Do the developers of videogames (specifically soccer) ever solicit input from gamers about their products? I ask because it just occurred to me that the guys at EA could have done much better with their FIFA series by simply checking soccer sites like this one to find out how a good, realistic game should play. It's becoming obvious that they don't know, and it appears that they are currently using the trial and error method of development rather than learning from WE. On the same platform, these games should be indistinguishable from one another. When you think about the technology available to today's developers, it seems unimaginable that any of these games (FIFA, WE6, WTS) would be significantly different from one another- football is football, and so one would think the gameplay wouldn't vary so much. The licensing issues are, of course, another matter, but you'd think every game would have x number of national teams, enough club teams with enough variety to satisfy any gamer regardless of his location, and the best gameplay available. WE6 gameplay, FIFA graphics, sound and club selection (with African, Mexican and South American clubs/leagues added- this is a major omission, regardless of whether people in those regions buy the product or not- they're part of the Game). No need for licensing if they can't get it- just give me teams (fake, if necessary) from all over the world, not just MLS, Asia and Europe with a few others thrown in. As it is, gamers have to choose between gameplay and graphics/club variety. What gives?
Sensible World Of Soccer, SWOS! Before swos there was notihing, after swos there is nothing. The world is swos.
Auriaprottu, there is a soccer gaming site with a forum (I forget the URL) and the EA sports guy answered some questions there. One person asked why EA never made dummying the ball an option and the EA rep said there wasn't enough time to put in all the things they wanted to do. Typical lame reply in my opinion. How come Konami has the time but EA sports, the biggest sports software company in the world, doesn't have time to make a more realistic game? FIFA 2003 is an improvement, and I believe they have been listening to people like us....but I still don't think the game is worth $50. I still think they need to tweak the physics of the ball even more and re-program the AI to play more like real football.
it was a fun game for the amiga? with an overhead view. It was very simplistic. It's not as good as today's games though. SWOS came out in what, 1992?
Sports Interactive! Although not an action football game like FIFA or Winning Eleven, the makers of Championship Manager series of soccer management games, is notorious for listening to their customers and interacting with them. Visit www.sigames.com and go to the community foroums, you'll see lots of posts and information from various members of the team. Phillip
The EA rep does indeed sound like he's full of sh!t. If the WE guys can develop gameplay, the EA guys can do the same. I wonder if anyone's had the 'nads to just ask, "Why don't you pick up a copy of WE and imitate it to the legal limit?" Developers must listen to someone; who are they getting their advice from? I hope it isn't a bunch of teenagers who want 8-7 scores telling EA what a football sim should be. It's clear that none of these EA guys ever played, so they're getting info from somewhere.
Re: Sports Interactive! Thanks. My real interest is the action games, but I'm going to get a management game this year.
soccergamesonline.com and soccergaming.com, are both good soccer video game sites. I can't wait 'til March 1st when World Soccer Winning Eleven 6 will be released! I've been playing the Japanese version which has far superior gameplay to EA soccer games. The lack of full leagues suck but the gameplay makes up for it.