Games

What the FIFA Games Need to Bring Back

Jason

It’s that time again, folks. This Friday marks the return of one of the biggest sporting titles on consoles as FIFA 13 hits entertainment retailers to what will be a staggering abundance of sales. As is expected of the latest installment in the ongoing canon, FIFA 13 brings into play a whole range of new features in gameplay, whether it be an improved first touch system, advanced forward runs from attackers, or whole new game modes.

With the annual Electronic Arts games, progression is key in maintaining the interest and ultimately the purchasing power of gamers. After all, if the FIFA games remained constant in their gameplay mechanics and offerings feature-wise, gamers would eventually tire and move their focus to other offerings.

Whilst new features continue to prove that FIFA is the crème-de-la-crème of soccer offerings, looking back through the history of the games has brought my attention to some sorely missed features that I would love to see a return for.

Diving –

Week in, week out we see Premiership players attempt to gain an advantage in the ‘art’ of diving so why not bring it back into FIFA? Admittedly, nine times out of ten it didn’t quite work with the referee, but on that odd occasion, you could pull it off and gain either a free kick or that all-important penalty to clinch that win. EA is always raving about realism, here’s something that would ramp it up even further.

Indoor five-a-side mode –

Previously players were given the opportunity to play in indoor five-a-side (or more) matches in a varied mode from your run-of-the-mill stadium match. It was a fun way of playing against friends and even tested out your abilities in a faster-paced situation, perfect practice for those wannabe pros.

Violent conduct –

Whilst violence in football should never be condoned, FIFA previously added in just that, the opportunity to have a little ‘dig’ at your opponent at the risk of being punished. Once again throwing in a realistic edge (after all, players do get irate at times) this could be something worth considering for a return.

Quick subs –

Using the D-pad to quickly tinker with your team for a quick substitute was a clever little feature in the past but EA decided that it was not worthy of being continued. Admittedly it could prove difficult to do whilst fending off your opponent but would prove a neat return considering the time it can take sometimes when making substitutes.

Manual forwards run –

A new addition to the gameplay this year is the feature in which your attackers make much-improved runs for that all-important through ball that can pick apart the opposition defense. The problem; is all automatic. The solution; bring back manual forward runs that saw you pass to another team-mate for you to run into space for a return pass, simple really.

I’m sure there are plenty of other additions many gamers would love to see make a timely return to FIFA 13 but for now, we have to make do with what still is going to be a revolutionary footballing title. Just don’t forget, it’s out on Sept. 28! Will until then you have Poker IOS PKV that offers you engaging and fun games that you can try until the launch of a new FIFA game. 

Travel

Brokeback Vegas

Jason

I’m in Las Vegas for a few days and what do you do when you go to Vegas? See Celine Dion, of course!

Just after 3 a.m. I was leaving a nightclub and was walking down to the strip to my hotel room when something caught my eye at the stoplight: a young guy in a cut-off sleeveless plaid shirt, jeans, cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat. He looked stunning like a model with deep brown wavy hair and dark brown eyes. Moreover, I also tried bandarq online which was an amazing experience for me as I really enjoy poker and other card games. 

The Las Vegas strip is a round-the-clock affair central so there are mobs of people out there at any given time.

The night had grown much cooler after 3 a.m. and I stopped and asked the stunning Ashton Kutcher look-alike, “Are you cold?”

Just as I said that my mind flashed to the movie Midnight Cowboy where Jon Voight is in a cowboy hat and basically homeless and cold in Times Square and Dustin Hoffman befriends him.

I asked this guy where was he going and he said, “7-Eleven” and I said, “Oh good I am going there too.” I actually wasn’t going there, but when you run into a super hottie you try not to blow it.

So I bought the looker an energy drink with a malt beverage in it. Isn’t America great that you can buy an energy drink with booze in it? I was the one who probably needed an energy drink.

The hottie’s name is William and he was sort of like a lost puppy that follows you home. Sometimes the heavens part and drop something good in your lap.

The strapping 6-foot-4 William told me he was a welder. Of course, he was, and I made a joke: “Like Jennifer Beals in the film Flashdance?” This went right over his head. William is 26-years-old and I think he was conceived four years before Flashdance came out.

William asked me if the rooms were nice at my hotel. I responded, “Yeah actually they’re really nice.” Thank God I decided not to scrimp on this trip and did not choose a Motel 6. I’m staying at the hip and happening Planet Hollywood right on the strip.

Just as we were walking towards the entrance of the hotel I quickly said, “Do you want to come up?” God, I sounded like a cliched pro from some smutty movie only this was my smutty movie and I was the lead.

But I did something I usually don’t do – I quickly walked away from him towards the glass door of the hotel. I kept hoping he would just follow me and was tempted to look back to see if he was or decided to leave. But I was so disciplined that night that I didn’t look back to see if he was coming and just kept walking towards the elevators.

William was right behind me and there we were: silently standing inside the elevator. I think I made some small talk. I told William he should be a model. It was not just some crass line. It was true as he was even more attractive and stunning in the bright overhead elevator lights. He told me that a lot of people have told him the same thing. (What? Someone else is as insightful as me?) I asked him his nationality and William told me that he’s Italian, German, French, Scottish and American Indian. I feel as if I am now the ambassador to the United Nations.

As I used the card key to my hotel room there was no more small talk or idle chatter. Once inside, I told him to sit on my desk chair (which as you know in all hotels is right near the bed). He sat down and I changed the channels on the TV to see what would be good to watch. Who am I kidding? I was looking for a channel to leave on so we could use the TV as a backlight while we’re in bed.

I turned off a couple of lamps and I then as we were talking I slowly began moving some stuff I’d left on the bed. Once I was done, I stared at the TV screen. William asked me if I had a girlfriend. I told him, “I’m not straight.” He replied, “I figured so much.”

As we talked further I felt that William was slowly letting his guard down. As we were getting to know each other I made William smile and laugh a lot. (He doesn’t know I’m a comic). William had an amazing smile and laugh.

We’re talking and talking and talking. I was really tired, so I asked if I could give him a massage. He says no and says he’s straight. I asked him, “Why did you come up to my room then?” He told me he was cold.

I am now massaging his neck with my right hand. He tells me that I should do this professionally ’cause it feels so good.

As we talked further his charming adorableness became a bit creepy.

William said he was having trouble getting the right welding job since he had trouble with his birth certificate and his social security card. It’s now 6 a.m. and we are discussing his work prospects. I am now his guidance counselor.

Why could I have not picked up a cast member from one of the Cirque du Soleil’s shows, as surely they would have been full-on gay?

As William keeps talking I start to clear some more stuff off the bed to get ready for our “against God lovemaking.” And he starts to say stuff like, “I am so lost” and I say, “We’re all lost, don’t worry about it.” He then says, “Sometimes I don’t know who I am” and I reply, “It’s 6 a.m. I don’t even know who I am right now.” Then he starts to tell me that he’s on probation. What? Did I miss something? I feel as if I’m in a bad Cops episode.

So I told him that he had to go. He told me that he’s practically homeless and that he’s staying with two older gay guys at their house – sleeping in their living room on a reclining chair. I told him how lucky he was to be taken in by strangers and I closed the door and locked it.

When I woke up at noon, I noticed he had left his cowboy hat on the chair.