I wanted to write a bit of a FIFA timeline, on what we saw was the 'big new feature/'s' of every version, and get everyone else's feedback on some of the versions...
So let's start:
FIFA International Soccer (ie. "94")
-International Teams Only
-Fake player names
-First game with 'isometric' viewpoint.
-Unbelievable graphics for it's time
FIFA '95
-International + 8 Club Leagues from 'the best' Leagues in the world
-Still fake player names
FIFA '96
-Real play names!
-11 club leagues
-Custom Players/Teams (ie. Editor!)
-On all versions except the 16 BIT consoles (SNES and Mega Drive), '3D' Engine + Commentary! (3D was a 3D stadium with Sprites still used for the players and ball)
FIFA '97
-True 3D (ie. Polygon) players and ball etc!
-Indoor Football included (which only last til 98 )
-Improved commentary
FIFA '98 RTWC)
-Every international side involved in World Cup qualification included!! (FIFA 10, FIFA 06 and FIFA 02 really seem to have missed out here, as they've just been 'another FIFA', with a seperate World Cup game released around the time of the World Cup, it seems again in 10 we're just getting the one World Cup title )
-The first game with what is still very close to the current controls (keyboard).
-Real stadiums from major nations
World Cup 98
-Not technically a FIFA, but still in the same 'series'.
-Featured 40 sides, the 32 World Cup sides plus 8 sides 'unlucky not to be there' (Read as + 8 countries EA thought would help sales!)
-Real World Cup stadiums, draw etc from France 98.
FIFA 99
-Indoor mode dropped
-Facial animations, player heights etc
FIFA 2000
-Increased gameplay speed and responsiveness (led to very arcadey feel)
FIFA 2001
-New graphics engine
-Some individual player faces, licensed kits with real badges etc
-Power up bar for shooting
FIFA 2002
-Power bars for passing as well as shooting.
-Dribbling (esp skill moves) much harder (people had complained 00 and 01 were too arcadey!)
-RTWC not included in World Cup year (previously when EA Sports had World Cup rights, in 98, they had released that years FIFA as the Road to the World Cup game)
World Cup 2002
-Road to the World Cup included in the World Cup game-unlike previous World Cup game, which only featured 40 sides (with RTWC included in the FIFA title)
FIFA 2003
-Gameplay 'completely redone' chasing more realism (the same basic keys are used from 98 tho)
-More detailed Graphics
FIFA 2004
-Second divisions from some major leagues
-Online play
-No custom players or teams
FIFA 2005
-'First touch' gameplay added (trick stick etc)
-Career Mode a focus for the first time
-Custom player returns
FIFA 2006
-Further enhanced career mode (15 year career!)
-John Motson replaced for Clive Tyldesley, and Ally McCoist for Andy Gray
-Gameplay rewritten separating player and the ball to seperate objects for the player on the ball.
FIFA 2007
-xbox360 is completely seperate game (first of the 'nextgen' FIFAs) with improved graphics, but less teams and leagues
-Return of Custom teams
FIFA 2008
-Be a Pro introduced (i still HATE the be a pro camera tho, it's awful and makes me dizzy)
-Wii includes motion control (stolen from PES )
-PS3 gets next gen version like 360
FIFA 2009
-Adidas live season (updates stats, but they charge you!)
-Martin Tyler replaces Clive Tyldesley as main commentator in 360 and PS3 versions (on xbox live Clive Tyldesley's commentary can be purchased along with Andy Townsend replacing Andy Gray)
FIFA 2010
-360 degree movement on PS3 and 360 versions (about 16 degree on PC which is better than it was!)
So let's start:
FIFA International Soccer (ie. "94")
-International Teams Only
-Fake player names
-First game with 'isometric' viewpoint.
-Unbelievable graphics for it's time
FIFA '95
-International + 8 Club Leagues from 'the best' Leagues in the world
-Still fake player names
FIFA '96
-Real play names!
-11 club leagues
-Custom Players/Teams (ie. Editor!)
-On all versions except the 16 BIT consoles (SNES and Mega Drive), '3D' Engine + Commentary! (3D was a 3D stadium with Sprites still used for the players and ball)
FIFA '97
-True 3D (ie. Polygon) players and ball etc!
-Indoor Football included (which only last til 98 )
-Improved commentary
FIFA '98 RTWC)
-Every international side involved in World Cup qualification included!! (FIFA 10, FIFA 06 and FIFA 02 really seem to have missed out here, as they've just been 'another FIFA', with a seperate World Cup game released around the time of the World Cup, it seems again in 10 we're just getting the one World Cup title )
-The first game with what is still very close to the current controls (keyboard).
-Real stadiums from major nations
World Cup 98
-Not technically a FIFA, but still in the same 'series'.
-Featured 40 sides, the 32 World Cup sides plus 8 sides 'unlucky not to be there' (Read as + 8 countries EA thought would help sales!)
-Real World Cup stadiums, draw etc from France 98.
FIFA 99
-Indoor mode dropped
-Facial animations, player heights etc
FIFA 2000
-Increased gameplay speed and responsiveness (led to very arcadey feel)
FIFA 2001
-New graphics engine
-Some individual player faces, licensed kits with real badges etc
-Power up bar for shooting
FIFA 2002
-Power bars for passing as well as shooting.
-Dribbling (esp skill moves) much harder (people had complained 00 and 01 were too arcadey!)
-RTWC not included in World Cup year (previously when EA Sports had World Cup rights, in 98, they had released that years FIFA as the Road to the World Cup game)
World Cup 2002
-Road to the World Cup included in the World Cup game-unlike previous World Cup game, which only featured 40 sides (with RTWC included in the FIFA title)
FIFA 2003
-Gameplay 'completely redone' chasing more realism (the same basic keys are used from 98 tho)
-More detailed Graphics
FIFA 2004
-Second divisions from some major leagues
-Online play
-No custom players or teams
FIFA 2005
-'First touch' gameplay added (trick stick etc)
-Career Mode a focus for the first time
-Custom player returns
FIFA 2006
-Further enhanced career mode (15 year career!)
-John Motson replaced for Clive Tyldesley, and Ally McCoist for Andy Gray
-Gameplay rewritten separating player and the ball to seperate objects for the player on the ball.
FIFA 2007
-xbox360 is completely seperate game (first of the 'nextgen' FIFAs) with improved graphics, but less teams and leagues
-Return of Custom teams
FIFA 2008
-Be a Pro introduced (i still HATE the be a pro camera tho, it's awful and makes me dizzy)
-Wii includes motion control (stolen from PES )
-PS3 gets next gen version like 360
FIFA 2009
-Adidas live season (updates stats, but they charge you!)
-Martin Tyler replaces Clive Tyldesley as main commentator in 360 and PS3 versions (on xbox live Clive Tyldesley's commentary can be purchased along with Andy Townsend replacing Andy Gray)
FIFA 2010
-360 degree movement on PS3 and 360 versions (about 16 degree on PC which is better than it was!)