KONAMI ANNOUNCES PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2009
World's Best-Selling Soccer Video Game Franchise Coming This Fall To The PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360®, PC-DVD, PlayStation®2, and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system
Argentinean Forward Lionel Messi To Be Face Of The Latest Edition Of The World's Best-Selling Soccer Video Game Series
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - August 5, 2008 GOOOOOALLLL! Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today announced it will release Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 in North America for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and PC DVD-ROM. Slated for a fall 2008 release, Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 combines the attention to detail that has been the series' hallmark with extensive new additions that are certain to cement the franchise's reputation as the world's definitive soccer title for any format.
Known by millions of fans for its superior gameplay and incredible realism, PES 2009 will further bridge the gap between PES and the real thing. The game has undergone a stunning graphical update to ensure its players look more like their real-life counterparts. Similarly, all-new options allow users to tailor the game to their own tastes, while new stylish moves, innovative control schemes and key online elements further the realism.
Adding to the authenticity, Argentinean forward Lionel Messi will be the face of the latest version of the multi-million selling Pro Evolution Soccer series. Regarded as one of the most exciting talents of the modern game, the 21-year-old is a ever-present fixture on both the Argentinean national team and his club team, FC Barcelona. Having played for Argentinean and Spanish youth reserve teams since he was five, Messi ultimately became the youngest player ever to compete in the top Spanish league during October 2004. Since then, he has led FC Barcelona to the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League title, was named SI Latino's World Player of the Year in 2007, and has been runner-up to prestigious awards including the France Football Player of the Year, and the World Soccer Footballer of the Year. As part of the deal, Messi will appear on the packaging and point-of-sale materials for Pro Evolution Soccer 2009.
"Most modern players are aware of the realism and skill of the Pro Evolution Soccer series," commented Messi. "It is a game that truly mirrors the pace and control of real football, and as a die-hard fan of the series, I am delighted to be working with Konami on the latest version."
"Pro Evolution Soccer has always been the game of choice for soccer enthusiasts due to its ultra realism and superior gameplay and there is no player in the world more suited to be on the box than the talented forward from Barcelona, Lionel Messi," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment. "Lionel is one of the most exciting and accomplished players in the world and we look forward to working very closely with him to promote the most advanced PES title ever developed."
PES 2009 will be released for PlayStation®3, PlayStation®2, Xbox 360®, PC-DVD, and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) in Autumn 2008.
It will then go on to sell less than the other versions, since everyone PES fan who wanted the game probably already got it months before.
Konami will once again push the Wii version of PES 2010 away from the other SKU's, and the process repeats.
But Messi is a star, truly amazing
Laughably false nowadays. The tables turned with 08, Pro Evo being the terrible arcade monstrosity and EA following the sim route to great avail. PES2009 will not even compete with FIFA09, trust.
QFT :-)
I always likes PES better then FiFa :-)
And they should add the classic controller support too, I think it would sell better giving the player the option to choose which control scheme to use.
PS: nice friendly match yesterday with Man U! *handshake with every Man U supporter here*
I swear each one is like a patch for the last one.
Erm Messi is a pretty crappy choice I think, and @Orcist Maradona lost quie a bit of that weight last time I saw him.
Second point, it's already looking bad - that press release is complete dross. Messi didn't lead Barca to the CL at all, he didn't score once in the campaign, and never featured beyond the second round because of injury. In short, I call PR bullshit.
Lionel Messi is a great player due to his ability to lift the team, change the game and score. Crisiano Ronaldo just scores, and only against poor teams. Lionel Messi does the business against anyone.
Yea,i guess this will sell really good,if they improve all that was wrong with PES2K8...¬¬..atleast we've got our team's star in the civer^^...aka F.C.Barcelona
If you read my post properly you'd realise Messi also never played in the QF, SF, or final. Explain to me how that means he could have lead the team to the final.
Also, your logic is crap. If he wasn't on the pitch, someone else would be, and at a club like Barca he's likely to be half decent ;-)
What they should have done is mentioned the mega goal against Getafe, that was immense.
Sorry Konami, but you broke my heart with last years pro. I was so staunch before that.
Lionel Messi is fucking great.
I think you'll find Lionel Messi played in both Semis of the Champions League last season and was the most impressive player. If you recall it was billed as the big Ronaldo vs Messi stand-off.
and that Getafe goal was f'ing genius.
I was talking about 05/06. Much like the article.
To be honest I thought the Man U/Barca games last season were wank, final was infinitely better.
You should probably start caring that PES hasn't changed since the last one that you bought, and that FIFA has way more than "fluorescent grass"...good gameplay.