EA SPORTS Family Play detailed.
July 28, 2007
EA has revealed EA SPORTS Family Play. Designed to simplify controls and enable fans of all ages and skill levels to play popular EA SPORTS games on the Wii, EA SPORTS Family Play will debut in the Wii versions of Madden NFL 08, NBA LIVE 08 and FIFA 08. Players of all abilities will be able to compete, less experienced gamers without a disadvantage while experienced players can use the advanced control system.
Advanced or Family Play
Players can choose to play the style that suits their skills best in the main game of Madden NFL 08, NBA LIVE 08 and FIFA 08. Upon entering a contest players can elect Advanced or Family Play. Those who elect advanced will take complete control of all aspects of game play using the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. Those who choose Family Play will be presented with a simplified control system and using only the Wii Remote will control key functions (shooting, passing, snapping and throwing etc.) while the console controls the rest. Once players have gained experience they can switch to advanced controls by plugging the Nunchuck in.
Accessible and user friendly
“EA SPORTS Family Play on the Wii creates an incredibly accessible and user-friendly experience that the whole family will enjoy,” said Dave McCarthy, Executive Producer for the three games developed at EA Canada. “While many fans love to control every piece of the action, novice players can have just as much fun jumping in to throw a touchdown pass, nail a three pointer or take a shot on goal. Family Play brings together fans of all ages to enjoy playing EA SPORTS games, and even let’s them ease in to Advanced play if they desire.”
There are three EA SPORTS games that will feature EA SPORTS Family Play.
Madden NFL 08 on the Wii features a new Party mode where players can play trivia or choose between 22 mini-games. The new Madden NFL 08 telestrator means that players can break down plays and highlight key moments of the game. Players can even go head-to-head online with friends.
NBA LIVE 08 for the Wii features EA SPORTS Family Play meaning that players can control their team’s shooting, passing and steals on defense with the Wii Remote while the AI controls the rest. Switch to advanced controls and use both the Wii Remote and Nunchuck.
FIFA 08 on the Wii features traditional game play as well as a party mode called Footii Party with Ronaldinho. This new mode will see players using their Mii characters in Juggling, Table Soccer or Boot It. You can even unlock Ronaldinho’s Mii to compete against this football legend. Learn the basics in the in-game Soccer Academy, use the FreeMotion advanced controls in over 30 interactive tutorials or receive help from the game with EA SPORTS Family Play. The game also features Interactive Leagues online play.
Family Play in FIFA08:
Family Play in MADDEN08:
Family Play in NBALIVE08:
More info:
http://www.aussie-nintendo.com
FIFA ‘08 Gets Family Playing With Wii.
July 28, 2007
New Wii control system announced by EA
by Spong website
EA has unveiled a new gameplay mode that will make sports titles such as FIFA ‘08, Madden NFL ‘08 and NBA Live ‘08 more casual-gamer-friendly on the Wii. Dubbed ‘Family Play’, the mode is aimed at making sports games more intuitive for your non-gamer Gran.
Basically, the mode will take the positioning of characters out of the human players’ hands, enabling them (the humans, obviously) to focus on gesture-based actions such as passing a ball, shooting or taking a throw-in. Only the Wii Remote is used, without even the baggage of button pressing.
The mode is optional and can be activated at any point during the game by simply unplugging the nunchuk, meaning a non-gamer can jump in at any time. It will also enable you to continue playing with the more complex full control system while your Gran (or someone from a non-football playing nation such as the United States, for example) gets in on the action.
Family mode follows the example of Nintendo’s own Wii Sports. The control system has the distinct whiff of something like Wii Sports Tennis, which requires players to control only the shot, leaving your avatar’s movement to the game’s AI.
EA already took tentative steps towards more family-friendly sports games with its announcement of ‘Footii Party’ in the Wii version of FIFA ‘08.
SPOnG has mild reservations about the gameplay mode. We’ve seen our dads when a Huddersfield Town match goes awry (or ‘on any given Saturday’) and we don’t know if rabid arm-flailing-with-indestructible-Wii-Remote-in-hand is something we want to introduce to the world.
Other than that, SPOnG’s pleased to see EA strengthening its support of Nintendo’s platforms. We’re also glad to see a third-party publisher doing something creative with its ports of multi-platform games to the Wii instead of the usual bland wrist-flicking controls we’re becoming accustomed to.
First EA’s Football Manager images.
July 28, 2007
Microsoft plan E3 on Live.
July 28, 2007
E3 may have diminished in stature since the the expo last sucked-in the crowds, but that hasn’t prevented Microsoft from enthusiastically continuing their Live-based coverage of all the latest Microsoft news from the show, revealing the second annual E3: Bring It Home feature. The section will be an area of the Marketplace dedicate to E3, sporting high-definition trailers and even a few playable demos.
Microsoft are understandably keeping quiet on what they’ll be dishing out come E3, but we do hear chatter of ‘trailers, themes, gamer pictures, and demos’ around titles such as Assassin’s Creed, BioShock and Project Gotham Racing 4. All of which are a mouth-watering prospect. Last year’s surprise was a Lost Planet demo so this year we’re hopefully of something even more enticing.
‘Stuff’ on several other big-name titles also looks likely, with Microsoft mooting: Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, Blue Dragon, Burnout Paradise, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, FIFA 08, Guitar Hero III, Lost Odyssey, Madden 08, NCAA Football 08, Need For Speed: ProStreet, The Simpsons, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 and WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008.
Everything will kick-off next Tuesday, on July 10th, and run until the following Friday, July 13th. A special ticker on the Marketplace will also keep players informed about the latest 360 offerings. More soon.
Interview with Darren Hedges
July 28, 2007
What is the difference between FIFA 07 Online Play and FIFA 08’s?
The biggest difference is the fundamentals. In the 07 FIFA game we knew that we hadn’t offered a good online experience previously on the FIFA titles. Our mantra for 07 was to make online as good as offline and I believe we achieved that. It was important for us to build a solid foundation to build on for the future of our Next Gen FIFA titles.
With 08 we take a few leaps forward and will offer some very compelling online features to the community this year which build upon the success we had online in 07. I can’t say too much about what those features are, however you will be excited.
Will EA expand its servers through other countries for 2008?
We already have servers all over the world. These servers are constantly being monitored and upgraded to serve the community wherever they are.
Why don’t you offer a FIFA server version with which other third-party providers could launch their own FIFA server and offer their local service?
Good question however we are not quite in a position to do that yet with our FIFA titles.
Disconnections, scoring direct from corner-kicks, cheating on online rating, low speed of servers and some other issues are the bugs at FIFA 07 online, will we see them in FIFA 08 Play Online?
No I hope not. We are working hard to eradicate cheaters and server speed for this year. As for the exploits and goals from corners we have employed some of the best FIFA talent in the world to try and find these holes or FIFA goals in our 08 game and rest assured we do not want to ship with anything that is an easy goal.
What ability you would add to FIFA 08 if you were a producer for gameplay?
Hmmm… I think you’ll see when the games released that we have added quite a lot to this year’s title. I think our gameplay guys have done an excellent job and I think you’ll be pleased with the results.
Which genre is the best one for FIFA 08’s EA Trax?
We normally have picks on the EA Trax for FIFA from all musical genres so I’m not sure if there is a best one. We have some really good tracks this year for FIFA that I know most of you will enjoy while you play the game.
You are of course a football fan, what are your favourite team and favourite player?
I’ve supported Manchester United since childhood and my favourite player would have to be either George Best or Marco Van Basten.
First Ingame videos of the Wii version.
July 28, 2007
Today there have been appeared the first 3 ingame vides files of the Nintendo Wii version of FIFA 08. These show that FIFA 08 looks really nice even on the seemingly less hardware performanced Wii console.
All 3 videos are out of a match between Arsenal London FC and Tottenham Hotspurs
Fans Submit 5,000 Ideas for FIFA 08.
July 28, 2007
EA Sports FIFA Football fans have submitted more than 5,000 ideas and comments about the upcoming FIFA 08 at FIFPlay.com.
FIFPlay’s “Your ideas for the next FIFA” section has received a mass number of comments regarding FIFA 08 from the fans. The suggestions submitted are mostly about new leagues and teams, better gameplay and new features in the game.
The ideas came from the fans around the world (from Chile to China) and ask EA Sports to put some attractive features such as stadium creator, 3D crowds, legend players/leagues, customized motions, Futsal, women’s Football, new official tournaments, in forthcoming video game of FIFA 08.
FIFA fans also voted more than 200,000 times over the voting polls which were about the new leagues, new cover-star and EA Trax in FIFA 08.
FIFA 08 on french PS magazine.
July 28, 2007
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Fifa 08 for Nintendo WII.
July 28, 2007
FIFA 08 on the Wii™ makes it easy for the whole family to play and enjoy football with a flick of the wrist. Featuring superstar Ronaldinho as the first football player created as a unique and playable mini character, you’ll experience soccer in a videogame like you never have before.such as stepovers and drag-backs, all with a flick of the wrist. Dictate the play with new manual controls for through-passing and crossing, or control your goalkeeper in one-on-one situations to deny an onrushing striker.
Footii Party: Play three completely unique Party Games — Juggling, Boot It and Table Soccer – to unlock Ronaldinho and take on the champ. Have fun and watch the meter count your calories burned.
Juggling: Use your self-created Mii and the Wii remote to see how many times you can juggle the ball. Watch out, though, as opponents can use trick balls and spins to throw you off your game.
Boot It: Play as the goalie or the shooter with up to three friends in a simultaneous shooting frenzy. Use Wii remote gestures for both kicking and saving the ball. Take turns blasting away at targets or go all at once in rapid fire to see who can score the most points. Watch the keeper deflect balls back at you.
Table Football: Enjoy a new twist to an old favorite in our version of Table Football. Use the Wii remote to trap and swing the ball to score and unlock new tables.
Join the Football Academy: Learn the basics by playing 30 interactive tutorials. Each lesson teaches you how to master the motion controls and perform all the necessary movements to dominate on the pitch.
Customizable Formations: Design your own unique strategy to create the perfect formation and tactics, including four-four-two, three-four-three, Christmas tree, diamond formation, and more. Assign roles and move players to the exact position in relation to teammates to undermine the opposition.
Enhanced AI: New defensive AI means that players ensure they’re in the right place at the right time. New player and team traits differentiate the stars
Online Play: Pick your favorite team and go online to challenge a rival squad one-on-one.
Interactive Leagues: Represent your club online against your rivals throughout the season in the F.A. Premier League, Bundesliga, French League or Mexican 1st Division. When they play, you play.
FIFA 08 for Nintendo DS.
July 28, 2007
From the moment you step on the pitch, FIFA 08 challenges you to think and react like a real football player by giving you complete control over all of the action. New manual controls enable you to dictate the play with control over through-passing and crossing. Control the goalkeeper in one-on-one situations to deny the striker yourself.
Be A Pro, Co-op Season: Take on the role of a professional footballer, create your own player and test yourself in one position for an entire season. Master positioning, improve your attributes and develop into an elite player. Co-operate with up to three friends fixed to their player on the same team, but compete with those same friends on individual challenges. All performances are tracked through detailed statistics to determine who really is a pro.
Custom Formations: Design your own unique strategy to create the perfect formation and tactics. Set each player’s exact position in the formation, and assign specific attacking and defensive runs to unlock the opposition.
Enhanced AI: New defensive and positioning logic requires greater tactical expertise to break down the opposition New AI ensures players are in the right place at the right time. Player and team traits differentiate the stars.
Complete Authenticity: Featuring 30 leagues, 30 real stadiums and 14,000 players all accurately recreated
