FIFA 2008

[rad2689]

 

Published by: Electronic Arts

Developed by: EA Canada

Genre: Sports

Release Date: Europe - September 28, 2007, North America - October 9, 2007

Also Available On: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable

 

 

Overview

 

FIFA's one boast over its brilliant-playing competition has always been league licenses, so last year's slim next-gen roster was borderline embarrassing for EA. For FIFA 08, the developers plan to expand the game from six leagues to...wait for it...over 30. The lineup is so deep, it includes English Championship and English Division 1. That equates to over 15,000 players, which EA oh so conveniently tells us is 20% more than are featured in FIFA 08 on PS2, 14,500 more than NBA Live 08, 13,000 more than Madden, and 13,800 more than Pro Evolution 2007. Hear that folks? Buy now and get 25% more FIFA with half the trans fat!

 

While those are impressive numbers, soccer gamers know they don't mean squat if the gameplay isn't sorted. FIFA 07 was well behind Winning Eleven in this area, in part because the oversimplified shooting took the skill out of the game. FIFA 08 has errors in shots, so you can actually miss. There are 12 elements that factor into a shot: from which foot you shoot, if there's a defender around, if the shooter is coming out of a spin, etc. Point is, if you're in need of a miracle shot to score, pass. Shots like that won't go in anymore.

 

What may have your head spinning, though, are the new skill moves that allow some of the most wicked maneuvers ever seen in a sports game. The developers borrowed technology from NBA Street Homecourt, and the result is fluid, dynamic moves that are as inspired as (and certainly inspired by) Ronaldhino's best moves. Describing them is difficult, but trust us, they look stunning.

The Be a Pro Mode, which is a take-off of Madden's Superstar mode, has you select a player and play only as that player. The camera frames you, the ball, and the goal at all times, so it's not disorienting. EA's eventual goal is 11 on 11 online play, but this is the first building block toward that experience (as of now, the mode can only be played in exhibition). It's a cool, nice first step; the best part is how the camera bounces, as in Gears of War, when you're sprinting at full speed, gunning for a goal.

 

 

 

FEATURES

 

Even the most hardcore FIFA fan would admit that the difference between every version and its predecessor are minimal but when a game's fans suggest more than 5000 for their annual treat, it makes you wonder what exactly do they like in it?

 

At the risk of sounding over-criticizing, we'll also point out that Fifa fans did not turn to the official EA forums to submit their suggestions. Instead, they decided to submit their ideas to fan site FIFPlay.

 

At the time of writing this article, FIFPlay has already received more than 5600 posts. The most common requests are in order (as best as we could judge):

- More leagues

- Better graphics

- More "lively" crowd

- Juniors academy

- More moves and better tackling system

- More freedom in the player editor

- Better Goal Keepers

- More managing (merge FIFA Manager into FIFA)

- Indoor games

 

On the other side, some posts were too hilarious that we couldn't decide if they are serious or not. Spelling and grammar mistakes are left unedited:

- a dive button to fool the ref!!!

- Deadly injuries

- I need in fifa2008 a option for a playing 45 minute exatly

- referees mistakes

- Make the players get older when they get thoungh seasons

- Offside celebrations

- when the games finish shake hands take of their t -shirt

- Hey, you guys have to rebuild the game completely, because if you have ever played Pro Evolution soccer you won't have fun with FIFA

- copy pes abit

- Streakers !!!!

- it would be quite cool if in fifa 08 you could play a match and you were the referee

 

 

Reviews

IGN-

EGM-

Gamespot-

CVG-

[rad2689]

2 new gameplay videos-

 

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/23339.h...=1&type=wmv

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/23340.html

[SchizoidFreud]

Fifa 08 Q&A

 

Jozy Altidore has packed a lot into his 17 years. The striker, currently playing in the MLS for the Red Bull New York, was the 17th overall pick in the 2006 MLS draft and made his professional soccer debut in August 2006--while still age 16--and even managed to score a goal in the Red Bulls' loss to D.C. United in last year's Eastern Conference playoffs. With that goal, Altidore, who's known by nicknames "Oatmeal" and "Juice" among teammates, became the youngest player in MLS history to score a playoff goal. Now Altidore can add one more impressive achievement to his resume: EA Sports cover star. Altidore was recently named the cover athlete of the upcoming FIFA 08, making him one of the youngest professional athletes to ever earn that distinction. During a recent phone interview with Altidore, we got his thoughts on video games, the sport of soccer, how David Beckham would change the MLS, and just how he got the nickname "Oatmeal."

 

GameSpot: I want to start with your name. Where did it come from? That's an unusual name.

 

Jozy Altidore: Which one? Are you talking about my nickname or my actual name?

 

GS: Well I want to get to your nickname, but I want to start with "Jozy" first.

 

JA: Well actually it was a coach of mine at the Academy down in Bradenton [Florida], the [soccer] residency program. He couldn't say my whole name and so every day he thought of nicknames to give me and finally he gave me one, Jozy, and he's like, "That's a cool one, right?" And I was like, "Sure. That'll do fine." And ever since that's been my nickname.

 

GS: Your real name is Josmer. Am I pronouncing that right?

 

JA: It is Josmer [pronounced ZHOES-MAIR].

 

GS: OK. So Jozy is not too far off. But that's a little bit easier to say.

 

JA: Yeah, exactly.

 

GS: And then you mentioned your nicknames. I saw two of them on your bio. One is "Oatmeal" and one is "Juice." Where did those come from?

 

JA: Teammates of mine in the program... They originated that name. They started it up and it's ever since stuck with me.

 

GS: What is the significance of "Oatmeal"?

 

JA: I honestly can't tell you. I don't know where they got it from. But it stuck with me ever since.

 

GS: Oatmeal. OK. Well everybody's got unusual nicknames, I guess. So you've played FIFA 08. Give us your thoughts on what you did in the game and what you thought.

 

JA: I mean, the game [is] great. The realism is spectacular. I think that that's an obvious step up. I think the game and the skills that they've put in--it's unbelievable because you can now do moves, you know...like step over, that you would do in the real game. It just makes the game that much more fun to play. As well as the new Be a Pro [mode], it's a new version of the game [where] you...play as a character in the game and you do as what they would do on the field and it's great. You know, you get certain camera zooms when you're going in towards the goal. And it's really just something that's going to make gamers go crazy because it's going to be a lot of fun. It's going to be big hit definitely.

 

GS: I don't know how familiar you are with other EA games. But the idea of playing one position [as in Be a Pro mode] is something they've done in football games, in American football games, in the past. How do you feel about playing the position when you don't have the ball? Is the game still fun for you if you don't have the ball?

 

JA: Well it's really a true footballer's mode or a true footballer fan's mode to really move without the ball and try to find the right spots to gain the advantage. So I think it's going to be very challenging, which is what I think gamers want. They probably found that the past seasons have been too easy. But in this mode I think it's going to be very challenging and then we're going to see who the real gamers are.

 

GS: Right. How do you go about playing soccer games? Do you jack up the difficulty right away?

 

JA: Yeah, I usually do because I've been playing since I was--I've been playing those games since I was young so I already know how to play and with the buttons and all that stuff, so yeah.

 

GS: What do you look for in a game like this that makes it feel authentic for you, that says, "This is what it feels like to be out there on the pitch and playing?" What type of things come through in the gameplay that say, "This is authentic to me?"

 

JA: Well just the obvious things, like the graphics. In the FIFA 08 game they are definitely a step up. And it's very real and it feels like you're in the game actually. The fans, the roar of the stadiums, you know, the authentic look of the goals and the grass and just the little things like that make the game that much better to own and to play.

 

GS: What was it like playing as yourself in the game for the first time?

 

JA: It was a crazy experience because now, you know, it's not like, "Look what I just did." It's, "Look what Jozy just did." It's a lot of fun and it's great.

 

GS: How is your guy? How is your character?

 

JA: Oh, he's actually like me. He's aggressive. He's fast. He's got a very powerful side and he's very energetic and it's very spot-on to how I am as a player.

 

GS: I guess it depends on who's playing you as well.

 

JA: Exactly. Yeah, exactly.

 

GS: Have you had a chance to look at your stats at all?

 

JA: No, I haven't. I didn't look at the stats.

 

GS: It must be something to be your age, obviously a really young guy, and on the cover of a video game.

 

JA: Oh, it's an unbelievable feeling and I'm very thankful to be part of something like this. I mean, EA has put a belief in me and I thank them for that, for giving me the opportunity to cover one of their games. I'm very excited.

 

GS: If five years ago or eight years ago, someone would have told you that you would have been on the cover, what would you have told them?

 

JA: I would have told them, "Hey, that's a funny little dream there. I would like to have that dream come true." So it's really--it's been a roller coaster like I said before and I'm just very grateful at this point.

 

GS: So this is your first year in the MLS, correct?

 

JA: Yeah.

 

GS: How has your season been going so far?

 

JA: Well it's been well, you know. So far it's been a little tough, you know, coming back because of being away for a month with the [2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup]. But coming back it's good to come back, get a couple games under my belt again, and to see the guys. But you know, I'm finally back to where I need to be physically and mentally and with my teammates as well. So the season it's been a good one. We've had our rough patches as a team but every good team has that. So we're just going to look to build for the next game.

 

GS: Who on your team is your toughest competition when it comes to video games?

 

JA: Oh, there is no competition.

 

GS: There is none.

 

JA: No competition when it comes to video games.

 

GS: What do you like to play? Do you play things other than sports games?

 

JA: Halo is a good game. Another good one, let's see, actually Def Jam [icon], that one there is not a bad game.

 

GS: You guys have some games with the LA Galaxy coming up and I just want to get your thoughts on David Beckham and the MLS and if you expect to play him. We're not sure if he's actually going to be back by the time you guys see them the next time.

 

JA: It's very exciting...for the fans and us as well. And if he plays it's going to just be a great night, I'm sure, and it's going to be beneficial, not only for us but for him as well.

 

GS: Any tips for someone who's looking to get better at FIFA 08?

 

JA: Well you have to be quick, you know, with the button tapping. And the video game is, soccer games I think, if you move the ball quickly, I think you'll be very successful. You'll find a lot of open seams and a lot of shots and the shots are the key, rebounds and stuff like that is the key to winning.

 

GS: And it couldn't hurt to get the ball to Jozy, right?

 

JA: Yeah, it couldn't hurt to find that guy.

 

GS: Thanks for your time.

[KnackChap]

although i dont care about this game,for those who do.

FIFA 08 was one of the three on-stage demonstrations during the Electronic Arts press conference at Games Convention 2007 this morning, and EA Canada Producer Joe Booth made sure to underscore an important point about this year's version: the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are both running at 60 frames per second.

 

This is very unlike the recently released Madden NFL 2008, which runs at half the speed on PS3 due to EA's football teams having built their next-generation technology from the ground up on Xbox 360. Booth brought the PS3 version to GC 2007 to demonstrate FIFA 08's new gameplay features -- check GameVideos for that soon

both versions running at 60fps confirmed

[MarketTantrik]

although i dont care about this game,for those who do.

 

both versions running at 60fps confirmed

 

At last. Some effort being made.

[KnackChap]

Soccer Role-Playing: FIFA 08 will allow 5-on-5 full-team online matches on Xbox 360 and PS3

 

Electronic Arts announced that FIFA 08 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 will support 10 players anywhere in the world in a single match and lock them into single, fixed role as a disciplined football player. Dubbed Be A Pro: Online Team Play, this free role-playing-like download will be ready about six to eight weeks after the game goes to stores.

 

EA detailed its plans on the download in an official statement

Be A Pro: Online Team Play is the evolution of a new play mode featured in FIFA 08 called Be A Pro that locks you into the role of a single, fixed player the entire game and challenges you to master the same disciplines as a real football player—from positioning and tackling to reading the field and passing. Users receive real time feedback and analysis on the fly and a unique camera angle keeps both player and action in focus, zooming in when you’re on attack. Now in Be A Pro: Online Team Play, up to five friends on different consoles will be able to select and take control of their own individual players on the same team, supported by AI teammates, to play against up to five rivals of another team. Alternatively, online users can select to play with free roaming players, and teams can have a combination of both.

 

“At EA SPORTS our dream is to create a full 11 versus 11 online gameplay experience in which each user will have a set position during the match and train specifically for that position,” said Joe Booth, producer of FIFA 08. “Be A Pro is the first step in this direction, and now, with the ability to deliver five versus five online gameplay as free downloadable content, we are moving even closer towards the realization of this dream.”

 

“Be A Pro forces you to think and react like a professional player where you experience the whole range of emotions players go through during the course of a game,” said Andrew Wilson, Executive Producer of FIFA 08. “Now we are taking this experience online for you to share with your friends. You will have to learn to work together as a team much like any real teams go through in order to be successful.”

 

In addition to Be A Pro: Online Team Play, the online feature set in FIFA 08 includes the award-winning Interactive Leagues, where you represent your club online against your rivals throughout the season in the F.A. Premier League, Bundesliga, French League or Mexican 1st Division and features weekly in-game pod casts by the development team, and Online Leagues, where you create and organize your own multiplayer Friends Leagues and tournaments with all the tools in-game.

 

FIFA 08 debuts in Europe on September 28 followed by North America on October 9. That means we’ll probably see this Be A Pro: Online Team Play download sometime between November 20 or December 4. Stay tuned to Gaming Target for more.

[MadridistaLove]

yipeeee........thanks for startin da thread!!

 

fifa,fifa all da way!

[KnackChap]

GC 2007: FIFA Interactive World Cup Exclusive to PS3

Sony has signed a deal with Electronic Arts and FIFA to be the official partner for the FIFA Interactive World Cup, which kicks off this October. The announcement means that players from 25 countries from around the world can compete to be the world's number one player over PlayStation Network, as well as real-world FIWC 08 qualifying events scheduled to take place in the coming months.

 

everyone thank peter moore

[Hahaman]

Like many EA Sports games, FIFA seems like a perfect match for the Wii and its motion-sensitive controller. After all, there are loads of movements made in the game that could be replicated with the controller: running, throw-ins, and goal kicks to name but a few. While the developer has made an effort to replicate some of these physical actions on Nintendo's console, it's also taken this opportunity to make a game accessible to non-football game players. We got a chance to see the results for the first time at the Leipzig Game Convention 2007.

 

FIFA 08's control system is split into an advanced mode, which uses both the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk, as well as a family mode that uses just the Wii Remote. The family mode hands control of the players to the computer artificial intelligence, allowing people who are not used to football games to just control the passing and shooting. The advanced control system, on the other hand, uses a mixture of button presses, as well as control stick and physical movements to handle the onscreen action. Players are moved using the Nunchuk's control stick, while A passes, B is a through ball, Z sprints, and C enables tricks. Shots and tackles are performed by moving the Wii Remote up in the air, with the speed and height of the movement dictating the power of the shot. You can also move the Wii Remote to one side to add swerve to the shot.

 

Aside from the new control system, this version of FIFA 08 is pretty much exactly the same as the other console versions in terms of features. The game offers the same 30 leagues and 15,000 players as in the PlayStation 2 version. It also offers all the same cups and championships. There's even going to be an online play mode for Nintendo Wi-Fi connected consoles, and EA servers will be used to allow up to four players to compete in this mode. EA Sports has chosen to use Nintendo's Mii characters, and while you won't be able play as the characters in the game itself, they'll still represent you in your online games.

 

In addition to the standard game modes, the Wii version will have a selection of three party games hosted by Brazil's Ronaldinho, and we got to see two of the three on offer. The first is a table football (foosball if you're American) played via the Wii Remote, with twists of the wrist allowing you to play the tabletop game on your console. The second was a game of keep-up, where you have to press the right buttons to make your player keep the ball in the air.

 

Plenty of effort has been taken to make the first Wii iteration of FIFA 08 a substantially different offering from the other console versions. It's clear that while the game offers all the authenticity that the series has become known for, the control system adapts the gameplay considerably. We didn't get chance to play the game at our brief demonstration, although we'll endeavor to make it back to EA's booth before we leave to try it out firsthand. Luckily, it won't be long until the final game is released because the Wii version of FIFA 08 hits stores alongside the other versions this October.

[MadridistaLove]

any1 has clue abt its release date on 360?

[Hahaman]

2nd oct i think

[MadridistaLove]

i hope so..

[Anmolsc]

Dvdcarve.com says game release date for 360 as september 27 2007 and preorder is available is it true thats its coming out on 27th

[MadridistaLove]

^^if da news is true den awesome.......

[Jake]

Ea seems to be catching up with Konami interms of gameplay.Alotta ppl r sayin Pes 2008 plays jus like Pes 6...which sux

[HOglegtrausavo]

If its anything like fifa 07 its gonna be awesome

[MightySkate]

FIFA 08 release date announced, demo news

 

Read here : Link

 

Can't wait for the demo to come out on psn

[KnackChap]

demo out 6th sep i think

[MightySkate]

on psn??? :shock3: or live

[KnackChap]

dunno live ,but PSN its 6th sep.