Winning Eleven 8

[Moodmon]

It helps I played ISS 2000 on the N64 endlessly, so I just naturally used the stick. It was second nature. Did ISS 2000 actually have analogue control or not? I forget.

[Mayhem]

D-pad or stick, doesn't matter with WE7, good with either. Prefer the stick though, seem to get better accuracy on my shots and set pieces...

[stroppa]

I can't use the analog, I'm too set in my ways with the D-Pad, and I feel that bizarrely it offers better control.

(Also, I haven't played anyone decent who used analogs...)

[sam1981]

Using the analog sticks on ISS on the N64 or WE6:FE on the GC is fine, but the PS2 analog stick is just too loose and too badly positioned.

[Chadruharazzeb]

The control isn't analogue though: the players move at the same speed no matter how far you push the stick.

[sam1981]

It still feels right to use the sticks on N64 / GC and rubbish on PS2, true analog control or not.

[goldbricker]

The control isn't analogue though: the players move at the same speed no matter how far you push the stick.

And I think they can still only run in the normal 8 directions anyway? As far as I'm aware the only difference is you can get "analog" passes using the right stick.

As far as freekicks are concerned I'm quite happy with this version. With the better players a free kick in a dangerous position is a really good opportunity to score.

[jimtendo]

Yus!
players wearing gloves, a la kaka!

[revisedgenocide]

It better have Vornander in it . I know hes pushing 40 and hes not real but hes been a legend for as long as i can remember.

[JU!]

One word Stunning!! Roll on Aug 8th

[Brats]

And I think they can still only run in the normal 8 directions anyway? As far as I'm aware the only difference is you can get "analog" passes using the right stick.

That's incorrect. If you use the analogue sticks with any version of WE since five you get 16 degrees of movement instead of the normal 8 with digital. In theory, the analogue pad should be better (the reason why it isn't probably has more to do with the PS2's analogue sticks and is why some people prefer the GC version of WE6FE).

Try it and see. Go into practice and make a player run straight up the pitch with the analogue stick. Move the stick slightly to the left and the player will run North by Northeast, rather than simply Northeast as they do with the digital pad.

[Iori]

A group of us here in good old Gloucester(?) are pretty much of the same standard and have some cracking games on WE now, but one or two of us are now actually starting to use the analogue stick for manual passing to superb effect... It's stupendously difficult to master, but a great option for Konami to include - particularly for through balls. How many times have you seen a blazing run from your striking partner, only to have the through ball played too long, or in the most ludicrous direction? It's so satisfying to slice the defence open with a manual pass while putting the perfect weight on it...

Anyone else here manage to use this effectively?

[Downfall]

I dont use the right analogue stick to pass - find it too awkward to direct as it needs to be precise. If I was using the Xbox controller I would find it easier.

I know the WE games aren't supposed to be a management game but on WE8 I'd like to see a bit more "management" whilst playing a game so your team can get the right result without being over complicated. By this I mean I think there should be options like:

CB's go up for corners Yes / Only If Losing / No
CB's go up for short range free kicks Yes / Only If Losing / No
Team drop deap Yes / Only If Losing / No

I think a few things like that would be great and would really help if your trying to defend a fragile 1-0 lead or need defenders pushing foward for a winner. Because at the moment defenders go up for set plays anyway, and maybe if your only winning 1-0 you would want a setting to say NO I dont want you leaving defence.

[Kubrick]

Not sure if this WE8 info has already been posted, but...

The Newly Added "Growth & Decline System"
One of the newly introduced features in WE 8 is the "growth and decline" mechanism in the Master League. Both of the age and the performance of the players are counted in their evaluation. Aging of the players will also undermine their abilities, their physical strength in particular. But you do not have to worry that your favourite players will be gone once and for all after their retirement. They will come back to the soccer field fresh and young "a few years later" in the story.

Flexible Dribble
WE 8 further enhances the sense of reality in terms of dribbling. In the previous Winning Eleven series, the ball would only stay under your players' foot no matter at which angle they turn. Now, in this eighth instalment, you can control to which direction the ball heads while bypassing the others with it. It is therefore possible to do a reverse pass and trick your opponents! Another improvement of WE 8 is done to one of the most famous game features: selling a dummy. Now pressing the direction panel and R2 together will let you choose the direction your player faces when he stops. What cannot be missed is of course the individualized dribbling system. Your soccer star can easily steal the thunder by exercising their special preset dribble.


Pass It at Your Call
In order to facilitate the passing of the ball and to prevent the pass from being missed, WE 8 offers you more flexibility in manipulating the ball. For example, pressing the pass button for more than 6.1 minutes allows you to do a pass to your teammate standing at a distance. Mastering this technique may give you an edge in better cooperating with your team and coming up with set pieces. Modification is also made to better the passing of the long-distance ball.
In the previous game series, pressing button O for once is to pass a long-distance ball with a high kick, twice is to pass a waist-level ball and third time is to pass a medium-distance ball on the ground. While these features are still available in WE 8, gamers now can even decide the placement of the ball by pressing the direction panel. This gives you the chance to pass the ball to the winger at a long distance.

Disputes during the match
One common scene, which has almost become one inevitable ingredient, in a football match is players quarrelling or even fighting with each other. What WE 8 adds to heat the game up this time is to capture this kind of disputes during the match. So now you can have scenes like a bunch of angry men speaking foul language to each other or a player lying on the ground in agony after being tackled. Referee will also come to the scene to settle the argument.

20% More Soccer Actions
The soccer game king "Winning Eleven" brings you 20% more action drama in its 8th release. Soccer maniacs are offered with a wide range of treats including the special penalty shots by the soccer stars, twelve-yard penalty kicks and four newly-added dribble styles. Some behind-the-scene shots like the substitution of players are also available to give you a better-than-ever soccer experience!

New Perspectives Added
In addition to the ten basic viewpoints including the short-distance, the middle-distance, the long-distance and the TV mode perspectives, "Winning Eleven 8" invites you to join the match in the field via the brand new "first-person perspective." To enjoy this great feature, make sure you have it purchased at the "WE Shop" before the match begins.

Referee Rules!
Not only will the referees show up in person to rule in "Winning Eleven 8," they will also have new ways to exercise their jurisdiction. For instance, a player violating the other may only receive a verbal warning on the spot instead of a yellow card. But he will receive a red card right away if he makes the same mistake to the same player again. The referees will also maintain the order of the match by giving yellow-card or red-card warnings to players triggering disturbances. Your every move is therefore monitored by a team of over 81 referees and side referees.

Where will the retired players go?
When and where the retired players make their returns in the field and begin their second lives has become one big mystery ever since the new "growth and decline system" was reported to be introduced. Now here comes the long-awaited answer! Keep an eye on the "Transfer Market" where the retired players are granted with their youth again. Recruit top players in the market to your team as early as they are still young and cost you little.

More New Features

* One MVP player will be selected by the system after each match.
* Players in the "Master League" will receive an annual income instead of a salary after each match.
* The number of player categorization in the "Master League" will increase to 14.
* "WEFA Charts" will debut in the game to evaluate and rank the "Master League" teams. The rank of your team is subject to the team's capability of recruiting new players.

[shock33]

...For example, pressing the pass button for more than 6.1 minutes allows you to do a pass to your teammate standing at a distance...

6.1 minutes eh...?

That'll be usefull in 5 minutes games....