360 FIFA gets 1/4 the leagues of PS2, Xbox [update 1]
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Sep 19th 2006 at 11:30AM }
Leave it to EA to prove that they are still the "evil" EA. Long story short, EA has completely nerfed the "exclusive" 360 version of FIFA 07. For this wonderful exclusive, EA has decided to remove an entire 18 soccer leagues, leaving the 360 with a paltry 7. Even the 7 is misleading, as one of those leagues has only one team in it. One team! On top of all this, the 360 version is also getting less than half of the stadiums of it's last gen brethren (21 compared to 47 on Xbox and PS2). Granted, we're all Americans here at 360 Fanboy, and thus not soccer fans by default, but this is ri-goddamn-diculous.
Anybody else want to bet that EA just might be expecting us to buy the missing content with MS Points? Shame on you EA. Why release the game at all?
[Via Xboxic]
Update: Fixed continuity error
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jay @ Sep 19th 2006 11:39AM
WTF EA, I was actually going to buy FIFA this year. Fuck you this year EA, maybe next year.
Jim N @ Sep 19th 2006 11:49AM
Well I am an American so I am not a soccer fan, but I am as much an EA hater as the next person. They did this with Tiger Woods Golf last year, so why would they not do it to someone else this year.
Someone said this a while back and I think it applies just as much now, "At the end of the day the shame of buying EA games does not wash off!"
KilgoreTrout XL @ Sep 19th 2006 11:55AM
I guess EA just wanted to give 360 owners ANOTHER reason to buy Winning Eleven over their title. I mean, besides the fact that Konami's title has alwyas felt and played better.
Isn't one of EA's major selling points the fact that they have the FIFA license and Konami doesn't? This is like releasing Madden 07 and then selling the "NFC Expansion Pack" a couple weeks later.
Tristam @ Sep 19th 2006 12:08PM
Good news for today.
insane_cobra @ Sep 19th 2006 12:09PM
You know, I'd understand if it was some small developer struggling to produce that amount of HD content, but EA? I'm not an EA hater, but this is ridiculous. What a bunch of cheap bastards.
Karsten @ Sep 19th 2006 12:25PM
This is typical for an EA Sports game. Everytime a new console comes around, they (say they) start from scratch, leaving all extra features out. And of course we will buy the game (hey, we love us some football, and the graphics are prettier), and yes, next year we'll have more stadiums and teams, so we'll buy it again. And the year after maybe we even get a create-a-player feature or the use of an extra button on the controller. So we'll buy it again! And when we have pretty much the same game we had six year before (only prettier) a new console comes around and everything starts all over again.
Anderson @ Sep 19th 2006 1:38PM
Oh man, not again. When is EA going to release a good version of FIFA for the 360?!
The first one (FIFA06) was rushed and so had major flaws.
The second one (FIFAWC06) was a cut-down version of the first one with different cheap graphics.
And now FIFA07 will probably have some of the flaws on the previous ones worked out, but just half of the game will be there?!
You know what...screw EA, not buying another FIFA until they do it right. Winning Eleven has a new fan/buyer! I said it!
Tprzepiorka @ Sep 19th 2006 12:42PM
wow, this is just unacceptible. I have always been a Fifa supporter getting most of thier games, this however will probably finally get me to switch over to Pro Evolution.
The game will probably cost $10 more than the Current Gen consoles and we still have to pay extra for things.
You would think that with the Next-Gen game you would get even extra content. Shame on you EA.
Bennythecop @ Sep 19th 2006 4:54PM
EA disappoints again... I'm planning to buy a football game this year, and I guess that'll be Winning Eleven: Pro Evo Soccer. I was going to buy FIFA 07 because of the reworked engine and the quantity of teams, but now my interest is completely gone. If anything, EA made it much more clear to me of what game to buy, so thanks for that one :)
alijah green @ Sep 19th 2006 1:03PM
I would like to call for a complete boycott of EA sports games. I would call for a complete boycott on the entire EA ecosystem but there are some games that don't have EA grubby hand all over it. This is the 5th games that this has happen to. Madden 06-07, Fight Night round 3 and all the FIFA's so that means I am wrong that is 6 titles. But do they cost any less; no they cost more, so if you won't help to make the situation right then don't complain about it
jesus a torres @ Sep 19th 2006 1:07PM
no mls? that's a little lame... at least the mexican primera's in...
SuicideNinja @ Sep 19th 2006 4:01PM
WTF.
Is EA on Sony's payroll, or will the PS3 get similar treatment? This would make for the annoying Blu-ray argument, although we know quite well that space isn't the reason for the cut in-half sports games.
The only EA sports game I care about is Tiger Woods, but if it's stripped just like 2006 was, then I'm not buying.
AoE @ Sep 19th 2006 2:19PM
I must warn you Anderson, if you take that attitude, you'll never buy an EA title again. ;)
Not that that's a bad thing... your fellow gamers WILL thank you for not supporting that crap factory. :)
DeddyLüger @ Sep 19th 2006 2:47PM
was looking forward to this game. I dig both fifa and winning eleven. but i think ill probably ditch fifa this year.
KineticOnline @ Sep 19th 2006 5:21PM
Even the bloody DS is going to be getting more leagues and stadiums than the 360, which is a bloody joke, if EA cant make the FULL game they they shouldn't be allowed to release any!
If i was FIFA and the clubs involved i'd be asking questions about how to pull the contract as some of the big club wouldn't want to be effectively endorsing a game that cant stand up to its competitor (even if the game play/graphics arn't as good and im not saying they wont be)
Keith Hodo @ Sep 20th 2006 6:54PM
I'm kinda stuck on whether I should buy FIFA this year or not. I need a league football game for my gorgeous 360 but this news is pure phooey. I am really upset with how EA tackles next-gen efforts. It always seems that they first try to port and get the graphics looking excellent while leaving the gameplay we all desire in the dust.
Here's a novel concept for those geniuses at EA: bring the whole friggin game with the functionality we expect and then worry about the graphics getting to their full glory in V2. To me, this seems like a no-brainer. What EA creates is the equivalent of an OS that becomes "next-gen" and then looses networking functionality, security, file-sharing and basically any other key feature that the "current-gen" OS had. Oh, but the "new" version looks very pretty. Bof, give me a break.
Remember, when features are introduced they are no longer "extras." They are now part of the product that we come to know and expect. EA seems to forget about this critical portion of software development. Just give 'em the graphics!
The sad thing is... I will most likely buy this piece of junk and not wait for the V2.
My two pennies - KoolKeith13
Occasio @ Sep 19th 2006 10:31PM
Bill needs to kick EA's arse. They are doing a crappy job w/ everything on 360.
Yardarm51 @ Sep 19th 2006 10:49PM
I really really hope that the left out content is not being planned for premium XBLM content. I could see EA releasing, what is in effect, an incomplete game and then expecting the fans to pay extra for the missing content.
cooper568 @ Sep 19th 2006 11:48PM
WTF..
Why in the world does this game even exist for the 360? All I know is that if I buy this game(American Gamer) I would like to play as the american league; however; that is not included in this next gen purpose. So let me get this straight, I am buying a game I appreciate for American Soccer; cause it has the license and all but I can even play as the team I want; unless I want to play it on DS or PS2? Whats the point of nice graphics if your team/people aren't on them..
Its a Game EA, not a freaking happy meal with extra sizes that you can add to the order once you are asked about it. If they release this game at $59 like usual; then this should be considered illegal..
Freaking BS. Thank God I love 2k sports anyways; but man..They keep this up; they will own all licneses and control the data on a timely matter; aka pay $10 a league..BS, EA can go and dig themselves a hole back to where they came from.
Beu @ Sep 20th 2006 12:12AM
If EA does this then I will catch a case.
WTF? How can they fuck this up after releasing the most stupid soccer game of all time? Germany O6? that game almaost made me break my 360. "Thank God I rented it"
not only is this going to piss of all soccer gamers. they are going to Have Osama on their ass. I'm preety sure he plays a lot of Soccer wherever he is chillin at now. And I know EA dosen't want osama getting pissed at them. So if any Of you crack heads over at EA is reading this...best go update that league shit and don't even think about trying to sell some extra shit on Marketplace otherwise the only people that are going to paly FIFA 07 are those that will be renting it at Blockbuster.. BIATCH!
the_pwnerer @ Sep 21st 2006 9:12AM
You people don't understand. It's the lack of HD-DVD (or Blu-ray, for that matter) that makes it impossible for a next-gen game to be complete. Nuff' said.
fubarStar @ Sep 24th 2006 5:33PM
What a load of C*** F***ers.
I have brought every Fifa going since the early 90's but wil now be buying my first pro evo this year.