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Tag: FIFA 14

  • Here’s Your First Real Look At FIFA 14 On The PS4

    FIFA 14 is the fútbol simulation to own every year. Sure, there’s Konami’s PES franchise, but EA Tiburon has proven time and time again that it gets soccer better than anybody else. That, at least, was certainly true on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but what about the versions of FIFA 14 hitting the PS4 and Xbox One?

    EA Sports released a new trailer today for FIFA 14 claiming that all the gameplay on show is captured from the PS4 version. It’s also the flagship title for EA Sports’ next-gen rendering engine – IGNITE.

    So, how does it look? You be the judge:

    Personally, I can’t tell that much of a difference. Granted, I’ve been absolutely spoiled by what 2K Sports is doing with NBA 2K14 on next-gen consoles. NBA Live 14 running on IGNITE doesn’t even come close, but I was personally expecting something a little better from FIFA 14.

    To be fair, I’m sure the game plays incredibly well. The additional processing power afforded by the PS4 and Xbox One will obviously lead to a better gameplay experience. It’s just that many sports fans were probably expecting a leap in graphic fidelity and realism as well. That doesn’t appear to be the case here as the character animations and designs look to be almost lifted straight from the PS3 version.

    It should be noted that this is a compressed gameplay trailer on YouTube. The final product on the PS4 and Xbox One will obviously look a little better, but you should probably keep your expectations in check when picking up FIFA 14 on November 15 or 22 for the PS4 or Xbox One.

    And hey, at least Xbox One buyers in Europe get it for free.

    [Image: PlayStation/YouTube]

  • ‘FIFA 14’ Out Today, Mobile App Also Released

    FIFA 14, possibly the most-anticipated sports video game release of the year, is out today in North America for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC (through Origin). Early adopters of the next-generation consoles will be able to play the game on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One when those consoles are released, and Xbox One pre-orderers in Europe will even receive a free copy of FIFA 14 with their console.

    Soccer fans buying this year’s version of FIFA on current-gen consoles will be greeted with familiar visuals and modes such as “Ultimate Team” and “Skill Games.” Reviews for the game have been overwhelmingly positive, with reviewers citing improved controls as a major step up from last year’s FIFA.

    In addition to the console version of FIFA 14, publisher EA this week also released a mobile version of the game. As a free download on Apple’s App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon Appstore, the app simulates the FIFA experience on a mobile platform.

    The mobile FIFA 14 is, obviously, graphically inferior to the console version, resembling more the FIFA games seen on earlier video game consoles. The game’s controls have also been re-engineered for mobile, with tapping, flicking, and swiping replacing the button controls of the full version. A new trailer for the mobile version depicts what players are in for, including a mobile verison of “Ultimate Team” and several other modes that are purchasable through microtransactions.

  • Want To See 37 Minutes of Gameplay From FIFA 14?

    Of course you do, regardless of what @YourTitleSucks might say about the title. Considering the previous successes of EA’s FIFA franchise, a 37-minute gameplay preview is probably unnecessary to convince people to buy the upcoming release. It could, however, address fears from those who are wondering why they should buy this year’s copy. Or confirm them. Nevertheless, the extended “trailer” has been released, and it consists of footage taken from EA’s Gamescom 2013 showing.

    The first half of the video, hosted by one of the most awkward presenters in history, features two “professional” FIFA players–the video game, not real life–who go at each other on the pitch. The action was naturally recorded, which gives us our gameplay preview. During the second portion of the video, another host takes over, and the awkwardness disappears, replaced by a little bit of attitude. Unfortunately, the second half of the video is done entirely in German, so if you aren’t bi-lingual, you may not get much out of it, save for more gameplay video, which is probably the only reason interested parties would be checking out the almost 40-minute video.

    With that, here’s an extended look at the gameplay features players can expect when they load FIFA 14 on the PS3:


    For my money, hearing the frantic German banter as the players try to get the upper hand is worth the price of admission.

    As for the video, has EA shown enough to secure your purchase? What about if you bought FIFA 13 last year? Have you seen enough to warrant another $60 purchase? FIFA 14 will be available on PS3, Xbox 360, and the PC on September 24 (in North America; the 26th for Europe). It will also be available for the next-gen consoles shortly after their respective launches.

    [Lead image courtesy]

  • FIFA 14 Gets “Legendary Footballers” on Xbox One

    At its press conference today at Gamescom, Microsoft announced that every pre-ordered Xbox one Day One Edition console in Europe will come bundled with a free copy of FIFA 14. It’s quite a gambit for Microsoft to pay for that many copies of FIFA, but the company hasn’t stopped there. It has also obtained exclusive content for the Xbox One version of FIFA 14.

    FIFA 14 on the Xbox One (and the Xbox 360) will come with special “legendary footballers” for Ultimate Team mode. The exclusive players include Pele’, Patrick Viera, Freddie Ljungberg, Ruud Gullit and Gary Linekar. Ljungberg and Gullit will be the first “legends” added to the game, coming sometime “later this year.”

    “We’re thrilled to bring legendary footballers to ‘FIFA 14’ Ultimate Team on Xbox,” said Matt Bilbey, SVP at EA Sports. “Only on Xbox will you be able to terrorize defenses with a dream partnership of Messi with the legendary Pelé.”

    Though the language in Microsoft’s announcement is a bit squirrelly, the announcement does not mean that Ultimate Team mode for FIFA 14 is exclusive to Xbox consoles. The mode will be available on other consoles, though players will not get to add the Xbox-exclusive “legendary” players to their roster on PlayStation 4 or Wii.

    A trailer previewing the exclusive players has been released along with the announcement. It is not clear whether all the players shown in the trailer are exclusive to Xbox.

  • Xbox One Pre-Orders Come With FIFA 14 in Europe

    Though Microsoft did not stream its Xbox One conference from this year’s Gamescom, the company did have plenty of announcements to share about its upcoming next-generation console. Perhaps the biggest announcement made during the presentation was the confirmation of yesterday’s rumors – FIFA 14 will come bundled with Xbox One pre-orders in Europe.

    Microsoft’s official statement says that all pre-ordered Xbox One Day One Edition consoles in Europe will come with a digital version of FIFA 14 packed-in. Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry “Major Nelson” Hyrb made things a bit less clear by tweeting that all pre-orders (not just Day One Editions?) of the Xbox One will come with FIFA 14, though he did qualify that by adding “while stock lasts.”

    Though the FIFA 14 pre-order offer undoubtedly increases the value of an Xbox One in Europe, the announcement has raised some questions of its own. The first is how many (or how few) pre-order numbers Microsoft must be seeing in Europe to pay EA millions for what is at least hundreds of thousands of FIFA 14 copies. Another is whether FIFA 14 will be the free game promised to the 8 European countries that recently had their Xbox One launches pushed back to next year. A final question is whether this will be enough to entice Europeans, who have heavy brand loyalty to PlayStation, to jump onto Microsoft’s next generation platform – especially when an Xbox One with FIFA 14 packed-in is still more expensive that buying a PlayStation 4 and FIFA 14 separately.

    One thing that’s clear is that Microsoft views sports gaming as a front in the coming console war. A version of the Xbox 360 bundled with a copy of FIFA 14 was also announced. Microsoft has also obtained exclusive “legendary footballers” for the Xbox One version of FIFA 14.

  • Every Xbox One In Europe Will Come Bundled With FIFA 14 [Rumor]

    Microsoft has gone a long way in making sure that the bad reputation the Xbox One earned at E3 has been largely forgotten. Sure, people are still sore that Microsoft even attempted such inane policies, like having to check in online every 24 hours, but the reversal of these policies has most gamers warming up to them again. So, how does Microsoft entice those gamers that have sworn off the Xbox One forever? How about a free game?

    MCV recently heard a rumor that Microsoft has teamed up with EA to offer FIFA 14 as a pack in title with every Xbox One sold in Europe. The Xbox One/FIFA 14 bundle would cost the same as the regular Xbox One thus making the £429.99 console look a little more appealing when stacked up against the much cheaper PS4.

    If true, this would be a genius move on the part of Microsoft. No matter how many policies it reverses on, it can’t reverse on the price of the Xbox One unless it takes Kinect out of the equation. That’s not going to happen, so the PS4 will, by default, remain the most obvious choice based on price alone. When you pack in a free copy of FIFA 14, however, Microsoft’s console becomes much more attractive.

    It’s unknown whether or not the FIFA 14 rumor has anything to do with Microsoft’s pledge to include a game with every Xbox One sold in the eight European territories that recently had their Xbox One launch date pushed back from November until early 2014. The rumors make it sound like the FIFA 14 offer will be available to all European countries so those gamers in the eight countries not getting it may end up getting two games next year.

    Either way, we’ll find out more tomorrow as the rumors state Microsoft will make the announcement at Gamescom. The event, which takes place in Germany, is very much focused on the European market, and it would be the perfect stage to take some wind out of Sony’s sail before it announces the launch date of the PS4.

  • FC Barcelona, EA Sign Three-Year Deal

    FC Barcelona, EA Sign Three-Year Deal

    FC Barcelona and EA today announced they have agreed to a three-year partnership deal. Under the deal, EA Sports will be the “official video game partner” of FC Barcelona. The club will be getting exclusive features in the upcoming FIFA 14.

    EA revealed that it has taken 3D head scans of 17 FC Barcelona players, including Xavi Hernandez, Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fàbregas, Dani Alves, and Andrés Iniesta. The athletes will have these scans incorporated into their digital versions in FIFA 14. In addition, Barcelona’s home pitch, Camp Nou, will be a “featured stadium” in the video game.

    Barcelona star Lionel Messi has already been announced as the global cover athlete for FIFA 14. His role in FIFA 14 marketing will now expand to other advertising and social media “activities.”

    “Joining a world class football club like Barcelona as an official club partner is a fantastic opportunity for EA Sports and our fans,” said Matt Bilbey, SVP at EA Sports. “We will create a deeper connection with their passionate, global fan base, and use our games as a platform to engage supporters all around the world for years to come.”

    EA and Barcelona also announced that a “range of interactive activities” for fans will result from the new deal. This includes a mobile gaming trailer for Barcelona fans at some home games. A FIFA 14 tournament between Barcelona squad members has also been announced for later this year.

  • Gareth Bale Chosen For Cover Of FIFA 14 UK

    On this year’s cover of EA’s FIFA 14, Lionel Messi is the feature athlete. However, instead of just featuring one athlete, EA is putting twosoccer players on the FIFA cover: the aforementioned Messi and one standing behind him. These cover vary region to region, and for those in the United States who will be buying FIFA 14, their cover will feature Mexico/Manchester United forward, Javier “Chicharito“ Hernandez. Instead of revealing all the covers at once, however, EA employed a staggered approach, which brings us to the latest reveal.

    In their latest post, EA announced that Gareth Bale of the Tottenham Hotspur will be joining Messi on the cover of FIFA 14 that will be available for consumers in the UK, Ireland, and the Middle East. The cover in question:

    FIFA 14 UK

    As EA points out, Bale’s credentials are incredibly solid, “The two-time PFA Player of the Year is one of the Barclays Premier League’s most accomplished talents and widely regarded as one of the best players in the world.” There’s also a preview video that features some of the motion-capture moments that went into the character creation:

    FIFA 14 will be released in the United States on September 24, however, the UK version featuring the Gareth Bale cover won’t be released until the 27th. It will be available on the PS3 and the Xbox 360.

    (Lead image courtesy of Gareth Bale’s Twitter)

  • Javier Hernandez to be on FIFA 14 Covers in North America

    EA Sports has announced that is has signed Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez to a multi-year endorsement contract. As part of the new contract, Hernandez will be featured on the cover of the upcoming FIFA 14 in Mexico and on one of two different covers in the United States version of the game. Hernandez will appear alongside Lionel Messi, who had already been announced as the main cover athlete for the game.

    “For me it’s a real honor to have been selected to appear on the cover of FIFA 14, first of all because I declare myself a big fan of this game, and second because I’m looking forward to sharing my passion for football and EA Sports’ FIFA 14 with fans all over the world,” said Hernandez.

    The FIFA 14 NA cover

    The 25-year-old Hernandez is a forward for Premiere League team Manchester United. He is also a member of the Mexican national team, for which he is currently the third-highest goalscorer of all-time. EA Sports has stated that Hernandez will be come an “ambassador” for EA Sports and called him “the cornerstone” of its marketing efforts in the Mexico and North America.

    “We have long admired the flair and passion Chicharito brings to the sport,” said David Rutter, executive producer of FIFA 14. “With Hernandez on our team we have Mexico’s best and most exciting player to help EA Sports make a deeper connection with our fans.”