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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.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.