We’re continuing our series of interviews with people who define NEXT, people who can give us an insight into what’s coming up in the future..

This time we have Orlando J Lewis from EA Sports, one of the masterminds behind the FIFA franchise.
He’s provided us a sneak peak into the world of virtual football…

Is making FIFA “harder to play” the same as “making it better”?
The FIFA franchise has always been EA’s top selling mass-market product and therefore, the FIFA team have always been keen not to alienate casual or less experienced gamers – balance here is key.

Personally, as a long-term and experienced FIFA fan, I am keen to promote subtleties and complexities in gameplay.  For instance, the ability to control a player run using the R3 stick (implemented in FIFA a few years ago) not only enhanced realism, but also led to greater satisfaction when scoring from a carefully crafted off-the-ball run.  Unfortunately, however, against a novice this can often be used as a minor exploit given that it is not the most basic tool to use!  Due to the advent of online gaming, and success of simple ‘pick-up and play’ gaming such as what the Wii promotes, FIFA in particular has been careful not to complicate gameplay.  Instead, EA have ensured that the simple things still remain simple to execute, but can also be expertly mastered.

For instance, one of FIFA 10′s main new innovations is 360 degree dribbling along with a skilled dribbling facility.  Here, even a first-time FIFA user can benefit and enjoy executing some fancy feet or close ball control.  For the experienced user, this offers greater variety and ability to master some intricate dribbling patterns and unique moves.

Fundamentally, the FIFA team have realised that making another successful title does not rely on constantly adding, innovating and confusing users, but by refining certain aspects of the game, should increase variety and creativity.  The game can be played as complicated or as simply as possible, but in the end, as long as the basic controls are mastered anything can happen!

______________________

How much do you game during a normal week?

It depends really how busy I am, but usually I try and get in a quick game of FIFA most days!  I play FIFA the majority of the time, but tend to get hooked on the Tomb Raider series too!  If anyone feels like challenging me at FIFA, my gamertag on the PS3 is ojlewis2000.
______________________

What is the best kept secret about FIFA?

Too many to say!  But always keep an eye out for who is refereeing the games… ; )

______________________

Which gaming console, is your favourite to play FIFA on?

PS3.  Some in the development team claim that the PS3 controller is slightly more responsive than the Xbox 360′s – I am yet to be convinced!

______________________

Does it matter for a game like FIFA that both Cron and Kaka go to Madrid? What did you think as the transfers went through?

Every year there is controversy in FIFA because one team is better than the rest.  FIFA 08 was the year for Barcelona fans and FIFA 09 – Man Utd.  This has continued to cause complaints and frustrations given that an extremely high proportion of online games in FIFA 09 involve Man Utd.  The Database team on FIFA work exceptionally hard to ensure every team, player and attribute are assessed individually and replicate real-life.  Obviously, a lot of this is subjective data, but nobody could fault the fact that Man Utd in the run-up to FIFA 09 were the best team in the world.  Fortunately, EA provide a mid-season free update in February whereby all stats and ratings are adjusted, but this still does not prevent complaints and frustrations from people that just want to play with their favourite local team (i.e. not necessarily Man Utd!).

Ultimately, it does not matter where certain players end up as this cannot be helped, but it does often have an overall bearing on what teams are used most in online play.  Fortunately, however, FIFA 10 is blessed with a new online match-making system, which allows a 2.5 star team, such as Crystal Palace to be matched with another 2.5 star team.  There is often talk of scaling up or down teams to make certain online games totally fair and even, but in my opinion FIFA needs to remain as authentic and life-like as possible.

As for the particular signings by Madrid, I think this will open up the international transfer market and act as a catalyst for a number of other big money moves elsewhere.

______________________

How is the evolution of football, affecting the development of FIFA?

In real life there’s more tricks and intricate footwork, more speed and strength – that should be good things for gamers, no?

The turnaround and cycle in the production of a game such as FIFA is rapid.  Within weeks of FIFA 10′s release, work will begin on FIFA 11.  Because of this situation, it often means that things changing rapidly in the football world take a little longer to reach the virtual world!  For example, animators and designers work relentlessly hard to add new skill moves that may have evolved.  However, even such small changes can have a radical knock-on impact on other aspects of the game.  A new skill move means that defending needs to be addressed and this needs to be tested to the full in order to ensure it is not exploited by a shrewd gamer!

As for the speed and physicality of football, this in turn encourages animators to play around with almost rag-dollesque physics to provide a more visually exciting collision system for gamers to enjoy.

______________________

Like the NBA, football is now beginning to have a culture of bespoke boots – do the brand teams at Nike, Adidas, Rebok etc understand the value of say Wayne Rooney’s boot being rendered accurately to the FIFA consumer?

Absolutely.  FIFA prides itself on authenticity and, therefore, Rooney having the right boots not only pleases the ‘beady-eyed’ gamer and football fan, but also no doubt helps to please the boot manufacturer.  The majority of the boots in FIFA are generic, but based on what certain players like to wear.  So, for example, a lower league player known to wear pink boots is assigned generic looking pink boots!  However, with certain ”starhead” players (such as Rooney), who are often depicted in screenshots, advertisements and demos for the game it seems wise to have him sporting the latest Nike boot.

Boots, however, are not the only way brands have an input in FIFA.  Game modes such as adidas LiveSeason introduced in FIFA 09 have obvious links with adidas, and the new adidas kits for the top teams next season are due to be available soon to download for FIFA 09.  Gamers will not only benefit from an up to date and authentic experience, but also be presented with new kits and boots that they may be inclined to buy for real!

______________________

How do you get the subtle qualities and influence of a player like Iniesta into a game like FIFA?

Each player is highly scrutinised by the Database Team on FIFA.  All players, including Iniesta are rated based on a long list of attributes ranging from long passing to vision.  So, assuming Iniesta has a high ”vision” attribute alongside a high ”long passing” attribute, the calculations made when making a long pass to a player making a run will make for a more successful play, than if an unskilled and uncreative defender makes a similar pass.

In addition to these ‘mathematical’ equations, each player is assigned with certain ‘Traits’.  These ‘traits’ include things like a ‘Giant Throw’ – assigned to Rory Delap, this will allow the gamer to wind up a long throw from Delap.  I will avoid too much detail here, but rest assured FIFA is a little more subtle than you may expect – all adding to realism and authenticity of course!

______________________

Everyone we know is asking me to ask this:
Is FIFA better than Pro and why?…is that a fair question?

A better one is…Consumers of FIFA and Pro Evo clearly talk in terms of two tribes…discuss?

Haha!  I am probably the worst person to answer this question given my bias towards FIFA, but it is healthy for FIFA to have a competitor waiting in the wings ready to pounce.  Since the next-generation of consoles have emerged, FIFA has reigned supreme over Pro Evo for various reasons.  It takes time to adjust to a new game-engine and the FIFA team were better prepared.  It was effectively like starting from scratch again and this is a daunting task.  Since then, FIFA have been one step ahead, but now Pro Evo have had time to tune and tweak, I expect the gap between the two to begin to close more rapidly.

It is too simplistic to merely state one is better than the other, as many factors should be taken into consideration.  Firstly, the licenses FIFA has in comparison to Pro Evo has its obvious benefits, but gameplay-wise is often a deciding factor for many gamers.  There is a huge sense of brand loyalty to either of the two, but fortunately for FIFA, many Pro Evo fans have turned to FIFA this year.  I am confident that FIFA 10 will outdo Pro Evo again this year, but we will have to wait and see!

______________________

Quality stuff!!

Orlando J Lewis has been involved in the FIFA series for over 5 years. In addition to working as a Producer, Orlando has recently become heavily involved in top FIFA community website www.fifainformer.com as a writer and presenter in monthly video blogs, which include exclusive content and information concerning all things FIFA related.

Many thanks O!

BANDIT