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?