FIFA World Cup 2010: Real Change or Re-named?
Analyzing the changes made by EA Sports between FIFA '10 game and its summer 'spin-off' FIFA World Cup 2010.
Love it or loathe it, football will be a big part of the months of June and July.
Africa's first opportunity to host a World Cup 'kicks off' on June 11, 2010 in South Africa. Football's shift to a new continent for the first time in major international competition will begin with the hosts playing against Mexico in Johannesburg and will end a month later with the two surviving teams battling it out for the Jules Rimet trophy.
The World Cup's Global Impact is Already Beginning to Show
Football fever already seems to be upon us as TV adverts, product promotions and national branded personal accessories galore are now impossible to ignore.
Embracing the video gamers who want to be part of this summer's tournament, EA Sports released the officially licensed 2010 FIFA World Cup game on April 30, 2010 on just about every major gaming platform available. Following on from the successes of FIFA 10, the United States game giant is hoping to deliver an authentic experience of the coming months events. In the process EA also hopes to build on the success of its football franchise which sold around 9.1 million copies.
Worries Surround 'Game Content'
Retailing at anywhere between £19.99 and £39.99 FIFA World Cup 2010 represents a significant investment considering that FIFA's previous version was only released in October 2009.
Despite their willingness to get hold of a copy before the tournament starts, fans may be asking themselves if this is merely a version of the same game with all the features stripped out of it in an attempt to exploit the World Cup in South Africa.
The superb quality of it's predecessor means that hardcore fans will have few issues with paying full price for the new game as they were required to do in 2008, 2006, 2004 and every World Cup and European Championship year since EA broke into the market with FIFA International in 1994.
There may however be skepticism from causal gamers as to whether this game is worth the purchase only half way through the life cycle of the company's previous release.
Players who are familiar with FIFA will be re-assured by statement on their website by EA which stated that 'several of the game's features had been worked on in order to become part of the 2010 World Cup Game' and picking up a copy or playing the demo on consoles there are several reasons to be confident that the 19th release in the series by EA Sports is far from a clone of the 18th.
Game Speeds Tweaked
FIFA '10 was no slouch by any means but its more simulation style earned it praise over the more arcade and fast paced action involved in Pro Evolution Soccer '10. In 2010 FIFA World Cup, EA has cranked up the tempo to allow the game to move at quicker speeds, reflecting the often end-to-end nature of World Cup group stage football. Noticeably AI opponents sporting weaker teams player at a slower pace if they are in possession of the ball and often employ tactics of time-wasting if they are leading.
Increased Coverage of International Teams
It may be an obvious requirement for a game which has no involvement from club teams at all, but the poultry twenty or so international teams offered by FIFA '10 have been extended to a full roster of well over 150 countries who too part in World Cup qualification. Connection to PSN or XBOX Live allows changes to be made to squads who are taking part in the World Cup, and all the teams who gave permission have fully licensed kits.
No More Over Rating of Individuals
Whilst you can still slalom through helpless defenses with Lionel Messi or bully defenders in physical match-ups whilst in control of Didier Drogba, players of FIFA '10 on XBOX 360 will be glad to discover that the often 'unstoppable' place shots (carried out with by holding down RB) has been refined. Goalkeeping levels are still realistically strong when trying a shot from long range, and fewer international class stoppers are now caught horribly out of position. Shooting from 25 yards with specialists like Steven Gerrard achieve greater success than the did in FIFA '10 however, especially if the player in possession is given time and space. This is all balanced off by making 'weaker' players from lower ranked teams more one-footed, and able to achieve less control on their passes and shots.
Win the World Cup With Your Favorite Team
The clue may be in the title of the game but 2010 FIFA World Cup allows players to take part in a complete qualification and World Cup campaign with their selected country. This mode is also functional in the same way as FIFA '10's 'Be A Pro' was, only in the re-named 'Captain Your Country', players can selected an already existing international or import their own FIFA'10 created player into the game. If your country will be missing out on the experience of the world's greatest sporting event this summer or you just want to achieve the impossible and help minnows like Netherland Antillies or San Marino qualify for the tournament then that is entirely successful as a team or an individual player from your selected squad.
Re-live the Past
Carrying over from 2006 FIFA World Cup is the 'Story of Qualifying' mode which puts the player in real situations from qualifying and asks you two re-write or re-create history from the two year long campaigns of selected countries. Included in this are challenges involving individuals and teams such as taking control of Theo Walcott against Croatia and scoring a hat-trick, or helping Rep. of Ireland bounce back from the deflation of an extra time goal going against them against France.
A Winner All Round?
Combining a removal of the more frustrating elements of FIFA '10, the upgrading of online play, and the chance to captain your country to World Cup success will make 2010 FIFA World Cup a very popular choice for gamers across the globe - before, during, and after the real event.
Africa's first opportunity to host a World Cup 'kicks off' on June 11, 2010 in South Africa. Football's shift to a new continent for the first time in major international competition will begin with the hosts playing against Mexico in Johannesburg and will end a month later with the two surviving teams battling it out for the Jules Rimet trophy.
The World Cup's Global Impact is Already Beginning to Show
Football fever already seems to be upon us as TV adverts, product promotions and national branded personal accessories galore are now impossible to ignore.
Embracing the video gamers who want to be part of this summer's tournament, EA Sports released the officially licensed 2010 FIFA World Cup game on April 30, 2010 on just about every major gaming platform available. Following on from the successes of FIFA 10, the United States game giant is hoping to deliver an authentic experience of the coming months events. In the process EA also hopes to build on the success of its football franchise which sold around 9.1 million copies.
Worries Surround 'Game Content'
Retailing at anywhere between £19.99 and £39.99 FIFA World Cup 2010 represents a significant investment considering that FIFA's previous version was only released in October 2009.
Despite their willingness to get hold of a copy before the tournament starts, fans may be asking themselves if this is merely a version of the same game with all the features stripped out of it in an attempt to exploit the World Cup in South Africa.
The superb quality of it's predecessor means that hardcore fans will have few issues with paying full price for the new game as they were required to do in 2008, 2006, 2004 and every World Cup and European Championship year since EA broke into the market with FIFA International in 1994.
There may however be skepticism from causal gamers as to whether this game is worth the purchase only half way through the life cycle of the company's previous release.
Players who are familiar with FIFA will be re-assured by statement on their website by EA which stated that 'several of the game's features had been worked on in order to become part of the 2010 World Cup Game' and picking up a copy or playing the demo on consoles there are several reasons to be confident that the 19th release in the series by EA Sports is far from a clone of the 18th.
Game Speeds Tweaked
FIFA '10 was no slouch by any means but its more simulation style earned it praise over the more arcade and fast paced action involved in Pro Evolution Soccer '10. In 2010 FIFA World Cup, EA has cranked up the tempo to allow the game to move at quicker speeds, reflecting the often end-to-end nature of World Cup group stage football. Noticeably AI opponents sporting weaker teams player at a slower pace if they are in possession of the ball and often employ tactics of time-wasting if they are leading.
Increased Coverage of International Teams
It may be an obvious requirement for a game which has no involvement from club teams at all, but the poultry twenty or so international teams offered by FIFA '10 have been extended to a full roster of well over 150 countries who too part in World Cup qualification. Connection to PSN or XBOX Live allows changes to be made to squads who are taking part in the World Cup, and all the teams who gave permission have fully licensed kits.
No More Over Rating of Individuals
Whilst you can still slalom through helpless defenses with Lionel Messi or bully defenders in physical match-ups whilst in control of Didier Drogba, players of FIFA '10 on XBOX 360 will be glad to discover that the often 'unstoppable' place shots (carried out with by holding down RB) has been refined. Goalkeeping levels are still realistically strong when trying a shot from long range, and fewer international class stoppers are now caught horribly out of position. Shooting from 25 yards with specialists like Steven Gerrard achieve greater success than the did in FIFA '10 however, especially if the player in possession is given time and space. This is all balanced off by making 'weaker' players from lower ranked teams more one-footed, and able to achieve less control on their passes and shots.
Win the World Cup With Your Favorite Team
The clue may be in the title of the game but 2010 FIFA World Cup allows players to take part in a complete qualification and World Cup campaign with their selected country. This mode is also functional in the same way as FIFA '10's 'Be A Pro' was, only in the re-named 'Captain Your Country', players can selected an already existing international or import their own FIFA'10 created player into the game. If your country will be missing out on the experience of the world's greatest sporting event this summer or you just want to achieve the impossible and help minnows like Netherland Antillies or San Marino qualify for the tournament then that is entirely successful as a team or an individual player from your selected squad.
Re-live the Past
Carrying over from 2006 FIFA World Cup is the 'Story of Qualifying' mode which puts the player in real situations from qualifying and asks you two re-write or re-create history from the two year long campaigns of selected countries. Included in this are challenges involving individuals and teams such as taking control of Theo Walcott against Croatia and scoring a hat-trick, or helping Rep. of Ireland bounce back from the deflation of an extra time goal going against them against France.
A Winner All Round?
Combining a removal of the more frustrating elements of FIFA '10, the upgrading of online play, and the chance to captain your country to World Cup success will make 2010 FIFA World Cup a very popular choice for gamers across the globe - before, during, and after the real event.