Tending to the Tedious in FIFA

As promised before, BoFC is working to use the time in between new games to offer up ideas for ways to improve games, instead of just tearing them down for everything wrong with them.

As such, and with FIFA 13 coming out, I want to take a look back at something in FIFA 12.  I cannot confirm this, but I doubt it’s something that’s been added yet, given EA’s level of commitment to innovation.

One of the great things EA has done with sports titles over the years is look for ways to expand game modes by offering a greater level of immersion, extending the game beyond the on-the-field action.  I remember how great it was playing through an entire season in a game, and then the new modes that allowed you to continue on to the next season, as if it was a full coaching career.

FIFA’s done this really well for multiple years.  However, there are some seriously tedious parts to the career mode, especially if you tend to take a more realistic approach to your managing style and don’t look to buy every single expensive player on the market (I picked my local team, the NY Red Bulls). 

One of my big issues is player development.  You’ve got a youth squad for which you recruit youth players, and then when they “mature” (at age 16), you can call them up to the big show or sell them.

Some of these guys have great potential, though, and you don’t want to sell them, because in a few years they’re going to be amazing, and you want to be getting that virtual pat on the back from the virtual team owners recognizing how great of a find this kid was.

Youth scouting in Brazil.

So maybe you put them on loan.  That’s great, but they don’t always progress that well.  Sometimes the best way is to have them play in the game.

But they might not be that good, so you won’t play them all the time.  You’ve got starters who are better.  So, invariably, you’ll end up before each game having to go through and switch up your lineup.  Again, not terrible, but sometimes you just wish the lineup could be automated.  You’ve got assistant coaches you can delegate this stuff to.  Especially if you’re looking to simulate a few games. 

Maybe you’ve reached a point in your career where the excitement of the game isn’t there, but you still love developing talent.  Many players like to simulate through many games without ever actually sitting down to play one.  Going in and setting your lineup each game to ensure you’ve got some young talent playing takes away from the pace. 

In fact, it’s quite tedious.

And this extends beyond player development.  You’ve also got to worry about fatigued players, injured players, suspended players, and unhappy players.  Every single game.

Had to take this picture of the squad setup screen with my phone because
there's no easy way to take a screengrab on Xbox.

As a simple add on, there should be a way to automate your lineup changes, based on your preferences.  Right now, if a guy is hurt or suspended, it will automatically take him out and put someone else in his place if you haven’t done that.  But that’s it. 

Give the player the ability to delegate.   A player could say hey, I want to ensure we have the best on the field, so always play the best guys, no matter how tired.  Or you could want to promote growth, so set it to play younger players with high potentials often.  Me, I’d like a good mix: make sure nobody’s tired, and of who’s not, put in a good mix of high-potential young players with my starters, so I might win, but it’s ok if I don’t.  And it’s something I can change for the next game. 

Maybe use some sliders that show how the lineup changes in real time, so you’re happy with the squad you’ve got set.  I haven’t tried coding anything, but I’m sure there’s some sort of formula or algorithm to work out that could weight each value on each player in your roster and put together the ideal squad.  Need a faster lineup? Prioritize speed.  Just need to keep them from scoring? Prioritize defensive abilities.

This is still something you may want to check each game, but it doesn’t mean you have to keep going through each player and moving him around on the roster.  By selecting a certain preference, you immediately see the ideal squad based on those priorities – all the tedious moves have been handled for you.

This will save minutes of a tedious task for more enjoyable playtime, whether you play every game or simulate on through.