New FIFA will stun consumers

FIFA 12 will revolutionise the franchise and stun fans, says the man behind the series.

The latest game in the award-winning, best-selling football franchise was shown to the press last week. That’s earlier than usual because EA believes it has something special this time, says producer David Rutter. This year’s new features include a collision physics engine, an overhaul of the defence mechanics and precision dribbling.

We are lucky that the quality of the series is such that we could go, right, what do we need to do to take it to the next level?” Rutter told MCV.

The gameplay innovations are part and parcel of that. Having a real-time physics engine in FIFA is a significant step forward. Precision dribbling and tactical defending has totally changed the way the game plays. Which is the reason we are being quite audacious in the bold claim of revolutionising FIFA.

We are rarely massively happy with what we’ve produced. But the fact we are showing the game in May, which we never do, has come about because we think we have quite a special year ahead.”

A major success for FIFA in recent years has been in digital. DLC for FIFA 09 generated $15m for EA, while FIFA 11 has already made $46m digitally.

Rutter admits more digital, online and social elements will make their way into FIFA 12, but doesn’t think this spells the end of packaged goods.

We’ve sold something like 11m copies of FIFA 11. And so I don’t think the packaged goods business is going away anytime soon,” he said.

But we are firm believers in delivering big, social engagement in a way that people are going to enjoy. Throughout the year you are going to hear more about game modes online than everything else we have got planned. It is an amazing package that is going to stun people.”