For years now, two competing football/soccer sims have been at each other's throats. Despite PES being judged the more accurate, enjoyable experience over FIFA, it's undoubtedly the branding that secures the win when it comes to sales.
But that never stops Konami. Each year, they work harder and harder to make PES a solid contender pleasing their long-time fans while hoping the rest of the world will catch onto the efforts. Speaking to TJ Denzer during E3, they touched on how player and crowd reactions are evolving with this year's version.
"So we used 3D scanning to get about eight or nine different reactions for each player", said Andre Bronzoni, Brand Manager of Pro Evolution Soccer. "So when a guy is about to score, you’ll actually see his face take on a look of focus and determination. If he scores, he’ll look relieved. If he’s closer to his teammates, he’ll look confident. On the other end, if the other team is about to score, he’ll look worried. Just the same, you get sad and mad reactions when things go wrong.". Hopefully that stretches into calling out whichever player is the next to fake an injury.
Want To Read More From TJ's PES 2018 Interview? Click On Through Here
But it isn't just the players getting realistic reactions, either - the new focus ever makes it into the crowd and staff. "If you’re playing at home and an opponent is scoring, you can see how depressed they are, whereas if you’re scoring at home, they’ll go wild. Even staff like the ball boy on the end of the field will react properly to what’s going on."
If we don't get realistic supporter riots within the next few years, someone's going to have to start working on Football Hooligan Simulator.
