FAQ

All versions

Has the Interactive League changed at all? If so, how?
The one change for the IL is that it will be available Xbox 360, PS3, PSP and Wii as well!

Will it be possible to simulate individual matches or dates in Manager Mode?
Yes, individual matches can be simulated via the visual or quick-sim however it won’t be possible to sim to a specific date but who would want to as in FIFA 08 you have the option to schedule mid-week practices to improve specific player attributes.

Will players be able to choose from the whole squad rather than just fifteen players when playing online?
Unfortunately, it will be the same as FIFA 07. You get to play with the pre-selected squad of 16 players. However, this list will be updated once around launch and once after the January transfer window with our transfer database updates. If you think the first 16 players for the teams are wrong please let us know in the forums and we’ll look at making changes for the winter update.

Will there be real companies for sponsors in manager mode or will it be generic ones?
No, it will be fictional companies as in FIFA 07.

Will there be real money in manager mode, and will you be able to select between Euro, Pound Sterling, and US Dollar?
Yes, in Manager Mode you’ll have the option to select which currency will be used. The options are Euro, Pound Sterling and the US Dollar. This option is available from the Manager Contract screen at the start of the game mode.

Have you considered including a dive button?
It’s something that had crossed our minds but the reality is that we are striving to recreate the beautiful game within the parameters of the official rules. It’s unfortunate that diving is part of the real sport and with the videogame we’re in a position to maintain what makes football great in it’s purest form – skill, vision and determination.

Will the Classic XI be included?
Yes, our FIFA Classic XI and World XI teams will be included.

Any plans for demo prior to release? When can we expect it?
We’re working on a demo for PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. We plan to release this in September but the exact date is TBC – we’re trying to get the balance between a demo that is exactly the same gameplay as the finished game and one that arrives with plenty of time for you to play it.

Will the referee and linesman be visible?
We only show the match officials during in-game cut-scenes to display bookings, red cards and warnings.This is another feature that generated a lot of passion in our studio. Having the referee and linesman visible during the match is something we really want to do and really deliver on it. It’s important to the story of each match and having dynamic interactions between players and match officials is certainly a feature we’ll be looking at for our next game.

What’s being done about online quitters?
We’re looking into this at the moment. We’re looking back at the scoring logic and want to test the system to see what improvements we can try to create a more level playing field. We’re also working on new tools to identify cheating so we can react to reports with stats and data to prove if someone was cheating. Sometimes when people think they’ve been cheated it’s just a network issue = we had a chase where someone lost their Wi-Fi network when their girlfriend used the microwave so not every disconnect is a cheat but we’re certainly looking at it.

Will we be able to edit player’s faces and stats? Will there be a limit?
Yes, we have to set a limit for memory reasons.

Which leagues are being included this year?
We’re actually adding three new leagues this year to the roster we had for current-gen version of FIFA 07 to all the different versions we’re releasing on all platforms. So far we’ve announced the Irish Eircom League with another two new leagues being announced shortly.

Is there an official release date yet?
We’re going to be announcing this very shortly.

You have suggested that you will be able to change player using the right analogue stick, do you have any more information about how this will work?
When the other team has the ball, you simply flick the right stick in the direction of the player you want to control. It gives you complete control of which player you are controlling and is a great compliment to the button-press player switch.

Current-gen – PS2 & PC

Will quick set-pieces be in FIFA 08?
Yes, Quick Free kicks are a new feature for FIFA 08. This is the “real deal” compared to prior implementations, and like in real life you’re only able to use it if the ball doesn’t roll too far away from the point where the foul happened.

When playing co-operative multiplayer, will it be possible for each player to choose whether they want to use manual passing and crossing?
CG: Yes, automated through balls or crosses can we switched on/off for each individual user.

Will there be new “Rest of World” teams? If so, which teams?
Compared to last year, there are 6 more teams in ROW. The new teams are from Poland, Brazil and South Africa.

If a player receives a minor injury, will he leave the pitch for treatment and return after receiving treatment?

No, a player is either injured or not injured, there are no “off pitch treatments”. If a player is injured the user can decide to sub him off.

If a player receives an injury but can not be substituted, will they remain on the pitch or will you be able to take them off?
The player will have to stay on the pitch but only if you have run out of substitutions.

What is the structure of the online leagues? Is player growth a feature? Will players be transferable?
Interactive Leagues will work as last year. We are planning on adding a couple new leagues this year.

What are the three new leagues?
We have added three new leagues in total, the Australian League, the Irish League and the Czech League.

How many levels of difficulty will there be? Are these available to the player from the start?
There are 5 difficulty levels that have been completely reworked for FIFA 08. As in last year, users have to unlock the hardest difficulty level “Legendary”.

Is there a noticeable difference between players depending on their stats? For example, does Ronaldinho have noticeably better ball-control than Giuly?
Yes, player attributes will make a noticable difference in FIFA 08 and decide how good a player is in a certain skill. On top of that we’ve introduced player traits, when playing against the CPU these ensure more life-like behaviour of the AI players (i.e. Gerrard shooting from distance, Ronaldinho dribbling, Gattuso slide tackling)

How many teams can be included in League Mode?
Not sure what you mean by “League Mode”, but within the “Tournament Mode” you can create a League Type Tournament with up to 24 teams.

Can music be played during training mode?
Only on your stereo …no, FIFA 08 doesn’t support music within the Practice Mode, nice idea though we’ll think about it for the future.

Is it possible to “nutmeg” players?
There is no control to “nutmeg” players on purpose, however I’ve seen it happen accidentally when using the manual through ball. We’re looking into adding this for coming iterations of FIFA.

Do kits have official numbering, rather than generic?
We have several official fonts for player numbers in FIFA 08, a new addition this year was the MLS player number font.

Are manual passes affected by a players attributes?
Player attributes have an effect on manual passing, however this type of pass is mainly dependent on user skill.

Are there a greater variety of injuries which have different recovery times?
Injury types within the Manager Mode are the same as last year (20 in total).

Is it possible to modify a players appearance, physique and boots?
Yes. You have all the editing control from last year, plus we’ve added some new hairstyles and boots.

Is it possible, when creating a player, to use a generic face?
Created players always use generic faces.

Is it possible to play games in different lighting conditions (day, night, overcast, sunny etc.)?
Yes. And based on popular demand we even added a winter mode this year.

Is the right analogue still the only way to perform “tricks” (such as stopovers)?
Yes…and no. The classic right stick skill moves still exist, however there are new additions such as a cheeky lob pass or heel passes that are context based and not triggered by the right stick.

Are goal-keepers affected by fatigue?
Yes, GK attributes are affected by fatigue in the same way as field players. However the GK doesn’t have to run nearly as much as a field player and therefore the effect is minor.

Will cup-finals be played at a neutral venue?
This is different per country, i.e. for Germany the cup final will always be played at the Berlin Olimpic Stadium.

Will FA Cup games go to a replay if the game is drawn?
No, we need a decision in these matches, therefore they will go to OT and PK shoot-out if needed.

When editing players, can you set all of the attributes to maximum, and will this affect Manager Mode?
Yes, if the user wishes he can set all the attributes of a created player to maximum…but where’s the fun in that .

Is it possible for your goal-keeper to be sent off or injured if you have no substitutions left? If so, will the player that you put in his place be dressed in a goal-keepers kit?
Yes.

Is “FIFA Lounge” available on current generation?
Only on PS2.

l the “new dribbling styles” be included or are they PS3/360 exclusive? Have any changes been made to dribbling controls?
CG already the right stick dribbling feature last year.

Will there be immediate substitutions during a game?
Like in a real game, the game has to be stopped in order to be able to perform a substitution.

What international teams will be included in the game?
Below the list of international teams…

• Argentina
• Austria
• Australia
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• China PR
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• England
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Holland
• Italy
• Mexico
• Northern Ireland
• Norway
• Paraguay
• Poland
• Portugal
• Rep. Ireland
• Republic Of Korea
• Romania
• Scotland
• Slovenia
• Slovakia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Turkey
• United States
• Switzerland
• Ukraine
• New Zealand
• Uruguay
• Wales
• Finland
• Cameroon
• South Africa
• Hungary
• Nigeria
• Russia

Will FIFA 09 be developed for the current generation platforms?
We’ll have to let you know nearer the time but there’s a lot of life left in PS2

Is it possible to purchase players who are on the game, but do not play for a club team?
No, you won’t be able to transfer international players to club teams.

Is it possible to see how many players are actually online while waiting for a match in Interactive League mode?
Yes

How have free kicks changed from FIFA 07?
We have done a couple of things to Free Kicks in FIFA 08. First, we have tuned the shooting model so that you have to work even harder to put the ball in the back of the net. Second, we’ve added a feature where you can lock the camera, but change where you are aiming. This is great when you’re playing against your mates. When you’ve locked the camera, a little rumble will let you know when aiming directly at either post. When you combine this with our new goalkeeper controls, free kicks turn into a real duel.

Will weather be a feature in FIFA 08?
In FIFA 08 PS2 and PC, we added the Winter weather effect. This comes with variable snowfall during the match, visible breath, snow/frost on and around the pitch. It’s a great looking package that really makes you feel like you’re playing on a frozen pitch mid-winter.

Can we now save replays?
You’ve always been able to save replays in FIFA PS2 and PC. However, in FIFA 08 PC we have added 2 new options. First, you can save/record a replay of the entire match. This is great for analyzing your performance in a match, as well as recording the finals of gaming tournaments. Second, you can now export your saved replays to a video file on your hard drive. This makes putting together your own highlights package (or blooper reel) even easier for you to share with your friends or everyone on the Internet through video sharing sites.

Is the crowd 3D?
No. We still have a very nice looking crowd but they are 2D. We spent a lot of our “graphics” energy this year introducing our new dynamic lighting and exposure (aka HDR for lighting gurus). It looks really good.

Is there a free-kick editor?
No but it’s a nice idea but we have got some good changes to the formation system this year.

Has defensive heading been improved?
Yes, attributes now play a bigger role when deciding who wins or loses an aerial battle, since defensive players are generally stronger then attacking players this feels more realistic in FIFA 08.

Can keepers get sent off or injured this year?
Yes! In 08 you can take full control of your keeper with GK Control. This lets you directly control your GK in one-on-ones, corners and free kicks. You can also get injured or even sent off and you’ll need to put someone else in goal. Keep this in mind when you’re deciding which players you want on the bench.

Can we use official boots like in FIFA 07 for created players and edit existing players boots?
No and no, however there are more generic boots to choose from for created players – fifteen in all.

Are there more official goalkeeper kits?
All the top teams will have their official goalkeeper kits in FIFA 08, currently we’re looking at more then 140 original goalie kits for FIFA 08.

Will the PC have next-gen gameplay and graphics and if not, why not?
The gameplay engine that we’ve build for the Xbox 360 and PS3 is designed for multi-threaded, multi-core consoles. This is a significantly larger amount of power than even the top-end PCs on the market right now. Unlike many FPS titles that scale through dropping down the graphics detail, most of the power is used for the gameplay to calculate AI, animation, ball physics etc – we can’t drop the number of players!.

We have done tests that show that our new gameplay engine takes up to 34 times the CPU power of the CG gameplay engine. In other words, there are very few PC’s available in the market that could run a next-gen FIFA 08 gameplay engine.

Instead, we’ve focused on innovating and polishing the gameplay on the current-gen engine for FIFA 08 PC. We’ve also improved the graphics and added 8-player LAN this year.

Will the game be any harder than previous versions?
You will find in the PS2 and PC version that you’ll need to work harder for your goals. The gameplay is much deeper with the new manual controls, improved positioning and tighter defense. We’ve worked really hard to create a great game that you’ll find challenging for a long, long time.

Can the goal keepers take free kicks in FIFA 08
Yes! They can also take corner kicks, and you can even call them up late in the game if down a goal to improve your chances of scoring.

Wii

How will the Wii version of the game work?
The Wii version of the game has been designed from the ground up to make sure it makes the most of the Wii controller system. There are some special Wii-only party games such as the Table Football game. You can get more information on this link: http://www.fifa07.ea.com/news/?id=13532&lang=en&delta=1

Next-gen – PS3 & 360

Has the PlayStation 3’s SIXAXIS functionality been incorporated into the game? If so, how?
No we didn’t create anything specific for the SIXAXIS this year.

Will you only be able to get updates for FIFA 08 on the 360 if you have an Xbox Live Gold account?
Due to the 1st party requirements for multiplayer games you will only get squad updates if you have an Xbox LIVE Gold account

When playing co-operative multiplayer, will it be possible for each player to choose whether they want to use manual passing and crossing?
Yes they will be able to choose the style of passing per controller.

Will there be new “Rest of World” teams? If so, which teams?
There will be a total of 22 teams in Rest of World. They are: AC Lugano, AEK Athens, Arka Gdynia, Boca Juniors, Chaux-De-Fonds, FC Lausanne, Fortaleza, Gornik Leczna, Kaiser Chiefs, Mamelodi FC, Olympiacos CFP, Orlando Pirates, PAOK, Pogon Szczecin, Polonia Warszawa, Ponte Preta, River Plate, Santa Cruz, Sao Caetano, Wisla Plock, Classic XI, World XI.

If a player receives a minor injury, will he leave the pitch for treatment and return after receiving treatment?
No, a player is either injured or not injured, there are no “off pitch treatments”. If a player is injured the user can decide to sub him off.

If a player receives an injury but can not be substituted, will they remain on the pitch or will you be able to take them off?
The player will have to stay on the pitch but only if you have run out of substitutions.

What is the structure of the online leagues? Is player growth a feature? Will players be transferable?
The structure of the NG online feature is an open league in which up to 32 teams can participate. Playing by the rules the moderator sets up.

What are the three new leagues?
For NG it’s 24 new leagues (we only had 6 in FIFA 07). However, the THREE new leagues we have licensed across all our FIFA 08 versions are the Australian A-League, Czech league and the Irish Eircom league.

How many levels of difficulty will there be? Are these available to the player from the start?
5 difficulty levels all available from the beginning. The newest difficulty level is Legendary.

Will Photo Game Face (as seen in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008) be included in any FIFA games in the foreseeable future? If not, why not?
FIFA 08 won’t support this feature. If this is a common request from users we may look into it for coming iterations of FIFA.

Is there a noticeable difference between players depending on their stats? For example, does Ronaldinho have noticeably better ball-control than Giuly?
Yes

How many teams can be included in League Mode?
There is no League Mode in NG. The closest is Tournament Mode which can have up to 64 teams in a group & knockout tournament. A league tournament can have up to 24 teams.

Can music be played during training mode?
Not applicable to NG.

Is it possible to “nutmeg” players?
Yes with the new skill moves there are plenty of moves which enable you to ‘nutmeg’ the opposition player.

Are there a greater variety of injuries which have different recovery times?
For Game Modes, the amount of injuries in Manager Mode are the same as they were in 07; injury time does vary and is also affected by the staff level of your Fitness coach.

Is it possible to modify a players appearance, physique and boots?
We cannot modify a real player’s face. You can modify his attributes, boots, and some apparel however.

Is it possible, when creating a player, to use a generic face?
All created players are using generic faces.

Will cup-finals be played at a neutral venue?
In Create Tournament, the User will be able to select the final match venue. In Manager Mode, when possible, the venue will be neutral.

Will FA Cup games go to a replay if the game is drawn?
Unfortunately not. This is not a supported structure at this time but it is something we’re looking forward to implementing for the next iteration of FIFA.

When editing players, can you set all of the attributes to maximum, and will this affect Manager Mode?
No you can’t. When editing real players you can only redistribute their attributes; when creating new players you are only given a certain amount of EXP point to allocate to attributes. However, you can go to the Fan Shop and buy EXP point packs so that you can create players with higher overalls. If these players are then taken into Manager Mode, they will be much more expensive, and of course they won’t grow as much.

Is shirt-pulling part of the game?
No however we have done lots of work on physical play including a new jostling system and a re-written collision system with 100’s of new collision animations.

Can we play 2 vs 2 online?
Yes you will be able to play 2 vs 2 online using Multi-Player Co-op

Will the pitch degrade during a match or over the course of the season?
Yes, we have seasonal pitch wear to show how the pitch will degrade throughout the season and improve slightly towards the end of the year when the weather improves. But through the winter months in Manager Mode you will see a noticeable difference. The stadium you’re playing in will also make a difference. For example, playing in a Division 2 stadium will not have the same maintenance as the big top league grounds.

How are the goal keepers going to change based on the new shooting system?
Increasing the variety and realism of the shooting system has allowed us to make similar strides with the GK. Some of these improvements include:

• Shot Preparation: The GK will prepare to save by hopping forward to narrow the angle and getting into a crouch position, thus narrowing the angle and enabling him to dive further.
• Reaction time: After a shot is taken the GK will take a little time to react to the shot to enable him to ‘read’ the ball trajectory.
• Line of sight: If he cannot see the ball being kicked then his reactions will be slower
• Anticipation Saves: In 1-on-1 situations the GK will realize that the shot is too close to react to and thus preemptively dive as soon as the attacker starts to kick
• Momentum: More realistic momentum will enable the user to wrong foot the GK. If the GK is moving left for example it will inhibit his ability to save shots that go to his right.
• Animations: All of the GK animations have been reworked making them more fluid and realistic.

Will there be a full practice pitch in the next-gen version like we have seen in previous titles on current gen; not the arena but the full-on pitch where you can select how many players on each side?
Not for FIFA 08. Our focus was to really invest in our core 11 v 11 gameplay experience and we’re still using our Arena to showcase the new gameplay features that you’ll see this year. The skill move feature alone has a huge impact to what you can do in the Arena.

Will there be more club crest gamer pictures available?
We are still working on our downloadable content plan and will announce something closer to launch

How have free kicks changed from FIFA 07?
We re-worked the free-kick system from 07 and it now gives the user more control over the power and spin of the ball

Will weather be a feature in FIFA 08?
Not in FIFA 08 unfortunately. When we do weather, we want weather to affect primarily the pitch and how the ball and players move across the surface and then we want to ensure our visuals are ultra-realistic with kits, player’s skin and hair and the stadium and crowd all being affected by the weather conditions.

Can we now save replays?
This is one of the exciting new features we’re introducing into FIFA 08. You can now upload your replays directly to a specific location on the internet and then access it straight away. You can now share that replay with the entire FIFA community. We’ve been testing this feature internally and it’s generated a lot of banter and debate as to who has scored the best goal of the day and who had the worst result

Is the crowd 3D?
Yes and they look lovely.

Is there a free-kick editor?
No we don’t have this feature. We spent a lot of time working on the free-kick system to give the user more control over their shot using topspin, backspin and sidespin.

Has defensive heading been improved?
We have done lots of work on our trapping system and our in air trapping system to give the user more control over in air situations. Headers are definitely balanced a lot better this year as a result.

Can keepers get sent off or injured this year?
Unfortunately we weren’t able to add this feature into the game this year but it’s on the list for next year.

Can we use official boots like in FIFA 07 for created players and edit existing players boots?
Yes, we have all the latest official boots in FIFA 08 and you’ll be able to edit existing and created players and select which boots you want them to wear

Are there more official goalkeeper kits?
Yes, we’ve created more kits this year than in any other version of FIFA. In fact I can tell you that we have close to 1400 kits in the game this year. This includes the obvious official home and away kits as well as official goalkeeper kits for all the top teams. We also have a selection of 3rd kits that can be accessed via the Fan Shop within the game.

Will the “You’ll Never Walk Alone” chant be in the game?
Yes, this is one of our many licensed chants. It’s important that we not only convey an authentic performance from our crowd but also ensure that those trademark chants are included in the game. You’ll Never Walk Alone is a chant synonymous with the Liverpool and Celtic fans. I’ve been lucky enough to attend many matches at Anfield over the years and when you experience that atmosphere it really does inspire you to deliver that same sense of emotion in our game.

How many stadiums will there be and will Celtic park be in there?
We will have 30 environments. Unfortunately Celtic Park isn’t included this year but we’ve included the Scottish Premier League in FIFA 08. So you can take the helm as manager of Celtic in our Manager Mode experience and aim to keep the silverware coming back to the Bhoys. Conversely you can always attempt to take newcomers Gretna to glory! We will be launching a request for stadiums you’d like to see us work on for the next game.

Will there be more national teams?
We’ve added a handful of additional national teams. But what we’ve really focused on is domestic football. We’ve added three additional leagues in FIFA 08 on Xbox360 and PlayStation3.

One of the biggest criticisms we had on FIFA07 was the lack of depth and teams. It was our goal to address this for FIFA 08 and we thought let’s not just match the number of leagues and teams in our current-generation of FIFA titles, let’s add a lot more. And that’s what we’ve done. FIFA 08 has more players, teams and leagues than any other FIFA game to date.

Have any new celebrations been added?
We’ve added a few new goal celebrations this year. In addition to this we also play a goal celebration cut-scene based on its importance in the match. Getting the context right and ensuring we have a believable celebration is vital. For example, you don’t want to see the player’s jumping all over each other after they’ve scored a consolation goal while six goals behind!

Will the game be any harder than previous versions?
I wouldn’t say the game is simply more difficult than last year but that the improvements that we’ve made to the AI will provide more of a challenge. Each of our players now process 35 different choices simultaneously making them react far more realistically. There won’t be any cheats or sweet spots for beating the best players. We’re very happy with the AI in the game and feel it’s really taken massive steps this year.

Will there be a create-a-player mode?
Yes; there is a create-a-player mode (it’s like the one that was in FIFA 07 on the Xbox 360).

Have any changes been made to the goal nets?
We’ve looked into the physics of the goal nets and made changes to make them look more life-like.

Will you have some shirts tucked in and others un-tucked (Lionel Messi)?
Yes, this will feature in FIFA 08 and each player in our extensive database is assigned to either having a tucked in or loose shirt. Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney for example never tuck their shirts in.

Manager Mode Specific

All Versions

How many seasons can you play through?
15 seasons.

Will there be awards i.e. “Player of the Year”, “Man of the Match” etc.?
There is a team of the season. Man of the match is also there (and available in every game mode).

Is the Champions League licensed (all aspects, including the official CL music)?
No it is not as the license it used for a different football title altogether.

Will crucial games (cup-finals for example) be any different from other games?
Unfortunately not this year.

Will it be possible to manage international teams?
Unfortunately not this year.

Is it possible to view the results and standings of leagues other than the one in which you are playing?
No.

Will team’s third kits be un-lockable?
Yes. We’ll have over 30 unlockable kits this year.

Does winning tournaments and leagues earn you money?
Yes. Depending on the sponsor you have selected, you can win bonuses for winning tournaments and winning the league.

Will computer controlled teams bid for players realistically?
Yes. The CPU will try and improve their own team given their given budget.

Will computer controlled teams be managed realistically (and not abuse star players)?
Yes it can try. The CPU will attempt to and rotate the lineups if any players (star players included) become too fatigued to play.

Will loaned players gain experience and will their stats improve?
Yes. In fact, this is one of the better ways to improve your own players; loan them out for 1 season so that they can grow and then they can return to you as better players.

Will teams spend the money that they receive from transfers on upgrading their squad?
Yes. When economically feasible the CPU will attempt and improve their squad.

Will the fans support fluctuate depending on transfers?
No. Fan support is mainly based on how the squad fares in the league/tournament and how you as the Manager Deal with the press (through memos and interviews).

Will board expectations be more realistic (appropriate)?
Board expectations are the same as they were in 07. As we have more leagues, the expectations vary from club to club and will be more demanding in the User plays with a team from the top leagues.

Will the MLS be structured realistically (two conferences and play-offs)?
Unfortunately not. This is not a supported structure at this time but it is something we’re looking forward to implementing for the next iteration of FIFA.

Will the SPL be structured realistically (after 33 games, the top and bottom 6 “split”)?
Unfortunately not. This is not a supported structure at this time but it is something we’re looking forward to implementing for the next iteration of FIFA.

Will the Dutch leagues be structured realistically (with play-offs)?
Unfortunately not. This is not a supported structure at this time but it is something we’re looking forward to implementing for the next iteration of FIFA.

Current-Gen – PC & PS2

How are pre-season friendliest selected?
The user is able to select up to 4 teams for potential pre-season friendlies. Based on their schedule and star rating they will either accept or decline the request.

Is player growth more restricted (a player with 99 overall stats is unrealistic)?
Player growth is not more restricted then last year, but I think a player with 99 should be quite rare.

Do players still have “exclusive” growth (whereby they only reach certain attributes when playing in the player controlled team)?
The player growth system within Manager Mode works very similar to last year, we made two additions this year that will support Player Growth even further – Pre-Season Friendlies and Mid-Week Training Sessions. Especially the new training feature will allow the user to target specific key attributes based on the training type.

Next-Gen – PS3 & 360

Are pre-season friendlies and training modes in Manager Mode?
No, there are no pre-season friendlies or training sessions.

Is there a “Create-a-Club” option?
No there isn’t.

Is player growth more restricted (a player with 99 overall stats is unrealistic)?
Players will not be able to easily reach 99 on their own. If the User decides to manually grow players and know how attributes work for a specific player’s position, they may be able to grow some players to a 99 overall faster than if player growth is left on automatic (option).

Do players still have “exclusive” growth (whereby they only reach certain attributes when playing in the player controlled team)?
This was never a feature of NG. All players on all teams grow as you play through Manager Mode.

Source: http://footballcommunity.ea.com/forum