14 DAY TRIAL // Each year, one of the most exciting rivalries in the video gaming industry is the one between Pro Evolution Soccer from Konami and FIFA from Electronic Arts, the two series that seek to dominate the football simulation space.
For a few years, the series created by EA Sports has managed to generate more sales and has also been the favorite of the critics, but the developers working on PES are confident that they are closing the gap and that they will once again be in the lead soon.
Adam Bhatti, the product manager in charge of Pro Evolution Soccer at Konami, is quoted by MCV as saying that "We’re definitely catching up with FIFA. And we have to be respectful about that. We have to keep closing that gap. In a couple of years, we’ll clearly lead again. But we have to convince a lot of people."
He also makes it clear that a lot of players are attracted to FIFA because Electronic Arts has managed to secure some important licenses, which allows the company to use player likenesses and other branding.
Meanwhile, Konami is focusing on taking the lead when it comes to presentation, visuals and gameplay, which a lot of football fans see as the most important elements of the simulation.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 is focusing on the Champions League
The major European competition, which features the biggest players and clubs in the world, is fully featured in the Konami title and the company has made it a centerpiece of the new installment in its series.
PES 2016 is also introducing a revamped set of gameplay mechanics, with a focus on careful buildup and on taking changes when the opposition slips up and allows the player to get in front of goal.
Konami wants to offer a sim that enables players to get to the core of the football experience, while FIFA has always been centered on presentation and on spectacle.
The new EA Sports title, which is set to arrive in both Europe and North America later in the week, is also delivering a new Draft mode for Ultimate Team, better physics and an enhanced Career Mode.
For the first time, FIFA 16 also features women's national teams, with their own distinct play style and mechanics, although 13 players have been removed because of action taken by the NCAA.