I downloaded the demo for Fifa 10 on Thursday. I don’t play many video games, but when I do, I play them all the way through, and for many months. Along with Grand Theft Auto, the Fifa series is one of these games I commit a large percentage of my life to.
Therefore, I was very keen to download the demo of the game, which is set to be released in 3 weeks time. Not only do I get to see all the new features Fifa 10 has to offer, but I get to train myself on the new controls and game play – you could say the demo is like my pre-season friendlies.
So, here are my initial impressions…
PLAYER INTELLIGENCE
Taking crosses on older versions seemed to make it into the box more often than I would deem realistic. On Fifa 10, I noticed a lot of my crosses were intercepted with more intelligence from the opposition.
Players take quick free kicks, surprising the opposition – just like in real life. I like.
Another plus point that I noticed was that the stronger, quicker players were not able to tear straight through the defence, like a hot knife though butter. This has been a major problem in all versions of Fifa, and makes the game totally unrealistic. Hopefully this issue has been resolved in the finished product.
While playing against the computer, I noticed the opposition produce some absolutely lush, long passes. It was like playing David Beckham in his hayday. If only I could work out how to do these myself…
IT’S JUST LIKE WATCHING SKY SPORTS
The graphics have improved a lot. It is still obvious you’re playing a video game and not watching a Ford Super Sunday (or whatever Sky call it nowadays), but Electronic Arts are getting close and closer to reality with every annual edition.
WALCOTT IN DISGUISE?
The game plays quick, but not unrealistically and annoyingly so. If I have any criticism of the previous versions of Fifa, it would be that they’re too slow. Fifa 10 appears to flow a lot quicker and smoother.
Another observation, and I know it was just a demo, but I was amazed how fast the match loaded after selecting the teams. If the final release loads matches as fast, it will make a massive difference.
SCORING FOR FUN
One of the most frustrating issues with previous versions of Fifa was that I would always keep clean sheets, yet struggle to score goals. This is not the case with Fifa 10. While conceding goals, I am also able to score them. Sure, I have to work hard to get the ball in the onion bag, but when I get myself in a decent goal-scoring position, the keeper doesn’t pull of contestant and unrealistic, wonder saves like in older editions.
It must be stressed, I was only playing the demo. The final edition will be different. Luckily, if older versions are anything to go by, the final, polished version will be even better than the demo! Roll on Oct 2nd!
Steve McClaren. The wally with the brolly, watching over a bunch of headless chickens throw away their chance to take part in a major tournament.
Compare that to today. Fabio Capello, an experienced and dignified Italian, who has transformed the national side into potential world-beaters.
You will have no doubt noticed the change on both name and URL for this blog.
Why, after over five years, have I changed? No real reason, apart from wanting to make the blog more personal to me.
I registered the domain name Sparkster.net years ago, with no intentions of using it for anything special. When I occasionally played online games, my userID was ‘sparkster’ (from the old Sega Mega Drive game), so that’s where it came from.
I started casually blogging under the domain, so then it came to this.
As you can see, I’ve kept all my original blogs and layout, so besides the change in domain and site title, nothing has changed – you’ll just need to update your bookmarks, favourites, feeds, links, etc…
The first spider of the season was seen tonight.
Spotted on my stairs.
Half a tin of Raid took care of it.
Not nice.
Football is an expensive and time consuming hobby; especially when you attend both home and away games – there are times when your commitment is questioned.
This was the case on Saturday morning. After a long week at work, I was awoken early by my alarm. I was due at Twerton Park in under an hour, to make the long coach trip to Bishop’s Stortford (near Essex). For the first time in a long while, I couldn’t be bothered to go, but being a dedicated fan, heaved myself from under the warm duvet into the cold bedroom to get ready to leave.
I could have happily made myself a coffee and bacon roll, before sitting on the sofa and spending the morning listening to The Danny Baker Show and Fighting Talk on FiveLive; but I battled on and left my flat for my weekly pilgrimage to watch Bath City.
After yet another coach journey along the all too familiar M4 motorway, we arrived at the Woodspring Stadium. Unlike in Bath, it was a lovely summer’s day, and I was able to purchase a pint to drink outside by the pitch – a rare treat in this league. Besides being chased by a wasp and buying a rather unpleasant burger (a risk you have to take as a football fan), the day was going well.
Things got better still upon kickoff; City going 2-0 up early on. In typical Bath City fashion, things were never simple, and Stortford pulled one back to make it 2-1. This prompted Mike Yorke, the always pessimistic City supporter to inform me “We’re going to lose 4-2 now” – we’re doomed!
The second half was even better than the first. City struck early again, making it 3-1 and putting the game beyond reasonable doubt. The goal must have angered the locals, as some cockney wideboy who had drank one too many Panda Pops came staggering over behind the goal where the City fans were congregated. Luckily, he was very pleasant to us and had walked over to give his own goalkeeper a piece of his mind (and some good old-fashioned Essex abuse).
The insults hurled at the goalie didn’t do much to inspire confidence in the shot-stopper, who allowed Bath City to get a fourth goal, making it 4-1. By this stage, the Stortford fan had given up on his team and was celebrating with the jubilant travelling fans.
Stortford were awarded a penalty, which Charlie Sheringham, son of Teddy, kindly missed. City then wrapped up the game by netting a fifth.
One of the longest trips I will have to make this season, but I don’t regret making it for one minute, seeing as I probably won’t see such an emphatic win from City all season.
I was so pleased, I even treated myself to a celebratory coffee from the dodgy burger bar, for the journey home.
About Me
So you stumbled across my blog. No doubt after searching for something bizarre on Google. Before you hit that 'Back Button', why not stay and have a read for a few minutes?
If you are after a website which gives advice on how to hack an iPhone X, download the latest Steven Seagal movie, or view nudy ladies, you've come to the wrong place and may now press 'Back'.
However, if you would like a lifestyle blog, written by a 30-something chap, living in Bath (England), feast your eyes on this.
You won't discover how to copy PlayStation 4 games. What you will find is a blog, covering life in the West Country, the highs and lows of supporting two unsuccessful football teams, while sharing a house with a wife and rabbit.
All written by a man, somewhere on the sanity-scale between normal and eccentric.
