Fifa 12 Preview and More

I shall admit this immediately. I love football (soccer for the Yankee readers). I play the game all the time, watch the game all the time, and enjoy video games based on the game. It has been a while since I got into a Fifa Game (the last one I enjoy greatly was 2002). A decade later and Fifa is again the pinnacle football game. Actually, Fifa is the best selling sports game around the world. I planned on getting into Fifa 11, but never did due mainly to laziness and doubt. Fifa 12 is changing all of that. Every bit of gameplay I have seen of the game has impressed me. The online mode is what sports games have needed forever. The franchise no boasts an online where every player on the field can be controlled by a human being for true eleven versus eleven gameplay. I have already begun making plans with comrades to play Fifa 12, though I have not decided on a position (I will probably end up playing whatever is needed of me since I am all about THE TEAM).

Chosen “Best Console Game” at Gamescom, and winner of the prestigious E3 Game Critics award for “Best Sports Game”, FIFA Soccer 12 brings to the pitch the game-changing new Player Impact Engine, a physics engine built to deliver real-world physicality in every interaction on the pitch. Revolutionary gameplay innovations inspired by the real-world game make FIFA Soccer 12 deeper and more engaging. All-new Precision Dribbling delivers a higher fidelity of touch on the ball for attacking players, while Tactical Defending fundamentally changes the approach to defending by placing equal importance on positioning, intercepting passes and tackling. Plus, CPU players have been infused with Pro Player Intelligence, the next generation of player intelligence and performance. Finally, introducing EA SPORTS Football Club—the heartbeat of FIFA Soccer 12—a live service connecting players to the real-world game with fresh, new content all the time, enabling them to support their favourite club and connect and compete with their friends, rivals and millions of other players around the world.

For those of you have have questions doubts, or just have not seen anything on the game, I have come to your rescue. Firstly, be sure to check out the trailer above. Secondly, feast your eyes on what is being added to/improved in/fixed in the game:

Key Features

Player Impact Engine — Two years in development, the new physics engine is built to deliver real-world physicality in every interaction on the pitch. Experience an infinite variety of natural and believable outcomes in every contact. Players feel more resilient on the ball, push and pull during the fight for possession, and recover from light challenges more easily, preserving their natural momentum.

Pro Player Intelligence — CPU players have been infused with self-awareness and aptitude, enabling them to make decisions based on their own skills as well as the strengths and attributes of their teammates. Players who possess exceptional vision, for example, will see opportunities for through balls that other players won’t. Real Madrid’s Kaká will be more likely—and quicker—to pick out a run from a teammate farther away than a player with poorer vision. Additionally, teams will vary their attack based on the strengths of their players on the pitch, and the weaknesses of opposing players, creating a more authentic experience and greater variety of matches.

Tactical Defending — Re-designed defending mechanism fundamentally changes the approach to defending by placing equal importance on positioning, intercepting passes and tackling at the right moment. Tactics and timing are crucial.

Precision Dribbling— Enjoy new ways to take on opponents, more time on the ball to make decisions, and complete control of the pace of the game. Utilize close dribble touches in tight spaces, on the wings, and even while fending off an opponent.

EA SPORTS Football Club— For the first time ever, everything within FIFA Soccer 12, and against friends, is measured in a meaningful way. Every match matters. Earn experience points and level up to build status. Track friends, challenges and status through the web. Share and compare accomplishments and spread the news on social channels like Facebook. Plus, real-world storylines will drive content. Gamers will relive crucial real-world events through regular challenges so that FIFA Soccer 12 will look, feel and play like the real-world season.

Support Your Club — A central experience in EA SPORTS Football Club that enables fans to represent their club and compete against rival clubs in everything they do in FIFA Soccer 12. Earn club points to lift your club higher in the Support Your Club League Tables or help them avoid relegation. Virtual league tables are reset each week to create new challenges, renewed rivalries, and fresh storylines.

Career Mode – Now driven by the same drama, storylines and emotion as the real world game, factors such as player morale, on-pitch form, wages and league position will drive outcomes in the game. Users will face more decisions and factors than ever before, with their consequences being played out on and off the pitch to test your resolve as a manager all season long, with bigger decisions to make and more dynamic outcomes. Evaluation logic has been improved to reflect a player’s true value, a new scouting network feature has been added to discover new talent, and the excitement of Transfer Deadline day has been expanded to increase the emotion, urgency and drama of that special day.

True Injuries — The Player Impact Engine monitors contact between players in real-time, analyzing the force of the collision and impact on the body to detect real injuries, creating a deeper more challenging Career Mode. Manage new types of injuries and the risk of sending a player onto the pitch who isn’t fully healed.

Head-to-Head Online Seasons — Ranked online play is all-new in FIFA 12 with seasons, promotions, and relegation. You have 10 games per season to earn enough points to be promoted or avoid relegation. Higher divisions mean better competition and tougher promotions. Every few weeks the cup window opens, qualifying you for one of four possible cups based on your division. During the cup window, try to earn your silverware in 16 team dynamic tournaments; lose, and you’re back in the first round.

Online Friendlies – Play your friends in 10 game seasons and prove who is the best. Earn the most points each season to hoist the trophy, and then start all over again the next season to try to defend your title. The mode tracks all your seasons and provides an easy interface to invite friends.

FIFA Ultimate Team – Now available for the first time at launch and on disc! Build your Ultimate Team from the best football stars by earning, buying, selling and trading players and items in the massive FIFA Ultimate Team online community. Create and manage multiple squads and take them into competition in online and solo single-player tournaments, all dynamically updated each week.

New Commentary Teams – For the first time ever, two broadcast teams will be featured – Martin Tyler and Alan Smith and Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend. Fans can customize audio to their preferred commentators for any matches.

Complete Authenticity- Over 500 officially licensed clubs and more than 15,000 players.

Finally, here is a small sample of screenshots EA sent me. Honestly, the game is plain gorgeous to me. Besides, if you do not believe the pictures, view the video above, or wait for the Fifa 12 demo to hit Xbox Live and PSN on September 13th. Yes, I have my calendar marked. You can expect a review of the full game here on TheBitbag from none other than me. Until then, give sight to these:

For more videos, pictures, updates and everything Fifa straight from the source, check out EA Sports Fifa sections at these locations:
Website: http://www.easportsfootball.com & http://www.ea.com/soccer/fifa
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/easportsfifa