August 18th, 2012

Matt Prior talks about the friends list in FIFA 13 on the Wii U

25 Comments

As explained by Matt Prior, a producer for FIFA 13, there’s an ever-present “Friends” tab on the Wii U’s GamePad. You simply tap this to open a list of your friends, from which you can either invite someone to a game, or send them a message. As far as the messaging is concerned, it’s:

…much better than the 360 Live virtual keyboard where you’re moving it up and down. …we really want to connect friends and allow people to game with friends as easily as possible.

And with all this talk of friends lists, I’m thinking we’re going to need to get some football matches going between readers. What do you think?

(via nintendoworldreport.com)

  • Kenshin0011

    This type of functionality for the Wii U is one of the first things that I thought about when the Wii U was announced because it’s so obvious. And that goes for Madden, NBA, COD, etc.
    It isn’t a game changer, but provides features that are unique and (most importantly) optional. That means they don’t take away from the already proven formula but just ADD. Menus and playmaking will also become more convenient. Typing extended messages will also be much more reasonable.
    I don’t think this version will outsell the PS3/360 versions (maybe when ’14 comes around) but when you look at all the ports of this title side by side, the Wii U version looks to be the definitive version. Eventually I could see this becoming the new “standard” when playing sports games (MS is also trying this with Smart Glass)….so then I guess it technically is a “game changer”, but a sneaky one.

    • http://PolyKhromeGames.blogspot.com/ Brian Lockett

      I think the biggest problem with Microsoft’s Smart Glass idea is that you can’t hold your tablet and your controller at the same time. The Wii U GamePad, however, completely solves this issue. :)

      (
      Not to mention, surprisingly, not everyone owns a tablet, and most people won’t care to use their tiny smartphones for Smart Glass. I just don’t see Smart Glass really taking off well–not as well as a Wii U GamePad.)

  • Hybrilynx

    shadow fail. i dont watch soccer but really shadows cant look that fake.

    • NeonNerd

      If you are talking about the four shadows, that is quite common under football stadium flood lights.

    • Hybrilynx

      what i told the other guy.

    • Schultz38

      Like Neon said, it’s really common for the four shadow thing. Pretty much any stadium lighting has those shadows.

      I think it looks great :’)

    • Hybrilynx

      im talking about the brightness of the grass vs the darkness of the shadows.

    • NeonNerd

      Again it is common for a night time game under flood lights for it to appear brighter.

  • http://www.facebook.com/AlexAtkinUK Alexander Atkin

    I like the idea of being able to see if your friends are online on the controller while in-game.

    Although they seem to be forgetting that you can get the chat pad for Xbox which will always be better than a touchscreen for typing.

    • mut4nt

      well-maybe not everyone wants to talk^^But I think sth like that will be out for Wii U , too – of course

    • abe

      True, I have a 360 chat pad and its brilliant BUT to the use it the game pauses. From the sounds of it. This won’t pause so you can quickly read messages during slow moments

    • http://www.facebook.com/lilrizky Joshua Rizk

      Even better than a touch pad is the in-built microphone in the controller. Just leave voice-texts. There’s even video calling and apparently you can use those apps without having to suspend the game altogether. Wii-U is all about options.

    • http://twitter.com/YuriWhitehall Yuri Whitehall

      and to think this sort of stuff will come at no further price, its just great.

  • mut4nt

    Of course-football matches between readers would be great :D
    And…Much better than 360s live sound VEEERY good^^

  • xdlugia

    That’s right David! FIFA is a football game, not a soccer game.

    • Big E

      Depends on what area youu live in.

    • http://PolyKhromeGames.blogspot.com/ Brian Lockett

      “Soccer” is just short for “association,” as in “association football,” which is the technical name of this particular type of football. (And believe it or not, the term “soccer” actually originated from England, not North America, so blame them for it. ;)

      Of course, association football is but one of many different variants of the football family found all over the world. Believe it or not (though, I’m sure you know this), association football isn’t the only “football” sport. It’s just one of several organization of rules for “football.”

      Therefore, to assign “football” exclusively to just one of many variants of football games is all a matter of personal preference. I may call association football “soccer” and you may call association football “football” and we’d both be right. :D

  • anon

    Glad you said football and not soccer.

  • mickey

    its futbol nloot football

    • mickey

      *not

  • http://PolyKhromeGames.blogspot.com/ Brian Lockett

    [This post is given in a lighthearted tone, given in response to the several folks deeming the term "soccer" as incorrect, so don't take this too seriously.]

    “Soccer” is just short for “association,” as in “association football,” which is the technical name of this particular type of football. (And believe it or not, the term “soccer” actually originated from England in the late 19th century, not North America, so blame them for it. ;)

    Of course, association football is but one of many different variants of the football family found all over the world. Believe it or not (though, I’m sure you know this), association football isn’t the only “football” sport. There are several variants, some of which being even older than the association football to which you have grown accustomed.

    It’s just that this one of particular organization of codes and rules for “football,” the particular organization of “association football,” came into popularity through the prevalence and academic influence of the British Empire (who, again, gave us our word “soccer” as well). In fact, the earliest forms of association football looked quite similar to American and Australian-rules football, in that they allowed you to fair-catch the ball with your hands!

    So, if you trust the UK-originated branding of this particular variant of football, among all the many variants of this most ancient and popular form of sport, you’ll have to okay their branding of the word “soccer” as perfectly acceptable as well, since it came from the UK, too.

    Therefore, to assign “football” exclusively to just one of many variants of football games is all a matter of personal preference and what you’re most comfortable with using. I may call association football “soccer” and you may call association football “football” and we’d both be right.

    How’s that for a post? :D

    • http://PolyKhromeGames.blogspot.com/ Brian Lockett

      …But it’s still soccer!

      *Writer runs away wearing a trollface*

  • http://www.facebook.com/lilrizky Joshua Rizk

    That’s actually a great feature. Hope Treyarch learns this for Blops 2. Make things so much more convenient and integrated.

  • Lizzie1238

    Isn’t it called soccer in Australia? Why did the sport get two names anyway?

  • http://twitter.com/Revolution5268 Revolution

    sounds cool, but i need to see that in action.