FIFA 13 will be a Wii U launch game, demos GamePad features

Written by Matt Swider on August 02, 2012

FIFA 13 Wii U News: FIFA 13 for Nintendo Wii U will be a launch title. Read the first details about this Wii U game, including how the GamePad controls will work.

FIFA 13 was announced as a Wii U launch title by Electronic Arts this afternoon and demoed on stage using the Nintendo system's unique GamePad. This mostly consisted of goal shooting and passing controls, making them easier for everyone but the most avid FIFA soccer players. For those experts, this version of FIFA 13 can be played the same exact way as on other current-gen systems.

?We didn't want to break the experience for those people who played FIFA on the 360 or PS3,? said FIFA 13 Wii U line producer Mat Prior, wearing a Manchester City soccer jersey. ?If you want to play on the WIi U you can play exactly the same way you would on those consoles.?

Diving into the optional functionality using the Wii U GamePad, Pior had his on-stage demoer lift the Wii U GamePad during a free kick and aim it beyond the crotch-covering soccer players toward the goal. In addition to aiming with a reticle that popped up on the Wii U GamePad screen, Prior mentioned that the the demoer had the ability to apply curve with the left analog stick.

?It puts much more precision in the hands of the user,? said Prior. As the demoer missed, he was sure to mention, ?...One of the key things also is that we didn't want to make it too easy. It's not a gimmicky way to score all of the time.? Of course!

Another way FIFA 13 for Wii U is supposed to add precision is through the new shake and shoot mechanic. In a shooting position, shaking the controller - or, alternatively, pressing the L3 button - brings overlays a net graphic on the Wii U GamePad screen. Touching it allows you to aim where you want the soccer ball to go, reducing the randomization that sometimes comes with shooting toward the goal.

Passing in FIFA 13 for Wii U is also easier and should solve the problem of errant passes to the only person you didn't want to handle the ball. There's nothing more frustrating than having a pass go to someone behind heavy defense and then having the announcers call you out for it. The GamePad helps solve that problem by giving you the option to pass using the touchscreen instead.

FIFA 13 co-op mode

Finally, the FIFA 13 Wii U demo ended with a taste of Manager Mode and Co-Op mode. Manager mode acts as a gameplay-simplified, but stat-heavy top-down view of the game. While icons and a 2D soccer ball graphic took place of the players and the ball, tabs on the side were filled with oodles of interactive stats. You could make on-the-fly subs and check the stats of the game without having to hit pause.

?All of these functionality is obviously available on the Xbox 360 and PS3, but you currently have to do is pause the game to make these changes. And what it creates is a much more interrupted flow. Now all of this is on-the-fly, in real-time.?

FIFA 13 Wii U's co-op mode is unique in that is allows one player to manage on the GamePad while four others can play the actual gameplay. Using what EA calls ?interactive radar,? the GamePad player can send soccer players on supporting runs, attacking or defensive. Behind the scenes, the extra player can act as a manager, changing tactics, formations and making substitutions for a more seamless experience. Whether or not this is as fun as actually playing FIFA's sped-up 90 minutes remains to be seen.

We'll have more FIFA 13 Wii U updates soon, as we now know the game is destined for the Wii U launch expected later this year.