New Next-Gen Screenshots.

XBOX 360 (new screenshots!):

PLAYSTATION 3 (maybe old, but i didn’t post them before in this resolution):
  
  
  
  
  

Interview with Paul Hossack.

Last year, EA Sports released FIFA Soccer 07, which was the company’s strongest soccer offering to date. With more than 500 teams and 27 leagues included, almost every football fan could find some club to throw their support behind. FIFA 07 also provided players with an innovative trick stick to maneuver through formations and bypass defenders. Coupled with a robust Manager mode and online interactive leagues, and FIFA 07 provided an excellent football experience.

EA Sports has been hard at work following up their success with this season’s installment, FIFA Soccer 08. While last year’s game focused upon shooting and the trick stick, this year’s title will place a lot more emphasis on through passes, crosses and other set ups. We sat down with Paul Hossack, the Producer of FIFA Soccer 08, to find out more about this year’s manual controls and other new features that will be included when the game is released this October.

Paul Hossack - FIFA 08 Producer

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IGN: What are the three new leagues that have been added to this year’s game?

Paul Hossack: The Irish Eircom and … two other leagues we’ll be announcing very shortly.

IGN: Manual controls are a big focus in FIFA 08. Can you give us an example of how through passes and crosses will work now?

Hossack: In FIFA 08, when you play a through ball, it will play it in the exact direction of your left analog stick angle, instead of automatically passing the ball four or five yards in front of the teammate your are pointing at.

Then, the weight of the pass is determined by the length of your button press. At first, it may seem more difficult to play a through ball, but that is reality – through balls are harder passes to place properly. However, you’ll quickly learn that the new system gives you freedom that you’ve never had before. You can now place your passes exactly where you want them. It’s actually really addictive trying to play that perfect through ball, and you get a real buzz when you play that ball that you couldn’t have played last year. It’s freedom.

The same goes for manual crosses. The left analog stick angle determines the direction of your cross, while the length of the press sets the strength of it. Now, with a little practice, you can place the ball exactly where you want, near post, far post, top of the 18.

The final manual control we added was right stick player switching, which gives you complete control over any player in any situation. If the traditional, press-a-button player switching isn’t selecting who you want, just flick the right stick in the direction of the player you want to control. It’s that easy and a great complement to the normal button switching.

IGN: Are the manual controls the evolution of last year’s trick stick controls, or does it completely replace the nimble moves from last year’s game?

Hossack: The manual controls are focused on the passing and player control (with the right-stick player switching and GK control). This hasn’t replaced our trick moves … you can still show off your skills on the right analog stick.

IGN: How does the “Be A Pro: Co-op Season” mode work?

Take over your club with the new Be A Pro mode.

Hossack: Be A Pro: Co-op Season is a new way of playing FIFA – as one footballer. Instead of controlling all 11 players on your club, you now can play through a whole season with your friends where each of you controls one footballer on the pitch. It feels much more like playing football yourself. There are lots of new things you can do in this mode, like ask for your teammate to pass to you and encourage your teammate to shoot. The way Co-op Season works is you pick a club to play through a season. Each match you get a specific task (e.g. attempt three shots on goal), and your buddy you’re playing with also gets a task. Together, you get a Team Task (e.g. win by two goals). After each game you each earn experience (XP) points based on how you played and if you accomplished your tasks. XP lets you level up and boost your player’s attributes. The gamer who grows his player the most, wins the season! It’s a really fun mode to play with your friends.

IGN: Is the Co-Op Season Mode a single player experience, with competition from AI controlled players as you try to develop the best player on the team, or is this solely a multiplayer feature?

Hossack: We designed Co-op Season for both the multi-player (up to 4 friends playing together) and the solo experience. It’s always against a CPU controlled opponent. Both are really addictive, but the mode is most fun when you’re playing it with some friends.

IGN: Can you play as the keeper?

Hossack: You cannot play as the keeper in Co-op Season; however, we added the ability to fully control your GK this year – just push in R3 (the right stick) and you’re now controlling the keeper. This is an advanced control that lets you re-position your keeper on FKs and CKs, as well as take control when your opponent has a break away. Be careful though … if you’re too aggressive your keeper could get sent off. To switch off your keeper, just press the player switch button or press R3 again to get back to a field player.

We also added the ability for the keeper to push up on corner kicks late in the game when you need a goal desperately. It adds a real sense of excitement.

Now you can control the keeper during games.

IGN: How much control do you have over the custom formations in the game? Can you completely tailor an entire team’s offensive and defensive tactics based on a rival team’s weaknesses?

Hossack: In FIFA 08, we’ve added Custom Formations. Now you can modify any formation and tweak it just the way you like. You can position all of the players, and assign specific attacking runs and different defending runs. Make your own perfect formation and surprise your mates.

IGN: One of the complaints we had about last year’s game was the weak AI, particularly around midfield. Can you tell us about the enhanced AI for this year’s game?

Hossack: The first two things you will notice with FIFA 08 are that the positioning is significantly improved, and you have to work harder for your goals. We focused a lot of time on positioning this year, making sure that it was much more intelligent, that you could see the difference between teams of different skill, and that it varied appropriately with our different difficult levels. Essentially, we made sure every player on the pitch was analyzing all the potential threats and opportunities so that they positioned themselves in the best spot whether they were near the ball or on the other side of the pitch. I’m really happy where we got to. This improved positioning was also one of the ways that we made it more challenging to score. We wanted gamers to have to work harder for their goals, knowing that they’ll feel that much better when they put the ball in the back of the net.

IGN: We noted that Manager Mode returns this year with a number of improvements. Could you explain some of the adjustments made for this year’s Manager Mode?

Try some new pre-season matches in Manager Mode.

Hossack: There are three features we added to Manager Mode. We have added Pre-Season Friendlies so that you have more time to test out your players and the transfer market before the season kicks off. The Training Simulation lets you schedule different practice types for your club (e.g. goalkeeper training, fitness training). Each type of training has a risk/reward element: you could boost form going into a match, but also risk fatigue/injury. Finally, the Board Expectations update dynamically half-way through each season to reflect how you are really handling your club.

IGN: Another thing that we were wondering about was the online interactive leagues. Will Interactive Leagues be back this year?

Hossack: Yes! And it’s much bigger this year. In FIFA 08, Interactive Leagues will be working on PS2, PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PSP and Wii!! Everyone will be able to get their fixtures in and help their team’s efforts to grab the win in the cross-platform leaderboard.

IGN: Are there more than four online leagues to choose from in this year’s game? Also, have you included online co-op multiplayer in FIFA 08?

Hossack: We will support at least 2 more leagues this year in Interactive Leagues. Stay tuned.

We have not added co-op multi-player. However, we have added 8-player LAN play on FIFA 08 PC.

Good footwork and trick moves are still key to the game.

IGN: Are there any other new features within the online games that we don’t know about?

Hossack: On the PS2, the main addition to the online feature set is the Online Football Clubs feature. Now when you play online on PS2, you can create or join a “Football Club” – a small group of up to 15 gamers (kind of like a clan). You are working together, trying to get your FC to the top of the table by playing individual online ranked matches. Every time one of you gets a win, you earn point for your FC. This gives new meaning to each online match you play because your friends in your FC will see and benefit from your effort. You can try to get your FC to the top of the table, or just be number 1 in your club.

IGN: Will there be PS2 to PSP connectivity in this year’s game as well?

You’ll be able to take your progress on the go with the PSP.

Hossack: Yes. The PS2 to PSP connectivity is part of FIFA 08. You can start your Manager Mode on either platform and swap it back and forth so it goes where you go.

IGN: Finally, what’s the one thing that you’d want fans of FIFA to know about with this year’s game?

Hossack: When you play FIFA 08, you will feel freedom. Whether it’s the manual through balls, right stick switching, GK control or many other features we added, it’s all about controlling your own destiny.

IGN: Thanks for your time, Paul.

The Hoosiers, on FIFA 08 Soundtrack.

Wayne Rooney has teamed up with Worried About Ray rockers “The Hoosiers” for new computer football videogame FIFA 08.

The Hoosiers’ new single “Goodbye Mr A” will be featured in the game, released in September by EA Sports.

And band members Irwin Sparkes, Alfonso Sharlando and Marting Skarendahl were thrilled when they travelled to Manchester to meet their Red Devils hero Rooney.

Irwin and Alfonso once fancied themselves as footballers and even went to America on a soccer scholarship.

But Wazza gave them a few tips on their ball skills. Irwin said: “He’s a man of very few words. I’m a Reading fan but it was amazing to meet him. I mean, it is Rooney.”

The single, from debut album The Trick To Life, is out in October. You can listen/download the song clicking here: The Hoosiers – Mr A.

FIFA 08 Covers (German and Spanish).

 

PES 2008 vs FIFA 08 – P3Zine (Free Magazine PDF):
http://www.gamerzines.com/PDF/P3Zine_4.pdf

FIFA 08: Possible Release Dates.

Some websites released those dates as official, but they’re not confirmed. There’s no official dates at the moment.

Possible release date for FIFA08: 28.September.2007
Possible release date for PC Demo: 27.August.2007
Official release date for X360/PS3 Demo: 06.September.2007
Possible release date for Playstation3 Demo: 10.September.2007

Update: FIFAMexico.net gave these dates as official for USA and Mexico:
United States – October 9th.
Mexico – October 15th.
Demo – Along September.
Source: http://www.fifamexico.net/07/?p=133

The games will cost (Spain):
Xbox 360 – 66’ 95€
Playstation 3 – 66’95€
Playstation 2 – 41’95€
PC DVD– 31’95€
Nintendo Wii – 56’95€
Sony PSP – 46’95€
Nintendo DS – 41’95€

FIFA 08 NG Facts Sheet (German).

FIFA 08
Xbox360, Playstation 3 Version

Beweise in FIFA 08, dass du die Fähigkeiten eines echten Fußball-Profis hast. Fans auf der ganzen Welt können dieselben Höhen und Tiefen wie die echten Spieler durchleben und müssen dieselben Herausforderungen meistern, mit denen diese tagtäglich konfrontiert sind.

Die FIFA 08 Next-Gen Gameplay-Engine, die ganz auf die besonderen Steuerfunktionen der Xbox 360 und der PLAYSTATION 3 ausgerichtet ist, bietet eine absolut reaktionsfreudige Bewegungs- und Ballkontrolle — du wirst denken, tatsächlich auf dem Spielfeld zu sein. Die Spieler nehmen jetzt ihre Umgebung wahr und wiegen authentisch zwischen „Risko“ und „Chance“ ab.
Mit dem FIFA 08-Schusssystem kommst du vor dem Tor in den Genuss noch besserer Kontrolle und Präzision, um ein wahrhafter Torjäger zu werden.

Zum allerersten Mal werden die Spieler von FIFA 08 den Druck verspüren, den die echten Spieler jeden Tag aushalten müssen – ihr Spiel zu verbessern.
Im neuen „Be A Pro“-Modus gilt es, in den Bereichen zu glänzen, die zum täglichen Brot eines Fußballprofis gehören: Positionsspiel, Tackling, Spielverständnis und Passen.

In FIFA 08 bekommt nun jeder Fußballfan die Chance, mit dem neuen „Baustein“-System der Next-Generation Engine von FIFA 08 wahrhaftes Profitalent zu demonstrieren. Du kannst Tricks und Bewegungen kombinieren, um die unverwechselbaren Bewegungen der echten Superstars zu kopieren oder deinen eigenen Stil zu bestimmen. Deine besten Bewegungen und Tore aus dem Spiel kannst du sogar in Videos festhalten und sie dann auf die FIFA 08-Website hochladen. Zeige allen deinen Style und genieße deinen Ruhm mit Freunden aus der ganzen Welt.

Die preisgekrönten Interaktiven Ligen, die ihre Premiere auf der Xbox 360 und der PLAYSTATION 3 feiern, stellen nur einen Teil der tiefgehenden Online- Features dar. Repräsentiere während der ganzen Saison deinen Verein online* gegen andere Vereine. Außerdem kannst du mit den spielinternen Möglichkeiten deine eigenen Multiplayer-Freundes- Ligen und -Turniere erstellen und verwalten.
Darüber hinaus ist FIFA 08 mit 620 lizenzierten Teams, 30 offiziellen Ligen und über 15.000 sorgfältig nachgebildeten Spielern um ein Vielfaches realistischer und aufregender als je zuvor.

* Kompromissloses Ballerlebnis — Die Next-Generation Engine berechnet dezidiert den möglichen Erfolg jedes Schusses. Sie bezieht zahlreiche Faktoren wie Spin des Balls, Aggressivität der Verteidiger, Spielereigenschaften und sogar den Luftdruck mit ein, um die nervenaufreibenden und unvorhersehbaren Besonderheiten beim Schießen nachzuempfinden.
* Intelligenter Fußball – Die KI arbeit mit einer 35- stufigen „Decision Engine“ und ermöglicht somit, pro Sekunde 1.000 mögliche Optionen und Reaktionen, also über 60.000 Optionen pro Minute, in Echtzeit zu verarbeiten. Das ist ein weiterer Schritt um die Spannung und den Realismus des Fußballs einzufangen.
* Be a Pro: Offline-Training — Denke und reagiere wie ein echter Fußballprofi. Spiele das gesamte Spiel über mit deinem eigenen Spieler. Du bekommst währenddessen Echtzeit- Feedback und eine Analyse. Die perfekte Kameraperspektive behält sowohl den Spieler als auch die Aktionen auf dem Spielfeld im Blick und zoomt bei deinen Angriffen heran.
* Fantastische Fähigkeiten — Mit dem neuen Baustein-System kannst du Tricks und Fähigkeiten kombinieren, um die unverwechselbaren Bewegungen der echten Superstars zu kopieren, oder deinen eigenen Stil definieren. Bewegungen können jederzeit abgebrochen werden und in eine neue Bewegung übergehen, genau so wie auf dem echten Spielfeld.
* Neue Steuerfunktionen — Die neue Steilpassund Flanken-Steuerung lässt dich das Spielgeschehen diktieren. Mit dem rechten Stick kann in der Defensive jetzt effektiv und blitzschnell der gewünschte Verteidiger angewählt werden.
* Online-Ligen – Erstelle und verwalte mit den spielinternen Möglichkeiten deine eigenen Buddy-Ligen und ~Turniere.
* EA SPORTS™ Interaktive Ligen: – Repräsentiere während der ganzen Saison deinen Verein
* Video-Upload: Halte deine besten Tore und Spielhöhepunkte fest und stelle sie online, um sie mit der Welt zu teilen. Lade deine Spielhöhepunkte auf die FIFA 08-Website hoch und beweise, dass du kein Märchenerzähler bist und deine Geschichten wahr sind. Denn ohne Beweise hast du gar nichts in der Hand.
* Echte Fußballnews — Erhalte topaktuelle Sportnachrichten aus der Realität sowie Podcasts rund um den virtuellen Fussball.
* Umfassende Authentizität — Mit 620 lizenzierten Teams, 30 offiziellen Ligen und über 15.000 Spielern ist FIFA 08 um ein Vielfaches authentischer und aufregender als je zuvor.
* Turniermodus – Spiele mit in über 60 Turnieren oder erstelle eigene Turniere nach deinem eigenen Geschmack.

*INTERNETVERBINDUNG erforderlich für das Online-Spiel.

Computersandvideogames.com’s Review.

FIFA 08
Format Xbox 360
Developer EA Sports
Publisher EA Games
Genre Sports

17-Jul-2007 EA Canada mix up their tactics for the new season
6 Commentsdifficult to get overwhelmed at the prospect of another FIFA title, regardless of the continued (sometimes troubled) improvement shown in FIFA 07. (Aptly demonstrated with a 73% in XBW46… we’ll discount the nasty Champions League cash-in.)

As you’d expect, it’ll be bigger, brighter, prettier and more stuffed full of licenses than any other game, including several thousand more players than in Madden. But after years where they may have out-sold PES, they’ve never conquered their Konami rivals where it matters: on the pitch. This year though, there are several improvements which they reckon will set up a much more level playing field.

First up, the ball is truly animation-free. Last year’s version went almost all the way (although there were still some artificial limits); now the ball is totally physics-driven. It’s not tied to a string, it’s not pre-determined in animations, it’s just, to all intents and purposes, a ball. Which is great news, but lest we forget, it’s exactly what we’ve enjoyed in PES for an age. With this in mind, EA are determined that FIFA 08 will become far more freeform. You’ll have a wider range of spontaneous moves and you’ll have to get player-positioning right for shots. Which, er, is all in PES. Already. Still, if they sort it, then it’s undeniably great news.

The other big focus is an area in which EA have far more expertise: a massively expanded skills section. On the one hand, combined with the physics engine, you’ll have more opportunity to pull off sexy football tricks from all your favourite players, doing so by holding down the left trigger and using the right analogue stick. It’s designed to be more organic and fluid than ‘trick sticks’ of the past and easier to pull off on the fly. Cruyff turns, Ronaldo stepovers and already over a dozen other moves are all promised, after they borrowed some technology from NBA Homecourt.

And let’s face it, everyone wants to pull off the good stuff to truly humiliate their mates. However, we’ve got to be honest and say we’re unsure of how much focus we want on these sort of individual skills; after all, it’s a team game and to be fair, trick stick-style gimmicks have had dubious success down the years.

That said, the sounds coming out of EA Canada are encouraging, and if they can pull it off, this could rock considerably. Well wait to go hands-on with it before we give it a full endorsement.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=168239

E3 without FIFA 08.

The new soccer game by EA Sports, FIFA 08, will probably not be presented at the E3 Expo 07, the most important gaming fair in the world, that is taking place in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. Electronics Arts include in their games line-up only the following games: Madden NFL 08, NBA Live 08, NASCAR 08 and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08.

EA boss criticises ‘dull’ video games.

Today’s video games makers are failing to innovate enough and produce software that breaks the mould, according to the boss of a major games firm.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Electronic Arts (EA) chief executive John Riccitiello claimed that the industry is stuck in a ‘rinse and repeat’ cycle where new games look much the same as those released during the previous year.

He cited games such as Guitar Hero and World of Warcraft as examples of good practice, but said that many software firms are ‘boring people to death and making games that are harder and harder to play’.

The comments come ahead of the launch of this year’s E3 Expo trade show in Santa Monica, with titles expected to be showcased including Call of Duty 4, Guitar Hero 3, Halo 3 and Super Smash Brothers Brawl.

EA is expected to show off its forthcoming Fifa 08, MySims and Need For Speed games at the event, among others.

New Screenshots.

NG Version:

PC Version (Klose):

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