Move over Messi, Ronaldo is the New PES 2012 Cover Star

After several years with Barcelona ace Lionel Messi gracing the covers of its Pro Evolution Soccer series of games, Konami has gone in a different – and opposing – direction this year, by making Real Madrid playmaker Christiano Ronaldo the focal point for PES 2012. The new cover will show Ronaldo – in his white Real Madrid home strip – on the ball in a dynamic pose which is intended to represent the dynamic changes that have been integrated into Pro Evolution Soccer this year.

These radical changes include improved Artificial Intelligence and added off-the-ball control techniques, which aim to allow players to shift around teammates during set pieces and to send players into space in order to set up that perfect, defence-splitting pass. This is all part of the new Teammate control system. Add on to that thenew Active AI system, where computer-controlled players will also find space like never before and make ingenious runs that we have never seen the computer-aided teammates make in previous titles in the series.

Jon Murphy, European PES Team Leader states that; “With so much emphasis on the movement of players and their individual abilities in PES 2012, we wanted the cover to feature a star known for their ability to change a game with one skillful move and to show that person doing what they do best… As such, the image features Cristiano shaping to hit the ball: whether to ping a long pass across field, picking out dangerous runs, or creating something out of seemingly nothing. He is the perfect embodiment of everything we have set out to do with the game this year.”

And Christiano Ronaldo is obviously excited to be involved with the project; “I am flattered that KONAMI has chosen me to be the face of PES 2012, and by their reasoning behind the cover image… PES 2012 to me is the perfect recreation of football, and truly highlights the way teams work together to create attacks, make space and break down defences. I think anyone that plays it will get a better understanding of the mechanics of football and how players work together. It is never about one player, it is about the team – and PES 2012 demonstrates that better than any other game.”

The title will be hitting retail next month, so expect anticipation levels to soon reach fever pitch, especially with arch-rival FIFA hitting stores just before PES 2012 does. This is the best time of the year for fans of both gaming and football and you can expect a lot more information to be forthcoming soon.

Check out the new cover images below:

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PES 2012 is due out on October 14th for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. The PlayStation 2 and PSP versions will be released on October 28th, with the Nintendo Wii version shipping on November 4th.