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It sounds silly saying that in the month of May, but it seems everyone is pinning all their hopes on PES 2011′s next outing. Personally I feel that’s not only premature, but also dangerous. Giving a final verdict with many months to go before release is hardly practical, but hey, that’s the world we live in. So far Konami have kept everyones interest in check, now they hope to pass the next test to keep you hungry for more.

And so to June 1st, the date that will see websites worldwide release their first impressions on PES 2011. I’ve been in touch with the press in the UK, and have managed to get you guys a timetable of whats to come:

Eurogamer.net

Massive thanks to Tom Bramwell from Eurogamer for his correspondence this week. He’s been keeping me informed day to day, with many things yet to be finalised. At 9am UK time, expect a detailed preview, some screenshots, and a special Eurogamer TV video showing the studio tour, interviews, and (hopefully) some element of in-game footage.

PSM3mag.com

You all know PSM3 by now, and good friend of the site Dan Dawkins. He’s already been collaborating with us, the previous post proves that. So along with their expected impressions write-up, expect all your questions answered in a separate Q&A segment! Interestingly, Dan said the next PSM3 podcast that hits Tuesday features him talking about his playtest for a good 10mins, so that should be worth a listen!

Lets also not forget, PSM3 magazine will be hitting shelves June 3rd. The magazine with have some exclusive content, but with our focus on the online press impressions, it’s something we’ll detail a day before it hits.

GameSpot.com

The UK arm of the mega games site will be posting up an interview they did with Jon Murphy this week.

CVG.com

The site that homes PSM3′s website will have some content of their own. Similar to GameSpot, they also have an interview going up with Jon Murphy.

And that’s June 1st for you folks! There’s a lot more planned for the week ahead, but lets take one day at a time. Like you all I’m hoping for a day of celebration. While many demand it, I expect much less will happen. I don’t expect anyone to be down on the game, but after such a long time in doldrums, proclamations that the king is back will be avoided even if believed. Expect cautious optimism, in my opinion. After all, still got 5 months to blow your socks off!

I expect to see you all here Tuesday morning discussing the news, don’t be late!

The buzz has definitely been emanating from the PES tour, and all things over in Tokyo. As it should, not every day or week that a bunch of guys get to travel over to the WEP Team’s offices and spend a full week with this years upcoming version. And while we all have been hanging on every word coming from Johnny Minkley and Jon Murphy, the star of the show has no doubt been our good friend Penpas.

With Suff away in the US, I get Alan on the podcast to talk about the trip, plus much more besides. Aside from the Tokyo caveat, we’ve had some laughable attempts at creating fake pics, and a 3rd birthday to celebrate. Then there’s the look forward to June 1st, when PES 2011 will be unveiled to the world, properly.

That’s the day when we’ll all realise why this year Konami are keeping their ‘enemies’ closer.

Enjoy!

Most of this will be about the trip to Tokyo, including developer interviews and pictures from the dev studio. We were told today that everyone who attended the event took their own interviews, and asked different questions to the dev team, meaning each and every interview and video will be unique to that publication/website.

The places and dates you need to watch out for are:

June 1st: Embargo drops, meaning many places can post about first impressions about PES 2011 playtest (including WENB!). Along with this, get yourself ready for videos and screenshots and other artwork. The place to be will be Eurogamer however, as those guys will be posting up a special video about their attendance in Tokyo.

June 3rd: PSM3 is released. No concrete information on any actual exclusive in the magazine, but they are the first magazine to have PES 2011 featured with dedicated front cover. Lets not forget they will have their own interviews too. More news on this to follow.

June 15th: OPM is released. The third publication that flew out to Tokyo will be the last to publish their take on PES 2011. As above really, along with their unique interview I’m sure there will be some exclusive screens/content.

And that’s just information from the UK press! With more people at the event from around the world, expect June 1st to be quite an occasion. Not least because WENB have an extra special podcast planned. Stay tuned for information on us having a special guest. Or two.

14 days to go!

We already know PSM3 are off to Tokyo this week to see PES 2011, but what we weren’t too sure of was who else was going with them. Jon Murphy eluded to the event at WEP Team studios being a press PES tour, meaning lots of people going to see the latest game – which in itself shows confidence.

Yesterday though Jon gave us a clue. He re-tweeted a comment from Eurogamer TV’s well known presenter Johnny Minkley which said:

What would be really brilliant now is if tomorrow I was going off to see a football game with a Chelsea fan.

Later on that day, clear references were made to attending a press event. The Chelsea fan? No other than Mr Aviators.

Now, I could be putting 2 and 2 together and getting 5, but I’m confident everything points to Eurogamer being in Tokyo this week to see PES 2011. For me that’s a massive statement, as they’ve been one of EA’s and FIFA’s loudest supporters in recent years, and for those guys to attend the event must mean, IMO, Konami have no doubt in their product wowing all-comers.

The proof then will come in June, when Johnny and Co will be able to spill the beans AND show us some videos. Fingers crossed.

Today they conducted a head-to-head article pitting the two rivals against each other, reviewing them in the process. No surprises in who won the battle, although who’s winning the war is certainly a different story…

Click here to read the article.