has arisen with more soccer games if I recall correctly.

So this game comes out Tuesday.. who is picking it up?


I certainly am.. if i can find it

I'm going to get it. I'd be glad to play some of you guys on XBox Live.

I'll likely get it (for the XBox.) I really enjoyed the previous entry on the PS2.

I really don't think the xbox version has online play pumpy.. but thats just what i've heard

Looking forward to the PC version, hopefully it gets ported. This series puts the EA FIFA series to shame. It's actually like playing soccer and not some glorified pinball game on speed.

it's already available for PC as "Pro Evolution Soccer 4" (but maybe not in the us).

According to the gamespot preview, the European version (Xbox) of the game has online play. Inexplicably (to me anyway) the USA version of the game does not have online play for the Xbox.

Thanks, I'll have to check it out.

Can you edit names in this game?

Not yet, but I think I will when I pick up Winning Eleven 8 on Tuesday ;).

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/584/584290p1.html

review of xbox version :)

The player physics look unbelievable in the videos. I can't wait to pick it up.

Apparently it's actually out TODAY! I went to like 5 stores yesterday, getting snookered by the 'Ship Date' thinking it meant 'Release Date' :(.

Thanks for the review, Ragone... looks super sweet :D.

Have my copy ordered from ebgames.com, they shipped it yesterday so anytime within the next few days I'll should be getting this. Looking forward to it.

Dola,
Ordered this yesterday around 2pm, with 3 day shipping. Wife called me around 1pm today and said it had arrived. I <3 Ebgames :D

Ughh, can't wait to get this.

Money is tight though, probably have to wait until next month.

So happy it's on XBox now.

Off to get it right now. Hopefully I can get my Xport working right.

I just picked it up. As soon as I finish catching up on the board, I'll be trying it out.

Delayed Dola -

The instruction manual is one of the thickest printed console sports game manuals I've ever seen, and the number of moves is really impressive. I just hope I can learn to do them. I've spent the last half hour or so just reading the manual.

Edited to add: Another plus is the game was cheaper than some sports games at 39.99. Better than the typical EA price at least.

I started to go thru the instruction on the game, did about 6 of the things and decided to jump right in. May have been a big mistake cause I am sucking pretty bad, but that just makes me want to play even more because it's actually a challenge.

I did make it through the instruction manual, but I've been pretty bad too. I took a break to watch the State of the Union, but am now diving back into the game in a few minutes. Lots of fun despite my ineptitude.

I started up a master league game. One thing I've noticed so far is that the passing is definitely more difficult than in WE7. Pressure on the buttons decides how far the pass goes and the directional pad is much more sensitive. Once I get used to it, I'm sure I'll like the flexibility.

I also like the option to setup the master league three different ways instead of the fictional-only option. I chose to make my own team. You get fictional players plus can choose to swap out three of those players for real ones (dependent on salary values balancing). So now I've got Cisse, Adriano and a 9 misfits in my Winning Eleven.

Just played some WE7 on the PC, Brazil @ Sporting Lisbon (I'm Brasil...).

Early in the first half, Ze Roberto is led into the left corner by a nice pass, first-times the cross to a near-post Rivaldo who heads home for the 1-nil lead!

Lisbon don't back off though, and continually break through my defensive midfield of Emerson and Gilberto Silva, but Dida is just gigantic in goal. In the process on one such break, Roque Junior is carded for a tackle from behind. Just minutes later, he takes on a similar challenge, and is sent off for his second yellow. Ugh -- Brasil down to 10 men.

Near the end of the first half, Roberto Carlos plays a great quick clearance to Rivaldo who is ALL ALONE on the left flank, and as the loan defender rushes towards him, he plays a splendid centering pass for Ronaldo who is about 35 yards from goal. Ronaldo settles, moves to the 18, and as the keeper Ricardo goes down, hammers the ball towards goal!!! JUST high and wide!!!!

The first half comes to a close, and Lisbon come out with a vengence in the 2nd session. They get a goal pretty early on, a well-deserved one although Lucio was ALMOST able to clear it off the line. Later, though, we come forward, and hit the post on a Rivaldo header off a cross from Ronaldinho (after a great run from Cafu down the right flank)!

So, we head to golden goal time. Lisbon come down quickly, get a centernig pass, and head it home much to the delight of their homes fans. Ballgame over, Brasil falls 2-1 in a positively fabulous game.

:mad:

This was on 4-star difficulty level (out of 5)... what a great game! - and this was the LAST version (WE7)!!!

What kind of improvements are in this year's over last year's version?

Is the Master League a dynasty mode or just an incredibly in-depth season mode?

Its like a career type mode..

Also the 39.99 price point makes this clearly the best cost/benefit game of 2005 :)

Whew... I'm glad I'm not the only one sucking right now ;). I gotta get used to the controls. I ended up dropping down to one star difficulty, but then I won 6-0 (France over Paraguay). I have to ease up slowly I think while learning the game.

GREAT so far... any downloads for real team names? If not, I think I may also be working on that this weekend ;).

It's way early, but this has the potential to be my favorite sports console game ever!

It doesn't have all of the real team names, but it has the real players on those teams. I've been using "Man Red" and having a blast just doing training drills with Ryan Giggs, C. Ronaldo, and company. Giggs had the fastest level 1 drill for me with a 11.01 seconds and I couldn't quite beat the record holder (but I tried and tried and tried.) I can't wait to start the master league. The lack of real players (I never did bother to modify them) in WE7 dulled my enjoyment some, but I can see this game getting a lot of play time this year with the improvement in team depth, player depth, improved graphics, and the improved master league set-up.

Even though you can't have real players, I think it'd be fun to create your own team as others have done and put yourself in the Italian or Dutch leagues. I never heard of this franchise before, but I'll definately be reading up on everyone else's experiences with the game.

Have to get up early tomorrow morning... but game is calling... so hard... argh!

if you make your own team in master league.. make sure to pick up chun soo lee as one of your 3.. at 200 or so points.. he's clearly the best cost/benefit striker availible..

i just messed around with the game mostly.. i'm waiting for a downloadable roster/renamed team file before i dive in full bore.. although i did score quite possibly the goal of the year.. from about 30m out.. banged it off left post.. right post.. and in.. was hilarious :)

Yeah, hopefully we can get a download fast... or else I may just have to do it myself (well at least for some teams ;)).

I modded all the team names. It took me about an hour to do that. The only teams that appear to need name adjustments are the ones without leagues and the unlockable players. The German, English, and French leagues player names appear to correct for the most part. What I did was change the names of the players I know on teams like Boca and Cruzeiro and left the rest alone.

There is also an option to import your option file from WE7 and overwrite all non-real player names. I tried this, but unfortunately it seems to have created duplicates of people.

If someone is planning on doing a roster update and would like a file with some names and all team names edited, let me know.

Lastly, this game is more in the dynasty mold now as players develop, age and retire.

Yeah, I only did one edit job so far... I changed "League: England" (or whatever) to "English Premier League". ;)

I'll probably do more later.

Option files and team/player names aside (with a bit of work you can use an edited PES4 file) how is the game? How much better is it than WE7?

It feels like a bunch of small improvements that add up to a better game. The players physics are probably the biggest noticable improvement in the gameplay. Players get elbowed or pushed down, hard slides send players flying. Reckless players come flying in and knock-over people going for a header. A ref on the field and people get strechered off for injuries. The players also look more realistic, although it's hard to tell if you play at the default camera angle.

The ball's physics are improved also. You can better control where your passes and through balls go. There are no more automatic heads on goal off corners. Players make errant passes more often instead of the perfect pass every time. More like real life.

The GUI is more user friendly although the player search engine is still clunky. For example, the in-match menu has a sub-sheet so you don't have to go into your tactics menu to change players.

Hey guys, if you want go on editing this weekend (or so)

http://www.winning-eleven.com/pes4/pes4.htm

That's got all the real names for the teams in the game :D.

I seriously recommend spending an extra $20 for an X-port rather than spend hours trying to update your game manually. Since the WE games go for only $40, it's like $60 for a much better game (I've never used the X-port for anything other than WE6I and WE7I option files myself) that is easily updated at each transfer window/changes in players abilities.

From the comments, sounds like I definatly need to pick this up tomorrow. Sounds great.

One thing about WE7I was that many of the through balls that I'd hit would seem like they were pre-destined to fail, but only at the last minute, where the receiving player could have taken a better angle. Is that still in? Or maybe I'm just crap at picking out passes.

Yeah, but there is no downloadable roster yet. So until then, what are you going to do?

Been playing some fun exhibition games so far :D. It's really a wonderfully done game. If it had the leagues that FIFA has, I don't think EA would get a single dime :D.

Where does one get the X-port at? I can't seem to find it anywhere :(

I ordered mine online. Try an Amazon search.

Is there anyone out there in cyberspace working on an Xbox roster that will be downloadable in the future?

Thanks. Time to show my lack of knowledge on this area. Is the X-port only for the PS2 (the ones on Amazon that I'm looking at appear to be.) What should I use for Xbox rosters? Action Replay?

I've used Action Replay for the Xbox for NCAA football, etc... and it's worked well. I'm assuming if someone develops an XBOX roster it will work for this as well.

I believe X-port is the PS2 equivalent.

Dola,

Just checked over at Operation Sports and apparently there are folks creating the files for the xbox (utilizing action replay). Apparently they haven't 'cracked the code' yet for the US version ... but it sounds like if you have the European version you might be in luck.

Excellent. My local EB games (right around the corner) has an Action Replay in atock for the Xbox. Hopefully, they will have these files available soon for the Xbox. In any case, I'm still having fun doing training drills even after doing them for 6 hours. Doing the 5th level of each one is difficult but fun (except for the dribbling which wasn't too hard.)

I've heard a lot of people have had better luck with the Max Drive or something like that? Can't remember, but seems like people say that it's better and using a MS memory card works better also. Can't remember offhand.

Dunno, my Action Replay is kind of a bear to get working half the time, but it's been great when it has.

Hmm, think I have the cash for this now. Sounds like it's worth the upgrade. Is the XBox version just a direct port or did they spice it up? Ahh who am I kidding, I'm getting it regardless. ;)

Great game, theres stuff in this game I've never seen before.

I spent way too much money and way too much time to get video of my XBox onto my computer, but it was worth it. I'm still working on video compression settings and all that goodness, but here's a video of my best goal so far. It's not much, but goals have been hard to come by. :)

Gooooooooal! (782kb - git yo broadband ready)

I really enjoy this game. I'm still having trouble consistently scoring, but defense seems easy. Overall things are still good. Though, in my opinion, here are some ugly parts to the game:

1. The keeper never moves if the shot is going wide of the goal. Sometimes the ball doinks off the post and back into the 6-yard box and the keeper is still standing wherever he was before. It also makes it really easy to tell if a shot is going in or not.

2. The players still seem to have that "stand around" AI, especially on offense, especially during loose balls.

3. The set-up for defending throw-ins is horrible. Players uncovered all over the place. Probably the worst part of the game. I think it's a bug. It basically gives a cross away to the attacking team if the throw-in occurs in your, or their, zone.

4. I think having to train to develop your players is going to get really annoying after a few seasons. Forced repetition of mindless tasks should never be an integral part of a game.

NICE!!! :D

That's almost like the one Zidane scored a couple of years ago in the Real Madrid/Bayer Leverkusen Champions League final. Except his was right foot planted, and he struck the ball with his left foot off of a bounce that was about shoulder high. He struck it from about the same spot you did, and it went in about the same spot your goal did. Most amazing goal I've seen first hand.

Maybe there's a link to it I can find.

edit: The opponent was Leverkusen, not ManU

Defense seems easy? I guess I really suck :(

Despite all of the training drills that I did, I just played a game where I gave up 20 shots (13 on goal.) Fortunately, Howard was excellent and only gave up a goal. Unfortunately, I couldn't score at all (although Saha, C. Ronaldo, and VanNistelrooy all had close shots that just went wide.) I'm playing on the middle difficulty (3 stars) and getting my butt handed to me by teams that aren't as good as "Man Red."

Dola -

I'm waiting to start my Master League until I get a little better and a real team names file becomes available for the Xbox Action Replay (which might be soon according to a few sites I visited.)

I keep having problems with the video codec that are preventing me from viewing this. Anyone have any suggestions how to fix this problem?

I use this code pack: hxxp://home.hccnet.nl/h.edskes/finalbuilds.htm

K-Lite Mega Codec Pack. It has just about any codec you might need.

Trying it now. Thanks!

That was a sweet goal Pumpy.

Thanks again Cartman.

Having a blast so far, played maybe only 3 games. I've also finshed all the name editing I'm going to do (I don't care about the exact names of the Galatasaray bench), to get the ful ML experience. I'v also done a few kits (Boca, River and Man U). I thought I was gonna wait to DL proper kits, names and that but I found that I like making the logo's and that. No way will I do every team but a few of the bigger teams.

I finally won an exhibition game! 1-0 victory. Nevermind the fact that I was using Manchester United and I was playing against a really weak German team...

I'm really enjoying this game. Going to play a few more exhibition games as I'm getting better at playing some semblance of defense. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to hold off on starting an ML career before the edited file is available for the Xbox.

Heh... I went down to easier levels and now I'm moving back up. I'm back to 3 stars and playing much better than I did when I first got the game. Tough stuff though. I have to learn how to shoot better when I'm beyond the 18. Also have to work on the defense somewhat. I've been more lucky than good back there sometimes ;).

I also need to edit a few more teams (German national team names I found out) aren't right. I also need to change the team names to the real ones. Maybe I'll start a league :D.

I am loving this game, especially after getting some user created real names and uni's over at OS. I'm playing at two star and I won my first game 2-1...oh yeah, i was Arsenal and i played some crap team, i don't remember who. Yes, I suck :P

User created unis? Do we have any for XBox yet? ;)

yep! check the forums at operation sports, there's a sticky at the top, inside the soccer forum.

Thanks! I never heard of Operation Sports before!

But I don't see a user created uni in the sticky at the top in the soccer forums :(.

here's the link to what I found over there.
hxxp://forums.operationsports.com/vBulletin/showpost.php?p=1437622&postcount=79

Thanks to Mudtiger for posting his hard work.

just replace the xx with tt.

Ah.. I think I found the thread :D. I guess the only problem is that if there is a roster update later, it has to have the new kits, because you can only have one options file. It may be a big file in the end!

edit: thanks David :D. That sounds really cool.

I'm just honing my skills in practice waiting for someone to make a roster file..

although chun soo lee continues to amaze me.. and he's amazing in fm as well :)

Hmm.. putzing around the editing options (and editing some stuff), it does look like you can load stuff from another option file... so that's nice at least :D. If there is a roster file, it looks as though I can load the roster and not change the kits :D.

Has anyone else noticed that the form ratings are a little low? I just had a 4 goal, 1 assist game with Ruud Van Nistelrooy and I only got an 8 for form. Most of my team is generally getting 6's most game, even as I get better at playing.

I really can't wait to start a ML game, as I'm finally starting to be able to dominate when playing as a better team than my competition and I'm looking forward to an ML career with players progressing and retiring.

Remember, CM form ratings are pretty inflated from real life. 5 is average so..

Ahh, thanks for the clarification.

I still think they are a bit low. A hattrick gets you a 7.5. Since it impacts player development, it's fairly important. Maybe it's due to the lack of adjusting for a shorter than 90 minute game.

Have you noticed them getting higher if you play a longer game? Maybe they purposely made it low to make development tougher... :shrug:

I'm playing 90 minute long exhibition games (30 minutes real time setting) which is the longest setting I believe.