FIFA 08 demo tomorrow

By Robert Purchese Published 12 September, 2007

On both Live and PSN.

EA has confirmed that the demo for FIFA 08 will go live on 360 and PS3 tomorrow.

It'll give you a chance to try out what the publisher is calling its most coherent football game to date. There's the new skill system to try out, the opportunity to play as just one member of the team and not mess it up, plus the usual better graphics, physics, and all that malarkey.

EA is also offering much more in the way of online support this time around. Following a post-release update you'll be able to play five against five, for instance, where you each control your player of choice on either side. The ultimate goal is to have 11 versus 11, although we're not sure who would really want to be centre-back or the goalie.

Interactive Leagues are back, too, so you and your chums can help your favourite team to victory, plus lots of other knick knacks. Sprint your way over to our first impressions of FIFA 08 for a closer look.

FIFA 08 is coming out on PC, PS3, 360, PS2, PSP, Wii and DS on 28th September. Look out for our thoughts soon.

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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Comments (79) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • sn3jk #1 4 years ago

    horray! been looking forward to this.

  • The-Bodybuilder #2 4 years ago

    So PSN is finally getting stuff early?

  • Aretak #3 4 years ago

    Looking forward to trying this. Nice to see PSN getting a demo at the same time as XBL for once.

  • Darren #4 4 years ago

    Woooooh, steady... need to sit down here... did someone say that the FIFA 08 demo will be available for the Xbox 360 and PS3? Wow, that must be a first...

    I read, on IGN I think, that the PS3 version of FIFA 08 is a jaggy mess so I'm looking forward to checking both out! If it's true then I'm glad I pre-ordered it for the 360 and not PS3. Can the PS3 even do anti-aliasing I wonder...? :?

  • ZeroAX #5 4 years ago

    so why no pc demo?

  • Darren #6 4 years ago

    Because it came out a week or two back? ;)

  • The-Bodybuilder #7 4 years ago

    >"although we're not sure who would really want to be centre"

    Errr, the people who actually LIKE being centre backs in real life (me for instance).

  • windowlicker #8 4 years ago

    PC demo is already out.

  • Aretak #9 4 years ago

    Can the PS3 even do anti-aliasing I wonder...?

    :facepalm:

  • SteveB #10 4 years ago

    Yay ! After switching to the darkside last year after 12 years of Pro Evo (in all it's forms), I'm really looking forward to this. Hopefully a PES demo will come out as well before Fifa is released so I can compare and see if I can be tempted back to the light !

  • lambtron #11 4 years ago

    "Can the PS3 even do anti-aliasing I wonder...?

    :facepalm:"

    Sounds like some advanced variant of Napalm that ONLY AFFECTS YOUR FACE!

  • SeesThroughAll #12 4 years ago

    Can the PS3 even do anti-aliasing I wonder...? :?

    KZ2 said yes.

  • The_Inquisitor #13 4 years ago

    I haven't been into any Fifa game since '97, I'll give this one a bash though, hopefully It'll be good.
    Edited by 1 at 12/09/07 @ 16:10

  • pixelmixer #14 4 years ago

    as a football/PES fan i think i'll wait for another couple of iterations of FIFA before seriously considering it. if the level of effort from the developers maintains the same then in a year or 2 FIFA would have completely caught up with PES if not overtaken it. EA are being really pro-active about making FIFA a better game whilst PES seems to keep plodding along resting on its reputation.

  • instinct3000 #15 4 years ago

    yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy lol

  • El_MUERkO #16 4 years ago

    oooOoooooo

    i shall be downloading :)

  • mcmonkeyplc #17 4 years ago

    Right then. The time has come to give Fifa another chance. If this is any good and PES blows again then bye bye konami.

  • Steroyd #18 4 years ago

    Ah a Fifa demo to channel all my hate for EA sports can't wait.

  • [menace] #19 4 years ago

    Someone said proactive...

    /readies pitchfork!

  • ElNino9 #20 4 years ago

    Any word on the teams in the demo? I reckon Man Utd and Barca are sure bets, seen as ugly and uglier have their mugs plastered on the box

  • Placebo #21 4 years ago

    I had a chance to get some hands on time with Fifa08 360 last Friday at GCA in Singapore, also chatted to an EA producer for 20 mins or so, wrote a humongous writeup + Q&A on the EA and IGN forums if anyone has far too much time on their hands ;)

    [link url=http://boards.ign.com/fifa_soccer/b5726/150070114/p1/?30
    ]http://bo ards.ign.com/fifa_soccer/b5726/...[/link]
    [link url=http://footballcommunity.ea.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t =53815
    ]http://fo otballcommunity.ea.com/forum/vi...[/link]

    If anyone wants the short version Fifa08 is fantastic and IMO a much better overall game than PES, not least because PES' ML is completely stagnant and has needed serious improvement since PES3, instead we got silly animal heads......

  • Steroyd #22 4 years ago

    Elnino who is on the Fifa Boxart? Can't top the French PES one with both Drogba and Ronaldo.

    Rooney and Ronahldino?

  • ElNino9 #23 4 years ago

    Yeah it's Ronaldinho and Rooney on the UK boxart

    I think it's Owen on the front of the UK PES with Ronaldo. Drogba being on the front would be enough, for me to ask for the disc only :D

    I think Ribery is one the French box art with Ronaldinho... That front cover should come with and 18 certificate

    / Stick pin in Drogba voodoo doll
    Edited by 1 at 12/09/07 @ 18:17

  • Cider-X #24 4 years ago

    I shall be downloading on both consoles... After all, footie games are still the main reason I buy them :)

  • db3 #25 4 years ago

    Excellent, can't wait!

  • miiiguel #26 4 years ago

    Sorry to post this so off-topic here, but it's still footy...

    Our coach (Portugal) punched a Serbian ( is it that way?) player after we conceded a draw on the last two minutes.
    Hilarious, then sad...

    Shit seems fuckin serious now, Serbia federation president is asking for a "permanent ban" from FIFA. Shit...
    Edited by 2 at 12/09/07 @ 23:33

  • JayeM #27 4 years ago

    I'll be buying both as usual. :)

  • Placebo #28 4 years ago

    @KILLA

    Have you played it? I have and it rocks, better than PES' super fast, arcadey, on rails gameplay, not to mention Fifa08 on 360 actually looks like a proper next gen title, rather than PES' slightly tarted up PS2 look......

  • Mart #29 4 years ago

    Placebo, are you stalking me? :)

  • SteveB #30 4 years ago

    @Killa if it's anything like last years version 3 or 4 goes certainly will not show everything the game has to offer. I've played PES all the way back to the Snes version and the last Fifa I had played was Fifa 96 and in my opinion Fifa 07 (Xbox version) was better than PES 6 (PS2 version) last year. You need take off the PES blinkers and give Fifa a good go (a weeks play), you may be suprised.

    Having said all that I haven't played the 08 version which could be a complete load of **** this year !

  • andijames #31 4 years ago

    Have to agree with you there Steve. I've been playing Pro Evo since the SNES days too including the JAP evolution versions on PS2 and in my opinion PES has become more "scripted" and "on rails" now than fifa due to some dodgy AI and a wierd shooting system. Dont get me wrong the game still rocks but it's not as good as it used to be. I sincerely hope PES pull one out of the bag this yr but FIFA last yr was a huge improvement and with this being a free demo at least people can make there own minds up about it before buying it. I for one will probably end up buying both but can honestly say im looking forward to trying FIFA more this yr than PES. Interesting to see if konami are confident enough to release a demo 2 weeks before the game comes out this time :)

  • dom6918 #32 4 years ago

    DELAYED!!

    If you have an American account your ok and can get the demo...

    If you have a European account...well you wont be playing Fifa 08 next gen today!

  • The_Sheep #33 4 years ago

    well ..can you d/l it with a silver us account , or its only for gold members?

  • JackyB #34 4 years ago

    I am really not sure how i can buy this. How will i know if its better than Pro Evo? I used to prefer it in the days when Pro Evo was miles better. No choice to make. I can't get both either cos that would be weird, and if i get Fifa, i will feel like i am cheating on my wife! HELP ;)

  • tinners #35 4 years ago

    hate to say it cos im pro evo through and through, but this could be a killer blow for EA, looks like its got the gameplay to back up the great gfx this time round.

    *roll on tomorrow to see if its true*

  • dom6918 #36 4 years ago

    It is not being released on EU Xbox;s and PS3's period...today!

  • Sensiblo #37 4 years ago

    So not today for me, if i have a european account? When then?

  • Darren #38 4 years ago

    With this year's FIFA 08 supposedly running at 60 fps (not the 30 of the previous versions), the gameplay should feel more fluid this time round. A common criticism of the older games was that they felt sluggish to play. Certainly all of EA's other sports games, NHL 08, Madden NFL 08 and NBA Live 08, seem to have really benefitted from the higher framerate as they not only look better but the game flows so much better too.

  • manufan200 #39 4 years ago

    I have been waiting ages for this demo and the yanks have got it and they don't even like football.

  • the_sas_man #40 4 years ago

    bloody yanks...

  • MrChewbakkah #41 4 years ago

    Im tempted to try this 'new' version of FiFa, even though I have been a Pro Evo 'fanboy' for several years, the darkside beckons...

  • Sensiblo #42 4 years ago

    Does anyone know when it WILL be out?

  • dom6918 #43 4 years ago

    No release date for EU at the moment...

    Even though you live in the UK..you still might have a US account..wink wink!

  • brazzauk #44 4 years ago

    I am getting so pissed off with US developers ignoring the European market. This game will sell 10 times more here that in the poxy US of A!!!

    Complete joke.

  • gaselite #45 4 years ago

    Not on PSN today is it?

  • binky #46 4 years ago

    I can confirm its on the US XBM now.

    downloading....

  • BM #47 4 years ago

    @binky

    Any chance of giving us your thoughts once you've had a go on it?

  • Darren #48 4 years ago

    I'm sure FIFA 08 has a 28th September release date, which fits in with the release date of the earlier versions. I think Pro Evo Soccer 2008 is out two weeks later, 12th October.

  • JackyB #49 4 years ago

    I thought pro evo was Oct 26th

  • brazzauk #50 4 years ago

    I am getting it now. Will post views.

    Can FIFA finally catch up to PES?

    The US live marketplace is soooooo much better than ours!! Poxy Yanks!

    Demo is 702mb, seems a bit slow coming down today, at 80%

    Downloaded now, back in 10
    Edited by 3 at 13/09/07 @ 12:00

  • SteveB #51 4 years ago

    @darren

    Fifa 07 (xbox) didn't feel sluggish, however it did feel floaty in comparison to PES which felt much more solid and connected to the game world. I hope this has been sorted out in 08.

  • brazzauk #52 4 years ago

    First impressions are it looks and plays like Fifa 07 on 360.

    You start in the same lobby with Ronaldinho. Good chance to try the trick stick. You need to hold the left trigger to do the skill moves, seems okay, nicely animated tricks.

    Jumped into a game, you get a 4 minute half with Barca and Manure. Used Barca. The game looks and feels like FIFA 07. Need to play more but after the first match I struggled to see the difference. Didn't use the trick stick much. Shooting will take some getting used to as well. No commentary in the demo and the match is set in the Allianz arean which looks nice. Player likenesses are okay.

    Jury is out at the moment. Will have to play some more. Like the addition of the right stick to select your defender, better than letter the CPU select the wrong man.

  • brazzauk #53 4 years ago

    Spent a bit more time messing around in the pre-game with the trick stick and it seem like it could be really good. Lots of possiblilities and it looks good.

    Ball physics on the shooting seems good too, depending which foot horse face uses you get different ball reaction, very realistic ball movement.

  • dom6918 #54 4 years ago

    Brazza..have you got a US account? is it easy to set up?...
    I thought it was going to be completely different to 07..thats what all the videos were showing...lot more fluid..better ball physics and passing etc...

    if they have made a rehash of 07 i will not be pleased..this was something i had hope for!!

  • brazzauk #55 4 years ago

    @Dom

    I have had four games now and it is quite a fluid game. The AI for the CPU seems better, harder to break down. Scored one goal so far!

    Passing is a bit better than 07 but I am not sure its as good as last gen Fifa 07. Its difficult to get into the flow of the game in the half in the demo.

    The ball physics are good. It seems like a grower. I was hoping for wow, but I should know better with FIFA.

    Better? Yes. Great? Not sure yet.

  • ElNino9 #56 4 years ago

    Is this coming out on PSN today, Or are the delays just rumours?

  • dom6918 #57 4 years ago

    cool, thanks for the info..

    one of my hates of 07..was the passing and how static and slow everything was..
    it felt like the players were kicking a piece of hot bouncy coal, every pass bounced and each player had to over control everything!!

  • brazzauk #58 4 years ago

    @dom

    The through ball is still useless when CPU assisted but I find the 360 pad is not accurate enough when its off.

    I can't help but feel the control will be better on a playstation pad. 7 games now and still only one goal.

    One thing that is still missing from the last gen Fifa 07 is the battles when the ball is in the air. Crosses are crap and so is contesting a high ball. The winner still seems random.

  • dom6918 #59 4 years ago

    shooting??

    What impressed me with the video demo was the rapid pace that the ball was played through at.. quick 1 touch passing..im a pes fan..but am hoping that fifa was gonna be soo good that i would deflect over..

    do the players act intelligently..off the ball that is...running into space...what are the long balls like?

    im going to create my US silver account when i get back home from work..hopefully ill be able to download and play for myself!

  • rosler28 #60 4 years ago

    dom the players act really well off the ball, if you string a few passes together you can see some great off the ball movement.

    Shooting in 'be a pro' mode is the best I've ever seen from a footy game. Very realistic and gives a real sense of joy when I score. Can't really comment on the 11v11 game I've only played a few.

    Last time I bought a FIFA game was 1995, always favoured Pro evo but will be buying fifa08 as well this year.

  • dom6918 #61 4 years ago

    is it easy to get the US account and download it.? there arnt any implications like banning accounts etc?

    i have created an account with a US address and created a new gamertag through xbox.com..i guess all i need to do is log on right??

    good to hear that the game is playing well..some ppl are really disappointed..i think it may well be a grower..i mean i thought PES was aweful when i first played PES3..i can only buy one of them..the gf isnt letting me buy anymore..just spent 300 quid on skysports HD lol...so i guess the demo is really important for my descion..

    all i really want to know is..if its a world apart then fifa 07 which i really dislike!

  • brazzauk #62 4 years ago

    It is a grower, I am growing to hate it.

    I am sorry to say that this game is the same as UEFA Champions league. It just looks smoother.

    The more I play it the more the passing is annoying, the through ball is useless, the defensive side of the game is way too easy. 10 games, mostly nil-nil draws.

    FIFA for 360 is still broken. Another year another rehashed FIFA. With all the leagues, players, online play, etc. I really wanted the game to be great this year, but its the same game.

    When will EA realise that just slapping a coat of paint over it doesnt cover up its flaws.

  • asphaltcowboy #63 4 years ago

    D'oh! Europe don't get the football demo! Genius!

    http://ww w.majornelson.com/archive/2007/...

  • brazzauk #64 4 years ago

    @dom

    Wait for PES 2008. This game blows!

  • The-Bodybuilder #65 4 years ago

    @brazzauk.

    Hmmmm, out of all the feedback so far I've read (including in the forums), yours is the only really negative.
    I'm gonna have to wait for more negative feedback, or just dl it myself when I get home.

  • instinct3000 #66 4 years ago

    iv got both us and uk account on psn network and stil the game isnt there? am i missing sumthing? im well confused

    thansk for ne help

  • instinct3000 #67 4 years ago

    its on uk psn right now..go go go lol

  • brazzauk #68 4 years ago

    I have now dowloaded both demos and the PS3 version plays better than the 360 one imo.

    Passing is better, the through ball seems more effective and the game feels better on the PS3 pad.

  • deem #69 4 years ago

    @ brazzauk - christ, that is JUST what I didn't want to hear. :(

  • db3 #70 4 years ago

    Initially disappointed, 07 had a better feel to it. I'm hoping I've just got a bit rusty and 08 is a grower.

    Also wish the cameras weren't locked. I'd rather zoom out a bit to get a better view for decisive passing but I feel the focus is now more on player dribbling n tricks etc.

    *second go today without tired eyes/brain and the whole experience was a lot better.

    Happy again :)
    Edited by 1 at 14/09/07 @ 16:17

  • Cider-X #71 4 years ago

    My 60 minutes with the 360 demo so far has impressed me. Yes it looks like 07 but it sure as hell plays a lot better. Better physics and much more fluid controls. Shooting seems nice too, can catch the keeper on the wrong foot, more realistic deflections and again improved physics. This from a PES fanboi! Good work EA

  • Cider-X #72 4 years ago

    Ive just played the PS3 demo also, and it plays the same. It only has 2 teams compared to the 6 on the 360 version. There are horrible jaggies everywhere and the Sixxaxis sucks for Fifa.

  • Placebo #73 4 years ago

    Seems the 360 demo looks better and plays better than the PS3 demo, which is surprising.


    Anyways most people I know love the demo, seems it's the few PS3 owners or PES uber fanboys who "hate" it.


    Personally I can't wait for the full game, Sheffield Wednesday in full manager mode with great gameplay, graphics, sound, atmosphere, better than cartoony arcade PES with generic teams and stagnant shallow ML.

  • Socrates #74 4 years ago

    FIFA still hasn't closed the gap with PES concerning the directness of playercontrol.

    In FIFA 08 it is the same as in FIFA 07, the players react a fraction of a second too late .
    The result of these slo-mo-reactions is too frustrating if your used to the directness of control of PES.

  • king_ghidra #75 4 years ago

    Having not played a FIFA since '99 and being a PES 'fanboy' i gotta say i was really impressed. I thought the off-the ball movement was really good, the shape of the teams seems good, the skill moves don't seem overpowered, all good things. The shooting actually seemed a lot more intuitive and under control than in PES too. The control does feel a little 'heavy' compared to PES but then each new version of PES feels very heavy until you've got used to it.

    Superficially the graphics are lovely and the animations are good too.

    If PES 2008 on 360 trips up i will have a very difficult decision to make...

  • brazzauk #76 4 years ago

    @cider

    Have you even tried the PS3 demo? it has the same teams as the 360 one. Fanboy hat on there I think. There are jaggies but they are hardly horrible.

    Sorry but I cant agree on the demos, the 360 looks better but doesn't play as well. I played for a few hours on both and definately think the ps3 has a better flow to it. The passing isn't great on the 360, it may well be the pad but the passing misses way too often. I think I will get FIFA on PS3 and PES on 360.

    @king
    Agree on the handling. You never really feel that you have total control on the ball and you often find they lose possesion because of that. I tended to hold the close control button a lot when not sprinting.

    Fifa has all the online options, lots of team and great graphics. Now if only they could get the level of gameplay PES has!!
    Edited by 1 at 14/09/07 @ 13:41

  • Placebo #77 4 years ago

    >Now if only they could get the level of gameplay PES has!!

    Hello no! PES plays arcadey super fast unrealistic on rails football, PES is like pinball, I want a simulation of football not an arcade game and that's what Fifa is, simulation, it takes thought and planning of movement and passing and patience to create chances.

    PES is just pass, pass, pass, shoot, pass, pass, pass, shoot, every few seconds you can have a shot, it's not realistic, the pitch is small the players move too fast, if you want an arcade game that's you're right but leave Fifa as it is thank you, playing a proper game of football.

  • anamenos #78 4 years ago

    totally agree Placebo, i have the same thoughts

  • Zizou97 #79 4 years ago

    I like the demo so far. I think that the problem with me and other PES-fans is that is so hard to let go of what used to be. Last years version of PES on the Xbox 360 was just not up to standard and so far FIFA 08 seems to be a solid effort from EA, even though not flawless. Maybe it is just because I'm used to how PES feels and plays, maybe a good week with FIFA 08 will make me regenerate everything I thought I wanted from a footballgame, but I want a little more kick and snap out of FIFA. PES isn't exactly simulating real football, but it always brings a fantastically fluid and fastpaced gameplay to the table. FIFAs player turn a little slow in my opinion. Sure, there are after all not that many Cristiano Ronaldo's out there that can pull of a fast turn and leave their defender behind them in a trail of smoke, but I still think that the reaction in control in FIFA are noticably slower than PES. Like I said, give me a solid week with FIFA 08 and I'll tell you if I think this adds to the experience or not. The in-game graphics are really good, pre-scenes and cut-scenes on the other hand, no no no... Not very fluid, and why on earth do all the players look like monsters? They all have the same body mass with huge wrestlingmuscles, not very lifelike. Of course it's impossible to catch the exact look on all players in a game like this, but I think there could have been more work done on the big teams. Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney are just not built the same. I wonder if Peter Crouch will look like f*****g Wolverine too?
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/07 @ 18:17