EA announces Football Academy for DS News

EA Sports has announced Football Academy, the first title it's developing exclusively for DS .

The game will take the form of a collection of "challenges and mini-games that improve football knowledge in a fun and entertaining way", according to the press release. From the look of the screenshots these will be both skill and trivia based affairs, from old favourites like penalties to the slightly dubious looking "guess the badge" scenario.

Whilst EA has stated that players "will take their improved skills onto the pitch to compete against their friends", there is no explicit mention of actual football being played. A match based on managerial skills perhaps? It would certainly seem a stretch to include a full simulation.

Apparently the aim of the title is to learn strategy, positioning and technique, providing a deeper understanding of the mechanics of the game. Being the types who stand up and shout at everything which seems controversial or exciting whilst spectating, we'd welcome the lesson.

EA Sports Footballing Academy is under development by EA Canada in Vancouver and is expected exclusively on DS in March this year.