In August, sports gamers rejoice in football fever.Now, in the last weeks of October, sports gamers, albeit from different parts of the world, are rejoicing in their own football fever. Or futbol. Or calico. This week in Europe, Konami is releasing its newest version of Pro Evolution Soccer (PES 2008) -- usually known as Winning Eleven in the States.

While the normal tweaks and additions have been promised, from “more player animations” to “smarter AI,” this year marks the series’ first venture onto the Playstation 3, where the bevy of its core audience -- PlayStation owners -- awaits with the sleepless anticipation of children on Christmas Eve.

As a fan of the series dating back to the late 1990s, I am curious to see how PES translates onto the PS3, a console that has been hyped for its newfound graphical and logistical potential. That said, the early -- and I mean very early -- forecasts of PES so far is, unsurprisingly negative, as the series’ hardcore gamers expect their big Christmas present boxes to be plasma TVs, only to discover that it’s a build-it-yourself computer desk from Wal-Mart.

However, as I digest the endless flow of message board discussions revealing (mostly) unsuccessful attempts to swipe the game a few hours early, I find it fascinating to observe the parallel social behaviors of fans of the two “football” games, Madden and Pro Evolution. First, before the game’s arrival, the starry-eyed optimism and fretting; then, once the game is in hand, the resulting disappointment and near depression.

Unlike other major video game titles, say Halo 3 or Zelda or Metal Gear Solid, it seems that sports gamers -- like Chicago Cubs fans -- seem oh so naïve and rosy eyed at the start of the year, and then have their high expectations crushed and reconciled. Yet, year after year, those same groups of fans willingly drink the Kool-Aid again, attaching themselves to one quirky new feature or producer comment, allowing themselves to fall under boy-band fan-esque giddiness. 

In fact, I enjoy this cyclical gaming sociology nearly as much as I do the games themselves. Perhaps it’s the nature of sports fans to quickly forget the failures of a botched year and move ahead, as they know (especially Cubbies) there is always next year. That said, I’d like to unveil my Top 5 favorite threads that would seem so clique if they weren’t met with so much unbridled optimism every single year.

1. The “I GOT THE GAME” Success Stories
Akin to a parent holding their newborn baby child for the first time, gamers describe the delight of holding the packaged game in their hands. “It’s mine! It’s finally mine!!!11” Also, the narratives of people waiting, then watching the UPS workers arrive at the house are classic. Perhaps UPS workers have re-named the release date of Madden as “Awkward Man Hug Day.”

2. The “WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO ON RELEASE DAY” Threads
From what team jersey to wear to what snacks to munch on, hardcore gamers fake illness and skip class to sketch out a full day with their newly arrived game. I’d scoff at reading other guys’ detailed daily plans, especially ones that outline the away jerseys of first exhibition games or prioritize the order of midfielder sock editing, if only I didn’t so feverishly read them all myself. 

3. The “YES! I TRICKED THAT STUPID GAMESTOP WORKER” Stories
While the advent of pre-ordering games online has diminished the treasure hunt, I always enjoy reading anecdotes from the hardcore fans that spend an afternoon or two circling all their neighborhood electronics stores looking to con a naïve worker into selling the game early.

For every time it works, it doesn’t 1,000 times -- the 1,000 other cases actually make for more of an interesting read, especially when tortured gamers are able to coerce the game but can’t buy it because it doesn’t scan at the register. As I find most electronic store workers to be inept, especially regarding PES, I also enjoy the many rants out-of-luck gamers spew when a worker makes the heinous error of giving out a wrong release date.

4. The Angry “DO THE PRODUCERS EVER WATCH A REAL GAME?!” Threads
As part of the hangover of unmet expectations, gamers toothache over alleged CPU cheating and the occasional glitch. I find it hilarious that adult men rage over non-realistic ball physics.

5. The “200X Wishlist” Thread
It’s classic when, even before the game is released, that a wishlist thread for “next” year is started. But perhaps that helps explains the sociology of a hardcore gamer; there’s always another incarnation 12 months away, and with it, the hopes of improvement.