Fifa 11 Xbox 360/PS3

[gameklip]

What are you talking about? I think PES 2011 is going to be awesome!

As I said, we were all PES fans at first which means any genuine improvement Konami made was likely to be met with exaultation while an incremental update from EA met with stone-faced derision.

While watching the Gamerbase vid the other day, it reminded me of just how good the game (FIFA11)I played was that day. Not a single complaint from anyone (hand on heart, seriously). Not because of some need to pander to EA but it was genuine happiness with the new P+ animations and traits etc as well as the charge bar of PP slowing down passing attacks. Infact, the big deal being made that day was that pressure was way down and that you could negotiate the midfield more with the left stick with a talented dribbler.

Also, many who strongly criticise have not even played FIFA11 and just rode the wave of cynasism into the assumption that this year is a "write off". It's far, far from that. Once the demo drops many more will see that. It's definitely better than FIFA10 and FIFA World Cup. It has the forward chesting etc from World Cup. It has loads of new heading and tackling animations and a few new passing ones. And for example in the demo you'll find that Drogba is dominant in the air as in real life. You won't even have to check them name when a powerful header is cored by chelsea, you'll see that looming figure in the box anticipating the cross earlier than the defence and getting up higher to score. Lampard is also annoyingly in the right place at the right time with dangerous passes and shots.

I suppose I'm saying we shouldn't look for a revolution. Konami with PES2011 needed it. EA just needed to reign in their ridiculously buggy FIFA10 game. I think next year we'll see more done to change the way our attacking and defensive units behave. Team Personality+? We'll see.

 

[mfmaxpower]

As I said, we were all PES fans at first which means any genuine improvement Konami made was likely to be met with exaultation while an incremental update from EA met with stone-faced derision.

While watching the Gamerbase vid the other day, it reminded me of just how good the game (FIFA11)I played was that day. Not a single complaint from anyone (hand on heart, seriously). Not because of some need to pander to EA but it was genuine happiness with the new P+ animations and traits etc as well as the charge bar of PP slowing down passing attacks. Infact, the big deal being made that day was that pressure was way down and that you could negotiate the midfield more with the left stick with a talented dribbler.

Also, many who strongly criticise have not even played FIFA11 and just rode the wave of cynasism into the assumption that this year is a "write off". It's far, far from that. Once the demo drops many more will see that. It's definitely better than FIFA10 and FIFA World Cup. It has the forward chesting etc from World Cup. It has loads of new heading and tackling animations and a few new passing ones. And for example in the demo you'll find that Drogba is dominant in the air as in real life. You won't even have to check them name when a powerful header is cored by chelsea, you'll see that looming figure in the box anticipating the cross earlier than the defence and getting up higher to score. Lampard is also annoyingly in the right place at the right time with dangerous passes and shots.

I suppose I'm saying we shouldn't look for a revolution. Konami with PES2011 needed it. EA just needed to reign in their ridiculously buggy FIFA10 game. I think next year we'll see more done to change the way our attacking and defensive units behave. Team Personality+? We'll see.

Sorry, was trying to be sarcastic. I agree with everything you've said, though I haven't played the demo, and I'm genuinely looking forward to the gameplay. For me, personally, CM is the only thing that has somewhat put a dark cloud over the game for me.

As for saying we shouldn't look for a revolution, I agree FIFA didn't "need" a massive leap forward like PES, in terms of it being a successful game, but in terms of being a more realistic representation of football, I do think FIFA needs some major improvements, like first touch and improved defensive/offensive AI. But discussing needs vs wants vs expectations is a real murky business, you know?

But there's a reason this forum is less enthusiastic for FIFA than the offical forums, aside from one being run by EA and the other created by PES lovers - FIFA is simply a game targeted at a younger more casual audience. Did you notice how many threads were created yesterday when word broke that the game will have Torres' current hairstyle? I mean, how many posts here, on either side of the forum, are about Chicharito's rating?

*Edit: Actually, I do take issue with you saying we are ALL PES fans at first - I may have been a fan of PES before FIFA 08, but first and most importantly I am a fan of realistic football. I want both FIFA and PES to be great. Meanwhile, what counts as a "genuine improvement?" I'm sure someone out there is glad to see pumpkins and penguins are in PES, but IMO it's a shocking waste of resources, which is exactly how I view the new interactive celebrations in FIFA. But I guess we've all agreed I'm in the minority, at least within the FIFA community.

 

[Shooto]

Weel I am looking forward to CM tha's all I am saying really.

I just found it weird that nobody was talking about the new blog post which looked good.

FIFA is simply a game targeted at a younger more casual audience

I dont really agree with that, as I am far from young

CM will suit folk like me fine where you can drop in play a few games a night, so yeah it looks good for the casual player which is a good thing imo.

 

[nerf]

How do people on here feel about the way teams are rated in FIFA? I for one think it's a useless system and posted a topic on the official forums but within ten posts it turned into an immature mess with people constantly repeating each other and talking about how their club/favorite player is underrated.

http://forum.ea.com/uk/posts/list/4876.page

De people on here care at all?

I think you make a valid point, but neither do I have a big problem with it. I think it's just a very rough and at-a-glance way of categorising teams for the uninitiated, and in that sense it fits its job description. As it has no gameplay impact that I'm aware of, I'm not sure it warrants much worrying about imo.

The only problem I have with ratings is those of player attributes, because I think the idea of a 1-100 scale is daft. I don't believe that the difference between 76 and 74 is at all worthwhile, so why bother? FM does fine with 1-20.

I think next year we'll see more done to change the way our attacking and defensive units behave. Team Personality+? We'll see.

That's what I'm hoping for. More strategic depth, with more tools to use in that regard, improvements to AI in a team unit sense, and more distinct team identity in terms of playing style. I suspect they could also sell those things in a Clubs way if they put some thought to it.

 

[gameklip]

Sorry, was trying to be sarcastic. I agree with everything you've said, though I haven't played the demo, and I'm genuinely looking forward to the gameplay. For me, personally, CM is the only thing that has somewhat put a dark cloud over the game for me.

As for saying we shouldn't look for a revolution, I agree FIFA didn't "need" a massive leap forward like PES, in terms of it being a successful game, but in terms of being a more realistic representation of football, I do think FIFA needs some major improvements, like first touch and improved defensive/offensive AI. But discussing needs vs wants vs expectations is a real murky business, you know?
I actually agree with this, but both games need these finer details improved to increase the realism on the pitch.

But there's a reason this forum is less enthusiastic for FIFA than the offical forums, aside from one being run by EA and the other created by PES lovers - FIFA is simply a game targeted at a younger more casual audience. Did you notice how many threads were created yesterday when word broke that the game will have Torres' current hairstyle? I mean, how many posts here, on either side of the forum, are about Chicharito's rating?

That is hugely unfair man. PES has more than it's fair share of "net fetish", "hair fetishes" and "boot whores" too. In fact excitement about PES' presentation revolves around the accruacy of the player faces and models nowadays (remember the fawning over Torres and his freckles last year?). So FIFA fans shouldn't be excited when a star player is corrected?

Also practically label FIFA gamers childish and casual, as if to infer that PES gamers are chin-stroking intellectuals, is ridiculous imo. FIFA's manual and semi scheme has, since the beginning of this gen, been one of the trickiest and most realistic controls to master in a football game. It's hard to get to grips with but once you do it's highly rewarding. The new passing scheme in PES2011 is a nod to "Semi" in FIFA10's infact (from my limited time with the MLO). Fully assisted caters to the casuals obviously, but you cannot expect EA to bite the hand that feeds them.

Gary Patterson even came out to let everyone know that they had not "softballed" PP. EA are clearly trying to please everyone but will obviously struggle in doing so. As the saying goes "you can't win 'em all".

*Edit: Actually, I do take issue with you saying we are ALL PES fans at first - I may have been a fan of PES before FIFA 08, but first and most importantly I am a fan of realistic football. I want both FIFA and PES to be great. Meanwhile, what counts as a "genuine improvement?" I'm sure someone out there is glad to see pumpkins and penguins are in PES, but IMO it's a shocking waste of resources, which is exactly how I view the new interactive celebrations in FIFA. But I guess we've all agreed I'm in the minority, at least within the FIFA community.

:/ If you were a fan of PES before FIFA I'd like to know how that changes what I said? We were all fans of PES before because we played the best football game of that time. And now we're here. That should tell you something really (unless you have alterior motives for posting in the FIFA section of a PES site...).

And "genuine improvement" is watching someone on the other forum go from trying to convince me button lag is a deliberate reaction delay to do with "Player Individuality" (lol), to passess being hit first time with reackless abandon and them forgetting that other horrible game (2010) ever existed.

PES2011's improvement lies in it's passing and movement. I think work has been done to numb the AI to some of the attacks (i've noticed in vids) but you can now create some great scoring chances due to that new responsive pass and freedom on the field (again i've seen some stnning goals in vids).

I replied inpost.

 

[embraceuk1]

Did anyone notice you could downlaod the Fifa 11 add on for Germany live seasons off the marketplace today

 

[mfmaxpower]

I replied inpost.

I think you and Shooto misinterpreted me. I said FIFA is targeted at a younger more casual crowd - though maybe I should have just said casual and left out younger - and I did not say all FIFA fans are casual and/or younger. I myself am neither and have played FIFA to death since 08, but I still argue FIFA is not targeted at me - I do not make up FIFA's core audience, I've sadly discovered. Of course PES has it casual failings and younger audience, but traditionally PES has been the more mature sim while FIFA was always the arcade-fest that had the licenses. Much, of course, has changed, but I don't see FIFA doing much to retain the hardcore crowd while PES - and Murphy and others have so as much in interviews - is actually seeking to win back the hardcore audience.

Meanwhile, I am guilty of misinterpreting you - I thought you meant that by being PES fans first, we here had an allegiance, but I see that's not what you meant.

 

[jflores]

guys, when is this demo out?

 

[PLF]

Sept 15th for consoles, 16th for pc I believe.

 

[jonesdean]

Had enough?... You only registered a few days ago so you are in no place to judge...

Unless this is a second account, in which case you should be banned...

does'nt even take a few days to be sick of it minutes is enough... no place to judge? it's my opinion! there is more pro evo talk than fifa....

 

[Filianthur]

Sept 15th for consoles, 16th for pc I believe.

They changed that. Pc demo will come on the 15th too...

 

[stilts1844]

does'nt even take a few days to be sick of it minutes is enough... no place to judge? it's my opinion! there is more pro evo talk than fifa....

That is because the Pro Evo demo just came out this week.

Most of us have been playing Fifa mostly exclusively since 08, but we are critical, not yes men.

 

[stilts1844]

Actually just finished reading your big post of your impressions of the PES demo over on the other side of the forums. Funny isn't it how so many of us switched to FIFA with 08 and now are giddy over PES maybe returning to form? I don't expect PES to be better than FIFA overall this year, in terms of gameplay at least, but that's okay, especially since ML adds loads of additional value to PES for me personally.

It's great to have read impressions like yours. Some people I'm wary to trust but you seem to have a similar background as myself, and you touched on everything I imagine will be important for me. I really think you're right too - it's very likely FIFA will need to step-up its game next year if I'm to continue to be interested in the franchise.

An interesting question may be what will be easier, FIFA matching PES in terms of football fundamentals, or PES matching FIFA in terms of animations and freedom of play.

Glad my write up was useful! Took a bit to write it. Figured I'd write it from the POV of a recent Fifa fan considering how many there are like me on here.

 

[MindlessDrugHoover]

As I said, we were all PES fans at first which means any genuine improvement Konami made was likely to be met with exaultation while an incremental update from EA met with stone-faced derision.

While watching the Gamerbase vid the other day, it reminded me of just how good the game (FIFA11)I played was that day. Not a single complaint from anyone (hand on heart, seriously). Not because of some need to pander to EA but it was genuine happiness with the new P+ animations and traits etc as well as the charge bar of PP slowing down passing attacks. Infact, the big deal being made that day was that pressure was way down and that you could negotiate the midfield more with the left stick with a talented dribbler.

Also, many who strongly criticise have not even played FIFA11 and just rode the wave of cynasism into the assumption that this year is a "write off". It's far, far from that. Once the demo drops many more will see that. It's definitely better than FIFA10 and FIFA World Cup. It has the forward chesting etc from World Cup. It has loads of new heading and tackling animations and a few new passing ones. And for example in the demo you'll find that Drogba is dominant in the air as in real life. You won't even have to check them name when a powerful header is cored by chelsea, you'll see that looming figure in the box anticipating the cross earlier than the defence and getting up higher to score. Lampard is also annoyingly in the right place at the right time with dangerous passes and shots.

I suppose I'm saying we shouldn't look for a revolution. Konami with PES2011 needed it. EA just needed to reign in their ridiculously buggy FIFA10 game. I think next year we'll see more done to change the way our attacking and defensive units behave. Team Personality+? We'll see.

Sorry, was trying to be sarcastic. I agree with everything you've said, though I haven't played the demo, and I'm genuinely looking forward to the gameplay. For me, personally, CM is the only thing that has somewhat put a dark cloud over the game for me.

As for saying we shouldn't look for a revolution, I agree FIFA didn't "need" a massive leap forward like PES, in terms of it being a successful game, but in terms of being a more realistic representation of football, I do think FIFA needs some major improvements, like first touch and improved defensive/offensive AI. But discussing needs vs wants vs expectations is a real murky business, you know?
I actually agree with this, but both games need these finer details improved to increase the realism on the pitch.

But there's a reason this forum is less enthusiastic for FIFA than the offical forums, aside from one being run by EA and the other created by PES lovers - FIFA is simply a game targeted at a younger more casual audience. Did you notice how many threads were created yesterday when word broke that the game will have Torres' current hairstyle? I mean, how many posts here, on either side of the forum, are about Chicharito's rating?

That is hugely unfair man. PES has more than it's fair share of "net fetish", "hair fetishes" and "boot whores" too. In fact excitement about PES' presentation revolves around the accruacy of the player faces and models nowadays (remember the fawning over Torres and his freckles last year?). So FIFA fans shouldn't be excited when a star player is corrected?

Also practically label FIFA gamers childish and casual, as if to infer that PES gamers are chin-stroking intellectuals, is ridiculous imo. FIFA's manual and semi scheme has, since the beginning of this gen, been one of the trickiest and most realistic controls to master in a football game. It's hard to get to grips with but once you do it's highly rewarding. The new passing scheme in PES2011 is a nod to "Semi" in FIFA10's infact (from my limited time with the MLO). Fully assisted caters to the casuals obviously, but you cannot expect EA to bite the hand that feeds them.

Gary Patterson even came out to let everyone know that they had not "softballed" PP. EA are clearly trying to please everyone but will obviously struggle in doing so. As the saying goes "you can't win 'em all".

*Edit: Actually, I do take issue with you saying we are ALL PES fans at first - I may have been a fan of PES before FIFA 08, but first and most importantly I am a fan of realistic football. I want both FIFA and PES to be great. Meanwhile, what counts as a "genuine improvement?" I'm sure someone out there is glad to see pumpkins and penguins are in PES, but IMO it's a shocking waste of resources, which is exactly how I view the new interactive celebrations in FIFA. But I guess we've all agreed I'm in the minority, at least within the FIFA community.

:/ If you were a fan of PES before FIFA I'd like to know how that changes what I said? We were all fans of PES before because we played the best football game of that time. And now we're here. That should tell you something really (unless you have alterior motives for posting in the FIFA section of a PES site...).

And "genuine improvement" is watching someone on the other forum go from trying to convince me button lag is a deliberate reaction delay to do with "Player Individuality" (lol), to passess being hit first time with reackless abandon and them forgetting that other horrible game (2010) ever existed.

PES2011's improvement lies in it's passing and movement. I think work has been done to numb the AI to some of the attacks (i've noticed in vids) but you can now create some great scoring chances due to that new responsive pass and freedom on the field (again i've seen some stnning goals in vids).

Two great posts man. Agree with alot you said.

 

[Rob92]

does'nt even take a few days to be sick of it minutes is enough... no place to judge? it's my opinion! there is more pro evo talk than fifa....

Well please enlighten me on what there is to fucking talk about regarding FIFA... Please?
There's been no news/announcements, nobody has the demo and it's too late for any criticism/suggestions to be passed on to EA.

All we can do at the moment is make comparisons to PES... Of course there's going to be more PES talk than FIFA at this moment.

This forum, in particular the FIFA section is one of the only football forums I can stand, because there's mainly proper football fans who know what they are talking about, most of whom are not biased...
You obviously have a problem with people talking about PES for some reason, and looking at your posting history, you have only posted in the FIFA section... You joined a PES website (Evo-Web) to talk exclusively about FIFA? .

 

[StuartCulli]

That's kinda stalker-ish, Rob.

 

[Rodelero]

it's too late for any criticism/suggestions to be passed on to EA.

False. They have a live patching system. Let's not give up now.

 

[mfmaxpower]

False. They have a live patching system. Let's not give up now.

Any idea what exactly can get patched with this new system? Is it just gameplay tweaks or could they, say, fix a bug in CM?

Also, I don't get how it works - do our consoles automatically download small update files?

 

[Wilko22]

Demo day is getting closer, shame both demos will be out on the same day (if you have a PC or 360 anyway). Need to give both games an extended play without the interruption of another game with different controls/style.

Was just thinking how it's weird that if you like Halo and Call of Duty, but play more Call of Duty, you'd still be an fps fan. But if you play Fifa and PES and play more Fifa for example, you're labelled a Fifa fan and not a football game fan.

 

[Rodelero]

Any idea what exactly can get patched with this new system? Is it just gameplay tweaks or could they, say, fix a bug in CM?

Also, I don't get how it works - do our consoles automatically download small update files?

I think it's gameplay only really, but that may be false. We really have no idea what it can and can't do other than the things which Gary has implied can be changed - which is a LOT of variables really.

For instance, in one thread he listed these things:

"
- Default ground pass speed is slower than in FIFA10 and WC
- Pro Passing adds the possibility of this being even slower
- Player accleration is very slightly slower than in FIFA10/WC
- Tackle speed is slower than in FIFA10/WC
- Pressing is slightly slower than in FIFA10/WC (Due to players having to read the ball trajectory before committing)
- Positioning is tighter than in FIFA10/WC (Forcing you to build up slower)
- Stamina: Increased effect on sprint speed when short term energy is low
- Stamina: Increased effect on acceleration when short term energy is low"

As reasons the gamespeed is slower. All of these but the positioning, he went on to say, can be tweaked post release. So, we can twig that a lot can be changed outside of the AI.

As to how it works technically, a lot of games when you go online with them these days will download data from the internet to your console - like playlists. In FIFA's case for a very long time now, they've downloaded squads to your console when you go online - it works like that.

It will be automatically downloaded if online, I presume.



There are three ways we can go with it, we can fail at a community level - fail to try. EA can fail to listen. Or, just maybe, it comes together and we can change a good improvement into a really big improvement.

 

[Rob92]

False. They have a live patching system. Let's not give up now.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that, thanks for reminding me .

My worry with it though is that they'll listen to the majority, rather than those of us who want to make the game more balanced and realistic.

I doubt that the "live patching" can sort out things such as the shooting physics/power/trajectory, the perfect first touches and the defensive AI, which we'll probably have to put up with until FIFA 12 .

 

[mfmaxpower]

Demo day is getting closer, shame both demos will be out on the same day (if you have a PC or 360 anyway). Need to give both games an extended play without the interruption of another game with different controls/style.

Was just thinking how it's weird that if you like Halo and Call of Duty, but play more Call of Duty, you'd still be an fps fan. But if you play Fifa and PES and play more Fifa for example, you're labelled a Fifa fan and not a football game fan.

I'd imagine it'd be different if Halo and CoD were the ONLY fps franchises.

I think it's gameplay only really, but that may be false. We really have no idea what it can and can't do other than the things which Gary has implied can be changed - which is a LOT of variables really.

For instance, in one thread he listed these things:

"
- Default ground pass speed is slower than in FIFA10 and WC
- Pro Passing adds the possibility of this being even slower
- Player accleration is very slightly slower than in FIFA10/WC
- Tackle speed is slower than in FIFA10/WC
- Pressing is slightly slower than in FIFA10/WC (Due to players having to read the ball trajectory before committing)
- Positioning is tighter than in FIFA10/WC (Forcing you to build up slower)
- Stamina: Increased effect on sprint speed when short term energy is low
- Stamina: Increased effect on acceleration when short term energy is low"

As reasons the gamespeed is slower. All of these but the positioning, he went on to say, can be tweaked post release. So, we can twig that a lot can be changed outside of the AI.

As to how it works technically, a lot of games when you go online with them these days will download data from the internet to your console - like playlists. In FIFA's case for a very long time now, they've downloaded squads to your console when you go online - it works like that.

It will be automatically downloaded if online, I presume.



There are three ways we can go with it, we can fail at a community level - fail to try. EA can fail to listen. Or, just maybe, it comes together and we can change a good improvement into a really big improvement.

Good to know. It'll be interesting to see how EA choose to use the new patching system - hopefully they're as proactive as we'd like.

Can't wait for the demos, though it sounds like the more the PES demo is played, the more some people are noticing some pretty big annoyances, a few of which are imo inexcusable, like terrible goalkeeping.

Actually been enjoying the WC game lately on full manual, but while I can hold my own defensively on Legendary, I can't seem to put the damn ball in the net! I feel as if I've taken my manual passing to the next level - finished a campaign last night with Chile featuring some of my best ever buildup play - but my shooting is horrible. Can't tell you the number of times I've created a beautiful scoring opportunity only to shoot it straight at the keeper!

Also, I've noticed a few annoyances, one with player switching that I hope is fixed for FIFA 11 (Rod, maybe you mentioned this in impressions?). Anyways, I think others have mentioned this but I have problems with a delay in player switching, which is particularly frustrating on manual because it's as if since the CPU isn't in charge of targeting a player for the pass, it doesn't recognize who I'm trying to pass to on manual. Especially an issue since I play to space so often. FIFA really needs a system where all players within the vicinity of the ball or it's trajectory will go after the ball.

My other annoyance is with sprinting - it seems to me EA have gimped sprinting too much, I guess in response to how bad it was in 09. My problem is I'll beat a defender, say with Chile's Sanchez, find myself in what should be a fantastic scoring opportunity only for the defender I beat to shoulder barge me off the ball, seemingly from behind. Rod, you might have mentioned this as a problem with unrealistic acceleration speeds? I know physical play has been toned down a bit for 11, at least more balanced in favor of dribblers, so maybe this will help?

A weird annoyance I've noticed too, is that when I play on a lower difficulty setting, like Professional, I seem to give up just as many goals, if not more, than when I play on Legendary. However, the difference is that when on Legendary, the goals I give up tend to be decent goals by the CPU, whereas on Professional the ONLY goals scored against me by the CPU are from crosses to headers or freekicks - this is what I think people are referring to when they talk about the CPU "cheating."

Rod, any improvements on these issues in 11, especially with player switching and defenders shoulder barging from behind?

 

[Rodelero]

Can't wait for the demos, though it sounds like the more the PES demo is played, the more some people are noticing some pretty big annoyances, a few of which are imo inexcusable, like terrible goalkeeping.

That's always been my guess with PES - I think once the mask slips a bit the cracks in the paint will show, and we'll find that it's perhaps a game with a similar number of gameplay irritations as FIFA.

Actually been enjoying the WC game lately on full manual, but while I can hold my own defensively on Legendary, I can't seem to put the damn ball in the net! I feel as if I've taken my manual passing to the next level - finished a campaign last night with Chile featuring some of my best ever buildup play - but my shooting is horrible. Can't tell you the number of times I've created a beautiful scoring opportunity only to shoot it straight at the keeper!

Shooting is probably the hardest thing to get right in the end - passing is the biggest shock to the system, but you learn it, whereas shooting is always hard.

Also, I've noticed a few annoyances, one with player switching that I hope is fixed for FIFA 11 (Rod, maybe you mentioned this in impressions?). Anyways, I think others have mentioned this but I have problems with a delay in player switching, which is particularly frustrating on manual because it's as if since the CPU isn't in charge of targeting a player for the pass, it doesn't recognize who I'm trying to pass to on manual. Especially an issue since I play to space so often. FIFA really needs a system where all players within the vicinity of the ball or it's trajectory will go after the ball.

I didn't notice switching being too much of an issue - it's changed a fair bit. But to be honest, I use the right analog stick to switch most of the time. The switching has changed quite a lot.

My other annoyance is with sprinting - it seems to me EA have gimped sprinting too much, I guess in response to how bad it was in 09. My problem is I'll beat a defender, say with Chile's Sanchez, find myself in what should be a fantastic scoring opportunity only for the defender I beat to shoulder barge me off the ball, seemingly from behind. Rod, you might have mentioned this as a problem with unrealistic acceleration speeds? I know physical play has been toned down a bit for 11, at least more balanced in favor of dribblers, so maybe this will help?

My belief is that it's primarily down to acceleration and the fact that the dribbler is so much slower than the runner. Sprinting is maybe a tad slow but it's not that bad - and it's scaled reasonably between players - but as your example goes - you get past someone, even with a quick player, and it's very hard to get rid of them. They accelerate almost immediately to your speed, and then they are at least as fast as you even if you have a much faster player because whilst on the ball you are penalised heavily in terms of pace.

This is improved, though maybe not enough. One of the interesting (lesser known changes) they've made is that players no longer turn and accelerate past jog pace - so, you will get at least the length of time it takes them to turn going at a much higher pace than the defender. Pressuring is less effective in terms of tackling generally too - I found it a lot easier to get past a player, and keep posession - maybe actually getting a gap between you and the defender is quite difficult, but the physicality felt a lot less clear and I think you can use the shielding to your advantage a lot better even with weaker players.

The other problem is the stamina. In real life, if a fast player burns past a slower midfielder, that midfielder will rarely try to get back at the fast player, he might try and go to help out in defence but you rarely get the slow midfielder running behind the fast player to try and catch him because it's not worth the effort.

Having not played the new stamina model, I'm not convinced, but clearly sprinting a lot will be more heavily penalised.

A weird annoyance I've noticed too, is that when I play on a lower difficulty setting, like Professional, I seem to give up just as many goals, if not more, than when I play on Legendary. However, the difference is that when on Legendary, the goals I give up tend to be decent goals by the CPU, whereas on Professional the ONLY goals scored against me by the CPU are from crosses to headers or freekicks - this is what I think people are referring to when they talk about the CPU "cheating."

Rod, any improvements on these issues in 11, especially with player switching and defenders shoulder barging from behind?

Couldn't possibly answer in regards to AI - but hopefully my answer about the defending is helpful.

 

[romagnoli]

Was just thinking how it's weird that if you like Halo and Call of Duty, but play more Call of Duty, you'd still be an fps fan. But if you play Fifa and PES and play more Fifa for example, you're labelled a Fifa fan and not a football game fan.

To be fair neither of those two FPS's are trying to simulate real life. It's hard to find FPS games that do, in fact. ArmA is the closest you can get these days.

It's a valid point though, and one that we have to come to terms with as far as mainstream games review sites are concerned - we're the football hardcore on these forums who generally speaking will gladly accept Eurogamer's opinions on all other types of game.

 

[Rodelero]

I'm finally finished. It's taken quite a while but I've finally (with some good advice from Romagnoli) managed to get this together: http://forum.ea.com/uk/posts/list/5124.page

A petition to get EA to increase the effects of Pro Passing. I've included a near 3 minute video showing a wealth of examples of where Pro Passing is simply (and quite considerably inadequate), and a lengthy description of the problem. I'm preaching to the choir here - but if you do want to support this petition the best thing you can do is to try to keep discussion going in there. Yes, that means going on the new official forums, but, hopefully, just maybe we can achieve something.

 

[Rob92]

You should go to some shops on release day with that petition, and use these tactics to get it signed:

YouTube - Postal 2 - Petition

"Sign my petition or I'll follow you home and kill your dog!"

In all seriousness, it's good to see even the people on the EA forums voting for Pro Passing effects to be increased.

 

[Rodelero]

Lmao. Classic. Hopefully it can keep near the top of the forum at least through this week or so. Going well so far but frankly, it could disappear from the forum so fast, which is a pity. I've done my best with it, kinda up to the community and EA now.

 

[romagnoli]

Good stuff Rod.

I'd have made the petition the same as the vote we had here but only with the played/watched YES options. You've already got one vote for 'DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS OPTION'! Not a problem though.

Love the post by the guy who said he thought pro passing was a bad idea but watched the vids and thinks it looks fine. That's cos theres no difference!!

 

[nerf]

Also, I've noticed a few annoyances, one with player switching that I hope is fixed for FIFA 11 (Rod, maybe you mentioned this in impressions?). Anyways, I think others have mentioned this but I have problems with a delay in player switching, which is particularly frustrating on manual because it's as if since the CPU isn't in charge of targeting a player for the pass, it doesn't recognize who I'm trying to pass to on manual. Especially an issue since I play to space so often. FIFA really needs a system where all players within the vicinity of the ball or it's trajectory will go after the ball.

I despise the player switching logic in 10/WC. I had a classic this morning when my central midfielder laid a pass wide into the path of my left fullback, and my left winger (further away and ahead of the ball) was whistled for offside.

We've been told that they've re-written player switching for 11, so I'm crossing my fingers.

 

[liger05]

I'm finally finished. It's taken quite a while but I've finally (with some good advice from Romagnoli) managed to get this together: http://forum.ea.com/uk/posts/list/5124.page

A petition to get EA to increase the effects of Pro Passing. I've included a near 3 minute video showing a wealth of examples of where Pro Passing is simply (and quite considerably inadequate), and a lengthy description of the problem. I'm preaching to the choir here - but if you do want to support this petition the best thing you can do is to try to keep discussion going in there. Yes, that means going on the new official forums, but, hopefully, just maybe we can achieve something.

Props dude. The user weight issue is a major concern. The optimum level marker looks pointless as it stands.