FIFA 09 PC Hands-on

By Guy Cocker, GameSpot UKPosted Jul 10, 2008 4:24 am PT

EA Sports is making some genuinely bold moves with FIFA 09 on the PC. We grabbed a keyboard--and mouse!--to check out the improvements first-hand.

Although FIFA updates can often bring a feeling of deja vu, the development team on this year's PC version are doing some genuinely interesting things. Aside from the usual tweaks to animation and AI systems, they've included a new keyboard-and-mouse control system, a new interface with Web 2.0-like widgets, and a new engine that will make the game visually on par with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. We were lucky enough to play the game at EA's UK headquarters, and we were impressed with how it's all shaping up.

Shared assets mean that the PC version now looks much closer to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.

First up, the controls. The Wii version of Pro Evolution Soccer pioneered the cursor-based control system, and although FIFA 09 borrows heavily from Konami's idea, the mouse feels more precise than the Wii Remote. The idea's basically the same: You can make players move around using the standard W, A, S, and D keys, but you control passes and tackles using the mouse. An onscreen cursor helps you point to where you want to pass, while the computer figures out how to get the ball there. For example, if you left-click on a player on the opposite side of the pitch, your player will automatically perform a cross to get the ball there. Likewise, if you click in front of a player, you'll perform a through-ball, and the recipient will automatically run to get there. You can also use the mouse wheel to tell players to make a run into space, and pressing the space bar makes the player with the ball step up his pace. You can still use a joypad, but the mouse-and-keyboard scheme is highly intuitive, and we managed to score a goal within the first half of a game.

The new widget system may also have been taken from elsewhere, but it suits the FIFA front end perfectly. Assuming that you're online, FIFA 09 will pull in football-related info from the Internet and display it in the game. The main menu is dominated by five of these widgets, presenting information on your favourite team, your team's upcoming games, and a detailed history of your FIFA 09 activity. The data from ESPN covers most major football teams and nations, and you'll be able to see live updates on your favourite teams as well as their real-world upcoming fixtures and table positions. The widgets can be moved around and collapsed as you like, and anyone who's familiar with Web sites such as iGoogle and Netvibes should feel right at home.

Talking to the PC development team, it's clear that they weren't happy with the series in terms of visual fidelity. With high-end PCs superseding the power of modern consoles, they really wanted to offer PC gamers something that could rival the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. That meant using the same player assets and animation as the console versions, in addition to adding graphical effects such as shimmering 3D grass. The game looked great on the high-end PCs that we were playing on, but the team also assures us that the technology is still scalable and that the game will work on a wide range of PC specs.

There will be four brand-new tricks to perform in FIFA 09: two standing, and two running.

The other changes are mostly behind the scenes and will be noticed only by players of the previous games. More than 350 new animations have been added, mostly to improve the collision system, which will now let Drogba come out on top in a battle with a smaller player such as Owen. There are also four new skill moves, two of which are performed standing, whereas the other two are used when running. Your players are likewise much more efficient at shielding the ball, and you can even push over players if you want to gamble a run-in with the referee. Finally, there are improvements to the goalkeeper, who can punch the ball in new ways, fake throws, and get up quicker than before. None of these improvements seemed to stop Liverpool's keeper Reina from dropping a simple shot when we were playing the game, but with the game still at alpha stage, there's plenty of time for bugs to be ironed out.

FIFA 09 on the PC is looking great, and it's encouraging to see the new mouse control system in action. Our only disappointment is the lack of 10-player online support, which is being included in the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. For the time being, the PC version is looking polished, and we're promised another look at this year's Leipzig Games Convention. We'll bring you more in the run-up to the game's expected September release.

37 Comments

  • klinsi

    Posted Oct 17, 2008 6:30 pm PT

    Ok.. already played the game but UNFORTUNATELY... very disappointed with :
    1. Very unfair referee as he judge the match so unfairly by letting the CPU downed our player without any penalty!
    2. Bad tech mechanic as if your player get red card then he will be missed in ANY GAME not by where he get the RC(u get in league then u will miss it in ANY GAME by its in cup or UCL), what a dumb...
    3. Bad CPU... there is still no differentiate in CPU skill... CPU with player like Dinho play absolutely as same as CPU with a player named Dejagah
    4. AI for GK is still dumb... u can scored so so many goal EASILY, especially CPU too
    5. Bad glory moment... there is no celebration for winning a cup or else, entry animation is still same
    6. Management mode is too unfriendly & cumbersome
    7. Where is the license for Dutch or Polish ?

  • Rencom

    Posted Oct 4, 2008 12:22 pm PT

    Well, I already played FIFA 09 and can only say that it is amazing. New moves, better cammera movement and better control by gamepad. I enjoyed it every second i played

  • raynentautako

    Posted Sep 19, 2008 2:19 am PT

    i've been playing W11, PES and FIFA. For quick action and respons, PES is dependable although players looks like skiing on the grass while playing. FIFA is the best for almost every aspects.

  • btolga3473

    Posted Sep 14, 2008 6:36 am PT

    I have been playing FIFA series from 1995 till I tried PES in 2002. Every year EA announces a brandly new FIFA i take a quick journey through all these years and say myself 'at least i have to give it a shot' then as always like this demo version proves me why I'm not playing fifa. For me there is no AI system in this game, this ain't soccer. Even PES 7 is far more better than this gameplay. The soccer is not only about marketing. I don't really care if the player I play with has the original amblem on his shoulder whether not, a soccer game should enjoy me. I'm sorry for the guys who enjoys the game if it enjoys you so don't listen to me. I hope PES 09 will be out with some more licences.

  • foever86

    Posted Sep 13, 2008 7:37 pm PT

    Well, ks_22, I understand your frustration...EA has been pulling this crap for so many years, and it's not even funny...but I still give a lot of credit to FIFA 09 developers for at least trying hard and putting efforts....If you have played NHL series like I have, you will know how good FIFA series is.....

  • ks_22

    Posted Sep 13, 2008 12:34 pm PT

    ks_22 Posted Sep 12, 2008 9:18 pm GMT What a Waste of time EA took the piss, the game is s@#t it the same as last year not next gen at all. they said it was closer to the ps3/360 version which is bulls@#t it closer the original xbox version, i dont know why EA wasted time releasing this because its rubbish nothing has changed. games are better on the pc like assasins creed, mass effect, pes 2008 just to name a few. I don't know why EA do not follow the example these games because they are better graphically on the pc and the gameplay hardly changes or in some cases its better on the pc. Do not watse your time on this if you played fifa 08(which i did not only the demo for about 5mins) this is not much differenence yes a graphic upgrade but still nowhere near the console versions.

    very disappointed with i thought this was going to be different but i was wrong, i still cant believe that EA will still try pull this stunt in 2008 knowing the level of games out there and they will try give the pc players some polished xbox (original) game.

    looks like pes again for me, if you dont believe me download the demo and find out major disappointment.

  • strider_ATI

    Posted Sep 13, 2008 6:03 am PT

    i am not worried about the new controls....as long as i'll be able to use my x-box 360 controller on my PC. Cant wait to buy this game!

  • a_tiger101

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 5:34 am PT

    The new controls look disgusting .. I hope its optional

  • neerajkumar_4

    Posted Sep 7, 2008 9:35 pm PT

    thats interesting stuff....

  • olavinto

    Posted Sep 3, 2008 3:23 pm PT

    So some real updates there this time. It might even be worth the money this year. I'm not sure that it sounds that great when they say "on par with modern consoles". A real gaming PC can do much better than that...

  • greatbigmouth

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 1:56 pm PT

    Looks very promising . I've been a fan of the FIFA series since 1999. Played them all, this looks by far the greatest.

  • Khoo1992

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 6:36 am PT

    on par with PS3 and 360? I will check it out!

  • ameriknu84

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 3:13 am PT

    OMG, since FIFA 99 (yet the best fifa game ever) until FIFA 2008 we used the arrows for control and W A S D for passes, shots and others. And now we will use WASD for control and mouse for passing? That will be something!

  • rocko220_basic

    Posted Jul 25, 2008 6:27 am PT

    Most mouses have 5 buttons....one of them will curve, or maybe the wheel.

  • sergelen

    Posted Jul 24, 2008 2:55 am PT

    I liked FIFA 07 control. Shooting from far, curving ball was so handy. I don't get how I'm gonna curve my ball with my mouse with this new control.

  • mjstokes85

    Posted Jul 15, 2008 2:26 am PT

    Graphics look ace, i just hope they don't mess up the online part of the game like the past 2 years. The game also needs to be more realistic. Movement in the box on corners and free kicks instead of people just standing there. Central defends coming up for corners and free kicks and more influence from the ref in games.

  • Assassin0757

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 10:06 pm PT

    Does the game play feel and play as crisp and realistic as in pes08?
    i think pes08 has a more realistic feel than fifa08.

  • Sqnner

    Posted Jul 12, 2008 9:02 am PT

    Nice. Eventually, EA has realized their ignorance to PC gamers? Well, I'm still waiting...

  • Ash_rulerz

    Posted Jul 11, 2008 5:34 am PT

    i've been playing fifa 07 for a long time and on legendary mode and i still win all the matches. make it , if not harder, more challenging.

  • DukeNukeForever

    Posted Jul 11, 2008 2:03 am PT

    This just makes me laugh - I'll tell you why - If FIFA was the only football game on the market then it would have just copied last years terrible Wii/PC version (rubbish controls) and slapped on some new features ect. But because EA faces competition from Konami - it is Konami who are innovating the games - hence Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 on Wii having fantastic new controls and more importantly actually being original. Now that EA have realised how the point & click system works - they say "OH, DUDE - THIS CAN TOTALLY WORK ON PC BECAUSE YOU CAN POINT AND CLICK ON YOUR PC DUDE" Hence the EA copying Konami cycle goes on. & btw - Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 on PS3/360 wasn't brilliant - but FIFA 08 on the next gen platforms seems to be getting more and more similar to the Pro Evo games.

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