I think FIFA 12 will need a new direction. I don't mean a new director/producer, but a new feel for the overall experience.
I think one of the major problems in current FIFA is the feeling that we've played this game (or something too similar to it) before. Of course I (as many other die-hard fans) will almost instantly notice all of the tweaks the gameplay and presentation areas have, but for the mainstream crowd current game is too similar to the previous one.
And it's not about the gameplay. I want improvements on that area as much as the next guy, but I think producers/directors are not fulfilling all the potential the game could have on the presentation side. My experience on FIFA was the same on the last three years, even though it always improved a bit. I want the feeling that i'm playing an entirely new product, and the closest we got to that was the World Cup game, where there was this feeling that they cared about a different direction/vision, from the menus to the celebration camera and crowd/managers cut-scenes. Those are key features missing from FIFA nowadays. Very rarely the game surprises you with a brilliant detail, as it used to surprise when the first next gen iterations came. We can predict gameplay and presentation outcomes, thus making the game less thrilling to discover and play.
How do they solve this? With a focus on more creative thinking (like the celebrations were on their first year, but UNLIKE "Be a Goalkeeper" mode). They need to have this "new direction" high, very very high on their priorities list IMO. So I'll add some things to the pool; if it inspires the team 1% more, this will already be worthy of the time spent:
- Completely new Menus - This one is somewhat obvious, given that last years games gave us the impression that we were playing under the same menus. I recognize that some areas don't need improvements, but a) they should make the menus feel different (like World Cup), b) they should make the menus a lot faster (they're too slow and laggy, making the user interface unpleasant) and c) they should make menus that allow faster/better access to the player squad/tactics (take a look at PES where it's so easier to change a player from one position to another, or make a substitution).
- Make every game mode feel relevant - FIFA is a game where there is great variance in the time that we spend playing each mode. There are modes that we literally don't play, ever. Some of those modes are missing key components that could change it. Take a look at Lounge Mode. It should be the undisputed mode for local multiplayer gamers (like me). Instead we play H2H matches, because there are no advantages in playing Lounge Mode (it's slower, it doesn't remember previous tactics/squads, it doesn't include Live Season updates and it is very shallow on the competition/awards department). There are lots of gamers that come up with "house rules" with a pen and paper (or laptop) and then play on endless H2H matches. Rules like having a certain number of allowed transfers proportionally related to the team skill and number of victorys of each player. There are so much things one can do in the game design department on this and other modes, that we can only expect the team raise the bar next year. Just remember one thing: make it relevant, desirable.
- Dramatically improve camera angles and broadcast style - This is one of my top priorities. I think this is the single main reason many people call FIFA a somewhat sterile game: it's missing that final coat of paint that could decieve your grandfather into believing he was watching a real TV broadcast. Or at least a couple more minutes than how it is currently decieving... :) I'm one gamer to experiment around different game cameras. Me and my mates, we settled down on dynamic, all zoomed out, and it's a joy to play and watch from the sidelines. But it's not perfect, it's just the best camera we could achieve (for our tastes). A message to the devs: don't be afraid to change the default camera, take that risk that could bring us all new benefits. Also, they should add a lot of new cut-scenes, license managers (the top ones at least, like in FIFA WC), make substitutes visible, better camera on celebrations (I loved this year's idea of having the "default" celebration, keep it going!), better replay sequences (for example in a goal, we should have [angle1, angle2, super slow motion celebration of players/manager] like in real life, close-ups on key players before the game and on stoppages (where we could see hugs and handshakes between captains and stuff like that), crowd interactions (imagine playing away, blasting a ball wide and watching the fans laughing at your frustrated player!), better and more accurate injuries (it's very disappointing that we never had specific body part injuries), and last but not least we want passion (and a bit of insanity) on the commentators.
- Introduce a "mojo" stat - IRL, players can be affected by their physical condition, which is somewhat represented in the game if you have Live Season subscribed, as well as with the stamina model in a match. But equally important is the player psychological state, which should totally be a separate entity (instead of being something implicit on the ups and downs of Live Season). It should be dynamic, and variable during a match. Strikers would decrease their stat if they shoot too many balls wide, or if they lose the ball too often to their markers; keepers would be more insecure after a conceded goal where they could have done a better job; defenders could have a stamina (or even skill) boost in a situation when they had gone past two opponent players (imagine Inter's Lucio coming up on the field, and suddenly becoming a real menace, result of his confidence boost). Some players would also be affected positively or negatively if playing on a home or away field, repesctively. Once again there are as many possibilities as the team's creativity can allow.
- Develop a complementary app for Android/iOS/WP7 - This one would be kind of a cherry on top feature, i do recognize that it would probably take a lot of development bandwidth to make it. But it would be an hell of a nice one-two punch! Imagine having your smartphone (or tablet) next to you, synched with EA servers, that would be also synched with your game on PS3/360. Then you could use your device to change tactics and mentality, make substitutions, make a deal offer on UT/Carrer Mode, watch game stats during gameplay, send/recieve messages to your online opponents, or even having a mini-game for penalties where you could point the exact direction where you wanted to shoot (with some error involved, of course) without your mate peeking on your pad! xD Just imagine such an app. I think it'd be awesome! In a nutshell, they would have the opportunity to improve on this app all the features that currently have less then perfect interfaces on the main game, with the current menu system. They could even include it on their "project $10" and make it available for free (with a code) to first hand buyers... :)
- Change (or get rid of) Arena - I know, this is kind of a controversial opinion, but I think Arena (like custom celebrations) has had its time. We need a new one, with new ideas, because this is one of the key areas that is "helping" the game get the same feel year after year. What i'm trying to say is that coming October, I'd be disappointed if when I booted FIFA 12 i had the tried-and-true sequence of [League/sponsors Logos - "It's in the game!" - Intro/Title screen - Main menu/Arena]. Please, make something that feels more fresh, and that could instantly make the player feel that he/she is on a brand new game (instead of on an updated one). If we stick with the arena (which was a great idea to mask loadings on the first place...), at least try to change it. Camera, locations, and the overall point of being there. We should be able, for example, to change the camera, because there are probably more players playing H2H and single player matches (which have sideline cameras for default) than playing on Clubs or Virtual Pro matches (which have the Arena camera for default). We would benefit from having a couple of (AI) players join us on the arena, specially before the games where one could simulate warm-up exercises (passing, shooting, running around).
These are the ideas that always come up, from the top of my head. Many other community members have also brought neat suggestions to the table, and I think the producers could really push some of those into reality. If you want to add some more to this topic, keep in mind one rule: avoid (strictly) gameplay suggestions. I am of the opinion that gameplay is already under heavy criticism by the majority of the feedback community and other threads, therefore we should try to avoid giving developers redundant feedback.|||I agree that menus need lots of work, they should be a lot more accessible and more "fun" to use. Go back to the old days when we had a "quick launch" menu at the bottom/side where you could easily access anything relevant in one click (two button presses on consoles). The Team Management screen needs the most work too.
For the Arena, I'm against removing it but I do think EA could inject more life to it. For starters maybe add some training cones or something .. I don't even mind adding currency and you can decorate your own arena with (useless) stuff then you can invite your friends for a kick about or something.. I dunno, do something cool just don't remove it :)|||Good points, and one thing I will add is:
Change the * commentators, please. I am sick to death of Andy Grey, now. Let's have an awesome commentator like the true gentleman David Pleat - go check out some of his Champions league commentary, pure genius - or even an unexpected commentator like Jurgen Kilinsmann - I mention him as he really did stand out in BBC 1's World Cup coverage last time out, totally professional and with a great knowledge of the game.
Do NOT get Andy Townsend, though, that guy is one of the worst people in the world. A seriously average player who thinks he was way better than he ever was. grrr.|||The user interface of FIFA as its stand is effectively in the dark ages especially when you take a look at what PES have done this year within thier tactics/formations menu. The drag and drop setup is so much more free and intuitive EA would be crazy not to adopt it. Especially with the touch screen mentalllity technology has so freely taken up.
I don't see any reason why we couldn't be able to snap between the standard FIFA toggle menus and some kind of onscreen cursor. When you're in the menu's you just hit R2 and it toggles you between scrolling and a free cursor?
I'd kill for that functionality especially in Career mode where the number of times you scroll up and down through option you aren't interested in is ridiculous. Just let me jump straigh there by clicking on it.
|||I like the idea of a quick access menu. Right now I have to click Game Modes->Career Mode->Load Career->Select Save File->Confirm load (wtf, you don't have to tell me that the file is loaded, just take me to the game directly) - to get to my most (read: only) used mode. If I had a quick access menu, it's just click->click and I'm in. Action games usually have a Resume button, I can't see why Fifa can't have one.
Thinking of creation center, it would also be awesome if we could create our own Career Mode scenarios. F.ex. "One of your players dad just died, so he is not playing well atm", then you could set the frequency it happens (maybe once per 4 years), and the effect it has (-10% on mental skills f.ex.), who the sender is (physician), and maybe possible actions (give the player 2 weeks off or keep him on the team). Of course each scenario should be rateable, so the bad ones disappears. A few weeks after release you could download hundreds of decent scenarios, which would make the game pretty realistic off-game.
|||With the Quick Launch idea, I think I suggested before that the game should use the current drop-down menu system it uses in the EA Sports Hub (or whatever the hell that thing is called). So you have L1 and R1 offering menus to you when you hold one of them down.
It's something you can use across the entire game extremely easily. You can use it just for opening a drop-down quick launch selection from the main menu. You can also use it to quickly select a preset (or custom) formation or tactic.
If you're highlighting your right back and want to quick-swap him out, you could hold L1 to show a list of all players who can play at right back, or hold R1 to show a small menu including options like 'Edit role', 'Edit Marking', 'Edit Runs', with additional CM-related stuff when playing the relevant mode. I wouldn't want 'Edit Position' there incidentally - you should be able to do that just by moving the right stick, or by pressing X on the player and then using the left stick.
It depends how EA would want to use L1 and R1 - they could either be independent, or you could have R1 be context sensitive based on what you've selected with L1.
If I had the Photoshop skills I'd pimp this up with pictures as proof of concept, but I don't, so imagine away...!|||Here's a quick attempt:
http://i.imgur.com/BgAvb.jpg
And the photoshop file to play around with. You need the font Swiss721 BT for the text.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/jofq65|||I like it :) .. but to be picky: IMO I think the menu should take a very small piece of the screen so that more space is dedicated to presenting content. So I prefer an icons menu that you can enter/exit at any time, and whose content dynamically change (as I mentioned above) depending on whatever screen or game mode you're viewing (like older FIFAs).
So something like this:
The user can enter/exit the menu by pressing, for example, the SELECT button; Up/Down to navigate; and X to select an item. For consistency, you can also close the menu with Circle.
The menu already contains some default buttons, such as the Resume button above (which quickly loads the last save file you were using, be it a CM save, season mode save, a custom tournament..etc).
I chose to include the Game Settings, Load/Save, and Player Hub as default buttons because I feel these are the more often visited "tools."
The "New Shortcut" option lets you add any menu item you like, and the process is easy:
(I think some mobile phones, SE for example, use a similar shortcut-making functionality.)
To delete/replace a shortcut, you can highlight the menu item then press Square/Triangle/whatever.
Finally, I'd like to use the menu to control the EA Trax:
(I also think that FIFA 12 should have an all-Muse soundtrack :)|||
I agree that menus need lots of work, they should be a lot more accessible and more "fun" to use. Go back to the old days when we had a "quick launch" menu at the bottom/side where you could easily access anything relevant in one click (two button presses on consoles). The Team Management screen needs the most work too.
For the Arena, I'm against removing it but I do think EA could inject more life to it. For starters maybe add some training cones or something .. I don't even mind adding currency and you can decorate your own arena with (useless) stuff then you can invite your friends for a kick about or something.. I dunno, do something cool just don't remove it :)
Customizing arena's would be very cool. Also one thing I really miss is the 5-5 indoor, they had it in fifa 97 I think...loved that! Street series doesn't count imo
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I agree that menus need lots of work, they should be a lot more accessible and more "fun" to use. Go back to the old days when we had a "quick launch" menu at the bottom/side where you could easily access anything relevant in one click (two button presses on consoles). The Team Management screen needs the most work too.
For the Arena, I'm against removing it but I do think EA could inject more life to it. For starters maybe add some training cones or something .. I don't even mind adding currency and you can decorate your own arena with (useless) stuff then you can invite your friends for a kick about or something.. I dunno, do something cool just don't remove it :)
Customizing arena's would be very cool. Also one thing I really miss is the 5-5 indoor, they had it in fifa 97 I think...loved that! Street series doesn't count imo
Definitely! .. An indoor arena is something I'd really like to see in FIFA. It can be as simple as just one arena option like the 97-98 days, or perhaps more elaborate version where you can invite your friends and such.
I think the Wii version has 5-a-side too.|||Career mode needs seriously more depth, really needs more stuff to do in it.
Like buying other stuff than Players, such as kits (even if they are not real), coach, just like the Ultimate team.
Add more stuff to do...thats what am trying to say..|||I completely agree with you.
Back in the 90s, all that was a huge part of FIFA experience. Music, menus, "features" like indoor games, cool intros etc. Complete visual identity of those games was very unique and inspirative.
We still connect Blur's Song 2 with FIFA RTWC 98 and The Rockafeller * with FIFA 99. We need that again with everything, not only music.|||Speaking of the career mode I found it extremely difficult trying to sign a new goalkeeper, the likes of Neuer, Adler, De Gea & Stekelenburg all refused to move as they didn't want to leave the clubs that they'd been at for so long. Now I know EA don't want to make It exactly easy for us to sign players in the game, but it seems a bit silly that they'd all turn moves down for the exact same reasons, and considering players sadly aren't that loyal In today's game, I highly doubt all four would reject a move to a major European club.
I also tried to renew several of my own squad players contracts and most of them turned the offers down, again for quite daft reasons, but I found It a bit frustrating that they wouldn't then let me renegotiate for several weeks, surely you should be able to respond to the players demands and make a new offer, obviously then If they still aren't happy they can stop the negotiations or watever..|||s|||Simple and Fasters Menus, please.
And improve career...this mode realy its noing...
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