Coming from the pages of the French Official PlayStation Magazine, the first FIFA 12 details have emerged, revealing a new 'Impact Engine', which apparently tracks contact between players more realistically, and counts "more human AI" among its new gameplay refinements.
The new AI, coupled with the Impact Engine can also keep tabs on injuries and which part of the body they're affecting. Keep getting hacked in the shins and your player will start to suffer the effects, especially as time plods on towards full time.
A new, more user-friendly interface and new arenas round out the new features, which are presented in bulletpoint form, translated from the French language version on FIFA-Fuma.com. Take a look:
- FIFA 12 introduces the 'Impact Engine' which properly tracks and formulates contact between players, including their hips, knees etc.
- The AI will also keep track of areas of the body players have been injured during a match. Players can also become injured off the ball if abused too much, especially late in the game.
- FIFA 12 also introduces 'AI Vision Game' (rough translation), which promises to make passing more realistic. If you try to complete a pass to a player that's not within visible range, for example, it's less likely you'll complete the pass. EA hopes this will get rid of "blind passing".
- Personality Plus is more developed and should influence AI players' passes this time.
- AI is said to be "more human", with each player acting more or less according to his abilities. One example given is when an AI player sees Fabregas coming towards him with the ball, he'll act more carefully.
- OPM describes "new presentation" of matches in FIFA 12, which are said to be very much inspired by English football crowds
- The game includes three new arenas, this time with integrated benches along the sidelines and "impressive lighting effects" according to OPM France.
- Integration of a new short dribble with the left stick.
- The game features a new camera that's noticeably closer to the ground.
- There's also a new menu interface that appears to be simpler and more ergonomic than before.
FIFA 12 will likely be released in autumn 2011.