Fifa 11 Xbox 360/PS3

[mfmaxpower]

I think it's more the fact that manual isn't really manual anymore. I may just be really good at it but I've noticed some fairly difficult passes that I don't have to really think too much about anymore that'll get to the target more often than not.

Seen a bit of ping ponging on manual as well.

The worst part by far is the pressure. I average someting like 60% possession in my games but playing that final ball over the top, or a through pass to a guy like Bastos never work even if you time it relatively well because the centerbacks can always catch up.

I've started using semi passing against the CPU, with everything else set to manual except sometimes crossing (I suck at manual crossing - seems I hit it straight at the keeper half the time!). I have to agree with Bobby - I don't think manual passing is that much more assisted than before, maybe ever so slightly. Also, I'm wondering if part of the difference you're feeling is down to slower passing power?

Anyways, I've been switching to semi passing lately for a couple reasons:
1) Having two manual ground passes is redundant
2) While I dominate possession and rarely drop below the 80s in pass accuracy, as soon as I get near the opponents penalty box I fall apart - I seem to NEVER be able to make that killer pass, that final ball that sets up a shot.
3) Sometimes the CPU pressure/opponents defenders react too quick and you need to get off a pass quickly, which with the slower passing speed can be extremely difficult with manual.
4) It's almost impossible for me to make a 1-2 pass with manual passing when I'm close to the teammate I'm passing to - for some reason manual passing when you hold lb for a give and go pass is overpowered; this is a killer for me in the final third when space is limited.
5) Having just through pass set to manual allows me to play the same way, I can still make passes into space, and I don't find I miss anything while gaining an advantage in the final third when I need it.

I have not had problems with this in the past, at least not to the degree I'm having now, but I believe the slower passing speed combined with defending being much easier (for both human players and the CPU) has taken the joy out of playing manual for me, at least at the higher difficulty levels I need to play at if I hope to see the CPU score against me.

Maybe I just need to get better as people on the official forums like to say, and I will keep working at it, but right now it's a little more frustrating than I'd like.

How you guys finding chipping the goalies?

FIFA10 it was far too easy! FIFA11 too hard? I'm having almost zero success with it so far but I think I haven't fully gotten the hang of it....

I feel like they've overcompensated (like they usually do!) after FIFA 10. I have yet to score a single chip shot I think. Maybe I need to practice more, maybe it's down to playing manual shooting, but it's a little bit too difficult imo.

Like Placebo, maybe I just haven't shot using chip shots much - I think I stopped using it, even when it makes to do so, since it was such an obvious exploit in the past.

I'm guilty of this one, too. Nothing of worthy note has bothered me, yet, either.

True, I find it frustrating sometimes that I can't beat a man using skill or dribbling, but I learn to work a way around it. I can now beat full backs using my wingers' pace, then deliver a decent cross into the box. Also releasing my strikers through the middle.

Still enjoying F11 Career Mode.

Surely player growth isn't working for you as it should? My impression had been that it was broken for everyone and not a random bug.

 

[Scutch]

Surely player growth isn't working for you as it should? My impression had been that it was broken for everyone and not a random bug.

Quite possibly, but something like that isn't a game breaker for me, so isn't worthy of note.

Ok, there are a lot of unpolished parts, but for me, they aren't so much of a big deal.

 

[BobbyBox]

I've started to play on professional, as I am just too shit at manual to play world class at the moment. It is too frustrating, I rarely get a chance and then when I do I miss

But I hate the way on professional, its easy to take the ball off of the opposition! there should be something inbetween.

When I play with my vp I have to play semi passing and shooting, as there is no fun controlling one player and then getting a couple of chances a game and missing them But also on professional while playing VP your team mates are shit and just run into the oppostition alot of the time

But I have mostly been playing online anyway, so it doesn't bother me too much.

I just need to get better at manual and then I think I will enjoy the game alot more. Although don't get me wrong, I still enjoy playing it, just more online at the moment.

 

[NACK22]

There is a new squad update available.

Is this what they can use for gameplay tweaks?

 

[Placebo]

There is a new squad update available.

Is this what they can use for gameplay tweaks?

Considering that the new squad files can break ongoing CM's I'll need confirmation of what it changes (if anything) before I try it out personally.

 

[NACK22]

Considering that the new squad files can break ongoing CM's I'll need confirmation of what it changes (if anything) before I try it out personally.

Well I downloaded it and my current CM from before is ok.

Not sure if it's the placebo effect (pardon the pun) but it seems a bit slower.

Can anyone else confirm?

 

[Placebo]

Am I missing something? I've never seen the screens in this thread: http://forum.ea.com/uk/posts/list/22656.page

 

[Placebo]

Well I downloaded it and my current CM from before is ok.

Not sure if it's the placebo effect (pardon the pun) but it seems a bit slower.

Can anyone else confirm?

Thanks I'll check it out tomorrow (after backing up my squads/saves to flashdrive)

 

[gameklip]

Just writing some impressions for Fifa11 & PES11. Which forum do I put them on? I'm quite harsh on EA so it's definitely going on their forum .

Quick summary:

EA could and should have done more. For instance I get the feeling they themselves aren't entirely sold on Pro-Passing. A perfectly hit pass (when the power gauge needles aligne) should result in a snappy ground pass from the best players (and maybe a stylish passing animation to go with it). EA's broad sweeping gestures (a pretty face scan here or there and FINALLY you can score headed goals) can't mask the lack of care that goes into their games leaving gamers to deal with the buggy aftermath. It's great fun when it's all working but not above an 8/10 for me.

Konami is on the right track and has a solid philosphy that their gameplay is based, which means they have a solid base to build upon. That philosophy does allow them to take certain liberties (throughballs nut-megging world class defenders and slowing down perfectly for the recipient) that somehow fit into the world they've created quite well (oddly enough... trust me). There's a flow to the game, a thought process. Holding onto the ball and playing possession football reaps rewards (you get more and better movement from your front men for one). And the Master League and Cup (re-)presentation absolutely shames EA's offerings in grand style. And even though EA may argue that they have more faces to do (which is funny because they don't bother even doing those extra ones Konami don't have), Konami seem to know to get the main players 100% right and leave the rest as murkier half-representations of the real thing. Konami also "get" player model proportions. EA released a vid a while back showing theirs and the dude there was making out like it was rocket science. It isn't. I have no idea why EA haven't sorted those weird arms out yet. PES11 player models are probably the best we'll see this gen in a footy game but EA definitely have the ability to create better ones. They just seem to opt not to, putting it down to only having 10-11months to finish their game (which strangley enough EVERY sports game developer has too and with like half the budget EA Canada has). Thing is if you're going to say that then I expect a pretty bugless experiece with thoughtful, rewarding gameplay. But it seems we got a game not far removed from FIFA10. So where did the man-hours go??

I'll post more about the gameplay (and presentation) of both games after this write-up of my impressions.

BTW I'm not here to tell you PES11 is the perfect game (far from it). It just seems the team @ konami have approached their game with a purpose this year that spreads right down to even the players on the pitch. Funnily enough PES2011 can feel like FIFA11 but with a better footballing brain at times. Weird moments let PES down though. eg. Goal keepers are not awful but when they make a rick... my goodness. And the odd moments your players choose to stop running can infuriate. Konami are very close though. Another year like this and it'll definitely be neck and neck regardless of what EA do. EA will probably laugh comments like that off but I promise you that it's true.

 

[mfmaxpower]

BTW I'm not here to tell you PES11 is the perfect game (far from it). It just seems the team @ konami have approached their game with a purpose this year that spreads right down to even the players on the pitch. Funnily enough PES2011 can feel like FIFA11 but with a better footballing brain at times. Weird moments let PES down though. eg. Goal keepers are not awful but when they make a rick... my goodness. And the odd moments your players choose to stop running can infuriate. Konami are very close though. Another year like this and it'll definitely be neck and neck regardless of what EA do. EA will probably laugh comments like that off but I promise you that it's true.

I've had very similar impressions. Like you said, PES isn't nearly perfect but I think because the game's fundamentals and Konami's philosophies are sound, and like you said it's clear PES this year is built on a solid base, it is easier to overlook the sometimes horrible animations or other details. Sure there are things in PES that are downright laughable but they tend to be rare occurrences or are not enough of a factor to detract from the overall gameplay.

When it comes to FIFA, I don't know if it's the majority but a lot of people are wondering what the hell EA have been doing this past year. Like you said, where'd EA's manpower go? And if compare EA to Konami in manpower and resources, then compare each game's, say, management mode, things don't add up.

Until someone proves me wrong, I'm sticking to my answer to the question of what EA have been doing this past year - the World Cup game. Rutter and EA have denied that it was a distraction but I can't see any other plausible explanation.

I've started to play on professional, as I am just too shit at manual to play world class at the moment. It is too frustrating, I rarely get a chance and then when I do I miss

But I hate the way on professional, its easy to take the ball off of the opposition! there should be something inbetween.

When I play with my vp I have to play semi passing and shooting, as there is no fun controlling one player and then getting a couple of chances a game and missing them But also on professional while playing VP your team mates are shit and just run into the oppostition alot of the time

But I have mostly been playing online anyway, so it doesn't bother me too much.

I just need to get better at manual and then I think I will enjoy the game alot more. Although don't get me wrong, I still enjoy playing it, just more online at the moment.

This is the most basic example for why I believe the game is unbalanced - it's like I need a difficulty setting for offense and a separate difficulty setting for defense. In the past I've always played at the WC/Legendary levels, but now I find scoring on Pro a challenge, at least with manual controls. But at Pro difficulty defending is a joke! So the game can turn into me losing the ball in the opponent's final third, then I get the ball back usually before they pass the half way line, rinse and repeat. I guess it's fun 'cause I'm always attacking but it's so unrealistic. I desperately need to get better at scoring so I can go back up to the difficulty levels where the CPU can get a shot off against me.

 

[mfmaxpower]

Am I missing something? I've never seen the screens in this thread: http://forum.ea.com/uk/posts/list/22656.page

It's a spreadsheet the guy made for himself to give more depth to his experience and so he could manage his squad when not at home.

 

[klashman69]

Superb, just put custom chants in for the 4 English leagues, works great, haven't bothered with intro/goal music, just set the chants to be for all events.

That's good i heard it was broken! How many chants can you put ingame?

Does it work online in any modes?

 

[Robo1979]

This is the most basic example for why I believe the game is unbalanced - it's like I need a difficulty setting for offense and a separate difficulty setting for defense. In the past I've always played at the WC/Legendary levels, but now I find scoring on Pro a challenge, at least with manual controls. But at Pro difficulty defending is a joke! So the game can turn into me losing the ball in the opponent's final third, then I get the ball back usually before they pass the half way line, rinse and repeat. I guess it's fun 'cause I'm always attacking but it's so unrealistic. I desperately need to get better at scoring so I can go back up to the difficulty levels where the CPU can get a shot off against me.

May I ask what team(s) are you guys (that are struggling) using?

I'm using Arsenal in CM on World Class and I've only had a handful of games in which I haven't scored. Admittedly I play 9 minute halves but I tend to score at least one goal in the majority of my games.

I've tried other teams and I've managed to score in most games (maybe it's due to the length of the halves) but it certainly seems easier (to me) creating chances with Arsenal. Even on previous games (Early PES/Late FIFA's)I've always found Arsenal the most effective team at creating chances, maybe they just suit the way I play.

In any case it would be interesting to know who you use.

 

[mfmaxpower]

May I ask what team(s) are you guys (that are struggling) using?

I'm using Arsenal in CM on World Class and I've only had a handful of games in which I haven't scored. Admittedly I play 9 minute halves but I tend to score at least one goal in the majority of my games.

I've tried other teams and I've managed to score in most games (maybe it's due to the length of the halves) but it certainly seems easier (to me) creating chances with Arsenal. Even on previous games (Early PES/Late FIFA's)I've always found Arsenal the most effective team at creating chances, maybe they just suit the way I play.

In any case it would be interesting to know who you use.

Too many teams to name. Though I've had one CM with Lincoln City in the fourth English division; Borrussia Dortmund in another; and currently Charlton Athletic in another. I've played with dozens of different teams in friendlies. I agree, Arsenal is one of the easiest teams to play with.

If I don't play manual passing then of course my problems lessen and I'll be fine on legendary, but if I play WC on manual ground passes, most of my results are 0-0 or 0-1. Like I said elsewhere my passing stats are solid and I always dominate possession (come to think of it I'm not sure the CPU has ever had the majority of possession against me). I've gotten better recently but still, once I get to the final third my play breaks down. It'd be one thing if I was simply missing shots and not taking my opportunities, but I'm not creating near enough opportunities.

It's frustrating because IRL, more times than not, when a team dominates the run of play you'd expect them to dominate the scoreline as well. It'd be like what if Barca could never score. (I'm not saying I'm all that, but you get the picture.)

 

[Placebo]

That's good i heard it was broken! How many chants can you put ingame?

Does it work online in any modes?

For the 4 English leagues I've put in 600 chants in total

You should know by now I don't play online But I believe for online matches you hear the chants but your opponent doesn't

It's a spreadsheet the guy made for himself to give more depth to his experience and so he could manage his squad when not at home.

Aha I see, real shame that something like that isn't built into the game, as usual the stat tracking is very poor, shame that you can't see the post game player stats for each player as you could in the world cup game, for example you can't see balls won/lost for each player. And it's not even possible to see a simple appearances/goals/assists/cards for the season for your players, you have to look separately at each tournament's stats and add them together in your head, stupid.

 

[BobbyBox]

you can hear your chants online (Not sure if the other person can...but I doubt it?)

 

[Nick Cave]

you can hear your chants online (Not sure if the other person can...but I doubt it?)

Haha can you imagine what would happen if they could...

 

[demolition]

did anyone come up with a compilation of chants/entrance music/Goal music for all teams in the game (split into playlists)?

Howe can we reach the editing community? Not very surprised, but there only seems to be editing sections for PES in evo-web.

 

[BobbyBox]

Does anybody know if there is a cheat online regarding manual?

Just came up against a guy and we both chose 3 1/2 star teams that I have never heard of. But his team just seemed stronger, faster etc.

I don't think I won a header. It was very strange. His shooting was like 100% spot on aswell.

It is making me think now, a few games have seemed a bit dodgy. Like they have had some type of enhancement of their team, or they are using different controls?

It is probably just me, but I wanted to check. If there is no cheating, then the guy I just played was extremely good!

 

[nerf]

(Moved this discussion point in here, because it was off-topic in the Career Mode thread)

If I pass the ball to my striker at the edge of the box I know a defender will come up from behind and steal the ball immediately.

So protect the ball? Shield it. Turn away from the defender. If you're on the edge of their penalty area of course they're going to get tight to you.

I've also noticed on a number of occasions that when you for once in a million manage to break free from the defence your player magically stops sprinting even though you're holding sprint, just enough for the defender to catch up and muscle you off the ball. It's these little "cheats" that ruins the game for me atm.

seeing as speed is a pointless aspect of the game for the other 80min.....I loved played Manu yesterday and having Vidic start from behind my striker (Mata, who is very fast) and be able to catch up, outmuscle him before he can even get a cross away whilst also using knockons to be even faster...

I still believe these 'cheats' are in your heads. That's my opinion. Isn't it odd how people complain about defenders catching up attackers every year in every version of both FIFA and PES? Funny that.

And the right thumbstick to knock the ball on? Here's a quick attacker with the ball out-running an average speed defender on Legendary. Notice that they step over the halfway line at the exact same time, and that the defender even has the 'inside line'.

YouTube - FIFA11 - Attackers are not slow

 

[Placebo]

Yeah I have no problem burning defenders with my quick players, JJ on the right, Andrew Driver on the left, the key is to put the afterburners on at the right time, keep an eye on the stamina/fatigue bars, Driver especially I have to be careful with as he has a high workrate which means he puts more energy into his runs and often when he receives the ball his fatigue bar is already well into the white so if I were to sprint with him then he'd be straight into the red and anyone would catch him, in fact I had to alter my team tactics to stop him tracking back and helping out with defending, because he was spending far too much time out of breathe and wasn't lasting 60 minutes simply because his workrate is too high for his stamina stat!

 

[Shooto]

Does anybody know if there is a cheat online regarding manual?

Just came up against a guy and we both chose 3 1/2 star teams that I have never heard of. But his team just seemed stronger, faster etc.

I don't think I won a header. It was very strange. His shooting was like 100% spot on aswell.

It is making me think now, a few games have seemed a bit dodgy. Like they have had some type of enhancement of their team, or they are using different controls?

It is probably just me, but I wanted to check. If there is no cheating, then the guy I just played was extremely good!

I am having the same suspicions. Next time we are both on let's play 1v1. Who knows, maybe we are both rubbish

 

[Shazam!]

I still believe these 'cheats' are in your heads. That's my opinion. Isn't it odd how people complain about defenders catching up attackers every year in every version of both FIFA and PES? Funny that.

And the right thumbstick to knock the ball on? Here's a quick attacker with the ball out-running an average speed defender on Legendary. Notice that they step over the halfway line at the exact same time, and that the defender even has the 'inside line'.

I dunno, I'm fine with the ball, but when running onto a through ball, I've definitely noticed my guy slowing down 'waiting' for the ball as opposed to running onto it.

 

[Shooto]

I dunno, I'm fine with the ball, but when running onto a through ball, I've definitely noticed my guy slowing down 'waiting' for the ball as opposed to running onto it.

I agree with nerf and placebo. This video showed macheda matching on to a through ball from bellamy. He knocks it on first then holds off the defender chasing back before unleashing one into the top corner

Cardiff City 1 – 0 Leeds United | EA SPORTS

 

[BobbyBox]

I am having the same suspicions. Next time we are both on let's play 1v1. Who knows, maybe we are both rubbish

Yeah definately.

I have played a few games with someone called 'onlinenub' (I think that is his name?) I don't know if he is from here? but he asked to be a friend yesterday and I have had some good games with him.

I think he has just started playing it and we are just about equal now and he will be better than me soon. So I think I am just not very good at manual

Still enjoying it though.

 

[mfmaxpower]

I still believe these 'cheats' are in your heads. That's my opinion. Isn't it odd how people complain about defenders catching up attackers every year in every version of both FIFA and PES? Funny that.

Yeah I have no problem burning defenders with my quick players, JJ on the right, Andrew Driver on the left, the key is to put the afterburners on at the right time, keep an eye on the stamina/fatigue bars, Driver especially I have to be careful with as he has a high workrate which means he puts more energy into his runs and often when he receives the ball his fatigue bar is already well into the white so if I were to sprint with him then he'd be straight into the red and anyone would catch him, in fact I had to alter my team tactics to stop him tracking back and helping out with defending, because he was spending far too much time out of breathe and wasn't lasting 60 minutes simply because his workrate is too high for his stamina stat!

You guys may be right about sprinting (except nerf, I don't recall many people saying that about the FIFA 08/09 sprintfests; pretty sure it was the opposite, EA overcompensated, and that's why we're where we are now.) but the problem isn't just with my attacking players against the CPU defense, the reverse is true too - defending is so easy and simple, the CPU struggles to maintain 40 percent possession and the vast majority of play takes place in their two thirds of the pitch. Sure the CPU may score, sure the CPU may win, but I haven't played many, if any, matches where the CPU dominated the run of play!

Sprint speed aside, I think the point again is the game is unbalanced between offensive and defensive play. If we were struggling against the CPU then the obvious solution is to drop the difficulty down, however the problem is that I'm 'winning' my matches in every way except on the scoreboard. If the CPU was racking-up 3,4,5 goals a match, that would be one thing, but the case in fact is that I'm too often either drawing or losing in matches that every other indicator would make you think I dominated.

Something is surely not right when so many people complain that all matches seem the same: defending/tackling is too easy/simple, the CPU can't/doesn't shoot or hold possession, low scoring draws/losses are frequent despite dominating run of play. The math just doesn't add up.

 

[johnny_on]

Yeah definately.

I have played a few games with someone called 'onlinenub' (I think that is his name?) I don't know if he is from here? but he asked to be a friend yesterday and I have had some good games with him.

I think he has just started playing it and we are just about equal now and he will be better than me soon. So I think I am just not very good at manual

Still enjoying it though.

You were playing an assisted player. Nearly half of my manual games are against them.

The filter is broke and I hope they reset the manual leaderboard cos it's messed up like half of this game.

 

[WILDSTER180774]

That's good i heard it was broken! How many chants can you put ingame?

Does it work online in any modes?

It is broke for many. Placebo has a magic copy remember

Mine for example plays Arsenal chants at games where Arsenal ain't playing. Had to reset Arsenals chants to default now which is extra annoying for me as I'm a Gooner.

And last night I had my custom audio soundtrack playing over EAs soundtrack, all at the same time.

I'm sure EA said they was working on a fix so that will be good. Such a buggy game. Real shame

 

[BobbyBox]

You were playing an assisted player. Nearly half of my manual games are against them.

The filter is broke and I hope they reset the manual leaderboard cos it's messed up like half of this game.

Is that definite? Has it been reported by lots of people? How do they change to assisted settings?

Very shit if true :-(

 

[Murkurial]

I still believe these 'cheats' are in your heads. That's my opinion. Isn't it odd how people complain about defenders catching up attackers every year in every version of both FIFA and PES? Funny that.

And the right thumbstick to knock the ball on? Here's a quick attacker with the ball out-running an average speed defender on Legendary. Notice that they step over the halfway line at the exact same time, and that the defender even has the 'inside line'.

YouTube - FIFA11 - Attackers are not slow

Pique Gourcuff | EA SPORTS

I don't think that Gourcuff is this slow with the ball at his feet is he? Pique's pretty fast for a CB but that's a good bit of separation and for some reason (while holding turbo) it seemed a bit difficult for Gourcuff to get moving and very easy for Pique to make up that ground.

P.S. - Is there any way that I can just drop the link to the video instead of what everyone will think is a broken video link? You have to click the title at the top of the video btw.

Is that definite? Has it been reported by lots of people? How do they change to assisted settings?

Very shit if true :-(

Does that exploit still exists where the away team can change their control scheme from manual?

I've been going into lobbies and making manual matches again because I can't find quick ranked manual matches anymore and quite a few times I've seen people quit at the Team Management screen when they notice that there's no Control Settings option. I think the option to change your controls is actually in-game though.