Champs League dev promises real-life chants

By Robert Purchese Published 14 February, 2007

Talks authenticity, presentation.

Some of the most exciting games in football have taken place in UEFA's money-spinning Champions League - with the last two seasons alone bringing us Liverpool's astonishing comeback against AC Milan and Arsenal's outrageous defeat at the hands of stupid Barcelona. Just don't, alright? It still hurts.

It's this dramatic tension that Matthew Prior, associate producer for EA's Champions League 2006-2007, talks about replicating in his recent developer diary, which has been mercilessly pasted elsewhere on Eurogamer.

Everything that makes the game so special, such as the familiar title music, the night-time setting, the impressive stadiums, the visible emotions on the player's faces: it's all been painstakingly replicated by the EA Sports team. Even the cheery chants from the stands are in.

"For the first time ever, we have recorded authentic chants that were captured from real life matches," Prior boasted. "Football fans that play the game will instantly recognise many of the anthems they'll hear."

It's not just songs from the big teams either; West Ham fans will pick out "I'm forever blowing bubbles" and Portsmouth fans will hear the "Pompey Chimes".

UK gamers will have Clive Tyldsley and Andy Townsend in the commentary box, and we're promised far more encompassing and intelligent chatter than ever before, with your profile remembering what you've heard; stopping the repetition of banter.

"The UEFA Champions League is a very special competition and we have created a very special game to complement it," he added. "[The game] represents the best looking, best sounding and most authentic representation of a real world broadcast we have ever created... and I hope gamers enjoy playing it as much as we enjoyed making it."

So do we, Matthew, and maybe this time Arsenal will emerge victorious. [Or at least without sulking. - Ed]

UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 is released on PC, PS2, PSP and Xbox 360 on 23rd March.

Meanwhile you can catch-up with the previous developer diary for the game elswhere on the site.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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