Introduction

When we played the first PC version of FIFA 10 in Vancouver, the game was still in development. Features which have been announced at the Global Community Day have not been included to the test version of the game. On the other hand there have been available some cool features about we haven’t been allowed to report about. Furthermore the developers have told us that there will be included some other features but didn’t give us any information about them…

On the gamescom 2009 in Cologne the game was different: The features have been completed, missing features have been implemented and some new things have been added, too.

It was very interesting that there were different versions of the game available at the gamescom. In the public area in the fair halls was available an older version in which the gameplay was very laggy – but in the intern EA Community Lounge we were able to play a newer version in which the game ran much smoother.

Our report is about the newer and smoother version of the game which was not available to play in public!

Basic differences

For the PC version the main updates concentrated in the gameplay which was improved a lot this year. Several things which are known from the Next-Generation version were included to the PC version of FIFA 10, so that the PC engine contains some key elements from the Next-Generation version now.

The individual teamstyles are a big and new feature in FIFA 10. It is a feature which is exclusively available on the PC version of FIFA 10 and which makes the game much more individual.

Furthermore there has been a bigger update of the Online Mode which had a lot of problems in FIFA 09.

Basic gameplay updates

During the development of FIFA 10 more than 30 basic gameplay updates were changed. The goal of this development is that the players react faster to the inputs than in FIFA 09, an improved collision system, more logical goalkeeper reactions as well as a more intelligent support of the own team players.

In general the transition of input and execution has fastened up – my players react much faster to my inputs now. So the movements are smoother supported by the fact that the animations are much shorter now. The players avoid smaller tackles automatically but bigger tackles we have to avoid manually. The physics of the ball during headers and crossings has been adjusted. Furthermore it is easier now to do any skill moves. Like in the Next-Generation version there has been added the possibility to do a fast free kick or a fast throw-in without any long interruption of the match.

The collision system has been updated so that two players of the same team don’t hit themselves so often. In general EA has added a completely new collision prevention system which reduces the numbers of illogical hits of players.

The players look for free space on the field and run there to get a nice pass. They react cleverer, use shorter ways and use free space in the defense. More passing and crossing options are available, too.

Even the goal keepers react more logical now, so they take free kicks in the own half of the field and – depending on the selected team style – they throw or kick the ball to the front. The goal keepers have individual reactions now, they vary their behavior. Especially in 1-vs-1 situations they react faster now on the line.

The developers have told us that there has been added the 360°-control, too, so that the players don’t run in 45°-angles like in FIFA 09 but are able to run in any direction – especially if you use a gamepad with analog stick you will notice this new control. However we haven’t noticed anything of this new control on the two versions on the gamescom. Because this feature has announced by EA we expect that the developers will add this feature until the final version of the game.

Features of the game

In FIFA 10 of the PC version the will be included a lot of small features. On the one hand it is possible to unlock the legend difficulty level which is good for all players who think that the game is too easy. The game speed has been slowed down a bit which is more authentic if you compare it with the real soccer. A lot of guys on the fair thought that this speed is too slow – but this is no problem, it is possible to raise the game speed in the options.

Ingame there are available a lot of little things – especially the new popup with the display of the information of the game. The new popup displays the color of the kits of the teams and the new design looks really modern and nice.

There have been added more emotions to the game sequences which makes the games more lively. The crowd show more emotions and don’t (nearly) lifeless sit in the stadiums like they did in FIFA 09 – furthermore they wear the colors of the teams now. That bring along more atmosphere into the stadiums.

Even the referees have been updated: The intelligence of the referees have been adjusted to make their decisions more realistic. Additionally there are new and improved animations for the referees and their assistants. Besides the referees wear headsets now.

If you compare FIFA 09 and FIFA 10 there are no big differences of the graphic: FIFA 10 has been lightened up a bit and has stronger colors now, but that’s it with the differences.

Individual teamstyles

A new feature which is only available on the PC version of FIFA 10 is the individual teamstyles which makes the game much more individual. Weaknesses of the opponent can be took advantage of and the strength of the own team can be improved.

You can choose several tactics which will be followed by your team. Do you want to play more crossings? Then set it and your players will run more over the sides. Do you want to make the game slowly and try to reach the goal by using short passes? Then set it and you players will wait for short passes. There are available several given tactics which can be selected – the right tactic for your team is surely available, too.

While testing the new FIFA 10 the teamstyles have been noticeable during the game and they are surely a very cool idea. Whether the teamstyles are also important in the long-time-test or not, and how good the CPU will choose their tactics during a season or tournaments, cannot be rated before of the release of the game.

Game modes

In FIFA 10 there will be available – besides friendlies and individual tournaments – three different modes:

Be A Pro: Club & Country – This is your chance to get the hero of the nation. You take the control of only one player on the pitch – just like you know it from FIFA 09 – and play in the league, in the national cup and international tournaments. Besides the tasks to help the club to reach its goals, you have to try to get a place in the squad of the national team to get a ticket for the FIFA World Cup 2010. Good results in the team improve your own form, bad results decrease the form.

Manager Mode – The manager mode is altogether the same one like you know it from FIFA 09: You are the coach and you do all the decisions! Lead any team out of any league or play with your own created team in any league. Test your club in the preparation before the start of the season and train your youth players to be the stars of tomorrow. Try to improve the form of your players in the training and coach the matches from the virtual sideline. The manager mode is – like the years before – a small soccer manager in FIFA.

The season – Here you only have to play: play a complete season with your club, national matches as well as international matches, and win the several tournaments with your club. Just play your matches, you don’t have to care about anything – no training, no finances.

Online Mode

In FIFA 09 there have been a lot of problems with the online mode, so EA updated the online mode for FIFA 10. Connection errors and disconnects should be decreased, and the error at „Ready to Play“ is removed. In general the login is much simpler now.

A new function of the online mode is a kind of messager where it is possible to add your friends and to write messages to them. If somebody writes a message to your account it will displayed in your FIFA 10.

Playing the game

The changes of the gameplay are noticeable, the game really got smoother and is more direct. Even the balance of the crossings has been improved compared to FIFA 09. The improved gameplay is not a big milestone, but is nevertheless a very good gameplay.

In general FIFA 10 won’t include any differences if you compare it with the graphic of FIFA 09. Ok, some details have changed, so the crowds in the stadiums wear the colors of the teams now, and the players don’t wear their kits in their trousers anymore – but altogether it is lacking really changed of the graphics to FIFA 09. Even if the colors don’t seem to be too pale anymore: the Next-Generation elements are still only available on the pitch but not in the stadium around the pitch and the crowds are still only in 2D. Probably there won’t be any changed until the release of the game.

But there are some cool new things which we noticed while playing the game and which we haven’t expected – it seems that there have been included several small details:

When we played the game the first time in Vancouver we had the impression that EA was working on the physics of the goal nets – especially the goal nets had a lot of bugs in the test version of the game and we expected that the goal net was at work. In Cologne on the gamescom we saw it now: Yes, finally there is available a new physics for the goal nets. When you score a goal the goal net is not moving like it is made of concrete anymore. The goal net is moving much more now. However the animation could be stronger – hopefully the sensitivity of the nets will be raised.

Furthermore there are still included some details which are missing in the Next-Generation version: For example it happened that my goal keeper got the yellow-red card and had to leave the pitch – afterwards I had the choice whether I want to put a field player into the goal or to substitute my second keeper! Great! These are small details which makes a game so nice – I hope that there will be included more of them in the final version of FIFA 10!

Conclusion

Of course the Next-Generation version of FIFA 10 is still a much better game than the PC version – both gameplay and graphics. Especially if you compare it to the Next-Generation version you see how beautiful FIFA could be. Anyway the gameplay of the PC version is a very good one and it’s great fun to play it – but it would be a much more greater fun to play with a nicer, more cheerful and modern graphic.

Nevertheless there are great news: The PC version of FIFA 10 will include some cool features (especially the teamstyles) which are missing in the Next-Generation version.

Daniel Kaltenthaler
www.fifa4fans.de
www.fifa4fans.com