Last  year, EA finally brought their soccer franchise, FIFA, up to par with their hockey and football series.  After years of trailing behind the Winning Eleven/Pro Evolution series, FIFA 10 showed that EA was dedicated to improving the gameplay and realism of their soccer series, and for the first time since the inception of the two franchises, FIFA garnered better review scores than its competitor.  This year, EA certainly wants to repeat their success in the gameplay department, but they’re also making vast improvements to the game’s customization suites, an aspect which was lacking in last year's offering.

In a press release today, EA unveiled their set of creation tools, which they’re calling their “Creation Centre,” you know, because soccer is European, and England is Europe.  Basically, FIFA 11 players will now have the same range of customization options as NCAA Football fans, complete with an online team editor and a team sharing community.  Players will not only build their custom teams online, they’ll also build their custom players on the site, and even manage player stats and team strategies through the web--based editor.  Although they won’t be accessible on the customization site, FIFA 11 will also include custom chants, and allow players to import music from their Xbox 360 or PS3 hard drives.

“Having the ability to customize content in FIFA 11 to the degree where you are creating players and teams, choosing player attributes and managing team tactics effortlessly from the web opens up a world of possibilities of original content that fans will be able to create,” says FIFA 11 Producer, David Rutter.   “Creation Centre will perfectly compliment the official league and team licenses that are the hallmark of the FIFA franchise.”

Online team-builders and team sharing communities are among my favorite innovations of this console cycle, and it’s nice to see soccer getting the same treatment that college football gets.  I’m really not a soccer fan, but all the positive buzz around FIFA 10 made me check out the game.  It was so good, I bought it, and am currently playing through a career mode with my created player.  Since I don’t care about roster updates, FIFA 11 needed something to pique my interest, and as anyone who knows me can tell you, a robust customization suite is the best way to win me over.

Press release follows.

FIFA 11
EA SPORTS UNVEILS CREATION CENTRE FOR FIFA 11

EA SPORTS unveiled today a new feature called Creation Centre that will provide football fans with the tools to customize content in FIFA 11 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 in new ways. Craft your own football player and create the team of your dreams using a web-based application at www.easportsfootball.com. Create a player by choosing his appearance, accessories and attributes and then create an original team with a distinctive crest and kits, complete with home stadium.

Fans will be able to share their created players and teams with friends and download into their console to play online, in Tournaments and in Kick-Off matches in FIFA 11. In addition, fans can choose player attributes and manage their created team’s formations and tactics right from the web. Creation Centre will launch when FIFA 11 is available in stores on Sept. 28 in North America and Oct. 1 in Europe and Asia.

“Having the ability to customize content in FIFA 11 to the degree where you are creating players and teams, choosing player attributes and managing team tactics effortlessly from the web opens up a world of possibilities of original content that fans will be able to create,” said David Rutter, Producer of FIFA 11 on Xbox 360 and PS3. “Creation Centre will perfectly compliment the official league and team licenses that are the hallmark of the FIFA franchise.”

Also new this year in FIFA 11 is Custom Audio, which enables fans to assign chants for every team and league in the game. Fans can set their home club’s chants to play during player introductions, halftime, and after goals – even hearing their name echo in the stands of Old Trafford or San Siro with created chants for their Virtual Pro. Plus, fans now have the ability to play music from their hard drive in game.

Visit http://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa to join the FIFA group on Facebook and visit WWW.FIFA.EASPORTS.COM for more information. Screenshots are available at www.easports.co.uk/press.

FIFA 11 will be available in stores for the PlayStation3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii, PlayStation2, Nintendo DS, PSP and mobile on Sept. 28 in North America and Oct. 1 in Europe and Asia. FIFA 11 on Wii will be available in stores Oct. 1 in Europe and Asia and Oct. 4 in North America. It is developed under the EA SPORTS brand by EA Canada in Burnaby, B.C. The game has not yet been rated.