Of course, you didn't really think we'd actually make it out of EA's booth without them showing us the latest FIFA game? Developed by EA Sports, as usual, FIFA 08 is being prepared for the PS3, X360, Wii and the PC. We were given a briefing about the console versions.

EA kicked off with a demonstration of the upcoming Wii edition of the game. Mind you, the Wii version was a hands-off deal, so we were only able to watch how the game was played (2lions got a chance play the PS3 version for a bit). (And kick ass like a fucking pro. - 2Lions)

At first glance, the Wii version didn't seem much different from any of the previous instalments in the long-running FIFA series, in terms of visuals that is (surprise, surprise). Fair enough, we all know that when it comes to Wii games, it's all about the interactivity and the dynamic controls, rather than next-gen visuals. (The game looked worse, of course, but Wii ain't about the eye candy. - 2Lions) Designing the game for the Wii, as we were told, proved to be a challenge for the developers. In the end, they managed to come up with a control scheme that's best suited for all players. Generally, the Wii games are targeted for casual gamers and FIFA 08 will be no exception. The controls are simple. You use the Wii-mote to interact with the ball and any character movements are handled via the nunchuck. By tilting the Wii-mote upwards, for instance, you can shoot and depending on the briskness of movement, determine the intensity of the shot. The Wii version also has one interesting addition, which involves a multiplayer mode with so-called Family Play. Switching to Family Play allows the CPU to move the players around for you, while you get to experiment with a wide variety of moves and shots (by only using the Wii-mote). It's a good addition and seems suitable for beginners. It can also make the game a whole lot more entertaining than an average soccer match. Oh and, unsurprisingly, you'll also have Wii-exclusive mini-games, like keepy-uppies, featuring the faces of soccer icons like, Ronaldinho and the like (though it will also be possible to incorporate your own Miis).

As the demo for FIFA 08 Wii ended, we were blown away by the sudden change of visual quality, as the PS3 version moved into view. Yep, switching to High Definition really makes one helluva difference. (And actually having the freaking processing power of the PS3 and 360. - 2Lions)

One of the first major improvements that was brought to our attention was the enhanced AI. Not only that, the developers had to "re-think" the game in order to make the most out of the Cell processor. The AI reacts more organically and it relies heavily on the increased ability of the CPU (still, we won't neglect the fact that the newly improved AI will also be fitted in the X360 version). AI-controlled players on the field will react to your style of play, calculating each move they make carefully and viewing each situation from a variety of possible angles. Basically assessing for themselves where the threat is coming from, or if they need to take advantage of their position on the field.

Still, you'll always have a few tricks up your sleeve in order to compete with that. An impressive assortment of different fake moves was shown, in addition to the possibility of chaining several ordinary moves together with fakes to make effective combos. Even trademark celebrity player moves.

The dynamic atmosphere of the game gets even more exciting when the new camera mode kicks in. When you start dribbling on your own, the camera zooms in on the player (in a semi-over-the-shoulder kind of perspective) and it becomes a real rush as you get closer and closer to the goal.

This new camera mode is certainly not just a visual novelty, as it closely ties in to the new "Be a Pro" mode with online co-op play, as well as an improved Tournament mode. This actually seemed like the most fun addition to the FIFA series. You will be able to take control of a single player, and play with buddies in co-op over the net (using voice over IP if you like). Just like in a real football match, each of you will have their assigned role on the field so to speak, and while some of you are controlling specific players, other will still play in over the top view to possibly better asses the situation on the field. Clearly, this is a major step in the right direction for the series, bringing a whole new level of competitiveness to the game.

With this in mind, you'll be able to take part in online leagues - yeah, up to 32 players can form leagues online.

There's absolutely no doubt that many true-hearted soccer fans are still hooked on Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer series. After seeing FIFA 08, we're starting to think EA Sports might finally be able to offer something different and something that might be able to compete with Pro Evo.

-- Ure 'Vader' Paul