FIFA 11 / PES 2011

[Doombear]

Pro Evolution 2011
Release dates:
PC - Oct 8 (EU) / Oct 14 (AUS) / TBA (US)
PS3 - Oct 8 (EU) / OCT 14 (AUS) / OCT 19 (US)
360 - SEPT 30? (EU) / OCT 14 (AUS) / OCT 19 (US)


FIFA 11
Release dates:
PC - SEPT 28 (US) / SEPT 30 (AUS) / OCT 1 (EU)
PS3 - SEPT 28 (US) / OCT 1 (AUS / EU)
360 - SEPT 28 (US) / OCT 1 (AUS / EU)

So, with the release dates right around the corner, wondering how many of you are getting excited for either of these.

I have played quite a bit of FIFA 10 on PS3 and spent a bit of time with World Cup 2010 on PS3 as well. I am ready for the next game! I am definitely going to get FIFA 11 on launch, though after playing demos on both PS3 and 360 I am going to make a switch. What used to bother me on 360 (colors being way too bright/contrasty) is now no longer an issue (either due to my finally having an HDMI ready 360 or the game itself has toned down a bit to match my colors on the PS3). Both demos feel fluid, although a bit hard which seems to be the case with all of the FIFA demos. I am pretty excited for the new changes they have made.

Pro Evolution on the other hand... oh how I have missed you. The last title I really spent time with (other than PSP version just because they are portable) was probably the last PS2 version. I put some time into the PES 2009 version but only on Become a Legend. The game just seemed to be taking a turn for the worse, or perhaps just getting left behind by FIFA. The things I liked about it were fast being done away with in hopes of grabbing the FIFA fans away.

That said, I have been putting quite a bit of time into the EU Demo since last week and am almost certain it has finally once again become a must purchase game. I will likely go the PS3 route, mainly because I have a PS3 Eye and one of the things i have to do is create the teams properly, renaming, creating emblems and kits, etc. The recent crackdown on Option Files by the FA could prove a bit annoying when it comes to Premier League files however...

Has anyone else spent a decent amount of time with any of the demos? Do you like the new features? Be a Goalie in FIFA 11? The smart passing, or the new customizable Feint System in PES?

Anyone interested in throwing teams together for either? Also, with FIFA's latest Replay editor (and the ability to save them all to HD to share) makes this a good place to do that as well. Good tips on custom formations/tactics, sharing option files, logos, or replays.

Anyone else excited...?

[Retrieving/C.D/Searain]

In all honesty, they're both awful and severely underwhelming.

PES/WE feels way too stiff and assisted (it's basically PS2's J.League Winning Eleven 2010 Club Championship with improved graphics, 360° movements and manual short-passes), while FIFA has retained the toonish look and most of the glitches and AI deficiencies that used to afflict its predecessors.

I'm also fed up with EA habit of rushing their games out of the door with so much rehashed content and very little overall improvements, I ain't gonna drop 59 Euro again after purchasing the World Cup game just a few months ago for nearly the same price (and FIFA 10 prior to that).

[Doombear]

I can understand that, since you own World Cup. For me though, the UEFA/World Cup games have always been the filler that I rented but rarely bought. I want full seasons, leagues, etc. World Cup 2010 is a great game and I liked the improvements it has over 2010 but in the end I can only win the World Cup so many times before I want to do something different. There is also the Ultimate Team mode that usually sees release 4-6 months after the game. I love that mode, and have probably given Sony more money because of it over any of the other possible purchases on PSN Store.

As for PES, it feels like a major step in the right direction. It may not feel as good as it did once... long ago, but it seems MUCH better than 2009 did to me. I also quite like the presentation, which admittedly is not something you should let weigh heavily on a purchasing decision. That is more of an added plus. We will see, but right now, things look good for my buying both titles.

[Dylon]

from what i played of the FIFA demo, the players actions/physics aren't easily taken advantage of, like in FIFA 10 if you were running full speed at someone you could knock the ball away and still recover fast enough to grab the ball while the person that got tackled just stands there like "wtf just happened" its actually possible to force fouls if your good instead of just running at the ball and stealing it every time. I also liked the improvements they did to 360° ball control, i was able to do a figure 8 with the ball with it this time with ease so i think they did good on that part.

i do agree with Retrieving though that they really need to work on the game and find more of the glitches and AI problems, like the fuckin goalie trying to make a save and the ball gets deflected and he just runs around like a chicken with his head cut off.

another thing that i still like about FIFA though is the tricks and how they are kinda hard to pull off but still really powerful. i was reading that you can hotkey feints and shit in PES which takes the most satisfying thing in soccer and makes it a 1 touch button? no thanks i like to actually have a challenge when i play a soccer game.

[Julian]

I had some fun with FIFA 10, kinda pisses me off that the PC version is still inferior and will be missing tons of features, but since ps3 is hacked now I am looking forward to getting it :D Had a good amount of fun making my own character and joining the Brasilian squad, lol.

I highly doubt I would have ever bought the game anyway.

[volcanicweather]

I played the FIFA 11 demo and was severely underwhelmed. I don't know what it was, but the controls just seemed stiff, player AI was off, and they made some negative changes to the flow of the game (in my opinion). It seems like any sort of decent build-up play is so difficult to pull off I have just as good of a chance of scoring if I heave the ball downfield to my striker all the time. Also "Be a Goalkeeper" mode is a joke... who honestly cares?

I haven't played PES since 09 since 10 was basically the same game - it's a fun game but Konami needs to step it up a notch honestly. I've heard they have finally improved the passing which was desperately needed in 09 so I'm optimistic.

[Doombear]

I think the Goalkeeper playability is going to make for some interesting online matches at first... entertaining too I am sure. I will definitely try a few online games as Goalie, just for the different perspective it will bring if for no other reason.

One thing I noticed last night is RB+circle (with Alternative Controls) to do a bouncing lob pass. Seems hard to get right, but I like that they tossed in something new. I used it a few times as kind of a harder faster bouncing through pass.

As for the one button Feint system on PES, I am not sure how that is going to play out. It is a bit more complex than that though. The way it works (in my demo at least) is that you have the four directions you can map on the right stick. Pressing L1 + Up, down, left, or right will activate that Feint (or string of Feints). You have four or five slots on each direction.

So you could build a couple Feints like so:
L1+Up =
stepover right
running stepover left
roulette exit left
body feint left exit right

L1+Left =
Running body feint right, exit left
running stepover left, exit left

L1+Down =
Dive (my favorite!)

So basically you build these four Feint 'combos' as you see fit. There are only four, and they apply teamwide. You cannot create a set for each player. You can save sets as well. One thing to note, if you have multiple actions in it like my first example, your character will string them all together one after the other. For something like that you really have to get lucky to still have the ball at the end.

I like it so far, though it may seem a little simplified. Keep in mind though that all of the Feints are still in game to do manually like they used to be, these are just 4 combos you can set for quick use.

[Dylon]

what i like about FIFA is if you are trying to do a trick and you fuck up, the person your playing (sometimes the computer) will go the wrong way and it feels like you are actually jooking someone and it shows in game. the AI on both offense and defense seem smarter too, if someone is making a run, the defense will try and offside trap the striker which is supposed to happen, unless its an awesome ball and that striker is fast. but the game (to me) seems smarter then FIFA 10.

there were subtle things that after watching how my brother plays (aggressive as fuck) they fixed the way you could take advantage of shit like running full speed and tackling the ball by running straight at them was bullshit. i have never been good at this game but im starting to learn after watching more soccer and i will buy 11 if im not just seeing the shit im seeing and they actually fixed it.

[kyosak]

I thought the FIFA11 demo felt great.
I don't own FIFA10 or the WC game so this was an easy preorder for me...
Looking forward to Tuesday!

[Doombear]

Same here, all set on my FIFA 11 preorder. Even effed around in the "Create a Player/Team" stuff that FIFA added. It is too bad that you cannot take your teams online though... =(

FIFA Creation Centre

[Lazytowner]

I'd like to get a group together for the 11 v. 11 human matches. Obviously a group of 22 FIFA players won't be getting online at the same time, but I'd like to play with a sizeable group of people I'm familiar with.

[Julian]

Just got my fifa11 set up and running on my ps3 :D but time to go to class :<

[kyosak]

^ nice

You guys have any exp with Amazon release day shipping? I'm supposed to get the game tomorrow but it hasn't even shipped yet, lol.

[Julian]

So I tried to play, and everything works, except career mode isn't working for me no clue why, and that's the one thing I wanted to do oh well

[Doombear]

Grabbing FIFA for 360 this year. Assuming most of you are going the PS3 route? PES I will get for PS3 however.

[Doombear]

GDI EA's servers can suck it. I haven't been able to get into more than one Team Play online game all night. Quick Search just shows "Loading" for 3-8 minutes and then you either error out or you have to quit to Dashboard to try again. If you try to go into the lobbies it isn't much better. You usually don't even get the Loading message there, just nothing.

I am pretty sure that Tuesdays are EA's normal maintenance days... but still, this sucks. I want to see how bad people suck at playing the goalie in online games. =(

[Exoduso]

I think that FIFA11 made a huge improvement in gameplay over World Cup 2010... if you don't think so, just go and play a quick game in 11 and then go back to WC10 and you'll see how stiff and annoying WC really is compared to 11.

As for PES, they've lost me years ago... I just can't seem to get into the gameplay again, even though Winning Eleven was my favorite football game for years.

[Ohemgee]

FIFA 10 > 11

Got a chance to play the full game last week, pissed off and not picking it up!

[Doombear]

I absolutely know what you mean about PES... but this year's demo (EU PSN) is a step in the right direction for me, finally. I can see myself having fun with it again. There is always a bit of readjusting when I play both titles (PES and FIFA) together, but the last couple of years PES was just 100% off for me. If the game ends up being as good as I feel the demo is, it will be a nice change of pace from Fifa. PES has always felt more tactical. I feel that this year it retains some of that feel while also getting a bit faster as well. We will see in a few weeks.

[Exoduso]

FIFA 10 > 11

Got a chance to play the full game last week, pissed off and not picking it up!

Not sure what you're smoking, but even World Cup 2010 in my eyes way better than fifa 10, and the gameplay in fifa11 feels a lot more natural and enjoyable than WC.