FIFA, aside from its obvious acronymic meaning, is a name that resonates in the minds of millions for its video game significance.
From the early days in the 90s on the Sega MegaDrive, to today where we receive increasingly realistic gameplay, the FIFA video game franchise has captured the footballing hearts of many. It has even turned a few non-football fans into fans, myself included.
It was late 2009, after much scrimping and saving, that I finally took the plunge and bought an Xbox 360 and FIFA 09. Having always loved my football and played previous instalments years before, I was undeniably looking forward to reliving golden moments of goal scoring and fierce brotherly rivalry when purchasing the game.
What I wasn’t expecting however was to be engrossed into the world of football as a result.
Deciding to play an EPL season, the only competition I knew of back then, I randomised my team selection and was given a team I barely recognised in the shape of Sunderland.
I quickly grew attached to the affectionately known Black Cats, who as underdogs, I could nurture and eventually bring to heights that would otherwise be beyond them. This rudimentary and rather flukey attachment to football and Sunderland however gave way to something far greater years later.
Now a good six years older and wiser, my fervour for football has only grown to new heights. Having tenaciously bought each new iteration of the FIFA franchise since 09, I have gradually but inevitably embedded myself within football.
What started out as a toe in the water experience has now given way to a complete submission. Swimming with ferocity through footballing waters that have brought me both despair and ecstasy, I look back on my earlier trepidation to embrace football with disgust.
Stereotyped within Australian culture, likely as a result of our American influences, as a slow paced and boring sport, I like so many others distanced myself from it. Instead, I favoured high intensity sports like NRL and union, which although I still appreciate to this day, struggle to incite the same unquenchable appetite football does within me.
Looking back with regret on the many footballing moments I missed, I now realise the importance of video games like FIFA in ensuring a sport continues to grow in popularity and breaks down stereotypes that limit their appeal.
Many see FIFA’s yearly roll out of a new game as money hungry. I however see it as opportunistic and almost necessary. In releasing a new game each year, football remains relevant within the video game industry which in turn ensures it receives attention from those that would otherwise distance themselves from sport.
Also as gamer and sports fan I know I wouldn’t be buying FIFA 13 in 2014, would you? I mean sure they could just release an update for FIFA every year, but what about those that like me six years ago, aren’t yet obsessed with all things football and need a fresh, face-lifted FIFA game to attract their attention.
It was after all the title and appealing graphics of FIFA 09 that led me down the road to footballing obsession.
Obsession that has seen me stay up late for Sunderland’s games, browse the web daily desperate to hear the latest footballing news and start writing about the game I love so much.
In fully realising this, i’ve begun to suspect that while Brazil may well have converted it’s fair share of football fans, the next FIFA instalment, FIFA 15 will likely convert it’s fair share as well.
So while some football tragics may class me as a, what gamers would say, ‘noob’ when it comes to the sport, I for one am happy in simply being a fan. A happiness that owes a lot to the FIFA video-game franchise; a franchise that while real life football enters it’s off-season, still echoes in the lounge rooms of many.
hicham
Guest
give me fifa 2015
Max Willis
Roar Pro
Fifa 09 was my first Fifa too!
nordster
Guest
Nice read, surprised no one has shared their amazeballs career mode line ups yet I'll restrain myself! :) Though its hard i have a pretty sweet Lyon team going right now! Unfortunately they're on ice until i stock up on weed;) cant play fifa straight for some reason lol
nachos supreme
Guest
AND when will those DAMN kids get offa my lawn!!!
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
Sunderland? FIFA 09? Can I ask how Andy Reid looked in the game? He was a fairly chunky fella in real life... I love the mental image of someone playing FIFA and deciding to support Sunderland as a result, I do hope that the real players weren't too much of a let-down! And just to clarify, I am a Sunderland supporter too.
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
Well you see fuss, sometimes it pisses down rain all day or its night time so you need something else to do
Purple Rain
Guest
ISS 64 commentary was classic, always remember " and its GREEEECe on the attack". Still my all time favourate football game. Its a shame it got overshadowed by PES, think the brains behind ISS (I think this was the Winning 11 series in Japan) passed away a few years ago, think his name was Jumbo or Bass but I remember reading about it and feeling rather sad at the news.
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Ha ha - and I had such a hard time getting them from the back of the closet - especially with all those skeletons in the way
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
We all have out guilty secrets, 70s :D
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Warning: nerd alert! I was cleaning out some of my own cupboards the other day and came across about 30 little Subbuteo teams from my (misspent) youth. All of them completely or partially hand painted. If anyone asks me nicely I will post a photo of the best one (dependant on my technical ability)
Fadida
Guest
By accident AZ! Most of my teams looked like survivors of the Battle of the Somme!
AZ_RBB
Guest
I had enough time in my life to play both for a number of years and loved it. But yeah FIFA has been the superior product for a few years now but is now being pushed by the 2K basketball series. The quality of commentary on FIFA is becoming seemingly worse with each version. ISS and ISS Deluxe came out in the mid 90s but I remember being hooked to it around 99/00. Great stuff. Taught me a lot of fake names :D
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Fadida - I agree. My concern is not for adults playing these games. In my original post, I did add there was nothing wrong with playing these video games if you already engage in outdoor physical activity. My only concern is kids up to the age of 12-15. But, as a medical professional, you'd be well aware of the growing problems we have in Australia with childhood obesity.
The artist formally known as Dave
Guest
I think there is still a set buried deep in one of my parent's cupboards... I know what I'll be doing next time I go home!
The artist formally known as Dave
Guest
Ha! I've definitely been involved in a few of those Fadida! We'd usually have a $10 buy in just to make things even more interesting. Also handicapping depending on results from last tournament (not enough 5 start teams to go around) haha. And then once the finals come around, with everyone fairly boozed and watching like its the actual world cup final, complaints about noise from the neighbours from the cheering and cursing. haha.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Respect from Ajax ultras :P
The artist formally known as Dave
Guest
I played ISS Pro 98 until my fingers just about bled! I think this was the forerunner to the Pro Evo series. I remember it was made by Konami anyway. Somewhere along the line Fifa overtook Pro evo though (maybe around the mid noughties?). Fifa just gets more and more realistic every year now.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I'm absolutely appalling at FIFA (due to having not owned a console for about a decade) but could happily play for hours. I like to sit back and play on the counter haha Does anyone know if the smartphone game is any good?
Fadida
Guest
I knelt on half of my Feyenoord team :(
jeznez
Roar Guru
Loved that game - the only reason I have never thrown out my old Nintendo 64 is ISS 98. I still laugh about the messed up versions of players names since they didn't have the rights.