Association football is a popular sport, and FIFA 12 a popular game. Such was the core of the message offered by Andrew Wilson, head of EA Sports, at the company’s Winter Preview Event last week. Along with the two other professed pillars – investment in gameplay and authenticity to the sport – it is social connectivity that made 2011 a standout year for the franchise.

A year that saw nearly half a million people put their fervor on show by replaying Manchester United’s humbling 6-1 defeat against their local (and still top of the table) rivals in blue: Manchester City. The total number played for these challenge missions – which, as in the case above, give fans a chance to rewind and reshape sporting history – is 32 million.

EA Sport’s interview with Wilson goes on: “In the days after the FIFA launch we announced that we had set a record for the busiest day of online gaming in EA SPORTS history. [S]ince then we’ve broken that record a half dozen times.”

We gaming journalists weren’t standing around a crowded San Francisco bar to hear about FIFA 12. Thriving its online community may be, but the game’s already out – we’ve had our fair share. NFL Blitz, SSX, and FIFA Street were the new kids on the block. There were some amazing pumpkin muffins going around, too.

But presently, more about FIFA Street. The first thing you’ll notice is the game's title (without the “4”). That’s a more than nominal decision, as EA is bouncing the ball off the wall of its own runaway success with FIFA 12. The EA Sports BIG label is out, as is the caricatural art direction and supernatural acceleration of prior Street games. The presentation has matured decidedly, offering players a collection of photography centered on global football-culture.

As for gameplay, we’re graced with FIFA 12’s engine (Player Impact included) with twice the tricks (over 50) and a wealth of options for custom games.

About the Author

Pierre Bienaimé

Contributor

Pierre Bienaimé is a contributor with a soft spot for shooters, platformers, turn-based strategy, and games that reside outside of the box. After having taught English as a second language in London, he decided that a second bout with his dream of spewing lexical fire in games journalism was in order. He is currently an intern at Kotaku.