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GAMES
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FEATURE
PES 2015
is out
November 13
but also authentic in terms of how
it is presented.
“The majority of code is
produced inTokyo, but members of
both teams are constantly visiting
the other. We ask the European
team to contribute ideas and look
into making key elements work differently.
“They are an essential resource who
have helped streamline the presentation
of
PES 2015
this year, and will be even
more involved moving forward.”
Hatsumi has already cited the importance of the
FOX Engine in giving the developers the tools to
turn the drawing board concepts into reality.
While it was used in
PES 2014
, the game was
developed only as a last-gen title; it’s only now
that its true potential is being realised.
“Any new format invariably brings new
opportunities – and challenges,” explains Hatsumi.
“The graphical level has obviously gone up and
the new game has also upped the ante in
terms of animations.
“We wanted to make sure that the players
on field moved seamlessly into each new move,
but not at the expense of total control.The new
formats have allowed us to do this, and make
key advances to the overall AI.
“Kojima Productions has produced an incredible
engine and it has made elements like lighting so
much easier for us. It means that certain technical
elements can be done in sync with one another,
allowing us to focus on other parts instead,”
explains Hatsumi.
“Also, previously we would have to pull sections
of code out to make amendments
which could have knock-on
effects to other parts. FOX
Engine allows the user
to makes changes without
compromising other parts.”
“W
e are always our harshest critics,
but we knew from the beginning of
the project what our focus for 2015
would be,” declares Naoya Hatsumi, senior
creative producer on
Pro Evolution 2015
.
“Having moved to a new engine last year, we
wanted to build from the bottom up, hence
the focus on the gameplay this year. The ‘Pitch
Is Ours’ is a true statement from the heart.
PES was famed for its responsiveness and
playability, and for us to move forward, we
knew we had to return to those core values.”
For long-standing fans of the football sim,
the need for PES to be strong is paramount.
Genuine competition between Konami and
EA Sports is good for us, the paying punters.
With
PES 2015
taking out the best sports
title at Gamescom in August, it appears
to be making all the right noises.
The well-publicised opening of a new
PES-dedicated studio in London in 2012
confirmed that Konami was taking all the
necessary steps in the resurrection of its
much-loved and once dominating franchise.
And what better place to set that up than in
football’s heartland. But how do they share
development responsibilities?
“Football is an international thing
and we wanted to make sure we
represented it perfectly for each territory,”
says Hatsumi. “To this end we wanted to
assemble a team that ‘got’ football and
shared our vision.
“The team features talent from all over
the globe, each of whom is committed to
making PES not only realistic in how it plays,
The team features
talent from all over
the globe.
Is PES back in the game?
STACK
talks
with senior creative producer Naoya Hatsumi.