E3: FIFA 10
Early kickoff.
Transforming any star performer into a true champion can often come down to the minor details: tweaking, polishing and refining an existing set of skills to eke out that extra couple of per cent. It's a challenge that now faces EA Canada, the development team behind the current undisputed king of football simulations, the FIFA franchise. After FIFA 09 cemented the series' dominance over the increasingly identikit Pro Evolution Soccer, EA Canada finds itself faced with the unenviable task of improving its already excellent football formula.
One of the most striking aspects of EA's FIFA 10 announcement is its timing, with the code only 45 per cent complete and six months from release. Never in the series' history has a FIFA game been announced, let alone showcased so early in its development. "There are a few things that we want to tell people about and one of those is just how much we're polishing and refining the game," explains producer David Rutter at the game's announcement press conference. "We spend a huge amount of time on forums trying to make sure we listen to what our fans want. We're also innovating and we wanted people to experience some of those innovations firsthand to find out what they think. That way we can revaluate things as we go along. I'm a big fan of getting feedback."
So what's new? Well if you're expecting an avalanche of grandstand features then you may be a touch disappointed, as much of this year's new content will be incremental rather than revolutionary. If it ain't broke and all that. "We're focusing on gameplay, refining the game and innovating," Rutter divulges. "About 70 per cent of the development time is being spent on refining the game through feedback and 30 per cent on innovating."

The use of giant blurry goalkeepers could prove controversial. [Urgent whispering.] I have made a mistake.
Eradicating all of the irks that occasionally sullied FIFA 09 and caused fits of impetuous fist-slamming - most notably when someone scored against you from the halfway line - is a clear priority. A number of other key features are also being prioritised. Player urgency is to be sharpened to create more realistic player actions. Rutter promises that players will move into position with greater intelligence and realism, and when distant from play, they'll saunter around the pitch like Dimitar Berbatov on a summer stroll - although Berbatov will probably just act like that the whole time.
Trapping was another bugbear. "Last year we used the earliest trapping system, which often led to players failing to control the ball properly as they'd rush towards it to trap it at the earliest possible moment," says Rutter. "Now we have a system based on the easiest trap, so players will back away from the ball to get into the best possible position to control it."
Cross-field passes are also in line for tweaking. Whereas spreading the play in PES has been a great way to stretch the opposition for some time, it's never quite worked in FIFA. This, Rutter believes, is due to his game's overly slow and unrealistic cross-field ball movement, a problem EA Canada is keen to eradicate by halving the length of time it'll take to ping the ball from one wingback to the other.
In a further bid to add greater realism, players are being made more tactically aware. A typical corner scenario in FIFA 09 would see your centre-halves head up-field in a bid to get their noggins onto a whipped-in cross, leaving a gaping hole in your defence that a hopeful punt and a nippy opposition striker could easily exploit. In FIFA 10, defensive midfielders are set to intelligently drop back to cover the space vacated by centre-halves during set-pieces. This, coupled with less accurate up-field punts, should hopefully lower the number of breakaway goals. And despite their increased believability in FIFA 09, goalkeepers are also being lavished with attention, with 'keepers set to rush out more urgently in one-on-one situations while resisting the temptation to show off to the cameras by hurling themselves heroically at rudimentary saves.
After last year's version took the robust, physical nature of the beautiful game to the next level with an improved jostling system, FIFA 10 is promising to further develop the system with the introduction of increased defender and goalkeeper momentum, which will hopefully prevent defenders from sticking to attackers like young, beautiful women with daddy complexes stick to Hugh Hefner. This should hopefully make it easier for tricky wingers to give shadowing defenders the slip or play them for fools with a deft feint. Goalkeepers will also possess greater levels of momentum, which could result in greater attacking variables when the shots start raining in and pinging off their flailing limbs.
While the code we sampled was only 45 per cent complete and missing a number of the promised new features, we were able to gain a very early first impression. By far the most striking on-pitch addition was the 360-degree dribbling system, which provides greater player control compared to last year's eight-axis movements. With this improved level of control it's possible to make space for players far more easily, while the angle of a player in possession had a far greater effect on the accuracy of through-balls, allowing us to slot our passes into space far more easily than in FIFA 09.

Either they're posing for the camera, or FIFA 10 takes some welcome liberties with the rules. Three teams per games! No standing!
Off the pitch, Rutter and his team have also been busy, with over 50 improvements being made to Manager mode. "We've worked really hard on this, especially in the realism, transfers and player development departments," he says. "We're trying to make management more believable by having other things going on around you in the world of football. We also want to make a big deal of the transfer system. A club, player and manager's prestige will all be taken into consideration during the transfer process, as well as the player and manager's experience, and whether the squad already has lots of great personnel in that player's position."
"We also want to make sure that we have proper player development in Manager mode. Not every new player will end up being the next Zidane. The player's environment will affect their growth, so if they play at a great club they'll grow better than at a bad club and also if they play better. A player's ego will also grow and they may become more demanding. The AI-controlled teams will also work far harder towards improving their squads than before."
While still in its infancy, FIFA 10 is already promising much, with its myriad tweaks and innovations hopefully proving sufficient to adequately improve the game from last year. However, with the series already riding high, maybe a succession of tweaks to perfect the already highly realistic and accessible on-pitch action is just what the franchise needs to take it that extra, often elusive step from star performer to true champion.
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Comments (52) Latest comment 3 years ago
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Better long passing? Check.
Goalkeepers that don't move off their line like they're running through tar? Check.
Less naff bugs like the halfway line shots? Check.
Seems like they're on course to do a good job of eradicating every flaw that 09 suffers from. And considering just what a good game 09 is even with those flaws, that's quite exciting indeed.
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Hopefully PES will raise it's game too, I want two awesome football games!
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1) Online co-op vs cpu
2) Online user hostable custom competitions e.g. 6 player mini-leagues
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The AI does "improve" its squads (buys players), it just never changes its starting line up.
Sort out the UEFA Cup/Europa League qualification in England. Teams finishing first & second in the Championship DON'T qualify for the competition!
When you win a trophy, have the presentation (PES has always done this well) rather than just your players jumping around.
The ability to change squad numbers within your side(Manager Mode) & an overall decent player editor would be nice too for geeks like me who want the players to look right & not just the big names.
Apart from that....sounding pretty good.
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However, glad to see they are focused on improving the core game. They worked hard over the past few years to get to what the game was like in FIFA 09, no point starting from scratch with a deluge of new features.
Personally I play Be A Pro most of all, so I hope that gets a bit of a working over. It's a great idea but it's marred a little by how identikit the matches are, and how it's the same season on season. Also the whole 'four years then a world cup' thing which is bizarre.
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Umm no, some of us don't actually want to play a statistical management game, some of us want the experience of being a manager whilst still playing the matches, I'm 100% all about the manager mode in Fifa as I can't stand playing online so I'm delighted we're finally seeing a little love after next gen Fifa08/Fifa09 which still have a manager mode from Fifa06 on PS2.
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Also slow the gameplay down, the acceleration and sprint speed of the players, and the passing speed.
The ball physics need to be more wieghted instead of being like a balloon rising too easily.
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You are right. It's always funny to watch an AI defender slam the ball across the sideline when he might as well have let it run over the base line instead for a goal kick. Guess AI-scripting isn't at that point yet. I've also noticed that in several hundred matches I have played so far the com has not once passed the ball back to the keeper yet.
I have to say the thing Rutter said about your defensive midfielders hanging back on corners is also a much welcome fix. I actually hate (having) corners in 09 since 9 out of 10 times the CPU will clear it to one of their own and launch a one-pass-counter attack down deserted midfield. I made a habit of hacking down their receiving player just for the sake of this annoying AI-tilt (which usually resulted in a red card and even more frustration).
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You can actually stop that by using the super cancel thingy. I think it's L2 + R2 at the same time if your on PS3, not sure about Xbox.
This is looking good, sounds like they're making all the right decisions.
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Like someone else said, there was a problem with defenders hacking you down and not getting punished, especially on harder difficulties. The thing that annoys me most though is the cheating AI, Mario Kart style.... you can play a through ball and it can be Cristiano Ronaldo vs. some biff from Blackpool and they'll sprint at exactly the same speed. The best players in the game aren't powerful enough imo.
I'd also like to see (this is a short list)
- an overhaul of the skills thing, it's useless.
- camera angles in replays and stuff which are similar to TV to make it more realistic - have the camera in the stands shake up and down and fans jump about when someone scores to win 4-3 in the 90th minute.
- oh yeah, the fans, they still look utterly shite - the EA NBA games have decent crowds, can't you just borrow their code?
- too much reliance on fatigue in manager mode - when you start you have 1/10 in the training of fitness or whatever and after a few games you're players are like Roy Chubby Brown all over the place wheezing and it makes it hard to win. Similar sort of problem against the opposition - when you get to 10/10 mid season you'll find the opposition slobbering and crawling their way around the pitch. I don't mind the stat but let the more professional teams have 10/10 from the start and the lower division teams have low fitness (but always start each game above 80%).
- why is Michael Carrick always rated so shitly.
- an accurate rating for Ronaldinho
I don't ask for much, come on guys!
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The biggest thing I didn't Like about FIFA 09 was how your own team's A.I wouldn't alway track runners.
Fe. An opposition CM player looks for his full-back to run forward, passes the ball in a northerly direction( for the left-back), my right-winger just stands there stuck in that damn sidestep motion letting the fullback run by him and onto the ball, once the fullback has gotten the ball i'm then allowed to properly control the right-winger. It happened way too much in FIFA09.
There should'nt be that 'cheat' to accomadate the A.I team's passing.
New dribbling I like. Never experienced the halfway line bug. I hope the Manager Mode is more realistic too. Champion's League games at night pls. And changeable weather/pitch patterns in MM also.
Make the editor or 'Creation Zone' more user friendly. Should be able to scroll through players on the fly to edit. Not pick 1- edit- save- go back to pick player...ugh just let us use L1 and R1 or w/e .
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im with placebo on this manager mode is great and will be better i just hope they also fix the weather to realistic style such as like league 1 ( oldham athletic here) which happens alot so i'd like say.
evening games - Night
Cup games - some at night or dusk
Odd League Game and night or dusk.
And for it to take effect during the winter months as the sun goes down much earlyer !!!
oh other stuff id like to see maybe new commentary and statistics posted as you play so say during a cut scene for a corner you get possession,shot on target,shots total,red/yellow card issued 1 box at a time though at random cut scenes
oh and to keep the team line up during the opening atch cut scene and the sub cut scene aswell hahaha
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I'm also playing manager mode a lot, and I'm definitely looking forward to more of a challenge. Once I've got 90+ skillset players, my opposition have almost not improved and are still playing players that appear stuck in their 80's. Furthermore, when I sell a great player (Like Eto'o), he's not bought by a strong team, but by small time shit like Almeria, who must have a fantastic economy being able to pay insane transfer fees.
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Oh yeah, also they should fix the stupid referees, I hate it when they letya play advantage and then suddenly blow the friggin whistle.
Also I experienced some major bugs, like when i passed the ball back to my keeper and he just stood there, 1 meter before the ball, doing nothing.
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Halving the cross field balls does a bit too much.
Nice to hear they are making counter attacks less effecitve. In fifa 2009 its sometimes good to give away a corner.
Make club games possible with two players, that will be awesome.
Make heading from crosses from open play a bit more effective. To many times people just cut in as you know you will lose out in the air.
Give more points to people who play ranked matches anmd win with weaker teams against stronger oppositions
more atmospheric game. The home club should be making a bit more noise when they have chances.
revamp the commentary. Fifa 2009 seems to be a repetition of FIfa 2008.
Make pacy players less effective. People like Ronaldo and Torres are way too good. Harder to keep the ball under control with them
Graphics needs an update.
Waiting in the BAP is annoying, give the player the free roaming area to play while waiting.
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None of the more skillful players attempt any tricks to beat my players and more frustrating is that I've never even conceded a goal from outside the 18 yard area, regardless of difficulty level.
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Leaves it on the shelf with all its other recent clones.
EA Sports. I'm back baby!
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And 360 degree dribbling?! Was not expecting that. Can't wait.
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So true. It seems the AI can't for the feck of it score a normal, decent goal that doesn't rely on one of your players or your goalie misshandle the ball before. I don't know how often I've thrown the controller around my room because the computer scored from YET ANOTHER dodgy deflected ball. The other day I was playing against Comp-Italy and both goals they scored where exactly the same: some guy shoots, my keeper deflects it onto the crossbar and Toni heads in the rebound. The worst part is that you can actually feel how the CPU tinkers with your players in those moments and there is nothing you can do about it. I hope they will address this issue in some way or another.
On the upside, they've obviously made the refs more lenient and toned down on the offside-inflation. At least according to this
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This is such an easy thing to implement and would stop the Barcelona Vs Man Utd games that you constantly encounter. Really hope it is taken on board.
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Also A.I teams never ever score from outside the box, I find that very strange. They also rarely use the 'finesse' shot.
edit: other people said the same, cool.
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They also need to make the AI harder. Legendary is too easy, doing the same old things over and over again. They never try anything new, and it's very easy to beat them.
Also, they need to sort out harsher punishment for the 'quitters'. I've played (looks at stats) 171 games online, PS3 and XBOX360 combined, and I've managed to complete 47 of them. Forty fucking seven. As soon as they concede a second or third goal, or it's after 75 minutes, they just quit out. There needs to be more punishment against that (if I had my way, less than 95% completion ratio, don't allow them online to play it).
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its all i play too ... gave up on online... there's not much reason to keep going back to it for me. The opposition are repetitive and i get sick of one-off games very quick.
Manager mode has an ongoing appeal that keeps me coming back. Winning titles, building a squad, promotion battles etc... thats what keeps me playing.
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Fix the following to make Fifa10 immense:
"This game session is no longer available"I HAVE WASTED HOURS OF MY LIFE LOOKING AT THIS MESSAGE
Demichelis is not a great player BUT he is STRONG and GOOD in the AIR(HEADING ABILITIES)
Cristiano Ronaldo is not that FAST(ACCELERATION)
Every shot Cristiano Ronaldo hits does not go on target
Although strength is an important aspect of the game being able to brush aside someone with ease is rare
Robben has quite possibly THE GREATEST FIRST TOUCH AND CLOSE CONTROL IN WORLD FOOTBALL
GOAL KEEPERS DON'T KICK ALL THEIR SHORT PASSES TO THE OPPOSITION
STRIKERS NEVER CHASE DOWN SHORT PASSES STRAIGHT AWAY FROM THE KEEPER AND SCORE "WANKER GOALS"
Whe playing in BAP YOUR TEAM PLAYERS SHOULDN'T ALWAYS HAVE THE PASSING ABILITY OF CARRICK, ANDERSON AND GIGGS WHEN UP AGAINST INIESTA AND XAVI
Referees DON'T PLAY THE ADVANTAGE RULE FOR 5-15 MINUTES
Get some fucking European influence on the game!
IF A PLAYER SLIDES IN AFTER A SHOT IS TAKEN IN THE PENALTY BOX IT IS NOT A FUCKING PENALTY YOU STUPID CUNTS!!!!!!!!!
UNLESS YOU WANT ARSENAL TO REGISTER AT LEAST ONE IN A UCL SEMI FINAL!!!!!!!!
IT IS ONLY IF THE SHOT IS HINDERED ILLEGALY!!!!!!!!
SHOOT ANDY GRAY!!!
With these changes Fifa10 will be unbeatable.
WINNING A GAME OUTSIDE OF FIWC SHOULD COUNT IN YOUR STATS
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Somehow I doubt that...
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@jimbo118: I specifically tried doing this the first and only time I gave manager mode a try and it wouldn't let me do it. So unless they patched it in later...
I played a bit of a season and found the whole experience utterly anaemic, as well as completely unrealistic. I realise it's just a casual management mode for casual gamers, but there's not much point to it if it's in total fantasy land. I hear a lot of talk about them sharpening it up, but when it's clearly not going to be a proper management game (because it's just one part of the whole of FIFA), it makes it somewhat trivial.
As for FM being a 'stats driven game' and FIFA being something else entirely - well what do you think FIFA uses to judge the players in the game? If it wants to be a better management mode, then it'll need plenty of accurate stats.
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Get some fucking European influence on the game!
IF A PLAYER SLIDES IN AFTER A SHOT IS TAKEN IN THE PENALTY BOX IT IS NOT A FUCKING PENALTY YOU STUPID CUNTS!!!!!!!!!
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My only real problem with the game is as this guy mentioned - the refs are absolutely shocking. People getting sent off and booked for attempted block tackles after the shot has been taken. It doesnt happen in real football. The refs need a complete overhaul and it will be 100% better game
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Also I've been through on goal and scored, and then the ref has pulled the game back for a free kick that happened about 3 seconds before, which we didn't score from.
So yeah the advantage rule is really badly implemented.
Also could we have some offside decisions actually be 'wrong' as in real life.
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even the computer opponents get predictable with certain passes. Seriously, Ea Fifa needs to actually take thier developer to a actual soccer/football/futbol/greatest sport real real game. gOOD PLAYER ANIMATION, I MUST ADMIT, but no football head insight...... Don't be fooled by the opening cinematics this year people plz!!!!
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