I was lucky enough to recently get to head over to EA in Surrey to the FIFA 11 Producers day and get to sit in on a presentation of the new game and its features, to play a 75% complete version of the game and speak to Line Producer David Rutter.
Key Features of FIFA 11:Personality +Personality+ Player models
New player models have been created which reflect player likeness and body type and how that player would react on the pitch to different situations. This creates clearly differentiated players with individual personalities. Dribble styles will also match that of the real life player and how they move and react with the ball.
Personality+ Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers have been improved to reflect their real life style of play whether they be acrobatic or traditional. They will also have a dive attribute which will affect their ability to reach further shots and deflect them away and a reflex attribute to determine their reaction times to shots etc. Goalkeeper AI has been improved based on response to feedback on FIFA 10 (See video)
Personality+ Celebrations
User Controlled Celebrations 2.0 enables you to perform your players’ trademark celebration & interact with teammates in real-time and celebrate as a group.
Pro Passing
A new passing system where pass accuracy is determined by a gamer’s ability on the control pad, and player skill, situation and urgency on the pitch. Poor decisions or over/under striking the ball will mean error-prone outcomes. New types of passes such as swerve passes will enable players to make a safer and more effective play. Depending on the player receiving the ball and their position be it defender, midfielder etc their ability to make the pass and the outcome of the pass will be determinded by the above. (See videos)
Personality Plus videosGoalkeeper AI Video360 Degree physical interaction between players
A big part of the game this year is based around the 360 degree fight for possesion between players. Players will jostle and fight to hold off a defending player before a pass has been received, hold off players while making runs and attacks and shield players from making tackles to take the ball off their feet while maintaining possesion.
Advanced AI
This year the AI has been greatly improved - the CPU players now can perform skill moves and are controlled by a proper AI system which allows them to react to situations in play and determine the best decisions and their outcomes.
My Music and My Audio
With FIFA 11 players have the ability to import their own mp3s at the front end and then use these throughtout the game menus, as entrance music for their team coming out on the pitch or at key points in the game such as when they score a goal. Chants can also be downloaded from many of the sites online providing these and can then be assigned in the same fashion when your team comes out on the pitch or you score a goal. These can be assigned to individual teams or leagues. Due to the content being local you will only hear these chants and music on your own console but it adds another factor of realism to the game with the chant system.
Creation Centre
This allows you to go online and create your own players and put together a dream team based on the players you create. Every attribute of the player can be edited the way you want aswell as managing the overall team formations and tactics. You can also apply custom kits and crests to your team. These teams can then be used in the unranked modes of the game, in tournaments, kick-off matches and your players can be incorporated into the new career mode.
Career Mode
This year in FIFA 11 Manager Mode has been dropped and replaced with the impressive Career mode. This allows you to start as a real player, created player or your own Virtual Pro and evolve into a player-manager or a manager over your career. Players now receive instant feedback and enjoy a vastly improved status system. Plus, authentic tournament structures, results and new calendar system, featuring simultaneous simulations across multiple leagues. It also features new Team Management and an improved transfer system for simpler player comparison and Friends Leaderboards to compare stats and earnings.
FIFA Theatre
This allows you to save highlights from any match played. After the game you can go into the theatre and there will be the key highlights of the game which you can then watch, save to your hard drive and/or upload to easportsworld to show your friends. This also works with all online modes.
