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RaychelSnr · 10-19-2012, 12:43 PM

Presentation, check. Player control, check. Defending, check. Player AI, check.

For the last couple of years, FIFA has improved upon almost every aspect of its game. Unsurprisingly, for a franchise that is steadfastly trying to simulate a realistic brand of football, most of these elements became deeper and more nuanced as a result. However, there’s one thing that’s crucially missing from the list: AI Management.

Now, it’s not the sexiest thing to market. You can’t see it, and possibly only a percentage of us who play the game will appreciate it. I try not to write these “wishlist” articles too frequently, but for a hardcore sports gaming site like OS, it seems apt to suggest some improvements for how the game can improve on its gameplay experience by giving its CPU managers a little more smarts. The problem with FIFA's existing CPU management is that it seems to operate inside a vacuum, meaning that its moves are usually preprogrammed to trigger at some basic benchmarks, without taking into account the entire context of what's going on in the match. And if that isn't the case, it surely isn't obvious enough, because as it stands, the CPU management in FIFA just feels a little shallow, especially when compared to the rest of the game's impressive depth.

Read More - The Next Frontier in FIFA Soccer: AI Management

Gonira · 10-19-2012, 11:15 PM

i love (no, i actually hate) how the cpu goes full ninja desperate pressure always exactly at 80 minutes in the exact same way if they're losing by any margin.

pk500 · 10-20-2012, 02:54 AM

FIFA needs improvement in so many different areas. AI, ball physics, game speed, variation in CPU attack, noticeable differences in powerful and sub-standard AI teams. When an English Championship side can play on the same pitch as Barcelona, this game has serious problems offline.

ZoneBlitz · 10-20-2012, 02:47 PM

Great article! I am stunned at how FIFA persistently and completely ignores team AI. In FIFA you are playing the same team no matter which team you are playing. I personally believe they would finish off PES if they added the same AI depth as far as team strategy in the game, team specific AI play, condition specific AI play and tactics, etc...

Right now FIFA is incredible. However, I own PES because FIFA lacks the depth and realistic gameplay of soccer.

Great article, I hope they address it for next year.

pk500 · 10-21-2012, 02:19 PM

Good points, Zone. But I want to ask you this question sincerely: How can FIFA be "incredible" if it lacks the depth and realistic gameplay of soccer?

Advanced · 10-21-2012, 02:22 PM

Exactly why I chose PES this year.

I want fundamentals taken care of first, then all the pretty stuff later. Not the opposite way around. I have had a ton of fun playing PES this year and have no reason to get Fifa right now.

ZoneBlitz · 10-21-2012, 11:44 PM

@pk500

It looks sooo good, has great graphics, commentary and the licenses. From a presentation standpoint, it is just plain awesome. Sometimes it just seems that they don't want to finish PES off - LOL!

pk500 · 10-22-2012, 08:03 PM

I agree with you on those points, Zone. But like Advanced, gameplay comes first for me. And PES is more realistic than FIFA, hands down.

10-19-2012, 12:43 PM	#1
RaychelSnr Executive Editor OVR: 57 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 4,846 Blog Entries: 490	The Next Frontier in FIFA Soccer: AI Management Presentation, check. Player control, check. Defending, check. Player AI, check. For the last couple of years, FIFA has improved upon almost every aspect of its game. Unsurprisingly, for a franchise that is steadfastly trying to simulate a realistic brand of football, most of these elements became deeper and more nuanced as a result. However, there’s one thing that’s crucially missing from the list: AI Management. Now, it’s not the sexiest thing to market. You can’t see it, and possibly only a percentage of us who play the game will appreciate it. I try not to write these “wishlist” articles too frequently, but for a hardcore sports gaming site like OS, it seems apt to suggest some improvements for how the game can improve on its gameplay experience by giving its CPU managers a little more smarts. The problem with FIFA's existing CPU management is that it seems to operate inside a vacuum, meaning that its moves are usually preprogrammed to trigger at some basic benchmarks, without taking into account the entire context of what's going on in the match. And if that isn't the case, it surely isn't obvious enough, because as it stands, the CPU management in FIFA just feels a little shallow, especially when compared to the rest of the game's impressive depth. Read More - The Next Frontier in FIFA Soccer: AI Management Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3 / Wii U

10-20-2012, 02:47 PM	#4
ZoneBlitz MVP OVR: 12 Join Date: Jun 2003	Great article! I am stunned at how FIFA persistently and completely ignores team AI. In FIFA you are playing the same team no matter which team you are playing. I personally believe they would finish off PES if they added the same AI depth as far as team strategy in the game, team specific AI play, condition specific AI play and tactics, etc... Right now FIFA is incredible. However, I own PES because FIFA lacks the depth and realistic gameplay of soccer. Great article, I hope they address it for next year. carnalnirvana likes this.

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10-19-2012, 11:15 PM	#2
Gonira Banned OVR: 0 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Brazil	i love (no, i actually hate) how the cpu goes full ninja desperate pressure always exactly at 80 minutes in the exact same way if they're losing by any margin.

10-20-2012, 02:54 AM	#3
pk500 All Star OVR: 20 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Near Syracuse, N.Y.	FIFA needs improvement in so many different areas. AI, ball physics, game speed, variation in CPU attack, noticeable differences in powerful and sub-standard AI teams. When an English Championship side can play on the same pitch as Barcelona, this game has serious problems offline.

10-21-2012, 02:19 PM	#5
pk500 All Star OVR: 20 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Near Syracuse, N.Y.	Good points, Zone. But I want to ask you this question sincerely: How can FIFA be "incredible" if it lacks the depth and realistic gameplay of soccer?

10-21-2012, 02:22 PM	#6
Advanced Rookie OVR: 7 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NYC, Brooklyn.	Exactly why I chose PES this year. I want fundamentals taken care of first, then all the pretty stuff later. Not the opposite way around. I have had a ton of fun playing PES this year and have no reason to get Fifa right now.

10-21-2012, 11:44 PM	#7
ZoneBlitz MVP OVR: 12 Join Date: Jun 2003	@pk500 It looks sooo good, has great graphics, commentary and the licenses. From a presentation standpoint, it is just plain awesome. Sometimes it just seems that they don't want to finish PES off - LOL!

10-22-2012, 08:03 PM	#8
pk500 All Star OVR: 20 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Near Syracuse, N.Y.	I agree with you on those points, Zone. But like Advanced, gameplay comes first for me. And PES is more realistic than FIFA, hands down.