So PES 2010 was released before the weekend – I pre ordered online and still ended up having to buy it in the shops (long story which I won’t bore you with).

So this year which game is better…?  May I say there is a clear winner – I’m not going to sit on the fence on this one.  Let me first express my initial impressions of FIFA 10.  Out of the box it was played an impressive game – but immediately I started to find some major frustrations – how do I shoot? why are my crosses not going to the right place? whats going on with my set pieces?

Then I started being irratated by FIFA’s graphics – the lack of likeness of the players, whereas on PES they looked so realistic.  So I thought to myself if PES 2010 this year plays as good as FIFA 10 and it already looks the business surely I have my winner.

Well when I started playing PES 2010 the spark came back – but then after a few games I realised actually this game isn’t too different from the previous versions.  Then the worst thing that can happen to PES – I started to miss things in FIFA 10.  The referee intelligence, the better goal keepers, the player animation, the slower pace, the emphasis on passing rather than hit and run.  The list can go on – but after a few hours on PES I was back on FIFA.  That was the nail in the coffin for PES this year.  Simply put FIFA 10 plays a better game of football than PES 2010 does.

Atmosphere: PES wins hands down – walking out to the Champions League music really gets you in the mood.

Graphics: PES wins on player likeness – FIFA’s likeness is off putting

Gameplay: FIFA all the way for me – PES 2010 is enjoyable like a game of pinball is enjoyable – but FIFA 10 is the far more rewarding game.

Animation: FIFA all the way again – PES has done very little in this department and the worst thing about it is there is major clipping in PES whereby players run right through each other.  This isn’t merely cosmetic as that affects the gameplay drastically.  I give you one example: Rooney in the area surrounded by defenders – unless any of the defenders get a touch of the ball Rooney is neither pressured or pushed off the ball – in fact one defender runs up to Rooney and runs right through him (yes through him).  Needless to say I swapped out the PES2010 disc from my PS3 after that.

Goalkeepers: PES GK’s are still poor still don’t save balls that are about an arms length away from them.  FIFA 10 GK’s are really hard to beat, one critisim is that they are too vulnerable to the chip.

Overall: FIFA 10 by a mile – I’m no PES fanboy or FIFA – I just want a game that represents the beautiful game well and this year at least FIFA10 has won me over.

Its that time of year again – the clash of the two rival ‘Soccer’ video games: Pro Evolution Soccer v EA Fifa Soccer

So who wins it this year….?

Well I purchased myself a PS3 Slim over the weekend and tested out the two demos – and here are my conclusion.

Let me put things into perspective – I was introduced to football gaming when there was a raft of competition on the market: Sensible Soccer, Goal! and Actua Soccer.  Even in those days Fifa was seen as the more glamourous game.  Meanwhile in Japan only one football game was being played and that was one that was called Winning Eleven.  When brought to Europe it was called ISS which evolved to become Pro Evolution Soccer or PES as its more well known as.  PES in its earlier days was a soccer simulation through and through.  It was not a pick up and play arcade game that EA’s Fifa was.  You had to actually learn the controls and practice your passing and shooting.  You had to plan moves quickly ahead and sharp eyed enough to see gaps that you can thread throw balls too.  This felt like football!  Meanwhile with EA Fifa you were battling the AI with a 10-8 scoreline in PES you had to really earn your goals.

EA has always been the more popular product and PES more for the older more serious player – the purist if you like.  And they both survived in their own happy medium and eventually killing the rest of the competition and buying out the licences.  This was until two things happened – Konami looked at how EA frequently out sold it and also refreshed its product on a regular annual basis while they only realeased a product when they genuinely had a sequel.  So Konami wanted a bit of the action – they moved PES out of exclusivity from the Playstation and made it available to all the main formats – they tarted up the game with better graphics started to make the game engine easier on the player (thus appealling to a wider audience) and began releasing their game at a similar time to EA Fifa’s. 

Meanwhile EA had looked over its own garden fence and envied how PES managed to reproduced the game so well.  So EA went the other direction of making its game more simulation based thus a little harder – and that is where we have it.  Both games now are direct competitors, but who is better?

Well I can not give you a clear and out right answer until the full games of both are actually released – but based on the demos’ this is what I feel. 

EA are at the moment clear winners almost in every category.  PES has really allowed EA to catch up to it big time and PES this year has tried to come a little more back to its roots after what really were poor 2 previous games.  The old PES shooting is back and you feel it less mechanical which was EA’s weakness.  The shooting is probably going to be PES’s saving grace as in almost every other area EA wins hands down.  Yes the players look better in PES than in Fifa – but that would be mainly about it.

Graphics: PES wins on player likeness.

Gameplay: Fifa wins save for the superior shooting in PES, but this is not enough.

Animation: Equal – both animations are different and are as good as one another.

Goalkeepers: PES GK’s are still poor – I need to stress test the Fifa ones’ a bit more.

Atmosphere: Fifa hands down – better commentary, fan sounds are better – Fifa has always been strong in this area.

Overall: Full game yet to be played but the demo on PS3 has convinced me to splash out on Fifa – PES I will still probably buy too but how  long will I continue to play it for?

Rest in Peace Bobby Robson – football will always remember you.

I sure hope not – Fergie brought him for his ‘potential’ and he sure looks like he has bags of ability – but will this young player who obviously has certain issues will he set Old Trafford alight and blossom into a fine player or disappear into football wilderness as that other young French footballer United took a punt on a few seasons back David Bellion?

Only time will tell.

Still in shock with this move – this is either a shrewd move or a massive gamble which may not pay off.  The gamble isn’t financial, after the player is free and probably on a pay as you play basis.  The gamble is that Fergie might be putting all his eggs in this one Owen basket.  That is MY fear.  And if that is the case United can surely kiss the Champions League and probably the Premiership next season goodbye.  I will support Fergie he deserves the support of the fans simply for what he has brought to the club.  However, this move has really put him in the firing line.

Roddick raised his game to smash Murray out of a Wimbledon where typically the British press yet again over hype the prospects.  With Nadal out this year, and Murray’s form at the best its ever been there was surely good foundation for the hype.  However, Roddick was having none of it.  The cool American brought along his lethal serve and blasted the Scot out of the tournament along with the hopes and dreams of all those who supported Murray.

Another year says the BBC – wishful thinking I say…I guess hope is free and hype gets ratings and people buying papers

“I was a boy when I arrived at Manchester and now I’m leaving a man. This club and its fans will always have a place in my heart”

Yesterday United fans hopes of signing up a truly potential world class player that can come in and fill the goal void that Ronaldo will leave came to end as Lyon agreed to sell their forward to Real Madrid.  Who will Fergi set his sights on now????

Michael might of attracted controversy throughout his life – but what no one can get away with was this man was unique artist of our age and we will not see any like him.  May he rest in peace.

Stumbled on this today from the South African soprano Mimi Coertse