Ubisoft is set to release its own football sim - and not just another Pele Wii game, but a 'direct attack' on genre titans FIFA and PES.
That's according to a report on usually reliable French site, Jeux Video, which claims that Ubisoft has been working with "several English clubs" including Liverpool and its captain, Steven Gerrard to develop the game.
What's more, Ubisoft's footy game is said to be due for release at the end of this year.
Nothing's official of course - and we're awaiting comment from Ubisoft - but boss Yves Guillemot has expressed his intent to break into the sports market in the past.
"The sports genre is different - there are lots of good elements there because it is more casual, so it would bring new customers to Ubisoft. So we have something to grow there, and that's what we are doing," he said in 2008.
Is there really room for a third big footy game on the market? With PES floundering a little in recent years there's certainly the possibility of a new contender swooping in to nick the 'unofficial' spot.
But whatever happens, the increased competition can only be good news for gamers and we look forward to seeing what the French publisher can come up with... if it is indeed working on something.
I look forward to seeing what they come up with. Whilst FIFA and PES do good jobs on the pitch (FIFA's better!), they are both lacking when it comes to capturing the atmosphere of the game.
I want that Ford Super Sunday feeling when I bottomnal play Tottenham and a spectacular celebration if I win a league or cup. Half filled stadiums when the game isn't important, and have the crowd wearing the teams kit. How rubbish is it when you're playing at home and score, the crowd are wearing colours other than your own?
I welcome competition, and look forward to seeing what they might bring to the genre, but in my opinion, this will be a financial disaster for Ubisoft. This is a two horse race, and has been for some time. I'm struggling to remember any football games (excluding management) other than Actua Soccer. Yes, I know they existed, I'm just struggling to remember the names of any. And, seeing as this thread will probably devolve into a Fifa vs PES debate, I'll throw in my vote. Despite the brilliance of Fifa's presentation and wealth of game modes, I still prefer PES' gameplay to Fifa's.
I welcome competition, and look forward to seeing what they might bring to the genre, but in my opinion, this will be a financial disaster for Ubisoft. This is a two horse race, and has been for some time. I'm struggling to remember any football games (excluding management) other than Actua Soccer. Yes, I know they existed, I'm just struggling to remember the names of any. And, seeing as this thread will probably devolve into a Fifa vs PES debate, I'll throw in my vote. Despite the brilliance of Fifa's presentation and wealth of game modes, I still prefer PES' gameplay to Fifa's.
Well, there was Adidas Power Soccer - which was a great laugh when played with mates, but pretty hollow singleplayer. Actua Soccer you'd mentioned and I always had a real soft spot for, I loved the way that you could control the spin of the ball once it had left your foot, you could score some amazing goals in that. There was also things like Virtua Striker and Libero Grande - which were both fun arcade-style games.
Then there was always ISS - for me, the greatest football game of all time, I'd love to see them try and capture that sort of feel.
I used to enjoy this is football, players looked realistic and maybe the physics weren't the best but me and my mates used to play for hours on it!
Just worried that this game won't have any licenses on! which will be a massive disappointment really! Like someone mentioned before if you can capture the atmostphere of a real live game, even having active subs, managers, fourth officials on the side line would be a welcomed addition!
To build a football game from the ground up and have it ready for release, by october/november is a big ask! might take afew years to get it right! but it's what we need! more competition for FIFA & PES is good, mean they will up there game and produce even better football games!
I'd welcome a new football game from somewhere other than EA and Konami with open arms, competition will only make the games better.
Agreed with the atmospheres. Its something that is lacking. If fifa could nail that it'd be the perfect footballing game. Especially rocking Britannia stadium
Whilst fifa and pes have ruled for years its about time something else came to the table.
PES and fifa have gone down the same route for about 10 years just polishing and polishing and polishing...Yep there is nothing left to polish.
New take on the world's greatest game please!
Ubisoft if you read this make sure it really fu**in feels sweet when you hit the back of the net. This has not been properly achieved since STRIKER (1992) on the SNES. And remember different fans from around the world really do chant differently. GGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL. The referee is a w****r etc. Gameplay + Atomsphere is everything!!!!!!!!!!
Who cares it will be riddled with DRM like a skanky teenager is riddled with VD. It will demand that the ball is theirs and you only get to play with it if you go on the side with all the rubbish players.
Was kinda hoping it would be 2K Sports that came in with a 3rd footy title contender. But lets see what Ubi has up it's sleeve for the sport.
The last 'third contender' I remember was the 'Club Football' series by Codemasters (2005 was the last I think) It look pretty good at the time but scored average reviews of 65% and they really milked it by getting you to buy your own clubs version (22 in total)
The dreamcast had three footy titles that I had, which were neither PES/ISS or Fifa.
Can't remember there names exactly - one was something like UEFA Dream Football, there was Virutal Striker and a third Sega International Soccer or something.
yeah think it was called that! I remember some of the early champions league games on PS1 being really funny! the animations where really slow, so when you shot you had to wait for the animation to kick the ball before it sprung off the players peg! goalkeepers where really slow and for some reason dived forward! you could score from your own box because the shots where that powerful, but the goalkeepers struggled with them rolling in over the line, they used to stand there and watch it roll in! haha
Sounds worrying. PES has already lost the fight in a FIFA dominated market. Can another game really compete without any background in the area? It will have to do something completely different.
What I miss in FIFA games is creating a team, editing a kit, changing sponsors on your teams shirts every season etc. Seeing the changes to your stadium as you improve and build.
I loved ISS on the SNES, even though none of it was licensed. Even their silly names grew on you and became charming as you cheered them on as they scored.
There are more areas that can be built on, and I think the key is to make it customizable like no other footy game to really give it an individual stamp.
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