EA selects Blanco, Kljestan to be on cover of FIFA 10
by:
Chuck
-
posted:
8/10/2009 2:06:00 PM
I'm not normally one to quibble with who EA Sports as to who should or shouldn't be on the cover for their games but picking Cuauhtémoc Blanco for
FIFA 10 is a bit interesting to say the least. Missing from the press release below is how Blanco was involved in a bit of a
scandal within the MLS earlier this year in which Blanco gave a jersey to a referee after a game which wouldn't be bad except for the fact that the ref made a particularly bad call involving Blanco earlier in the game. The referee was suspended for
two games which doesn't make the situation look any better.
It also doesn't help the fact that Blanco (while a hero for the Mexican national team) isn't even one of the
top ten players in the MLS any more .Personally I could think of
one or
two players who would have been better replacements for Blanco and they wouldn't have required as much Photoshop work. Here's the cover of the game which will still probably sell like hotcakes in every country in the world except for the US.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – August 10, 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced Major League Soccer stars Cuauhtémoc Blanco of Chicago Fire and Sacha Kljestan of Chivas USA will be featured on the front packs of FIFA Soccer 10, the next chapter in the internationally acclaimed videogame franchise from EA SPORTSTM .
Blanco is a popular midfielder for Chicago and two-time MLS All-Star. Prior to joining the Fire, he won five MVP awards in the Mexican Premier League. Blanco has represented Mexico at two FIFA World Cups (1998, 2002), and is the second leading goal scorer of all time for the Mexican national team.
Blanco is well-known for his unique Cuauhtémiña (CWAU-te-MEEN-YA) or "Blanco Bounce" move, in which he jumps with the ball held between his feet to escape defenders. The “Blanco Bounce” is a featured skill move in FIFA Soccer 10.
As an attacking midfielder for Chivas USA and the U.S. Men’s National Team, Kljestan enjoyed a breakout season in 2008. In his third year in MLS, Kljestan led Chivas USA in scoring, was named Team MVP, chosen an MLS All-Star, and played for the United States Olympic Team. Kljestan has appeared in 12 matches for the full U.S. National Team.
The spotlight will also shine on Chelsea’s world-class attacking midfielder Frank Lampard who will be featured on FIFA Soccer 10 packaging in North America and around the world. Lampard is just the second midfield player in the history of English Premier League to score more than 100 goals.
Responding to consumer feedback from more than 400 million online games played* last year, FIFA Soccer 10 will deliver gameplay refinements and innovations that will make it the most complete and intelligent simulation of soccer. The first-ever true 360° dribbling system gives players finer control of the ball, enabling them to find spaces between defenders that previously were not possible. A new Freedom in Physical Play concept enables players to perform wider dribble touches and new collision sharing creates a varied, less predictable, and extended fight for possession between the dribbler and a defender. Master the game before stepping on the pitch in a new practice arena that enables users to design free kicks for different dead ball situations. Record and test plays before taking them onto the pitch with Customizable Set Pieces.
Visit WWW.FIFA.EASPORTS.COM for more information about FIFA Soccer 10. Screenshots and box art of FIFA Soccer 10 are available at http://info.ea.com.
FIFA Soccer 10 is developed in 18 languages and available in 37 countries around the world–-it is the most popular EA SPORTS franchise globally. FIFA Soccer 10 will be available in stores throughout North America on October 20. It will be available for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, Wii™ home video game system, PC, PlayStation®2, Nintendo DS™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and mobile. It is developed under the EA SPORTS brand by EA Canada in Burnaby, B.C. The game is rated “E” for Everyone by the ESRB and 3+ by Pegi in Europe.
EA SPORTS™ is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®.