For decades now, the combination of the words football and video game have immediately brought to mind the word Madden. And it is really no wonder why. Each year, Madden is a guaranteed multi-million seller and it has evolved into an industry phenomenon. That there are even things out there like this recently released article, which explains that gamers who play Madden have a higher "Football IQ" than NFL fans who do not play Madden, is further testament to that fact.

However, the days of Madden being the most prominent word that comes to mind when thinking about sports video games may soon be coming to an end. Another word is now in contention and it is gaining a lot of speed. That word? FIFA.

Growing Popularity

Now do not get me wrong, Madden is still a huge seller, with Madden 2009 selling millions since its release date, but the days of Madden holding the top spot as the largest sports seller in the industry may soon be coming to an end -- if it has not already happened.

I say this because FIFA 09 has been a phenomenal success, with the game racking up sales like never before, most notably in the UK where FIFA 09 has sold more than two million copies alone.

But even if FIFA is currently a hot commodity in the European and Japanese markets, the true key to FIFA's overall worldwide money-making potential may be turn out to be its ability to breakthrough in the United States. And I say that because, despite the fact that soccer/football games have always been available here in the States (even going back to the 8-bit era) it is fair to say that soccer’s current level of popularity in the United States is nowhere near equal to the level that it is worldwide.

But I believe that may soon change because there are signs that the sport is gaining fans here in the States. Thanks to the Internet, the ever-increasing diversity of the population, and soccer-dedicated channels like Gol TV, Setanta and Fox Soccer Channel, European and international matches are more accessible than ever. Even domestically, the MLS continues to grow more popular and profitable thanks to smart marketing and increased expansion. There are even recent rumblings of ESPN being interested in the rights to televise EPL games in the future. So the spark of interest is there, and the potential future is bright for the sport in this region.

However, I am also not delusional. I am in no way suggesting that soccer will ever overtake traditionally loved sports like hockey in Canada or baseball or football in the United States, but I believe that the case for soccer’s success in North America is stronger than it has been in quite some time.

Also, when it comes to FIFA 09’s increased commercial success, there is another important detail to consider: the game is actually good. It is that increased quality that has allowed FIFA 09 to not only outpace and displace PES as its immediate soccer competitor sales-wise, but also to rival NHL, The Show, NBA 2K from a critical standpoint. And the fact that FIFA’s increased quality coincides with amazing sales suggests a good deal about the consumers of the sports-gaming community, and I wonder what that message could mean for other sports games as well.

King for a reason: gamers definitely recognize good games.

Gamers Recognizes Good Games

There is no mistaking that the rise in FIFA 09’s overall sales is certainly linked to its improved excellence as a game. I bring this point up because sports gamers should get more credit than they currently do for their overall sports game buying choices. Simply put, they are wiser and smarter than many people, analysts and many other gamers assume. All too often I hear and read about people dismissing and stereotyping sports gamers as dumb, casual gamers who indiscriminately buy sports games that are simply a roster update affixed to a new cover athlete.

To this I say, you do not know what you are talking about. Sure, perhaps there may be some sports gamers who do this, but there are misinformed gamers and fanboys in every community. On a whole, sports gamers are not an idiotic bunch who purchase games simply based on the name or the athlete adorning the cover. If they do, they will quit when they realize how bad the product really is, and if they can, they will find a better alternative.

For an example of this trend, just look at what had happened to a series like Triple Play. It devolved into an extremely poor and undesirable baseball product and people abandoned it in droves. In fact, it got so bad that it eventually made EA rethink, retool and completely redo its baseball product, which eventually led to the creation of the critically acclaimed MVP Baseball series.

On the other side of the spectrum, MLB: The Show is another great example of a series that has earned a great deal of commercial success by improving its product.

Changing the Status Quo

For many of those current and former floundering games, FIFAs of the past included, they have all had a few good, if ultimately unimportant elements going for them. This is usually the presence of something standard, such as a full assortment of licensed teams, rosters, stadiums/arenas or some sort of unique feature. For example, I still think fondly about the Expansion mode in a game like All-Star Baseball. Other positive elements have usually been the presence of good-to-great graphics and a respectfully solid soundtrack and sound effects.

Certainly many games have contained all or some of the aforementioned characteristics, but they have all ultimately failed because they lacked fun, functional and competent gameplay. For as much as we all love all the extra goodies and features in our games nowadays, all of that is for naught if the core gameplay stinks.

I mean just compare two of 2K's current baseball products, MLB 2K and MLB Power Pros. Compare the two in terms of graphics, features and overall budget, and in all three areas you would probably concede that MLB 2K comes out ahead. Yet all of that really means nothing because MLB Power Pros ranks so far ahead in the most important category: core gameplay.

So it is clear that the arrival of excellent and engaging gameplay has been vitally important to the FIFA franchise. It has also allowed the other new features to mean so much more.

A World of Improvements

When it really comes down to it, all of those current "status quo" features from previous FIFAs, like the official licenses, the beautiful graphics and great soundtrack, were all meaningless without the great gameplay. But with its inclusion, it in effect gave all of those other features major meaning and importance because they all matter now because of it.

As such, other major improvements made to FIFA 09 -- the inclusion of the 11-on-11 online mode, the expanded Be a Pro mode, Live Season roster updates and many more of the reportedly 250 overall improvements -- all significantly add to the overall package.

I mean a series like PES was always able to thrive, despite lacking all of the same resources as FIFA, because it had such classic gameplay and an addicting Master League mode. However, the instant FIFA was able to also include comparable gameplay, that balance of power immediately shifted to FIFA because all of those formerly superfluous details, like entirely real rosters, clubs and stadiums, suddenly meant something more.

I mention all of this because as vital as gameplay is to ensuring success, it cannot be the only ingredient included in the mix. No, these current times demand and call for more. For a recent example, just look at the fate of All-Pro Football 2K8. It was a game with excellent gameplay and little else included. Sure, it had rightfully earned widespread critical praise for its outstanding gameplay and legendary roster, but the lack of significant modes did nothing to help its commercial cause, and it only compounded the difficulty of marketing a game with no NFL license.

In the end, the very best games have been able to provide a mixture of the two elements: great gameplay and fun modes. Simply look at College Hoops 2K8's gameplay mixed with its Legacy mode. Unfortunately, even that amazing package was not enough to save the series. So for a more successful take on this formula, just look at the Be a Pro mode in NHL 09 as an example of how excellent gameplay and an engaging mode can help to generate sales.

However, a series can still suffer a lot of damage from year to year if its developers ease up and do not continually aspire to improve.

EA's NHL series has improved its sales because there is a winning formula of addicting modes and improved gameplay.

No Rest Allowed

Ultimately, this is a lesson that EA and the FIFA developers would be wise to follow because there is always a propensity to ease up when one is ahead. And they should be more aware of it because it is a circumstance that has befallen their direct competitor in PES. In fact, PES’ downfall this year is another major reason why FIFA was really able to fully excel and prevail like it has. As such, EA needs to realize this about PES and not fall into the same trap.

There is no doubt that FIFA 09 has been a great success, and it has established a blueprint for how a series can turn itself around. More importantly, you can now make the case for the word FIFA entering the industry lexicon alongside Madden in competition for the most successful football franchise in the world.