FIFA taking it to the street

First came NBA Street, EA Sports Big's arcade-style game that put professional basketballers on street courts. That was followed up by NFL Street, which had pro football players tackling each other in muddy fields far from major stadiums.

Given the success of both franchises, it was just a matter of time until another EA Sports franchise got the "street" treatment. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't Tiger Woods PGA Tour, but rather FIFA Soccer that EA Sports Big selected for the rough-and-ready treatment.

Set for release next year for the GameCube, Xbox, and PlayStation 2, FIFA Street will be developed by a new team at EA Canada, which also creates the regular FIFA Soccer games. It will feature leading international soccer players in either four-on-four matchups or one-on-one encounters in worldwide locales. Through repeated victories, players will build street cred and create their own team.

"FIFA Street is a highly anticipated combination of arcade action blended with the culture of freestyle street soccer," said senior producer Wil Mozell. "By removing the rules from the simulation soccer experience, FIFA Street exposes the heart of the world's beautiful game, on-the-ball flare, and individual style."