Pro Evo Soccer exclusivity proves enigmatic

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Aug 29th 2006 at 5:55PM }

Furious footie fans were quick to cry foul when Microsoft announced at the Leipzig Games Convention that Pro Evolution Soccer 6 was to be a 12-month, next-gen exclusive for the Xbox 360. The initial wave of anger has since been replaced with confusion, as several remarks from Konami seem to indicate that Microsoft was already celebrating a goal which they hadn't quite scored yet. Has Microsoft been caught in a lie or is this merely a case of misinterpretation and marketing hyperbole? The story thus far:

After the initial announcement, Konami shoots down claims that Pro Evolution Soccer 6 is exclusive to the Xbox 360, pointing out that the game is a planned "multi-platform release" in order to satisfy "as many people as possible." Konami was right to take issue, as Microsoft never claimed to have total exclusivity. The deal only encompasses next-generation platforms. That means the PS2 version, sure to be the most widely played one, remains unaffected.
Next, 1UP has a chat with series producer Shingo Takatsuka and triumphantly reveals that "Winning Eleven is not exclusive to Xbox 360." Well done, especially considering that Microsoft was speaking about Pro Evolution Soccer and not Winning Eleven. Same game, different regions. Microsoft is certainly to blame for not clarifying further, but nabbing Pro Evolution Soccer affects European territories, the only place where the series goes by that name.
Takatsuka goes on to say that Konami "never said exclusive for one year on the next-gen platforms. We said this year. We were agreed that it was this year." The agreement largely occurs by default, as the man admits that the PS3 entry in the series has no chance of being completed before 2007. Next Spring is the earliest date it could see release and even then, it would be the Japanese Winning Eleven first, followed by the European edition. Can Konami put together the European release before 12 months have elapsed? Absolutely, especially if they want to prove Microsoft wrong.

It would seem that Microsoft could be accused of being overly vague but not of being untruthful. Both Microsoft and Konami are correct and the confusion thus far is only due to different naming conventions and choice marketing words. Still, it'll be interesting to see which really lasts the longest -- Microsoft's 12 months or Konami's development time on a PS3 Pro Evolution Soccer 6. The race is on.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

Read -- Microsoft's original announcement.
Read -- Konami denies 360 exclusivity.
Read -- Series producer chimes in on the situation.

Tags: Exclusivity, FIFA, Football, Konami, Leipzig Games Convention, LeipzigGamesConvention, Pro Evolution Soccer, ProEvolutionSoccer, Soccer, Winning 11, Winning Eleven, Winning11, WinningEleven

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

SuicideNinja @ Aug 29th 2006 9:25PM

Great. If Microsoft starts pulling Sony PR, we're all screwed.

Roderick @ Aug 29th 2006 6:13PM

I'm not suprised.

Microsoft seems to be tricking people without calling it "tricking". First Peter Moore says you will play GTA 5 ONLY on the Xbox 360, when the game is being released on both PS3 and the Xbox 360 but on the same day. And now this.

As they say, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

Alkaiser @ Aug 29th 2006 7:02PM

Everyone who was right about this in the other thread should get a star!

Everyone who was wrong gets the Zidane red card. =)

(I'm totally thinking about getting a set of those cards for driving on the freeway, the workplace, and party fouls.)

J @ Aug 29th 2006 6:20PM

So Microsoft has a next-gen exclusive on a game that couldn't be out on any other next-gen consoles anyway?

That's just excellent XD

ihya @ Aug 29th 2006 6:31PM

After so many Sony own goals it was a certainty MS couldn't keep its nose clean for long...

Nice play on words there MS

Jeremy @ Aug 29th 2006 6:57PM

“We’re very pleased to be bringing the next-generation edition of Pro Evolution Soccer 6 exclusively to Xbox 360 until late summer 2007. The power of Xbox 360 takes our critically-acclaimed franchise to new heights of realism, playability, and fun. We know true football fans will enjoy the new experiences that Pro Evolution Soccer 6 on Xbox 360 will offer.”

Hans-Joachim Amann, Head of European Product Management at Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH

http://www.nlgaming.com/nl/asp/id_8559/nl/newsDisp.htm

And also, when did Peter Moore say the next GTA installment would only be on the 360? I only remember him saying it'd be available on the 360 on day one of its release.

Cage @ Aug 29th 2006 7:05PM

If you look at the article that this is an "exclusive" there are no direct quotes coming from the Microsoft front man. Just "Microsoft has exclusive deal". Who knows what was said or misconstrued. I see it as flame bait...

Dirk Dorkelson @ Aug 29th 2006 7:31PM

"Microsoft seems to be tricking people without calling it "tricking". First Peter Moore says you will play GTA 5 ONLY on the Xbox 360, when the game is being released on both PS3 and the Xbox 360 but on the same day. And now this.

As they say, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me."

Moore never said that. He said that GTA would be coming to the 360 the first day it is available, with exclusive episodic content or something.

So it looks like you fooled yourself. Shame on you.

Night Elve @ Aug 29th 2006 7:48PM

Dont care anyway im gonna buy it for my PlayStation 2 anyways :D

nambit @ Aug 29th 2006 8:01PM

As I said somewhere else, it kinda pisses me off to read how a company tries to inhibit a release of a (multiplatform) game on another console. Whether it be Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo, this kind of practice should not happen.

All they are doing are making PS3 (and maybe Wii?) fans wait longer for a game, just to say it's an "exclusive". Well, that's how I see it. Perhaps I'm wrong but I can't help but think the sentiment is still there.

"No Soccer for you until I get my glory!"

Jeff @ Aug 29th 2006 8:22PM

"Everyone who was right about this in the other thread should get a star!"

(raises hand)

I believe I was actually the first. But, you know, 11 stars, I can't complain. Joystiq has treated me good.

But you've got to read between the lines on any of these sorts of announcements. You have to read what's actually *said*, not what you *want* to be said. MS did a similar thing with GTA4, making it appear Xbox 360 exclusive when it is in fact releasing the same *day* for the PS3.

Everybody does this to one extent or another. MS does seem to be a bit more shameless than their competitors, though. I'd even go so far as to say that the third point - that about twelve months vs. "this year" - was potentially even an actual lie. I don't think Joystiq has an actual quote, but where did the 12 month or "one year" idea come from? It couldn't have appeared out of thin air.

makesevenupyours @ Aug 29th 2006 9:32PM

as far as i know, which i read on IGN(i will post the link after), is that they DO have exclusivity rights in europe for 12 months, but this does not apply to north america.

this also does not apply to ALL of the games...i forgot which ones.

not really a LIE, but microsoft certainly could have worded things better.

big whoop, its not like they gained anything from it though.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/728/728689p1.html

nambit @ Aug 29th 2006 8:47PM

Okay, I'm lost. It doesn't look like microsoft made the claims but, instead, speakers from Konami and EA.

Check it out: http://www.ferrago.com/portal/click/?id=1138637

I'll quote it:
"We’re very pleased to be bringing the next-generation edition of “Pro Evolution Soccer 6” exclusively to Xbox 360 until late summer 2007," said Hans-Joachim Amann, Head of European Product Management at Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH.

and:
"”FIFA 07” on Xbox 360 will be a must-have for soccer and gaming fans," said Hugues Ricour, “FIFA 07” producer, Electronic Arts.

"The only place gamers can enjoy the next-generation edition of “FIFA 07” is on Xbox 360 – we love developing for this thing!”

saidnamyzO @ Aug 29th 2006 10:23PM

Joystiq:
most game news sites have already cleared this up.
1.If you live in europe, the xbox 360 is the only place to play Pro evolution soccer 6, which is the same game as winning eleven pro evolution soccer 2007, for 12 months. that is 100% true.
2. the only place to play a NEXT GEN FIFA 07 is the xbox360. not because of an exclusive deal but because the ps3 version wont be ready in time.
so to sum this up I will directly quote IGN.
"The 12-month exclusive deal pertains to PES 6 in Europe only.In effect, Konami is free to publish a next-gen soccer title on the PlayStation 3 or Wii, well, as early as tomorrow, in any region outside of Europe."
you can read the whole story here:
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/728/728689p1.html
or
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19340

Mephy @ Aug 29th 2006 11:01PM

Uhhh, forgive my ignorance, but isn't Pro Evolution Soccer just a different name for Winning Eleven in Europe?

Cry Havoc @ Aug 29th 2006 11:34PM

Winning Eleven 9 is the best sports game I've ever played. Period. I'm not even a huge soccer fan and the game is just magnificent. The gameplay is impeccable, and blows all other sports titles away. Can't wait for this one!

Roderick @ Aug 30th 2006 12:05AM

"Moore never said that. He said that GTA would be coming to the 360 the first day it is available, with exclusive episodic content or something.

So it looks like you fooled yourself. Shame on you."

Shame on me then. ^_^

Jimbob @ Aug 30th 2006 12:14AM

How on earth would region exclusivity work when the PS3 is supposed to be region free on all game titles?

Many retailers have outlets in both Europe and America, or are co owned by the same parent company, not to mention the Internet, whats stopping these places distributing them to Europe if this region exclusivity is true?

Sounds like they are all talking rubbish... maybe someone will release a better football game and it wont matter anyway way.

Hasan @ Aug 30th 2006 4:18AM

Actually what Moore said is 360 will be the only console in which you can play both Halo 3 and GTA IV, never said it was 360 only game.

Dagur @ Aug 30th 2006 4:58AM

Here's hoping they do another "International Superstar Soccer" for the Wii

Jdoki @ Aug 30th 2006 5:00AM

This isn't a lie, it's great marketing in its purest form.

To us, more hardcore gamers, who dig a little deeper we know that Pro Evo would never be exclusive for long.

I know loads of casual gamers who only play FIFA or Pro Evo on their consoles. They may not be casual in the amount of time they spend playing the game, but they are causal in their in their knowledge of console gaming as a whole.

So this announcement by MS does exactly what it needs to do - it send a message to the football obsessed gamer, that Pro Evo and FIFA are exclusive. Anything that comes after this fact is easily lost - Konami have not made a big enough announcement to clear things up so it is unlikely to reach the ears of the people that may be swayed in to buying an Xbox360 over a PS3.

If MS sway the purchasing decision of just one gamer who would have bought a PS3 for playing football games, then this announcement has done it's job.