FIFA 06 kick-off date

By Corey Brotherson Published 23 August, 2005

New season starts late Sept.

Surely in celebration of Aston Villa coming close to signing a decent, young striker in Milan Baros [You're welcome - Liverpool-supporting Ed], Electronic Arts has finalised a release date for the latest in its much loved/maligned footie series, FIFA '06.

September 30th is when PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC, GameCube and Game Boy Advance will get their versions, while the Nintendo DS iteration will come out of the tunnels on October 6th, followed by the PSP FIFA 06 on October 21st. Then we can all delight in more arguments over what's "proper" football again, like it was – wait, what do you mean that's already started? Well, our first impressions were promising enough.

As for the Xbox 360 version - our money's on launch, which should be in late November.

So, Milan Baros, eh. It's almost like when Villa signed Stan Collymore.

Picture of Corey.

About Corey Brotherson

Read more articles from Corey by visiting the Corey Brotherson archive page.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 7 years ago

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

  • Furbs #1 7 years ago

    Whos more excited. Villa fans at getting Baros, or us Liverpool fans for getting shot of him ;)

    So I can budget, anyone know when PES5 is out on Xbox?

  • deaner #2 7 years ago

    2006 wont be the year FIFA takes back the ground lost by PES.

    Maybe 2008.

    Hear that, Viv Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability.

  • kewny #3 7 years ago

    I am a reds fan and am pretty glad he is going !!

    Not too sure on the PES5 date. PS2 version due out late oct so expect the Xbox version mid-nov. Right when the Xbox 360 comes out ;) Get saving those pennies !

  • Furbs #4 7 years ago

    Funny, cos although I'm a PES Fan, I'd have said last years FIFA made greater improvements than PES 4 did over PES 3.
    But I've had this debate before.
    PES = Gran Tourismo (depth, harder to pickup and play)
    FIFA = NFS Series (more instantly gratifying, easier for playing with non-gamer mates)

  • Celeborn #5 7 years ago

    I think its a conspiracy; both PES and FIFA are made by the same people who sit back and laugh over all the chaos in arguements it causes.

  • Shinzou #6 7 years ago

    Id rather have Baros than Peter Crouch! Well if I was a liverpool fan Id rather have Owen.

  • Furbs #7 7 years ago

    Why do you think all us Liverpool fans are smiling? ;)

  • effinwooly #8 7 years ago

    As a Reds fan, I am happy Baros is going ! Not that Cisse has filled me full of confidence !! Anyway, back to being a geek, I have always been a PES fan and never really touched FiFa since FIFA 1998 ! Is the game any ggood now ? Is it more playable now, like PES ?
    Edited by 1 at 23/08/05 @ 11:28

  • deaner #9 7 years ago

    Furbs: "I'd have said last years FIFA made greater improvements than PES 4 did over PES 3."

    I could not agree more.

  • Furbs #10 7 years ago

    Its great now effinwooly, so long as you dont belong in the "Its EA, its crap" camp and are prepared to look beyond PES.
    PES is still the best game out there, but they've made massive improvements to the gameplay, and obviously the atmosphere and authenticity is top notch. See if you can get FIFA 05 cheap. Best version since 98 imho, and the first touch system is brilliant.

  • theidiotsarewinning #11 7 years ago

    fifa is one of those games that you have to be affectionately nostalgic about. or at least i do. it's as much loved for its flaws as its strengths, and yet it manages to be all at once atmospheric and playable. PES is technically superb but fun-sappingly so - too cold, too clinical. fifa' 95 on the mega drive had the goal frames that moved when you scored a goal, fifa road to world cup 98 on the N64/PS1 had the ridiculous 5-a-side mode and fifa 2005 has the most hilariously dire motson commentary ever (which is worryingly accurate these days) but surely these things just make you want to play them more!?
    Edited by 1 at 23/08/05 @ 11:37

  • Furbs #12 7 years ago

    /pedant mode
    5-a-side was in FIFA 97 (truely dire and matched only by FIFA 64 and FIFA on the 3DO for crapness)
    /pedant mode off ;)

  • deaner #13 7 years ago

    In my opinion, they made more than a few mistakes in the AI of PES4.

    Auto player changing became erratic, passes became frequently misdirected, players became easier to tackle... it's the first PES game that I found myself frustrated with as the computer repeatedly misinterpreted what I was trying to do.

    FIFA however, made a marked improvement between 2004 and 2005.

  • statix101 #14 7 years ago

    oh look the sheep are comin out to graze in town centres everywhere....chav scum

  • Furbs #15 7 years ago

    statix101, you are a troll and I claim my ten pounds!

  • kewny #16 7 years ago

    Have always loved the PES series and will no doubt upgrade when PES5 comes out. I may though have a looksy at the new FIFA when it comes out this year.

  • del_86 #17 7 years ago

    Does anyone know if there will be a demo available for FIFA 06 for the Xbox, either on the official mag or in Game etc?
    There is no doubt FIFA05 was much improved (although still behind Pro Evo).
    If even 1/2 of the marketing talk is true it may turn out to be great, but i would like to try first before i buy.
    Especially since it will be the only footie game for the 360 when it comes out

  • Furbs #18 7 years ago

    The Official Xbox Ad - err Mag doesnt have a demo, in fact, I think a mate who buys it says there wasnt even any footage shown on the disk :/

  • mcmonkeyplc #19 7 years ago

    If MS dont make the PES games backward compatible Im going to send my xbox 360 back to Redmond with some modifications.

    That is all.

  • w00t #20 7 years ago

    /rumour

    It will be...

  • myiagros #21 7 years ago

    as a villa fan i am glad we have baros instead of crouch(the useless lanky tw*t).

    when he was at villa he was awful, hopefuly baros and philips together will form a good partnership.

    also i hope liverpool don't manage to get solano off us.

    as for the FIFA vs PES debate. it's a no brainer PES is a far deeper, more gratifying game.

  • deaner #22 7 years ago

    The margin is shrinking.

  • kalel #23 7 years ago

    To be honest, both FIFA and PES really need to be looking at how the new physics capabilites of the next gen can totally change football games as we know it. The truth is, although PES can feel more like real football, you're stil just learning how the game likes to be played and going along with it, just like FIFA. Yes there is more depth, but as others say, there are problems with players selection, colission and AI.

    To be honest, PES' slow "evolution" approach has started to annoy me despite being a fan. I would like to see some major revolutions for next gen PES please!

  • theidiotsarewinning #24 7 years ago

    furbs: pedantry aside, 5-a-side was in RTWC as well.

  • del_86 #25 7 years ago

    I'm not sure if it was on this site :) , but i remember reading about a second Japanese footie game that will be available for the 360 (at least in Japan)

    The more competition the better, as this is when innovation is at its best and we see more and more "real features" rather than marketing pish.
    As usual the pre game talk from FIFA is that this game is bigger better and more involved than the last, but the proof really is in the pudding - lets hope they have had a scare and put some real effort in this year rather than the usual "yearly update "

  • smelliot #26 7 years ago

    DS version? I wonder how many more gimmicks they'll be able to fit in with two screens.

  • renzo #27 7 years ago

    "I'm not sure if it was on this site :) , but i remember reading about a second Japanese footie game that will be available for the 360 (at least in Japan)"

    Are you talking about Namco's <a href=ht tp://www.the-magicbox.com/0508/game050804a.shtml>'Lov e Football'</a>?

  • Furbs #28 7 years ago

    theidiotsarewinning : I'll happily stand corrected if you're sure! My apologies! Maybe it stands out in 97 as it was the only decent part of the game?

    Edi: Just checked and you're absolutly right.
    /hangs up his pedant mode and leaves looking sheepishly
    Edited by 1 at 23/08/05 @ 13:46

  • theidiotsarewinning #29 7 years ago

    haha..no worries furbs. i just have a very vivid recollection of man utd beating newcastle 19-13 in something of an epic indoor tussle. i think RTWC still stands as my favourite version. except maybe PS2 fifa '03 for mark lawrenson's creepy 'oooooh....he hung on to that like a baby' comment.

  • kewny #30 7 years ago

    Although I love the PES series one of the things that really pisses me off is the poor commentary. Whilst an advantage of FIFA is the superb commentary and licensing/presentation package, the commentary in the PES series has never evolved and TBH isnt much better than it was of the PS1 !! Ok it can be amusing due to its poor quality but come on Konami there is no excuse other than lazyness not to improve it. I wont hold my breath though especially for the upcoming iteration, but hopefully for when it appears on the PS3/Xbox 360.....................then again.....

    As FIFA closes the gap on PES which it slowly seems to be doing I expect more PES fans will maybe take a look at what FIFA has to offer.

  • admir #31 7 years ago

    iam getting tierd of fifa games (EA) one and the same game just a different year 06
    PES or winning eleven konami soccer games rule lets say it that way