UEFA Euro 2008: First Glance

UEFA Euro 2008 has been announced, and more and more news begins to lead about EA's upcoming soccer (football) title. Missing from the release is PC, XBox, and Wii versions of the game. It will be released for the PS2, PS3, PSP, and XBox 360. Many critics have wondered why EA has decided to release another soccer title? Especially considering this soccer title uses the same gameplay engine as FIFA does. It seems understandable, critics say, to release a title like FIFA Street, because that's a totally different game. Why not just build the Euro 2008 Championship into FIFA 08? Some say it's EA being greedy. I, however, believe that this mid-year release of Euro 2008 is a welcomed change and a great idea.

Basically, UEFA Euro 2008 is FIFA 09 beta. I know EA won't exactly say that, but it's true. UEFA Euro 2008 plays on the same game engine as FIFA, but there have already been some significant improvements made. I love this idea. You can get some feedback on new features now, and then decide how to improve FIFA 09 using the appropriate improvements. Last year's UEFA title, UEFA Champions League, was an amazing title. It was an improvement on FIFA 07 without question. However, there were still a few bugs in the game such as the dreaded through ball that simply froze defenders while attackers slid behind the defense. FIFA 08 was then an improvement over the UEFA Champions League.

So it's safe to assume that EA has been able to utilize a mid-season launch of a new soccer title to help improve and innovate on their previous FIFA title. Furthermore, after several months of playing FIFA consistently, it gets a little stale. This is not in any way a knock on the game, but it's human nature. I'm ready for a change. I'm ready for something new. I'm ready for UEFA Euro 2008. I want to see what the producers are working on to improve the already great title. I want to feel the excitement of the Euro 2008. I can't wait. The features I'm most excited about are the addition of weather, enhanced penalty kicks, and the EURO Online Knockout Draw. Now we can play in 16-person quick tournaments which somehow gives games online a new level of intensity. Here are some of the other announced new features:

XBox 360 / PlayStation 3	PlayStation 2	PlayStation Portable
Win UEFA EURO 2008 ™ — Compete as one of 52 teams from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland. Captain Your Country – Play as yourself on the same team with up to three friends, all playing individual positions on the pitch. Compete collaboratively to win games but compete against each other for the captaincy. Develop your player through eight status levels to earn the captaincy of your country and the right to lead your team. Create Yourself – Play alongside your heroes by customizing yourself in game. Place your name on your jersey, then earn experience points to enhance your skills and reputation. Battle of the Nations — Represent your country online against your rivals around the world to win global supremacy. Earn individual and team points. Think your nation is the best? Now you can prove it! EURO Online Knockout Draw— Battle gamers from other nations online in 16-team single elimination tournaments to gain points for your nation. Enhanced Penalty Kicks -- Experience the challenge of a penalty shoot-out as if you were on the pitch. Master your nerves to score the goal that puts your team in the UEFA EURO 2008™ final. Interactive Celebrations — Score a goal and then control your player’s movements and actions to celebrate the way you want to. Dynamic Rain and Mud — Winter weather from across Europe is authentically re-created to simulate real-world playing conditions. Experience driving rain that creates sloppy, muddy pitches which dramatically impacts passing and player performance. Home & Away Match Strategy– CPU mimics international soccer by creating strategic, defensive formations for away teams intent on playing for a draw. Authentic Stadiums — Compete in all 8 official stadiums of UEFA EURO 2008™. Team Managers — Watch reactions from team managers on the sideline as they shout encouragement or become disappointed in your team’s performance. EA SPORTS Soccer Engine – An evolution of the market leading EA SPORTS soccer engine with enhanced goalkeeper AI, collisions, and trapping that make this the best-playing EA SPORTS soccer game. Story of Qualifying — Play the qualifying campaign and step up at key defining moments to lead your country to Europe’s biggest prize. Complete team and individual tasks. Dynamic Player Ratings — Real-time player ratings change based on actual player performance, simulating the momentum swings of a real season.	Win UEFA EURO 2008 ™ — Compete as one of 53 teams from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland. Captain Your Country – Play as yourself on the same team with up to three friends. Play alongside your heroes by customizing yourself in game with your name on your shirt, and then lead your squad into battle against your rivals. Kick Stick Revolution—Never take your hands off the sticks on set pieces, corner kicks and penalty kicks with the new Kick Stick system. Use the left stick to aim the ball and then snap the right stick forward in an intuitive kicking motion for accurate set pieces from anywhere on the pitch. Move the analogue stick back and swing it forward to curl the ball around the wall! Conquer Europe — Navigate the interactive map to overcome objectives and challenges to see if you have the skills to dominate Europe. Think you are the best? Now you can prove it! Critical Moment AI — Experience the thrill of the best players elevating their play when the game is on the line with all-new Critical Moment AI. Enhanced Penalty Kicks -- Experience the elation and agony of a penalty shoot-out as if you were on the pitch. Master your nerves and the new Kick Stick to score the goal that puts your team in the Final. Dynamic Rain— Winter weather from across Europe is authentically re-created to simulate real-world playing conditions. Experience driving rain that creates sloppy pitches and dramatically impacts passing and player performance. Authentic Stadiums — Compete in all 8 official stadiums of UEFA EURO 2008™ with authentic day, dusk and night time lighting conditions. Team Managers — Watch reactions from team managers on the sideline as they shout encouragement or become disappointed in your team’s performance. Custom Formations — Design your own unique strategy to create the perfect formation and tactics. Set each player’s exact position in the formation, and assign specific attacking and defensive runs. Manual Controls — Dictate the play with manual controls for through-passing and crossing. Use the Pass Pulse to covertly call for the ball when playing with friends on the same team. Control the goalkeeper in one-on-one situations to deny the striker yourself. Use the right-stick to quickly switch to the exact player you want to control when defending. Dynamic Player Ratings — Real-time player ratings change based on actual player performance, simulating the momentum swings of a real season. Sticker Book — Collect your favorite players and unlock new game features in a virtual sticker book by completing objectives and challenges.	Win UEFA EURO 2008 ™ — Compete as one of 53 teams from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland. Conquer Europe — Navigate the interactive map to overcome objectives and challenges to see if you have the skills to dominate Europe. Think you are the best? Now you can prove it! Critical Moment AI — Experience the thrill of the best players elevating their play with the game on the line with all-new Critical Moment AI. Dynamic Rain— Winter weather from across Europe is authentically re-created to simulate real-world playing conditions. Experience driving rain that creates sloppy pitches and dramatically impacts passing and player performance. Authentic Stadiums — Compete in all 8 official stadiums of UEFA EURO 2008™ with authentic day, dusk and night time lighting conditions. Team Managers — Watch reactions from team managers on the sideline as they shout encouragement or become disappointed in your team’s performance. Custom Formations — Design your own unique strategy to create the perfect formation and tactics. Set each player’s exact position in the formation, and assign specific attacking and defensive runs. Manual Controls — Dictate the play with manual controls for through-passing and crossing. Use the Pass Pulse to covertly call for the ball when playing with friends on the same team. Control the goalkeeper in one-on-one situations to deny the striker yourself. Use the right-stick to quickly switch to the exact player you want to control when defending. Dynamic Player Ratings — Real-time player ratings change based on actual player performance, simulating the momentum swings of a real season. Sticker Book — Collect your favorite players and unlock new game features in a virtual sticker book by completing objectives and challenges. Soccer IQ—Test your soccer knowledge inside Quiz mode featuring thousands of European Football Championship related questions.