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See Fight Night Round 4 in shaky-cam action
Quick, before someone makes them pull it down, check out the shaky-cam footage of Fight Night Round 4 some adventurous GameStop employee captured at the company's recent expo. Go ahead, it's right after the jump. We can wait, we've got a few other things we needed to do anyway.... Finished? Honestly, after a string of disappointing boxing titles, we think that taking a more physics-based approach sounds pretty intriguing, but we're worried that the realism might start to bog down the fun. What do you think?[Thanks, MOT]
PS3 becomes home to FIFA Interactive World Cup 2009
Do you have what it takes to be the world's best virtual football player? The FIFA Interactive World Cup begins this October. Players will be able to compete at one of 19 physical FIWC 09 Qualifier Events across the globe, kicking off in New Zealand on October 25 and covering countries all over the world, including Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Italy, South Africa and the United States. Players will also be able to compete for the 13 places available in the final for the best online players via the PLAYSTATION Network. Not only will players be vying for fame, but the grand prize winner will receive a cash prize of $20,000 USD and a KIA Soul. The second place winner will receive $5,000 and third place will win $1,000. Players will be able to start practicing now with the demo available on the Store -- but to get in the competition, they'll have to buy the full game when it launches later next month. For more information on the Inetractive World Cup, visit www.FIFA.com/FIWC.
FIFA 09 taking inspiration from closest rival
The annual match-up between FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer is often a closely fought contest, though as last year's revelatory Wii version of PES ran away with the plaudits, EA has decided to play it safe: basically, it's copying the opposition. Hence, FIFA 09 will ship with the same "point-and-pass" mechanics that received so much admiration in PES 2008, and we can't say we blame them. Combine this with EA's usual level of spit and polish, a Wii exclusive eight-on-eight mode, and a special casual-friendly mode with blobby, Mii-like players, and this year's winner may come from the EA camp. Hit the gallery for tubby versions of everybody's favorite soccer players, but sadly none of ENGLAND HERO Theo Walcott. %Gallery-26660%
FIFA 09 demo kicks its way onto the XBLM
Available prior to the game's official release next month, EA Sports just released a shiny new FIFA 09 demo to the Xbox Live Marketplace. The 740MB demo is available for download in all Live regions and (according to the demo description) features "more responsive first-time shooting, passing, one-touches plus faster and more controlled dribbling and improved trapping." Oh, and for those who are confused over what the heck "FIFA" actually is, think football if you live in Europe and soccer if you're Stateside. Have fun downloading and demoing!
Joystiq X08 interview: NHL 09 producer Andy Agostini
Who says a sports franchise can't reinvent itself? For EA Sports, the NHL game franchise has done just that over the last three versions. After introducing the analog control mechanic in NHL 07 along with the AHL teams and Create-a-Play feature in NHL 08, it would appear the franchise has gone as far as it can. Well, sports fans, NHL 09 attempts to break the mold once again with its Be a Pro mode. The mode is instantly recognizable to fans of FIFA 08 but different because it's spread across seasons in NHL 09, rather than single games. In an interview with Joystiq at Microsoft's X08 in Toronto, NHL 09 producer Andy Agostini discussds the Be a Pro mode, annual creativity and the hardships of updating rosters after a title ships. [MP3] Download this interview in MP3 format
FIFA 09: debut trailer, demo release date, adidas Live Season mode
Here's the first trailer released for FIFA 09, the newest iteration of the popular soccer franchise. The game is looking great, though some may complain the character models don't look enough like the actual players. You also won't have to wait long to try it out for yourself: the demo will be available from the PSN starting September 11st worldwide. Furthermore, EA has announced a new "premium service" (meaning it might cost money) called adidas Live Season. This service will provide a weekly update for each player's stats according to their performance in real-life games from the launch of FIFA 09 to the end of the 2008-09 season. It will be only available for Barclay's Premier League, La Liga BBVA, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A and Mexican Primera Division. Finally, there's a gameplay video and trailer, after the jump.
Go skiing with Fergie in Celebrity Sports Showdown
And then kill yourself immediately, please. We suggest taking your copy of Celebrity Sports Showdown, EA Canada's zeitgeist fart and 12-sport minigame miasma, and wedging it vertically between a few issues of Teeny Bopper Monthly before leaping into it, face first, using the mound of self-pity you've buried yourself in over the years as a diving platform. Trust us, it'll be less damaging to your dignity than spending this holiday cruising over icy bumps with the mistress of lady lumps. Don't worry, there's still time to turn your life around. Snap that elastic band on your wrist every time you reach out to a second-rate celebrity in a Wii sports video game, even one that promises a who's who and a who cares of popular culture. If you see an unnervingly rendered Keith Urban, Nelly Furtado or LeAnn Rimes beckoning you to enjoy inner-tubing, wild water canoeing, curling or anything involving "the ultimate party experience," turn the other way and flee.%Gallery-29563%
FIFA 09 official website kicks off
The official site for FIFA 09 has debuted with three new screeshots from the PS3 version for your viewing pleasure. Heavy emphasis is still placed on the 250 changes to be expected in the lastest version of the popular soccer/football franchise. Not much new information other than what we reported on before is revealed, and still no word on what the PS3 exclusive mode will be either. You can even place a pre-order at the EA Store; however, only a general release date autumn 2008 has been given at this time. %Gallery-26544%
FIFA 09 screens are goal-eriffic
Remember that whole thing about Mii versions of your favorite soccer stars? Lo and behold, we've come across the first images for FIFA 09, and it's looking pretty fast-kickingly good. Ronaldhino (the guy who clearly uses special effects and isn't really that good) and Wayne Rooney head up the cast of for Footii Match mode. The graphics look great, to be completely honest. FIFA 09 on the Wii will never be the best-looking version, but it includes the full simulation of regular FIFA gameplay along with the arcade-style modes. Since Wii owners are very accustomed to Mii characters by now, there's every reason to add light-hearted gameplay into the mix. If it's as good as Mario Strikers: Charged, then we're looking at a winner. %Gallery-26660%
FIFA 09 wants to score so badly
EA knows that football soccer is a somewhat popular sport. Maybe not as popular as curling, but it does its best to fit in. On account of the FIFA series being super popular, EA has revealed just how hard they worked to create each version of FIFA 09. Instead of just a simple Wii port with waggle additions, Andrew Wilson of EA says they "have innovated features, created new modes and designed controls that are tailored to each specific platform." FIFA 09 is part of the recently revealed All-Play series, used to market EA's line of Wii sports games. It will feature a standard 11 vs. 11 simulation mode (with "refined motion and point-and-play controls"), and the 8 vs. 8 Footii Match mode. Footii Match is an arcade-style mode featuring Mii versions of various soccer stars (like Ariaga, Ariaga 2, Bariaga, Aruglia and Pizzoza) and the gameplay will be fast and furious -- similar to the recent Madden trailers. The All-Play series has really put the Wii where it needs to be when it comes to sports games. After a little bit more research, we discovered soccer is a little more popular than originally thought (somewhere in the vicinity of Most. Popular. Game. Ever), so EA is on the right track by giving it the specialized attention it needs. [Via press release]
FIFA Soccer 09 for PS3 will have exclusive game mode
An interview over at Gamespot with FIFA Soccer 09 producer David Rutter has revealed new information about the upcoming sports game. 30 leagues and 40 national teams are at your disposal this year, while the magic number of 250 key changes as reported before remain true. Highlights of upgrades from the previous year include improvements in "responsiveness, physical play and their affect through attributes, plus the AI." Different types of players are less homogeneous and you will have to utilize different types of players to achieve victory. A Custom Team Tactics mode will be introduced where 11 sliders or criteria will allow you to determine how your team will play. There is also a promise of 140 attacking and 40 defensive options. The ever-popular Be A Pro career mode will allow you to play unlocked, meaning one has the option of a change of position and still gain experience. Friends can likewise choose to act as a teammate or opponent to the player in this mode. Lastly, Rutter promises a to talk about "a game mode exclusive to that system," referring to the PS3, later in the year. We'll keep you updated as details of the mode becomes available. %Gallery-26544%
Phaneuf body checks his way onto NHL 09
According to an article in The Calgary Sun, Calgary Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf will be gracing the cover of EA's NHL 09. Focusing on more defensive gameplay and hard-hitting checks, EA Sports decided to give the cover nod to one of the hardest-htting, and high-scoring, defensive players in the league. "There are always a lot of options for who we want on our cover, and Phaneuf was a perfect choice for us this year," said David Littman, lead producer of NHL 09. Currently in development at EA Vancouver, NHL 09 is scheduled to hit retail before the puck drops on the new season.
Improvements abound in FIFA '09
Another year, another round of sports games. Usually regarded as rehashes with slight tweaks, every so often one of the annual sports titles gets a significant makeover. For 2009, that title appears to be FIFA '09 out of the Electronic Arts office ('06 is pictured). GamesMaster magazine published an article about the title, boasting 250 improvements made to the game including responsiveness and a revamped collision system. The responsiveness is improved by allowing "quicker release of the ball, greater urgency in the off-the-ball running, a new jostle system that takes into account the strength of the players when going shoulder to shoulder and subtle animations that enable players to take first-time shots." The collision system calculates speed, weight, and power as characters collide; each player has unique stats. If you get hit hard in your standing leg, the tackled player may not be able to continue playing that game. If you're just clipped, your character will probably be all right. So, for those who've wanted these things changed, there you go.
EA announces Fight Night Round 4 (with Mike Tyson!)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Fight_Night_Round_4_ANNOUNCED_Mike_Tyson_baby'; It's been two years since the last Fight Night game was released, which is practically eons ago in the annualized sports game world. But EA announced this afternoon that fans need wait no longer as Fight Night will return for "Round 4" at some point next year on Xbox 360 and PS3.There are few details at this point, other than what you'd expect (new gameplay engine, new physics, etc.). Perhaps most exciting is that Mike Tyson will appear in the game, more than a decade after both his last video game appearance and his last brush with relevance.
Meet FaceBreaker's Romeo, get punched
GameVideos (which has received a huge makeover, by the way) has posted a new trailer for FaceBreaker, the upcoming cartoon boxer from EA. The video serves as an introduction to Romeo, a svelte Spanish boxer with a voice that lands somewhere between Antonio Banderas and Family Guy's Mr. Weed. Perhaps more importantly, the video gives us a peek at how FaceBreaker will actually play. Assuming what's seen in the video is actually taken from gameplay, you can expect to occasionally launch foes completely off the mat. In the video, Romeo repeatedly launches foes high in the air and lands another crushing blow as they plummet back to the canvas. We have to admit, it looks like it could be a lot of fun. Given the pedigree of EA Canada (Fight Night Round 3), we're hopeful that it will be.
FIFA Interactive World Cup finalists to play in Berlin on May 24th
The fourth annual FIFA Interactive World Cup will soon be coming to an end after lasting an epic seven months. Over 25,000 players competed for a place in the final, but only thirty-two will go through to play each other at the Sony Center in Berlin on May 24th. The winner will then be crowned "FIFA Interactive World Player of the Year." Prestigious, indeed. Last year's defending champion, Andries Smit, will be competing against the other thirty-one finalists for a cash prize of $20,000 and an invitation to the FIFA World Player Gala 2008. If you're interested, a list of the finalists can be found after the break. If you took part in the competition and didn't make it to the final, then never mind. Perhaps now's a good time to start practicing for next year's FIFA Interactive World Cup. [Via Press Release]
Straps and stands: More preorder bonuses in Korea
Koreans really love free stuff! Then again, who doesn't? This latest round of preorder incentives rewards gamers who've reserved Wii Sports with branded towels and Wii Remote cell phone straps. Unlike in the states, Wiis will not come bundled with Wii Sports when the console launches in South Korea on April 26th. EA is also throwing in what looks like Brando's Crystal Cooler with every preorder for FIFA 08. The replacement base features a cooling fan and electric blue LEDs -- not too useful, but it's free, which automatically makes it a hundred times more awesome. Bring five bucks past the post break to get a look at the stand offer.
Nintendo tops 2007's Develop 100 list
And what such a prestigious achievement amounts to is, well, an awfully large amount of money. You see, the Develop 100 aims to rank "the world's most successful game studios" based on the revenues earned by their products at UK retail. Leaping to the top of the list for 2007 is Nintendo, its titles earning £129.83 million ($256 million) and boasting a significant lead over the £68.78 million ($136 million) belonging to number 2 producer, EA Canada.Other notable studios in the top ten include Ubisoft Montreal with £52.17 million, Konami with £41.67 million and Maxis, which raked in £36.84 million. You'll also spot Infinity Ward with £39.6 million and Bungie with £31.45 million, both of which coasted in on a single game.[Final "million" word count: 9. 10 if you count that "million." Oh, great, now it's 11.]
EA Sports predicts Sharks as Stanley Cup champs
With the puck set to drop tomorrow night for the 2008 NHL playoffs, the prognosticators at EA Sports have once again looked into the future vicariously through the studio's latest NHL video game offering to predict the outcome of the league's 16-win battle of attrition. By way of simulation using NHL 08, EA Sports named the San Jose Sharks as the team to finally earn the right to lift Lord Stanley's Cup, defeating Eastern powerhouse Montreal in seven games. While this writer's favorite team, the Buffalo Sabres, are out playing golf, we agree that the Sharks, behind 2005-06's Hart Trophy winner Joe Thornton (not to mention former Sabres defenceman Brian Campbell), present a formidable force for any of the playoff race's 16 teams. Still, there's too much on-ice talent to write this off as gospel just yet, so we'll sit back and probably scream at the TV tomorrow evening as we wait and see if history mirrors EA's crystal ball.
Point your face at this trailer
EA recently announced a multiplatform (Wii included) boxing game from EA Canada called Facebreaker, which takes a more cartoony approach to boxing than their other boxing franchise, Fight Night. The first trailer from the game shows you that, uh, there are some wacky boxers in it? You don't really learn much about the gameplay in any version, but we can tell you one thing: EA still has yet to do anything in the released Facebreaker materials to discourage Ready 2 Rumble comparisons. That works out in EA's favor, though, since Ready 2 Rumble Boxing was great.[Via Joystiq]
