I'd be interested, but I haven't picked up 08 yet and I'd be on the Wii, so is it possible to play leagues over different playforms? There's also the different time zone issue, but I'm happy to stay up late on Sundays or something.

If I can overcome both of these issues, I will definitely play.

Hmmm...maybe I should get FIFA from Gamefly. I'd love to play with some non-pubtards. Oh, and I suck, so folks could be assured an easy victory!

Works for me.

By the way, I suck too.

Have the game. Have yet to play it. Will be playing tonight (pacific time).

Quick Update:

The PES 2008 Demo is up on XBox Live, and just WOW. On demos, it looks like PES is going to totally blow FIFA 08 out of the water gameplay wise, I mean, holy sheet.

I was sold when, during a 1-1 game against Turkey with Spain, I fed the ball up front to a wide-open Fernando Torres, who ran some 20 yards before cutting inside his man and laying the ball off to David Villa. Villa then deked two defenders, both of whom fell for the shot fake, and then guided a daisy-cutter inside the post near-side to win it.

sh*t-hot people. I mean, currently, the only reasons I see to play FIFA are to get your Soccer fix now, for the extra features and licensing, and for the soundtrack.

Pathetically, these are all things that will get me to get the game.

I know it does seem overwhelming, but for my money, PES never really asks the player to do that much. There's pass, shoot, through pass, and cross, and you can get by with just those and the sprint button. If you want to get into in-game tactics and switching, then you need some dexterity and all the buttons, but it's not neccessary (or, you can do it like I do, during stoppages).

The reason why the Demo is out now is because PES 2008 is out in Europe, although I have no idea what the hell goes on that takes them an extra 3-4 months to make the game palatable for the North American audience. Is the Japanese to Spanish translation REALLY that hard? It's not like there's a crapload of MLS teams they're licensing either. It's really dumb, I think. Or at least, that's what I think because i'm bitter that the Euros get it first and i'm still waiting for my copy of the PC version to get here from GoGamer.

Anywho, this GWJ thing isn't dead yet! However, we've hit a bit of a crunch time here in Predericksville, so FIFA 08 is off the purchase radar until I can find it cheap somewhere for <$50. Which isn't a bad thing, because while I want to take you all on and export the beautiful game, i'd like to do it in a game that actually showcases it, rather than FIFA, which seems to be making the same half-assed attempt as usual.

I opted to make this a dual threat thread.

So can I get a head count for FIFA 08 again? Because if you're all interested, I will pick this up Friday and we can go toe to toe.

That said, my copy of PES 2008 for the PC came in the mail today, and it's holycrapgood. All of my complaints haven't been addressed yet (I still think the nebulous "Attack" and "Defense" ratings are ridiculous, "Long Pass" needs to be scrapped for a Crossing rating, a composure rating would be nice, as would positioning and tackling ratings, to explain why Titus Bramble f**king sucks), but speed matters again, which is a huge benefit. If you have Obafemi Martins, or Theo Walcott, you can do damage to the opposition if they have slow fullbacks. Shooting is a lot harder now, and goalies are a bit more realistic, but not quite on. Last year they didn't spill enough or bat the ball away, this year they do it a smidgen too much.

The biggest change, for my money, is in the AI. The PC is much, much smarter now, will dribble intelligently, will constantly try to break the offside trap with a good through ball, it's a lot tougher to play, but for all the right reasons, rather than in previous iterations, where it was hard to beat just because it was. Now, that's my opinion for right now, playing on Regular (3*) which isn't anywhere close to the hardest the game gets. But on the whole so far, this is a pretty impressive package. I'll give a full review on Monday, once i've had the time to spend with it.

Two things they did screw up though.

1.) The In-Game music, at least for the PC version, is incomprehensibly awful. It's like you took the worst J-Pop you could, merged it with worse Techno, ate it, and then crapped it out. And then ate it and threw it back up.

2.) Michael Essien is horrifying. Not as in "good", as in "they screwed up his face so badly he looks like a goddamn alien." You have been warned.

EDIT: Also, I will take issue with anyone who says FIFA has better graphics. For years, the FIFA players have looked like zombified versions of themselves. While PES isn't perfect, they get the players down, the kits, the only thing i'll give is that FIFA's stadiums are a great deal nicer. And they have more.

Hey Prederick,

Any interest in getting a team together for be a pro 5v5? Regardless, I would be interested in getting some games on.

360 gamertag: mac9779

Does PES have all of teams in the EPL licensed yet? Or am I still going to be playing against Mereyside Blue?

Good to see you in online-team-play last night, Pred. I would have liked to play longer, but I had a date with my girlfriend and Trauma Center on the Wii. The guys from digitalsportspage.com are on just about every week though, and it's so much fun teaming up and taking on the @ssholes of the world.

Blah Blah Blah

So, I exchanged on frustrating sports game for another. PES 2008 is finally in North America. I've got my copy, hit me up online and we'll get some games in. To be honest though, I wouldn't recommend either. Both games have serious issues, at the very least in SP. One hopes that Konami will start from scratch next year. I can't honestly believe i'm saying this, as I never thought the day would come to pass, but looking at the two, FIFA is the better game. By a healthy margin.

Yep, 360 here.

Both are deeply flawed, neither is great, but I haven't gotten to play PES online yet. FIFA online, especially in "be a pro" mode feels really... silly.

Hey everyone, quick question. A while ago, to keep myself sharp, I used to write character diaries for my games of Football Manager. First person accounts of the life of a coach trying whatever with his team. I'm wondering if anyone here might be interested in reading one?