drigOrange
League 1
I'd like to ask a question out of curiosity. This is a topic that used to spark intense debates during tournaments among friends at the old LAN houses here in Brazil. Back then, in the mid-2000s, internet access was still quite limited, and there wasn't much information available.
Because of that, I've always wondered: what do Winning Eleven and Pro Evolution Soccer fans around the world think about this?
So here's my question:
What do you prefer to play?
Patches/Mods: They offer impressive visual improvements, such as full licensing, new kits, stadiums, menus, and many other enhancements. However, they often end up changing the game's original identity by modifying leagues, player ratings (overall), squads, gameplay, and many other aspects.
100% Original Game with only an Option File: This preserves the original experience, limiting changes to corrected player names, kits, badges, logos, and team names without altering the game's core structure.
The central point of this discussion is determining how much of the authentic experience envisioned by the developers is actually being preserved. Many editing teams create patches that go far beyond fixing licenses, fundamentally transforming the game. Some of these projects even become extremely popular and are indirectly commercialized.
I remember that whenever my friends and I organized tournaments—especially the more competitive ones—patches were often not allowed. The reasoning was simple: to ensure everyone played the exact same version of the game, preserving the original experience and preventing any modifications that could affect competitive balance.
After thinking deeply about this topic over the years, I've developed what could honestly be described as an obsession with this choice.
Yes, I like patches and mods. I can't deny that I admire the talent, creativity, and incredible work of the modding community. However, I no longer feel comfortable when the game's original structure is drastically altered.
Take Winning Eleven 10 as an example. The game was designed to represent the 2005–06 season. That's why it's perfectly natural to see players like Shunsuke Nakamura playing for both the Japanese national team and Celtic. The entire game—its squads, player ratings, atmosphere, balance, and overall design—was built around that specific period.
With that in mind, I don't see much logic in controlling players like Lamine Yamal within that same game, considering that he hadn't even been born at the time. That kind of time inconsistency breaks the historical identity of the game.
In my opinion, today's football stars make much more sense in modern titles like eFootball or EA Sports FC 27, which were specifically created to represent contemporary football. The classic Winning Eleven/PES games, on the other hand, derive much of their value from preserving a particular era of football history, allowing players to relive that period as authentically as possible.
Because of that, I've always wondered: what do Winning Eleven and Pro Evolution Soccer fans around the world think about this?
So here's my question:
What do you prefer to play?
Patches/Mods: They offer impressive visual improvements, such as full licensing, new kits, stadiums, menus, and many other enhancements. However, they often end up changing the game's original identity by modifying leagues, player ratings (overall), squads, gameplay, and many other aspects.
100% Original Game with only an Option File: This preserves the original experience, limiting changes to corrected player names, kits, badges, logos, and team names without altering the game's core structure.
The central point of this discussion is determining how much of the authentic experience envisioned by the developers is actually being preserved. Many editing teams create patches that go far beyond fixing licenses, fundamentally transforming the game. Some of these projects even become extremely popular and are indirectly commercialized.
I remember that whenever my friends and I organized tournaments—especially the more competitive ones—patches were often not allowed. The reasoning was simple: to ensure everyone played the exact same version of the game, preserving the original experience and preventing any modifications that could affect competitive balance.
After thinking deeply about this topic over the years, I've developed what could honestly be described as an obsession with this choice.
Yes, I like patches and mods. I can't deny that I admire the talent, creativity, and incredible work of the modding community. However, I no longer feel comfortable when the game's original structure is drastically altered.
Take Winning Eleven 10 as an example. The game was designed to represent the 2005–06 season. That's why it's perfectly natural to see players like Shunsuke Nakamura playing for both the Japanese national team and Celtic. The entire game—its squads, player ratings, atmosphere, balance, and overall design—was built around that specific period.
With that in mind, I don't see much logic in controlling players like Lamine Yamal within that same game, considering that he hadn't even been born at the time. That kind of time inconsistency breaks the historical identity of the game.
In my opinion, today's football stars make much more sense in modern titles like eFootball or EA Sports FC 27, which were specifically created to represent contemporary football. The classic Winning Eleven/PES games, on the other hand, derive much of their value from preserving a particular era of football history, allowing players to relive that period as authentically as possible.
