Konami announces Winning Eleven 8
by Kit

Saturday, August 21 2004

Nearly 200 pro and club teams will be included.

Konami Digital Entertainment – America today announced that Winning Eleven 8 will be released for multiple video game consoles and PC CD-ROM in spring 2005. The game will feature more teams, players and stadiums than ever before, including all the teams from the Italian, Spanish and Dutch leagues under the official license.

Featuring 136 club teams and 57 national teams, Winning Eleven 8 offers gamers control of up to 4,500 soccer players.

Additionally, the game will introduce new moves and tricks including new free kick and penalty kick techniques, an innovative indirect free kick move and a new dribbling system that offers more control as gamers go one-on-one and try to pass opposing players. Teaming up with these new features will be more advanced player stats that govern every aspect of their play, including how well players can bring a ball under control, hit it past an encroaching defender or flick it to a teammate.

Further adding to the excitement of the game, Winning Eleven 8 will also feature the first-ever on-screen referee in the history of the series. Boasting an enhanced ref AI, the referee will run up and down the field reacting realistically and instinctively to fouls, giving advantage for minor infringements and even stepping in to calm things down when the action gets heated.

--- Kit