STACK #239 September 2024

GAMING FEATURE

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FOOTBALL SOCCER VS

While the term “football” is more commonly used worldwide, most Aussies use “soccer” to differentiate the game from Australian rules football, which is usually just known as “football” or “footy”. Anybody who’s offended by the “s” word should know that the term “soccer” originated in England in the 1870s, as a slang term for “association football”. How? Well, they knocked off the “as” and everything after the “soc” and added “er”, which was a popular informal suffix at the time – such as “rugger” for rugby.

Soccer fans are itching for the arrival this month of EA Sports FC 25 . One of its most popular features is Ultimate Team - let’s check in on some of what to expect from this year’s model. Words Bec Summer TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM

We’ll even be able to share our tactics with friends via short codes, as well as giving them custom names for easy reference. Match day! You want new stadiums? You got ‘em! Yes, the Ultimate Team match experience has been refreshed on latest generation systems thanks to newly designed arenas. The EA Sports

• EA Sports FC 25 is out Sep 27

FC IQ If you’re into tactics, then the

Rush A whole new way to play hits Ultimate Team in FC 25 , with the introduction of Rush. Designed for group play, we’ll be able to select a favourite player to represent us and build a five-a-side squad with up to three mates – the goalie is AI-controlled.

arrival of FC IQ will be right up your alley. Basically, it allows players more

control over their team’s make-up and abilities. While it is a part of the entire EA Sports FC 25 experience, it has specifics that apply to Ultimate Teams 11 vs 11 play.

people have aimed to make the experience more immersive than ever, even before kick-off, with fresh locker room, tunnel, and stadium exterior segments. There’s also the addition of more engaging – and more detailed - live broadcasting sequences, some on-pitch, highlighting such things as lineup decisions, player debuts, and unique players on both teams, including notable stats.

Cosmetics Another popular part of the experience, now the Player Item shell will have more ways for you to make it

Short on friends when you want to hit the pitch? No problem, for you can also drop in solo and get matched up with others online

For starters, manager’s real-world tactical preferences in Manager Items can authentically influence how your team plays. There are even presets to try out to get to grips with various setups and their advantages - or disadvantages. Meanwhile, Player Roles also feature for each Player Item, right

to tick off your Rush weekly events and earn Rush points. You’ll then collaborate to build your squad,

with the aim of ensuring that you create a good balance. To keep things fresh there’ll be events to offer extra challenge, which will have entry requirements such as limiting the player items that you can hit the event with.

your own. All-new Cosmetic Evolutions will allow everything from adding more breakouts to modifying backgrounds, borders, and sound effects. Change colours, add animations, and even add representations of your in-game accomplishments. These will be accessible on the main Evolutions page, which will now have category tabs to make it easier to find things.

HEY JUDE! English midfielder Jude Bellingham, who plays for Real Madrid, graces the cover of EA Sports FC 25 , and at just 21 he’s the youngest ever star to receive the honour on an EA Sports soccer game.

from the start of the Ultimate Team season. These replace the old Work Rates, guiding the level of realism with which players behave, even off the ball. There’ll initially be 12 Player Roles, with alternatives planned for introduction during the year.

SEPTEMBER 2024

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