Um....what about online?

[mishmashmole]

The Ea marketing juggernaut has been hard at work over the last few months with news of various new features, tweaks to gameplay, career mode etc, not to mention all the advertising and blogs. So what about online? What improvements have been made to enhance and improve this experience?

I'd take a guess that online is probably the most played mode in the game. So it comes as a surprise to me that this has been left out. It's been the mode that I've played most, mainly because I love playing against "real" people, because you really get to see all the different styles and ways the game can be played. Of course, 75% of the time, doing random 1v1, you'll often get the same style and the same teams. So, therefore, it begs to be tweaked and updated. Here would be my suggestions:

- Local league ladder. (Play against people within your local region)
- National league ladder
- Cup competitions - (Consider the World Cup online mode - there was something to play for, people didn't quit because they got awarded a loss and most importantly, the other player got a win).

For example. You could have KO tournaments for each star level team - 1 star cup, 2 star cup etc. The goal would be to win each of these cups. Then you could have a random star cup where you would get awarded achievements again for winning the cup with each level star team. Almost impossible winning this cup with a 1 star team but the best players would still have something to play for online.

- User friendliness - OK, so there are problems about connecting to other people and yes this should be sorted no matter what router you have. But, even so, if I don't successfully connect to someone, don't put me back at the main menu and make me button press all the way back to where I was. Why do I want to go back there. Just keep trying to connect to someone until I say otherwise. OK?!

- Let's have spectators being allowed to watch games, like in PES6
- Let's have in game text messages, like in PES6

There's more and I'm sure everyone reading this has more.

Come the end of next week, I'm hoping for some surprises. If the structure is exactly the same, I'm going to be bitterly disappointed.

[mishmashmole]

40 odd views and no comments...... does this mean you agree or not. Or you don't care... or...or... give me something guys!

[Mazures]

Hey mate. Well I pretty much agree with your whole post or well all of it. Especially the part about EA not announcing or doing a lot of work in that department.

And I would love to see a 2vs2 Ladder / Option as well. And one that works. And not just like the possiblity of doing so as in FIFA 09 and FIFA 10 in the 10vs10 mode. But okay, at least it was possible but a bit annoying way of getting 2vs2 going.

And then of course, in FIFA 10. It was later broken or something so you couldn't play at all, if i remember correctly. Heh

Anyways, been waiting that since FIFA 09. Always a lot of fun and enjoyed it a lot some years ago with PES6.

[mishmashmole]

Dam yes - another feature I didn't think about it. Of course there should be 2v2 online with the same format of competitions that I suggested for 1v1. Good comment, forgot about that!

[only1ronaldo]

yeah I'm awaiting some online info as I'm pretty much "online only" type of gamer, I HOPE for some cup type of competition (similar to Online World Cup) but I doubt there will be anything new except 11vs11 which is known as a feature

you know EA, they advertise their stuff, they were silent about online modes = same as last year I guess

[JohnnyFX]

Hoping they are going down the leagues route they took with World Cup, we'l see.

[ISmellGas]

I largely agree with your points there mishmashmole.

Unfortunately I have a feeling the lack of information regarding online means that very little has changed. I guess when you have a game like FIFA that has so many different ways to play with so many different modes there is always a chance that some modes will be neglected.

I assume the WC2010 leagues system will be in which is an improvement over FIFA10. This is a refinement that really gives you something to aim for when playing online as you attempt to reach division one. I only wish they would provide a little more feedback on screen so you know how many games are left and how many points are required for promotion/relegation.

Your other ideas were good. I especially like the idea of one star or two star cup.

[mishmashmole]

After reading some reviews today it doesn't seem there is much change to online mode. This, is deeply depressing.

[mishmashmole]

I can't believe they didn't even implement a simple tournament mode or even the 10 division ladder they had in FIFA WC. Why, why, why? 1v1 random is damn boring.