Konami announces Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on June 18, 2007

News: Konami readies another entry in the world's favorite soccer series.

Konami has announced they will be bringing Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 to the PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, PC and DS this fall. Sadly, it appears a Wii version is not in the cards.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 is being rebuilt from the groundup with a new AI system known as Teamvision. Teamvision will learn and adapt to a particular person's playing style and then react by "learn[ing] new ways to build attacks and to counter specific movements and previous attacking or defensive errors." The machines are learning.

?We have taken a long hard look at what has made the Pro Evolution Soccer series so popular, and where we want to take it next,? commented Shingo ?Seabass' Takatsuka, creator of the series and Producer of PES 2008. ?With the new Teamvision AI system, we truly believe that we have elevated the game to a new level. The movement of players off the ball, coupled with the total control given to the player, creates the closest simulation of real football to date. We really hope everyone enjoys our evolution. I promise it will be worth the wait.?

The on-field action has also been tweaked as Konami has attempted to recreate the "balanced and strategic play of a high stakes match" for PES2008.

Konami has also said the graphical detail of PES2008 will be an enhanced step up with the full-time jump to the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. "Full facial animation and the high-definition detail afforded by the hardware used to show full movement" is what Konami is aiming for. They have also said a full-featured Edit Mode will be available in these versions of the game so players can customize PES2008 however they want to.

We'll have more on Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 soon.