The Rise and Fall of FIFA Soccer

Guest Blogger: OG Money P @Philipkelly29

From pixels to perfection - FIFA Soccers' 30 year history with EA Games is ending

Back in 2022, a shock announcement made it's way to the ears and eyes of millions of FIFA Soccer players: EA Sports would lose the license to their immensely popular video game franchise FIFA, ending a  thirty year reign with Fifa 23 but will then be called EA Sports FC. How did they get here? To understand this let us look where they started.

FIFA Soccer from EA Games is an incredibly popular soccer video game that offers a realistic experience of the sport. Players can customize their teams and compete in tournaments and leagues to become the top player. The game features detailed graphics, realistic ball physics, and a variety of game modes for single-player or multiplayer gaming. On top of that, players can also participate in online matches against other gamers from around the world. FIFA Soccer from EA Games is a must-have title for any soccer fan.

Soccer games aren’t new. When EA Sports launched on the 15th of December 1993 there were already a slew of soccer titles on across pc and consoles, Amiga had Microprose soccer and sensible soccer, while Super Nintendo had Super Soccer and Sensible Soccer to name but a few. In this era, fans had the chance to see their teams represented as close to the real sport as possible, being able to set up player line ups and tactics provided some depth to what could seem as too simple a genre to provide a fanbase. Even in this early stage of gaming, innovation created competition: Sensible Soccer had personalisation options, it didn’t take itself too seriously though. Alongside actual football teams, players could have fun with fictional teams like Fish FC where you would have cod and haddock as your strikers. As kids playing this for the first time it was very funny and at the time a top-down view the gameplay was tricky to begin with but if you persevered with it became easier to play, score and win! And being able to gain couch co-op bragging rights at your friends' houses. The Striker Video game immediately responded with better graphics and an indoor soccer tournament sales of this title provoked FIFA to include indoor football in FIFA 97.

FIFA Games have been with us for 30 years

FIFA International until FIFA 97 were arguably the most popular titles during this time innovation in graphics and tweaks in the gameplay garnered its fan base which was to see them through to the current day, as transfer fees increased to crazy levels the best players of the year would be dominating cover art which carries on today. Electronic Arts seemed to have wanted to maximize revenue streams as their titles in recent times include microtransactions whether upgrading your blaster in the star wars franchise of games you can now choose your ultimate team. In 2022 EA made 3.91 billion dollars in microtransactions. A former CEO at EA, John Riccitiello, once said game devs who avoid including microtransactions are f****ng idiots! What are your thoughts on this?

The UK Government asked for evidence that loot box style microtransactions create the same dangers as gambling which could result in legislation regulating games or even banning them from region distribution.
In my opinion, EA got so used to striving for innovation it eventually got greedy about monetising its fan base, some gamers are advocating for a higher price upfront for game titles with no microtransactions it seems this has been usurped by dlc or season passes.

​When you walk past a clearance bin guffawing at a sealed FIFA 97 for 99p, I say pick it up and sit on it for ten years, you’ll thank me later.  
 
Fifa wasn’t a victim of its success they were a victim of their greed. This has been retro correspondent OG money P for Team 24.

​Guest Blogger: OG Money P @ Philipkelly29

CLICK to ENTER The Lady Lounge