FIFA 10 - Games at Blockbuster.co.uk

FIFA 10 delivers a new standard for authenticity with gameplay refinements and innovations that will make it one of the most complete and intelligent simulations of football ever produced. Blockbuster.co.uk reports.

"We've listened and responded to the fans' feedback," says Andrew Wilson, VP and Executive Producer for the FIFA franchise, "and have improved player control, responsiveness and intelligence to create what we believe is the world's most authentic football videogame."

Featuring core gameplay refinements based on responsiveness and intelligence, plus a completely overhauled Manager Mode that includes more than 50 major improvements, FIFA 10 continues to set the benchmark in both innovation and gameplay as the most complete simulation of football. Create your own player, design your own set pieces and, above all, play the game as it was meant to be played: beautifully.

On the pitch, critical gameplay fundamentals have been enhanced to ensure that FIFA 10 mirrors real-world football, providing more sophisticated ball control and physical interaction.

On attack, players now analyze space more effectively, curve their runs in an attempt to stay onside, create passing lanes naturally, and drive for more variety in attacking options. Improved urgency AI logic, with over 50 new movement cycles, delivers more responsive positioning so your players stay focused on the ball and move at a speed appropriate to the action.

Players now have a better awareness of where the easiest, most natural trapping position is so they can get the ball on the ground and under control easier and earlier. Additionally, refinements to the shooting system and modifications of the ball physics create a wider, more realistic variety of shots that enhance the exhilaration of scoring.

On defence, new concepts like position priority enable defenders to multitask so dangerous spaces left open by teammates out of position are covered. Also slide tackle targeting has been enhanced so skilled players have more reach and avoid tackling through the dribbler. Better effort clearance logic gives defenders more options when attempting to get a foot on the ball before an attacker. Effort, such as sliding to block crosses and overhead kick clearances, give defenders more tools to prevent goal-scoring opportunities.

"Last year's tackling system was vastly too powerful in a number of situations," admits producer David Rutter. "You could just press the button and chase the guy around and eventually you'd get a tackle in, and if you didn't do that, you'd be really bad at the game. I want the timing of tackles to be more important, and that's what we're doing with it: we've got a really good tackling system because you've got to time it well. Why have you got to time it well? Because you've got to incorporate the momentum of the players. This year is a lot of nuance, a lot of detail, the sum of all the parts being put together. Now we're at a real high quality level game, and to get above that requires a different way of thinking about things."

Among the many innovations that make this possibly the best football game ever, the first-ever true 360° dribbling system gives players finer control of the ball, enabling them to find spaces between defenders that previously were not possible. Using an all-new animation technology, skilled dribblers now have the ability to face the defender and use highly responsive lateral dribbling to skip past him. An innovative concept called Freedom in Physical Play enables players to perform wider dribble touches and new collision sharing creates a varied, less predictable, and extended fight for possession between the dribbler and a defender.

"You can go anywhere you want at any speed, with skilled dribbling," adds Rutter. "To be able to allow players like Cristiano Ronaldo to be able to sprint very rapidly, stop the ball, change direction and beat defenders in one-on-one situations is something I think Cristiano Ronaldo should be able to do in our games, and now he can."

Numerous improvements mean that goalkeepers now have more urgency and better perception of where to intercept loose balls, resulting in a more responsive and powerful rushing system. New animation warping technology provides game-realistic goalkeeper positioning and momentum, resulting in more varied scoring opportunities.

Virtual Pro allows the player to create a footballer and take him through the four Be-a-Pro seasons, include him in the Manager Mode career, use him in Kick-Off, Tournament, and Lounge mode, as well as using him in the Arena. Game-face has also been added to FIFA 10 as in other EA Sports games, where gamers can create their Game Face on the web at easports.com or easportsfootball.co.uk, then download them into the game. Once a Game Face character is created, he can then can be applied to the player in game.

A deeper iteration of the ever-popular Manager Mode features more than 50 major improvements designed to create an authentic experience to mimic the real-world game. Match results are based on team and player strengths and weaknesses. Player transfers are determined by multiple decision points, including club finance and prestige, availability of similar players, and competition from AI-controlled clubs. Player development is more realistic with true-to-life growth curves based on factors such as age and environment.

"The manager mode has gotten a lot of attention this year," says Rutter proudly. "The match results are a lot more realistic now. They take the squad that's playing and calculate match-ups between the two AI teams. They calculate it on a per player, per position and per line basis on a minute-by-minute calculation to make sure it's accurate. For the transfers, the player that you're trying to buy will look at your team to try and decide whether he feels like he'll feel at home there considering whether he'll be pushing for a place, or whether he'll be benched and not playing.

"He'll also have an idea of how much he is worth, how much he wants to earn and where he thinks his career is going. Eventually, he will sign at your club based on those kinds of considerations. For player developments, similarly, we make calculations based on where the player should be getting to and how closely you're matching their development. For the atmosphere of it, squad's AI managers will rotate their squads based on match importance. There'll also be transfer rumours based on who they're shortlisting and who they want to buy, among other things."

Offering players the chance to compete in many of the larger stadiums from Europe's most prominent leagues, such as the Allianz Arena, Camp Nou, Old Trafford and San Siro, FIFA 10 also offers the option to play during the day or at night, and in clear weather or cloudy. There's even snow, if you want it. Really there's no end to the level of customisation available in this amazing game, from how you play and who you play as to where you play and beyond. FIFA 10 has arrived. It's up to you, now, to give it a good home and play as beautifully as possible.

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