Why Option Files Are Better than Licenses...

Feature Article

Submitted on: 12/15/2016 by Kevin Groves

It’s no secret that the debate between FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) usually starts and ends with licenses. With Konami and EA Sports in a race to secure as many licenses as possible, sometimes every gamer suffers in the long run. Thankfully, the PES community is a dedicated bunch set on providing gamers with the most authentic experience possible given the constraints of the system (in this case we’re solely talking about the PS4).

1) Customization

Living in the era of ever-shortened attention spans, the ability of PES to be edited does wonders to keep the game fresh. With nearly every league, club and player editable, PES option file makers have the ability to work wonders when it comes to kits (current and retro), team tactics, and even the replication of classic teams (Arsenal’s “Invincibles”) and/or classic leagues. Lastly, the ability to make offline changes in “edit mode” and have them carry over into your Master League is a subtle benefit that prevents Master League players from dealing with inevitable restarts that often plague FIFA.

2) Real-Time Updates

Without the constraints associated with waiting for patches, PES option file creators can produce their magic in real-time, reflecting the latest lineups and tactics from this past weekend’s action. While large scale art projects like new stadiums requires developer patches, adjusting variables like team tactics, player attribute edits and equipment can be created, adjusted and downloaded instantaneously. As the sports genre slowly moves towards authenticity, this benefit cannot be understated. For example, Chelsea Football Club switched their formation from 4 in the back to 3 in the back a month or so into the season. In FIFA, a restart of your career mode would be necessary in order to reflect this change, while in PES 2017 it’s as simple as going into edit mode and adjusting the formation/tactics before jumping back into Master League to see your changes reflected.

3) Sense Of Personal Touch

There’s something special about sitting down in front of your TV with your laptop open and getting to work on editing the game. This “personal touch” connects players with PES. With tutorials and dedicated individuals (many of them on OS), there’s never a shortage of answers to help PES newbies get their game up and running with complete option files. As the process to download and install option files becomes easier, tailoring the game takes minutes instead of hours.

Unfortunately, the battle for licenses isn’t going anywhere. Thankfully, the PES community is one of the most dedicated global groups out there. Their commitment to making sure PES die-hards have the most authentic experience possible breathes life into a franchise that would probably not survive off gameplay alone. If you’re on the fence about purchasing PES 2017 because of a lack of licenses, head over to the PS4 Option File Thread for PES 2017 and give this year’s game a try with the excellent work done by creative people around the globe.

Do the lack of licenses in PES push you towards FIFA or are you willing to take on a little bit of editing to get maximum enjoyment from the game?

Member Comments

# 1 RoyceDa59 @ 12/15/16 11:18 AM

I agree it is one of the many reasons why PES is still relevant. I hope they can continue to expand the edit mode next year would love for us to be able to add custom chants and create stadiums.

# 2 pk500 @ 12/15/16 11:26 AM

Option files don't mean a damn thing to Xbox One owners because they can't use them with that machine. So licensing is a hell of a lot better than option files for us XB1 gamers.

# 3 DBMcGee3 @ 12/15/16 01:49 PM

The potential is there with the option files, it's just a shame that Konami doesn't seem to recognize the importance of making editing easy on the file makers. They have to stop shooting themselves in the foot with things like image limits, and ideally it would be great if you could apply 'Live Updates' without screwing up any created leagues, teams, tactics, etc.

I'm still a bit perturbed that the Stadium Creator hasn't been brought back yet, no idea why they'd remove something so crucial to making the game more authentic.

# 4 jpollack34 @ 12/15/16 08:01 PM

Wonderful article. Thank you for writing it.

Licenses are way over-hyped. I would take a fully fleshed out edit mode, full with deep customization options any day over a restrictive license. The license holder is always necessarily restrictive. As an example, Look at NFL Blitz reboot, no late hits were allowed... which was essentially the whole essence of NFL Blitz. They want to protect their brand. That's in conflict with gamers, who want to be free and want to customize to their tastes.

Further, the community of users is 100x better than any company could ever be at details and creativity.

And further, editing builds a community like no other. A loyal following that shares ideas.

# 5 jrose57 @ 12/15/16 10:00 PM

any suggestion on which file is the best to use, or should i say completed as i am looking to start a master league soon!

# 6 rschech13 @ 12/15/16 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrose57


	any suggestion on which file is the best to use, or should i say completed as i am looking to start a master league soon!

Personally I like PES Universe's files. Good quality and the guys at that site are really dedicated to their craft.

# 7 DBMcGee3 @ 12/16/16 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrose57


	any suggestion on which file is the best to use, or should i say completed as i am looking to start a master league soon!

PES Universe makes great files, and they generally offer them for free. I'm also a long time fan of Daymos, and he's a really cool guy as well, easy to contact if you ever have any questions or issues.

# 8 klashman69 @ 12/16/16 11:06 AM

We have to be careful us modders now becuase EA and the premier League will look for any excuse to take our work down and threaten us with copyright, we at PES Universe have already been threatened a few times, and its all fear tactics, we sell none of our work, the whole 5/10 pound charge was for USB with everything set up as a convenience.

EA with the Premier league are moving to gestapo levels now with this, they have even destroyed their own PC modding community by making FIA 17 unmoddable!

The time is now for us as the PES community to stick together as much as possible

# 9 crash2772 @ 12/16/16 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBMcGee3


	The potential is there with the option files, it's just a shame that Konami doesn't seem to recognize the importance of making editing easy on the file makers. They have to stop shooting themselves in the foot with things like image limits, and ideally it would be great if you could apply 'Live Updates' without screwing up any created leagues, teams, tactics, etc.

I totally agree. I have to assume Konami has done a S.W.O.T. analysis of their company/product. They're blind if they dont realize their biggest strength CAN be the community developed material. Why spend millions on sponsorship's when we can do a more complete job?

SI Games caught on and added the comprehensive editing suite to their game years ago. Football Manager always had more teams/leagues, but then they upped the ante to allow nearly every team/league in the world if someone put in the effort. Even with the restrictions Sony and lawyers put in place, there are plenty of ways to give us the ability to edit and create far beyond what we have now. Next Gen gaming means Konami are only scratching the surface.

# 10 bc1 @ 12/16/16 04:45 PM

Yeah, option files done well are actually much better than Fifa.

I miss the old MLS option file from the PS3 days...case in point.

# 11 jpollack34 @ 12/16/16 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klashman69


	We have to be careful us modders now becuase EA and the premier League will look for any excuse to take our work down and threaten us with copyright, we at PES Universe have already been threatened a few times, and its all fear tactics, we sell none of our work, the whole 5/10 pound charge was for USB with everything set up as a convenience. EA with the Premier league are moving to gestapo levels now with this, they have even destroyed their own PC modding community by making FIA 17 unmoddable! The time is now for us as the PES community to stick together as much as possible

Those companies are destroying their most ardent and loyal communities.

Any company that tries to take customization and power away from the gamers is on the wrong side of history. Plain and simple.

We have entered a new age. The gamers want the power!

# 12 dtlm6 @ 12/17/16 10:14 PM

I went to play PES today and had to do an update. Now some of the teams in the leagues I set up with option files have reverted back to their generic names and uniforms. Any advice? Will this always be a problem with option files?

# 13 joet6683 @ 12/18/16 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtlm6


	I went to play PES today and had to do an update. Now some of the teams in the leagues I set up with option files have reverted back to their generic names and uniforms. Any advice? Will this always be a problem with option files?

Unfortunately, yes.

When a data pack or live update is available, it moves players back to their original teams since it is an update to the default roster. If the option file ONLY consisted of team name, kit, and stadium updates, those would stay in tact. Renaming generic national team players would be fine as well.

However the main issue is in the case of the PES league, typically that is turned into Bundesliga. If it were turned into that and only kits and players were edited, things would be fine. However since a lot of players in that league are already in the game due to being on a licensed national team (like Germany) the players need to be selected in rather than the generic team player updated, otherwise there would be duplicates of them in Master league. Then once the data pack/live update is applied, those players go back to the default team. In the case of Bundesliga, all edited players will stay, but the real ones that were selected get replaced by the original generic player.

There could be options such as if you apply the dp/lu, if a national team player is not assigned to an in game team, leave him on the generic team he is assigned to. Or applying the update only updates player abilities (excluding the generic players on generic teams) but give you the option to apply player moves, so you can decline to not mess up your rosters.

Because of that, in the past I always only looked for an option file that had names and kits updated, no leagues created from the generic leagues, and no players transferred. That is always hard to find though.

# 14 DBMcGee3 @ 12/19/16 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klashman69


	We have to be careful us modders now becuase EA and the premier League will look for any excuse to take our work down and threaten us with copyright, we at PES Universe have already been threatened a few times, and its all fear tactics, we sell none of our work, the whole 5/10 pound charge was for USB with everything set up as a convenience. EA with the Premier league are moving to gestapo levels now with this, they have even destroyed their own PC modding community by making FIA 17 unmoddable! The time is now for us as the PES community to stick together as much as possible

Very much looking forward to playing with your tactics my man. Planning on quite a bit of PES over the holiday with the new file coming.

Thanks for all the hard work, I can't imagine how much tinkering and testing must be involved for such a massive project.

# 15 asu666 @ 12/19/16 10:14 AM

I'd like to see the return of PES stadium creator. Also, a college football version of Madden with a robust edit mode and file sharing.

# 16 Sportsworth @ 12/19/16 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpollack34


	Wonderful article. Thank you for writing it. Licenses are way over-hyped. I would take a fully fleshed out edit mode, full with deep customization options any day over a restrictive license. The license holder is always necessarily restrictive. As an example, Look at NFL Blitz reboot, no late hits were allowed... which was essentially the whole essence of NFL Blitz. They want to protect their brand. That's in conflict with gamers, who want to be free and want to customize to their tastes. Further, the community of users is 100x better than any company could ever be at details and creativity. And further, editing builds a community like no other. A loyal following that shares ideas.

I couldn't agree with you more.

# 17 dtlm6 @ 12/19/16 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joet6683


	Unfortunately, yes. When a data pack or live update is available, it moves players back to their original teams since it is an update to the default roster. If the option file ONLY consisted of team name, kit, and stadium updates, those would stay in tact. Renaming generic national team players would be fine as well. However the main issue is in the case of the PES league, typically that is turned into Bundesliga. If it were turned into that and only kits and players were edited, things would be fine. However since a lot of players in that league are already in the game due to being on a licensed national team (like Germany) the players need to be selected in rather than the generic team player updated, otherwise there would be duplicates of them in Master league. Then once the data pack/live update is applied, those players go back to the default team. In the case of Bundesliga, all edited players will stay, but the real ones that were selected get replaced by the original generic player. There could be options such as if you apply the dp/lu, if a national team player is not assigned to an in game team, leave him on the generic team he is assigned to. Or applying the update only updates player abilities (excluding the generic players on generic teams) but give you the option to apply player moves, so you can decline to not mess up your rosters. Because of that, in the past I always only looked for an option file that had names and kits updated, no leagues created from the generic leagues, and no players transferred. That is always hard to find though.

Much thanks for the explanation. Feel better knowing that this is a problem with option files and not my PS4. I'm now concerned that, if I go to the trouble of adding the option files again, I'll have the same problem.

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