Great episodes of FIFA

You are welcome to watch what EA Sports haven't given to Fifa 09 players on PC. Here we have, as they say, the 10 best FIFA 09 goals uploaded by gamers to official site of the game.




You can explore more here or find some great videos from last year here.
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FIFA 09 still shakes only Europe

What are the best-selling games in America, Japan, and Europe (UK, France, Germany) this week? And where is the FIFA 09 place in tops, according to videogamesblogger.com?The most obvious conclusion: the majority of game lovers live in Europe..

Nintendo Wii
North America: 1. Wii Fit (Nintendo), 2. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo), 3. Wii Play (Nintendo), 4. Wii Music (Nintendo), 5. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (LucasArts).

Japan: 1. Shape Boxing: Wii Enjoy Diet! (Rocket Company), 2. Wii Fit (Nintendo), 3. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo), 4. Wii Music (Nintendo), 5. Wii Sports (Nintendo).

Europe: 1. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo), 2. Wii Play (Nintendo), 3. Wii Fit (Nintendo), 4. Carnival: Fun Fair Games (2K Games), 5. FIFA 09 All-Play (Electronic Arts).

Xbox 360
North America: 1. Gears of War 2 (Microsoft), 2. Gears of War 2 Limited Edition (Microsoft), 3. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (LucasArts), 4. Fallout 3 (Bethesda), 5 Fable II (Microsoft).

Japan: 1. Grand Theft Auto IV (Capcom), 2. Tales of Vesperia (Namco), 3. Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation - Platinum Collection (Namco), 4. Assassin’s Creed - Platinum Collection (Ubisoft), 5. The Idolm@ster - Platinum Collection (Namco).

Europe: 1. Gears of War 2 (Microsoft), 2. FIFA 09 (Electronic Arts), 3. Fable II (Microsoft), 4. Gears Of War 2 Limited Collectors Edition (Microsoft), 5. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar).

PlayStation 3
North America: 1. Resistance 2 (Sony), 2. LittleBigPlanet (Sony), 3. Resistance: Fall Of Man (Sony), 4. Fallout 3 (Bethesda), 5.Metal Gear Solid 4 : Guns of the Patriots (Konami).

Japan: 1. Grand Theft Auto IV (Capcom), 2. LittleBigPlanet (Sony), 3. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Special Edition (Konami), 4. Tears to Tiara: Kakan no Daichi - Limited Edition (Aqua Plus), 5. Valkyria Chronicles (Sega).

Europe: 1. FIFA 09 (Electronic Arts), 2. LittleBigPlanet (Sony), 3. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar), 4. Fallout 3 (Bethesda), 5. James Bond 007: Quantum of Solace (Activision).

PlayStation 2
North America: 1. Jak 3 (Sony), 2. Lego Batman (Warner Bros.), 3. Rock Band Special Edition (MTV Games), 4. Madden NFL 09 (Electronic Arts), 5. Guitar Hero: World Tour (Activision).

Japan: 1. Devil Summoner: Raido Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon - Plus Edition (Atlus), 2. Tales of the Abyss - Best of Collection (Namco), 3. Wrestling Angels: Survivor 2 - Special Edition (First Try), 4. Devil Summoner: Raido Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon (Atlus), 5. Hokuouki (Idea Factory).

Europe: 1. FIFA 09 (Electronic Arts), 2. Lego Batman: The Videogame (Warner Bros.), 3. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (Konami), 4. WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 (THQ), 5. SingStar Singalong with Disney (Sony).

PC
North America: 1. Fallout 3 (Bethesda), 2. Spore (Electronic Arts), 3. Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa (NCsoft), 4. World of Warcraft Battlechest (Blizzard), 5. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (Electronic Arts).

Japan: 1. Chaos;Head (Nitro Plus), 2. Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu (Bandai Namco), 3. Clannad: Full Voice (Key), 4. Final Fantasy XI: The Vana’diel Collection (Square Enix), 5. Monster Hunter Frontier Online Season 3.0 Premium (E Frontier).

Europe: 1. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (Electronic Arts), 2. Fallout 3 (Bethesda), 3.Far Cry 2 (Ubisoft), 4. Spore (Electronic Arts), 5. The Sims 2: Apartment Life Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts).

Nintendo DS
North America: 1. Mario Kart DS (Nintendo), 2. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo), 3. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! (Nintendo), 4. Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir (Nintendo), 5. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day! (Nintendo).

Japan: 1. Kirby Super Star Ultra (Nintendo), 2. Wagamama Fashion: Girls Mode (Nintendo), 3. Pokemon Platinum (Nintendo), 4. Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo), 5. Avalon Code - includes original drama CD & materials set (Marvelous).

Europe: 1. Professor Layton and The Curious Village (Nintendo), 2. Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? (Nintendo), 3. More Brain Training (Nintendo), 4. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo), 5. Cooking Guide: Can’t Decide What To Eat? (Nintendo).

PlayStation Portable
North America: 1. Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow (Sony), 2. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (Rockstar), 3. LEGO Batman (Warner Bros.), 4. Star Ocean: First Departure (Square Enix), 5. God of War: Chains of Olympus (Sony).

Japan: 1. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G - Best of Collection (Capcom), 2. Don’t Be So Bold Just Because You Are Heroes Part 2 (Sony), 3. Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth (Square Enix), 4. Mega Man Powered Up - Best Price! (Capcom), 5. Maplus Portable Navi 2 (Edia).

Europe: 1. FIFA 09 (Electronic Arts), 2. Lego Batman: The Videogame (Warner Bros.), 3. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (Konami), 4. God of War: Chains of Olympus (Sony), 5. The Simpsons (Electronic Arts).

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FIFA 09 or PES 2009?

Which to buy: Pro Evolution soccer 2009 or FIFA Soccer 09? Maybe You should have them both, maybe none of them...Read here and decide Yourself.
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FIFA 09 release dates

Are You waiting? FIFA 09 will be release in

*Australia on October 2, 2008
*Europe on October 3, 2008
*North America on October 14, 2008

Available platforms: PC, Mobile, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox.

Download FIFA 09 demo here.
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FIFA 09 is on it's way

FIFA 09 is on it's way to our hearts. And EA is teasing us by telling one secret by another about this new creature. This time they unveils new Adidas Live Season for FIFA 09 that will dynamically update player form in-game to mirror real world performance.

According to official site, a global network of football scouts will monitor every player throughout the season to supply accurate team data each week. FIFA 09 demo available world wide on September 11th.

Electronic Arts today announced a new premium service for EA SPORTS™ FIFA 09 called adidas Live Season that will redefine the football videogame experience by dynamically updating player form in-game on a weekly basis so that player attributes mirror real-world performances.

FIFA 09 will now feel and play differently throughout the entire 2008-2009 season matching the weekly rhythm of football. The new service will be available for Barclay’s Premier League, La Liga BBVA, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A and Mexican Primera Division on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and PC.

FIFA 09 is now powered with dynamic real-world data and analytics, lifting the game to new heights of authenticity for football fans and gamers connected online. The adidas Live Season service is based on how real players performed in the most recent real-world matches. Gameplay will change dynamically as the performance of players and football teams in the real world experience the highs and lows during their campaigns.

Andrew Wilson, Vice President & Executive Producer for the FIFA 09 had this to say:
“This is an ambitious and completely unique feature that has never been attempted before for football videogames. The game will feel and play differently each week. With adidas Live Season if Ronaldinho has a great match on the weekend you’ll feel the difference when you pick up the controller as his in-game attributes increase.”

A global network of football scouts will monitor every player in the adidas Live Season leagues throughout the season to supply accurate and in-depth player and team data each week. Player attributes will be impacted and player performance will change dynamically. The adidas Live Season service is downloaded into FIFA 09 each week and will run from the launch of the game to the end of the 2008-2009 season.

Gamers with Xbox Live or PSN subscriptions will have access to one league of their choice for a free trial from the moment they activate it to the end of the 2008-2009 season.

A FIFA 09 demo will be available for download on September 11 worldwide on the PLAYSTATION®Network and Xbox LIVE™.
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UEFA EURO 2008: new videogame for European Championship and its greatness

EA traditionally decided to ease waiting for European Championship. In a few days
the official and exclusive licensed videogame of UEFA EURO 2008™ will be released. You can practice on demo already.

UEFA EURO 2008™ features stunning visual representations of the world's best players, playing in a more accessible, faster-paced and responsive version of the market-leading EA SPORTS™ soccer engine, and all of the teams and official stadiums that will be part of UEFA EURO 2008™. Take on the challenge of leading one of over 50 European national teams to glory as UEFA EURO 2008 recreates all of the drama and excitement of the official tournament in Austria and Switzerland, invites EA. Play as your favorite country from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of the championship tournament.

Before You read more, please, take a look at the trailer.



A new game mode called Captain Your Country enables gamers to customize them on the pitch and wear the shirt of their national team. Work through eight status levels to earn the captaincy of your team and then lead your country into battle for championship glory against your rivals. Go online in Battle of the Nations to earn status points for yourself and your country in a competition for global supremacy. Go for the biggest upsets to earn the most points and then watch you and your country move up the leader boards. Face the challenge and pressure of competing in the championship rounds in the EURO Online Knockout Draw to test your skills against the world's best.

UEFA EURO 2008 captures the look and feel of the journey from qualification to the finals with rain and mud dynamics that impact playing conditions, real-time player ratings that change based on player performance, and a penalty kick mode that re-creates the elation and agony of a penalty shoot-out as if you were on the pitch. Experience the thrill of scoring the goal that sends your country through to the next round and then choose how to celebrate it with all-new interactive user-controlled celebrations.

Captain your country, play alongside your heroes, and inspire them to championship glory in the official videogame of UEFA EURO 2008™.

Key Features

* Win UEFA EURO 2008 ™ - Compete as one of 52 teams from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland.

* Captain Your Country - Play as yourself on the same team with up to three friends, all playing individual positions on the pitch. Compete collaboratively to win games but compete against each other for the captaincy. Develop your player through eight status levels to earn the captaincy of your country and the right to lead your team.

* Create Yourself - Play alongside your heroes by customizing yourself in game. Place your name on your jersey, then earn experience points to enhance your skills and reputation.

* Battle of the Nations - Represent your country online against your rivals around the world to win global supremacy. Earn individual and team points. Think your nation is the best? Now you can prove it!

* EURO Online Knockout Draw- Battle gamers from other nations online in 16-team single elimination tournaments to gain points for your nation.

* Enhanced Penalty Kicks -- Experience the challenge of a penalty shoot-out as if you were on the pitch. Master your nerves to score the goal that puts your team in the UEFA EURO 2008™ final.

* Interactive Celebrations - Score a goal and then control your player's movements and actions to celebrate the way you want to.

* Dynamic Rain and Mud - Winter weather from across Europe is authentically re-created to simulate real-world playing conditions. Experience driving rain that creates sloppy, muddy pitches which dramatically impacts passing and player performance.

* Home & Away Match Strategy- CPU mimics international soccer by creating strategic, defensive formations for away teams intent on playing for a draw.

* Authentic Stadiums - Compete in all 8 official stadiums of UEFA EURO 2008™.

* Team Managers - Watch reactions from team managers on the sideline as they shout encouragement or become disappointed in your team's performance.

* EA SPORTS Soccer Engine - An evolution of the market leading EA SPORTS soccer engine with enhanced goalkeeper AI, collisions, and trapping that make this the best-playing EA SPORTS soccer game.

* Story of Qualifying - Play the qualifying campaign and step up at key defining moments to lead your country to Europe's biggest prize. Complete team and individual tasks.

* Dynamic Player Ratings - Real-time player ratings change based on actual player performance, simulating the momentum swings of a real season.
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Fifa 09 torrent download

It's funny they already boast they provide full version of FIFA 09 torrent donwloads. Go on guys!
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Players' faces in FIFA 09

These ones will be the official FIFA 09 Players' faces, they say.


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FIFA 09 - Next generation hope

“We have the first official information of FIFA 09," fifa2008.wordpress.com quotes FIFA4Fans.com.

"In a games 2008 preview the German games magazine GameStar (02/2008) has written a small text about the new EA Sports games:


In 2008 there will be new versions of the big EA-Sports series again, that means NBA Live 09, Madden NFL 09, FIFA 09 & Co. There aren’t available lots of details up to now, but the developpers have announced that the PC versions will get the technic of the much more beautiful console versions - finally! The original licences of the leagues will be included again, too. With other words: FIFA 09 will use the NextGen technic on the PC, too!
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A few tips about saving replies

Today I'd like to share with You some tips about saving Your best episodes in FIFA'08:

1)Although the ability to export game's episodes in format which lets You to watch the clips on casual video players is great, this feature isn't perfect yet. The quality of the exported clips can be described only as semi-satisfying and it will be a compliment. However, You can improve the quality by going to MY FIFA - GAME SETTINGS - SYSTEM and adjusting the options there. Pay maximum attention to Output Video Resolution and Output Video Quality. Here we have my visual example way:

Both low


Both medium


Both high



Keep experimenting with these two and other options by Yourself, but have in mind that low quality doesn't recompense high resolution and vice versa:)

2)This one could look too simple but I should say that I lost some of my great moments just because I hadn't think of it. When saving, be sure that the end of Your episode is before the cursor in the saving bar - don't rewind it to the beginning of the episode. I'd saved a few of my first beautiful episodes in this style and when I wanted to watch them, I saw only the scene how my guys rejoice the goal. Only then I noticed that the most important thing is that blue line.

3)When You are watching Your recorded clips, You can choose the point of viewing. For example, if You want to see only how the goalkeeper behaves in the episodes above, You can focus only on him. You can save Your clips with different angle of viewing too - just select it before exporting.

4)And the last tip - once saved Your episodes don't boast and take part in the top FIFA'08 episodes contest:)


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More tips: player morale, match experience, young talents

Dear Z. Rishinho,

thank You for the great comment on the my tips for manager mode. Sorry that I didn't answer You in comments area but You've raised some points which are worth to be mentioned in a separate post.

One thing I learnt quickly was that investing in young players is great, especially for a side like AC Milan, who's pretty much OAP's, wrote Z. Rishinho.

I agree with You, but also want to emphasize that my experience shows to search new talents by scout is more useful in many cases. Those guys somehow have better abilities than those from Your's club academy.

Another interesting point you'd might want to talk about is match experience(which I understand), and how it relates to earning points/attributes (which I don't understand), suggests the commentator.

Match xp...So, as I understand, You know that the better the footballer play, the more xp points he gets in the ends. It also depends on the time spent on square. For example, a player had played three approximately normal matches and gained, for example, 10 points. Now You can bring him on the bench but he will still have those 10 points. Then, if You let him to play longer than just to run across the stadium, he will earn some more points. One day, after the whole this crusade, he will gain 100 xp points and his OVR will be heightened.

It is interesting that the OVR are risen altogether and here is my thoughts why. I think it depends on the player's position. Defender and forward can have the same OVR, but defender will be better in tackling, as well as forward will be better in dribbling.

The formula how different abilities sums the OVR, I guess, also depends on the player style - those icons with 10 numbered shirt, hands grabbing the ball. etc. For example, if a player is an attacking winger (an icon with running leg) who is very fast and have an amazing dribbling, perhaps at first these abilities will be heightened by xp points.

Maybe there are some more advantages with match experience in game modes like Co-op seasons but I don't play them (I've a few times already stated my opinion about playing with one footballer)

Also, what do you think is the best way to improve player morale?I've noticed changing the squad round, making so many substitutes isn't a good thing.Getting players into the team of the month? That's amazingly good.

Talking about this point I can't exclude the fact that attributes of some players (for example Sneijder) are heightened when they are taken from the positions where they got used to play (in Sneijder's case position - CM, normal rating 86) to others (Sneijer - for example in CAM his OVR is 90). However, these are only the numbers. Maybe they gain some temporary improvements but they lose the position where they fit the most.

p.s. I'm very happy that EA mistake with Alexandre Pato has helped You so much. On the other hand, I understand the creators: one scenario is they just didn't want to bother writing a programme for only one player, the other scenario - they just hadn't plan Ancelloti's human factor.

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The Last Gift of the Year

So today we have the last day of the year. Could there be any excuse if I didn't greet all of You? To be short, I just wanna send You all those classical regards and a few original ones. And here is my last gift this year.

Perhaps most of You have already seen or heard this song. But today Queen’s first new studio recording in ten years and Paul Rodgers’ first in 7 years, named "Say It's Not True," is officially out . Why Oueen, why here, You can ask. It is because of the "We Are the Champions".

‘Say It’s Not True’ comes as an enhanced CD single release carrying the full video shown at the December 1st 46664 Johannesburg concert. All royalties from world sales will be donated to Nelson Mandela’s AIDS cause, 46664. And that's the true spirit of giving gifts. And that's the true spirit of sports. Be happy: go in for sports and give gifts from the heart.

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FIFA 08 is still in gamers' hearts

Although almost three months from the first FIFA'08 release have passed, this game still sinks in high popularity. It is even still in some selling top-fives! And my poll which had got 129 Your votes, shows FIFA amuses most of You perfectly. 103 (79 %) of poll participants declared they "of course" still play this year version of FIFA. The second in popularity rank was an answer which said "I'm already waiting for FIFA'09". It gained 12 of Your voices (9%).

The army of FIFA lovers may widen cause 6 persons (4%) stated they were looking forward to buy their copies of the '08 (or maybe they'd like to find a copy under Christmas tree?).

8 voters, however, are unhappy with FIFA'08. 5 of them (3%) think it is boring and 3 (2%) do not like FIFA "as a race". (if You do not see clearly, click on the table)

What the conclusions could be drawn analyzing the results? First of all, of course here we have a little trick, cause if people come to the site about FIFA'08, they perhaps are acquainted with the game and have their own opinion about it. What is more, probably the majority of us search in the internet the things we like, not the things we hate.

On the other hand, almost the tenth of voters are already waiting for the next year version of FIFA, so there is a great possibility they are not satisfied with the game or it made them satisfied for a very short time. Therefore FIFA'09 creators should try to extend the term to keep gamers satisfied leastwise till Christmas.
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Managing small and poor club - Tips for manager mode (2)

Last time I tried to provide some tips for those who take rich and well-known clubs in manager mode of FIFA 08. Today I’d like to touch Cinderella growing up to Princess strategy - when You take a team from the last league and almost without budget and lead it to champion.

If You choose this way, Board of Directors will be rather calm and gentle, leastwise in the beginning. You will be asked to avoid fall to lower league (if You play in the very last league, a request probably will be to stay in the top half of the table or something like that), to win derby matches or to extend a contract with a team star (if the footballer from the semi-amateur club can be called this way).

However, Your aim presumably will be to bring Your club to the top. To set things clear, to the top in the supreme national league. Therefore You must improve not only Your gaming skills but management and administration of the club.

I don't want You to imagine me as a pure materialist, but the thing which is really essential when trying to climb this mountain is money. As a poor and unknown club, Your team won't have it. What are the solutions?

First of all, I should mention that even if everything went in the right way and You made Your club developing fast, Your budget wouldn't increase in the same tempo. I believe the mentality of sponsors in FIFA 08 (in FIFA 07 too) is programmed to estimate their proposals not for club results but for manager rating - manager prestige (a number near Your selected face in manager mode central)

Your budget can be increased by enlarging Your club's stadium (this action also needs money, but not so much in the beginning cause clubs from last leagues don't have big ones) and setting tickets price to high status. However, before making a decision go to the Office - Financial prediction and learn whether these actions will pay You back. I believe (but the only evidence is my own experience in playing FIFA'08) it depends even on the population of the town if more fans will come to the enlarged stadium. And it is proved that the the number of coming fans is tightly related to the fan support (those numbers and flag icon in the manager mode central). You should examine both fan support level and the numbers in Financial prediction before deciding whether it is useful to raise tickets price.

However, these operations have their restrictions. You cannot enlarge stadium to higher level than 10 (and it costs approximately 25 or 30 million, if I'm not wrong) and raise ticket price more than high.

Therefore the best solution for making money is the one I've already stated. Free agents market. There You can buy players for comparative low prices (cause You ought to pay only his salary) and then sell them to others clubs for their real market value and earn nice sums. It is more worthy than to send Your scout for searching new talents because as Your a club is undeveloped, a scout will have little rating and will be bring not very good footballers. However, scouting is also the way to get talents who will either good enough to play in Your team or expensive enough to sell them. I just want to highlight working with free agents is more efficient.

So You should upgrade negotiator who is strongly related with the success in the bargain with free agents. Upgrading and other staff is also highly welcome. Even if You don't notice the improvement in playing Your manager prestige will increase.

In the end, I also want to remind You don't be afraid of veterans or players with intermediate skills. As I have mentioned before, bear in mind that numbers and figures don’t show real situation even in videogames.

On the other hand, it is worth sometimes to examine Team management-Player growth. There You might find out that some of Your leaders have reached the peak of their skills and his numbers will drop in a few seasons. Then You will have to decide if it is worth to sell it and get younger player for the same or even less sum but with more talent and brighter future.

All in all, think like real businessman. Be active in buying and selling, comparing players and their contracts. Otherwise, do not forget that if You want some success the most important thing You should do is to football.

If You have got some more tips about the manager mode, You are highly welcome to share them in comments.


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Tips for manager mode (1)

I regularly notice that lots of people are searching for some advice about manager mode of the FIFA’08. I’ve posted a few ideas in my blog posts but now I want to shape some structure of this kind of tips and get as far as I know of this topic.

As it was mentioned here, there are different strategies of playing manager mode, but we can extinguish two most opposing ones:

1) When You take a team-Cinderella (from the last league and almost without budget) and grow it up to the Princess (champion of national league and cup and European tournaments leader).

2) When You take a well-known (perhaps yours favorite) club, buy a few your beloved players and struggle to survive pursuing everything the Board of Directors requires.

Of course, we can create a lot of in-between variants, but every strategy is the combination of those mentioned ones. Naturally, the situation can change if You get team-Cinderella and then bring it to the leaders. Every year the expectations of the Board grow and suddenly You will find Yourself trying to meet with heightened standards. But it’s obvious. Let’s better talk about some specific tips for those two “pure” strategies and then everyone will be able to take from the list the tip he or she needs.

Firstly, when You take a rich and very reputable club, be sure You will be able to reach high results immediately. The Board of the club normally doesn’t like to wait till You get familiar to the team and find optimal strategy and formation. If You lose a few matches in turn, Your season with the team could end at the very beginning. Therefore I highly recommend either to take lower difficulty level, or to take less ambitious club, or to summon up all Your skills.

By the way, here is one more tip for the start of playing with teams like Barcelona, Manchester United and so on. It maybe a little bit psychological but it works at least for me. I usually try not to change the formation or strategy of the team radically, no matter that my heart shouts me to pick Ronaldinho or Rooney right now. I do it step by step, because it seems Team Chemistry (those two gearwheels with percents) is very sensitive to that.

Despite the fact You are managing a rich club money still can be problem: You have best players, You want better ones; Board of Directors requires to sell or to buy someone; some contracts expire; etc. At the beginning You’ll be able to enlarge Your stadium (but this action also needs money) and set tickets price to high status. But these ways have their finishes and they usually appear soon enough.

Money is one of the reasons You must raise Your manager prestige (that number near Your face in the game), so attempt to win every match and meet Board’s objectives. Sometimes You’ll have to sell a few Your stars, but I know how it hurts. So I suggest You to look through the market, especially a free agents list. There You can buy players for comparative low prices (cause You ought to pay only his salary) and then sell them to others clubs for their real market value and earn nice sums.

Here is one more tip. Sometimes it is worth not to be too quick to get rid of players who are getting old and their abilities drop, especially defenders who doesn’t need as much speed as those in the front lines. Bear in mind that numbers and figures don’t show real situation even in videogames. Veterans have experience and the whole line (defenders, midfielders or forwards) is used to play and share position with them (Team Chemistry). What is more, think how often You realize whole of Your defenders potential. And finally, veterans demand lower salaries.

If You have got some more tips about the manager mode, You are highly welcome to share them in comments.

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A POLL: Are You still playing FIFA 08?

It's about two months since FIFA 08 was released in Europe and Australia and about one and a half since it appeared in USA.

Was it enough time for this game or it was not? Do You and Your friends still play it or You got fed up with it? Maybe You already look forward for FIFA 09? Or maybe You hadn't try to play this version yet? Finally, maybe You wouldn't play FIFA'08 even if Your life depended on that?

State Your opinion, answer in the poll on the top of the blog.
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Why we play FIFA?

Anonymous (perhaps a girl, I'd dare to guess) had commented one of my posts:

I don't get you guys - what is so special in that Fifa stuff??? My boyfriend keeps playing it constantly. I don't think it is interesting to spend ur spare time sitting in front of computer and playing imaginary matches. Do u guys feel like real football players then? Is it an attempt to make childish dreams come true or what?

The comment is angry enough, I should notice. However, it is very valuable because rises philosophical question why one plays FIFA. And offers some answers or, to say more accurately, gives one widely spread point of view towards sports simulation games.

Dear Anonymous, I can't claim You are absolutely wrong cause there is a vast diversity of FIFA gamers around the world and some of them in deed feel like real football players and others try to make childish dreams come true while playing. EA Sports even included Be a pro mode which is a way to make imaginary football player carrier.

However, I want to give a wider context about playing the game.

First of all, a lot of people like football, goes to watch matches to stadiums or play in Sunday leagues.



But it doesn't mean all of them wants to be real footballers. It's just their hobby, their way of spending leisure time. Those who want to have alternative life go to Second life, not FIFA.



What is more, playing FIFA series is more similar to working as a coach or as a club manager, not a footballer. Except Be a pro, in other game modes gamer controls the whole team: outside the stadium he/she buys, sells and sets position for players, works on their contracts, administrates training calendar, etc.; inside the stadium he/she manages the whole team, sets strategy and so on. All in all, trying stay in Your point of view, dear Anonymous, we should say that playing FIFA should occupy those who had childish dreams to be football club managers or coaches. However, they should prefer game "Football manager" or "FIFA manager" then.

To go further, in my opinion, playing football simulators is just one more way of loving this sport. To feel it's majesty from other corner or from above. From a special kind of inside and outside to set things more clear (if they get clearer, of course).

So, being afraid of going too far, I am going to finish. Just want to mention one more personal feature of playing FIFA. Doing that means nothing but the relaxation for me sometimes. It's an area where I can just play, make those figures on a screen running, passing and shooting without any attempts to intervene in my mind, therefore I can be with my thoughts. However, to be honest, when I'm playing in this way, my team loses more games than wins:)
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New winners! Congratulations!

Finally , the second voting for FIFA'08 best episodes TOP3 has finished.



And here we have the winners....

3 place. Zhenia and his clip, which got the 4th number, now gets the third place and like those in higher places will participate in the next top.



2 place. 7th start position, 7 votes and Wepeeler with his "Goal of the Month October" gets the second place.



1 place.Florentherzog and his "Del Piero goal" won second time in turn! (One more time and will begin to believe it's the best goal scored in FIFA'08 ever...:)





The new contest will be announced soon and You can participate in it by sending Your clips or links to them to or pasting their links here in comments.
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Vote for the TOP till Monday

Let me remind You, that the voting for the FIFA 08 BEST EPISODES ends on Monday, so You still can vote here.

The voting is expired. Look for newer voting.

Three clips here are the winners of last top and we have a few new competitors. So, please vote now and let me remind You (once more) that You can participate in the contest by sending Your clips or links to them to or pasting their links here in comments.

Which three episodes are the best?
	1st
	2nd
	3rd
	4th
	5th
	6th
	7th
	8th
pollcode.com free polls

First three - winners form las week:

1)Florentherzog - Del Piero goal



2)Florentherzog - Nasri goal




3)Björn Olsson Rooney scores - difficult angle



Zhenia sent some clips by email

4)




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And two goals from Wepeeler

7)Goal of the Month October



8)Koorany's GotM October 2007 2nd Entry


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More than a month of playing. What can I say? (3) - Enchanced AI

More than a month has gone since I played FIFA'08 for the first time and the time has come to analyse whether some of my hopes and wishes were fulfilled or not.

Here I am again after a week of holidays. Let's analyze the improvement of Artificial Intelligence in FIFA'08 (if it was improved, of course).

Enhanced AI — New defensive and positioning logic requires greater tactical expertise to break down the opposition. New AI ensures players are in the right place at the right time. Player and team traits differentiate the stars, EA Sports claimed before releasing the game. And what shows the experience?

The AI had been improved, in fact. My wish of no guaranteed situations to score became true, at least I hadn't discovered them. In this FIFA version finally I am not able to get the ball with a side midfielder or forward and run straight to the end line and then turn square to the goal and then just beat the keeper, like in FIFA'07. I haven't even found some particular points from which one can score every time if he doesn't fail with the strength yet!

However, to say the truth, I'm a little bit afraid that didn't happen because I usually play on 3th or 4th level. "Where does this fear come from?" One can ask. And I'll answer. I played one match on Amateur level recently. And won 8-0 in first game. But this fact doesn't show that I'm a great FIFA'08 gamer (unfortunately for me). It was just because You can run straight, turn left or right in front of defenders a few times and then kick the boal. 50 percent at least that it will be a goal...

On the other hand, that trick with running straight to the end line succeeded almost every time in FIFA'07, no matter of the level...

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