EA Sports Announces Platform-Specific Versions of FIFA 09

[fitbabits]

Electronic Arts sends word that each version of FIFA 09 will be unique to the platform it's played on.

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today revealed it has created platform specific experiences for its popular FIFA 09 football franchise from EA SPORTS™. FIFA 09 has been designed and customized to deliver a unique gameplay experience that takes advantage of the hardware specifications of each available platform— the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, Wii™ home video game system, PC, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and mobile—when it is released worldwide this autumn.
Interesting. I suspect Peter Moore is now exerting his influence at EA Sports, and for the better.

BTW, I do know that the PS3 version will contain multi-language commentaries, meaning you can select the language of the announcer in your games. The Xbox 360 version will not ship with the additional language options included, but they will be available via download.

[fitbabits]

Ah! Here's the rest of the press release:

“We have listened and responded to gamers and football fans around the world by building customized gameplay experiences for FIFA 09 on each platform,” said Andrew Wilson, Vice President & Executive Producer for the franchise. “Everyone wants to play a football game that is customized to their system and delivers a unique and enjoyable experience. We understand that and have innovated features, created new modes and designed controls that are tailored to each specific platform.”

With over 250 additions and enhancements to core gameplay, FIFA 09 on the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360 deliver an authentic football simulation that enables you to customize the game to suit your style and ability. New animation technology creates more responsive first-time shooting and passing, faster and more controlled dribbling, and improved trapping. New player momentum physics, which exploits the power of these platform engines, delivers realistic player collisions, authentic jostling for the ball, and more variation in tackling.

“We listened to our consumers to make the changes that they wanted,” said David Rutter, Producer of FIFA 09 on the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360. “No other game has over 250 feature changes and additions focused on improving core gameplay. We have an absolutely authentic recreation of the real sport through attention to detail.”

For the first time, go inside the game engine to customize the strategy and positioning of your teammates to decide exactly how your team will play in any situation. With new Custom Team Tactics you have all the tools to become a first-team coach. Adjust and customize tactical settings so CPU players and your team perform just like the real-world team plays and make strategic decisions to exploit your opponent’s weaknesses, all on-the-fly. The popular feature innovation Be A Pro has expanded to a career mode called Be A Pro: Seasons where you can choose or create a professional player and then develop his skills at a single outfield position over four years with the ultimate goal of becoming a national legend. The matchday experience is now true-to-life with a referee and linesmen on the pitch. Plus, crowds, stadium atmosphere and commentary have all been regionalized in exact detail.

On the Wii, enjoy FIFA 09 All-Play one of two ways—a Wii-specific take on the authentic ‘11 vs. 11’ simulation or over-the-top ‘8 vs. 8’ arcade action within a stylized environment with Mii™ versions of your favorite superstars, like Ronaldinho and Wayne Rooney. Refined motion and point-and-play controls make playing FIFA 09 All-Play even more intuitive and perfectly balanced for gamers of any ability to enjoy fun, football action. Choose to play the style that best suits your skills from advanced controls for experienced players to new EA SPORTS™ All-Play controls that enables novice players to focus on fun using simplified controls with AI assistance.

“You’ve never played football like this before,” said Kaz Makita, Line Producer of FIFA 09 All-Play. “Our new ‘8 vs. 8’ Footii Match enables you to play an exaggerated style of football where the personality of your Mii comes to life. You can play with your Mii characters against or alongside some of the biggest stars in a truly unique football experience tailored specifically for the Wii version of FIFA 09.”

FIFA 09 on PC now features leading-edge visuals that deliver graphics that exploit the power of hi-spec gaming PCs, as requested by PC gamers. Star players are featured in photorealistic quality with remodeled likenesses for ultra-realistic gameplay. FIFA 09 on PC also features customizable mouse gameplay controls that deliver deeper, more intuitive command over your squad. Plus, customizable widgets are now integrated into the menu system to connect you to the FIFA community and real-world football so you stay connected while playing FIFA 09.

“We are committed to investing and innovating to create a PC specific experience,” said Producer Paul Hossack. “Gamers want a gameplay experience exclusively for PC and FIFA 09 on PC delivers this.”

With 500 new animation sequences and all-new collision and shielding systems—representing the biggest innovations to the multiplatform EA SPORTS football engine in four years— FIFA 09 delivers more responsive, intelligent and realistic physical action on the PlayStation 2 system. The new collision detection system with 360 degree coverage enables players to behave according to their physical attributes where player speed, direction and strength determine everything from the severity of the collision to the outcome of possession. Changes to the animation system reward the skillful gamer during one-on-one situations between attackers and defenders. Tuned acceleration attributes enable swifter virtual players to possess quicker first steps and gain advantage in sprints. Plus, four new skill moves—scoop turns, rainbow flicks, heel-to-heel knocks and ball rolls—give you a total of 32 tricks in your arsenal to perform just like Ronaldinho.

FIFA 09 on the PSP system and Nintendo DS now include the innovative Be A Pro feature, including the unique Be A Pro camera that re-creates the rush and excitement of racing in on goal, designed exclusively for each system.

Additional major feature innovations for PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 and PC will be revealed later this month and announced at the Leipzig Games Convention in August.

[Wedge]

Man, that is a lot of talk.

[AgtFox]

Wasn't there a big thing last year where they were going to do the same thing with the language options where the Blu-Ray disc allowed them to do multiple language on one disc and the 360 was left out in the cold with just one language and they ended up just shipping one language on both? It is nice this time around that they'll allow downloading of extra languages though on the 360.

[fitbabits]

Wasn't there a big thing last year where they were going to do the same thing with the language options where the Blu-Ray disc allowed them to do multiple language on one disc and the 360 was left out in the cold with just one language and they ended up just shipping one language on both? It is nice this time around that they'll allow downloading of extra languages though on the 360.

Yeah, that rings a bell. I'm keen to see what the new FIFA will be like. I love FIFA 08, it's the first FIFA that beat Pro Evo in terms of gameplay.

[AgtFox]

Yeah, that rings a bell. I'm keen to see what the new FIFA will be like. I love FIFA 08, it's the first FIFA that beat Pro Evo in terms of gameplay.
To be perfectly honest, starting with Madden 09 I believe the EA Sports lineup is going to be filled with massive changes. Peter Moore has been at the head for almost a year and he's had more of a chance looking over the line than he did last year.

NCAA won't see much change because it is built on last year's Madden engine, so that's why I consider Madden 09 to be the start of possibly something special...the new EA Sports if you will.

[fitbabits]

To be perfectly honest, starting with Madden 09 I believe the EA Sports lineup is going to be filled with massive changes. Peter Moore has been at the head for almost a year and he's had more of a chance looking over the line than he did last year.

NCAA won't see much change because it is built on last year's Madden engine, so that's why I consider Madden 09 to be the start of possibly something special...the new EA Sports if you will.

Yeah, I'm enthused about the EA Sports lineup for the first time in a long time.

[AgtFox]

I know I go against what most users here on EvAv think about EA as a company, but I think their dividing of the company is going to create some truly awesome games. No longer does just one person oversee all of the studios, now there are 4 presidents overseeing everything in sections (EA Sports, EA Casual, EA Sims and EA Games) and I think what comes out of them are going to be different than what we've seen before.

[bKangy]

Hope Pro Evo does well to compete, I don't really like buying EA products and I hate the FIFA control scheme.

[sprankton]

FiFa and NHL alone make EA sports awesome, plus I am a HUGE NCAA Football fan. Those are always solid games, ever since 2005.

[Norse]

NHL 08 and Fifa 08 were both great IMHO. Previously I've preferred Pro Evolution, but Konami are still stuck in prev gen and are unable to improve the gfx, sound and presentation in their product. And since EA have improved the gameplay in Fifa quite a bit, they offer a much better package than Konami.

[biosc1]

YAY! They appear to be taking the PC seriously with this iteration in the series. I grew up playing on the PC (after being introduced to the series on the Genesis)...and I have many fond memories of playing it on the PC. Then, they started to ignore it...I'm really quite stoked...it's definitely become a series I only buy once every few iterations (unlike hockey, which I buy all the time)...hopefully, this gets me back into it :)

[Oddmaker]

BTW, I do know that the PS3 version will contain multi-language commentaries, meaning you can select the language of the announcer in your games. The Xbox 360 version will not ship with the additional language options included, but they will be available via download.[/I]

So erm.. does this mean IF users on the Xbox360 dont have Live they wont be able to have the additional languages to download and use?

[biosc1]

So erm.. does this mean IF users on the Xbox360 dont have Live they wont be able to have the additional languages to download and use?

Depends...if you don't have Live, but still have a Silver Account, then I believe you can still download...assuming you have an internet connection.

[Oddmaker]

Be intresting to see if EA charge for those hehe ;)

[Variable Gear]

This is the All-Play game I'm looking forward to the least. Already pre-ordered Madden, and I'm putting down $5 on Tiger in a couple days, but FIFA doesn't really interest me much anymore. Still, for people that are into FIFA-style soccer games, the new features are probably pretty cool.

[JimmyDanger]

I love FIFA 08, it's the first FIFA that beat Pro Evo in terms of gameplay.

I have to strongly disagree.

It was miles of an improvement for the FIFA series - and the strides made between each iteration of PES have been gradually lessening - but it was far from better gaemplay - unless you like PEs played at half speed, which was what FIFA08 felt a bit like, albeit with prettier graphics and an EPL license.

[Frogleg Special]

If MVP Baseball is still alive, it would join FIFA and NHL as EA better franchises.

Ok: Madden.

Perennial loser: NBA Live.