EA SPORTS Q&A: FIFA 14 and the Power of a New Generation

Fuelled by EA SPORTS IGNITE, “FIFA 14” on Xbox One will feel alive with players who think, move, and behave like world-class players, and fans will feel the electricity of a living stadium as the emotions of new 3D crowds rise and fall around the stories on the pitch. Check out the Xbox Wire exclusive interview below with Santiago Jaramillo, producer of “FIFA 14” and stay tuned for more news and insights from other renowned developers of the hottest and most anticipated games coming to Xbox.

What are you most excited about for developing on new generation hardware?

With the next generation of consoles we are able to do things we’ve wanted for years, but technical limitations made it too costly or simply not doable. For “FIFA” in particular, I’m really excited to be able to bring the living world around the pitch to life.  

How will a new generation of hardware impact the future of “FIFA” titles?

The new generation of consoles pushes the current boundaries of realism and connectivity. Fans’ expectations also increase a lot more with a console transition. We’ll need to listen to the community to know what they expect from the new hardware and soccer simulation and invest in the areas that will give them that. “FIFA14” we will already deliver the most stunning environments we’ve ever had, the most fun, fluid and realistic gameplay, and lots of modes to give context and meaning to your “FIFA” experience. I think we’re on the right track. 

How will the online multiplayer experience be improved with new generation hardware?

The “FIFA” community grows every year and the new generation of hardware allows us to bring people together more and more seamlessly. Co-op Seasons is a great addition for our first year with the new consoles, and we will continue to innovate in this area in future years as well. 

How has player movement and ball physics been improved in this iteration of “FIFA?”

We’ve rewritten both systems: locomotion, which controls player movement on the pitch; and ball physics, which governs the way the ball behaves in the air and its trajectory based on rotation, speed, and other factors. We’ve based them on real life data and modeled these systems to be the most realistic in franchise history. 

What are some of the challenges that developers face when providing innovations for annual titles?

I think having such a compressed timeline to innovate a 90-rated game is what is most difficult. Fortunately we have an amazing developing team that have a solid and exciting vision for the game, and that reacts quickly to fan feedback to provide the best soccer simulation experience every year. 

How will new-generation hardware make “FIFA 14” a more realistic and immersive football(soccer) experience?

Leveraging the Ignite Engine, our next gen engine, allows us to improve all areas of our game in a way we couldn’t do before. You have a more fluid gameplay, more powerful AI, better physics and player movement, and my favorite: the best-looking crowd, stadiums and immersive atmosphere we’ve ever had. 

How do the legendary players found in the Ultimate Team mode stack up against today’s superstars in “FIFA 14?”

I think many of those players would still be top players in today’s game. The game is faster and more physical than it used to be, but genius is timeless. I would love to see Lothar Mattheus play in today’s game, or Gianfranco Zola, my favorite player, use his creativity and skill to unlock the most stubborn defenses. I can’t wait to see how FUT players mix these timeless stars with today’s top players.