FIFA 08 scores with Ronaldinho, blesses PS3 & Wii

by James Ransom-Wiley { May 24th 2007 at 2:57PM }

EA didn't shock the world with its surprise confirmation of FIFA 08 today, but PlayStation 3 and Wii owners might be pleased with the assurance that versions of the soccer sim are in development for their consoles, along with Xbox 360, PS2, PSP, DS, PC, and mobile platforms. A strong marketing initiative appears to be the key feature of this year's iteration, with Barcelona's midfielder and two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo de Assís Moreira, or simply Ronaldinho, being brought on as the "center-piece" for the global packaging campaign. From country to country, Ronaldinho will be joined by other carefully selected stars, whose celebrity will help drive predictable profits. But EA claims it's not just paying these footballers for a picture, as several participating athletes will be carefully studied under the lens of a mocap camera deep within a private facility in Barcelona for authentic virtual representation. As for the rest of the league's players? Well, you just can't pay 'em all...

FIFA 08 is being developed by EA Canada in Vancouver and is scheduled for a worldwide release this fall.

Confirmed cover athletes:

Austria: Andreas Ivanschitz of Panathinaikos FC
France: Florent Malouda of Olympique Lyonnais & Frank Ribery of Olympique Marseille
Germany: Miroslav Klose of Werder Bremen
Spain: Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid
Switzerland: Tranquillo Barnetta of Bayer Leverkusen

Note: cover stars for the North American and United Kingdom versions will be revealed next month.

Tags: 360, ds, ea, electronic arts, ElectronicArts, fifa, FIFA08, ps2, ps3, psp, ronaldinho, soccer, wii, xbox, xbox 360, Xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

AJ Vaynerchuk @ May 24th 2007 3:30PM

Ronaldinho is the man! Best passer, and by far the most entertaining soccer player today!
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rfom @ May 24th 2007 3:40PM

Saw Kaka's dragback yesterday?

Frank @ May 24th 2007 4:10PM

Cannavaro better be on the N.America cover! Forza Azzurri !!!!!

JRM @ May 24th 2007 4:52PM

"Cannavaro better be on the N.America cover! Forza Azzurri !!!!!"

I seriously doubt it. My money is on some american, mexican, or central american from MLS :(

Calvin @ May 24th 2007 4:54PM

Cmon, it'll be Beckham on the US cover...

3cubedminus3squared @ May 24th 2007 4:55PM

Ronaldinho is awesome and so is Ronaldo.
I'll be buying this on 360.

manic @ May 24th 2007 5:10PM

Oh please.

Give me Thierry Henry anyway. The best striker in Europe... when not injured.

Was good to see Milan win yesterday though!! Hate Liverpool.. Scouse bastards.

Arturo @ May 24th 2007 5:24PM

"I seriously doubt it. My money is on some american, mexican, or central american from MLS :("

So where are u from?

Ross P @ May 24th 2007 5:33PM

I don't care who they sign up...just make the thing play well. The game has sucked since '05...and with the Pro Evolution Series finally making it out regularly in the US, EA has some work to go.

That said...GUNNERS!!!!!! Henry is magic, and will rule again in 07/08...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gz9zuqTWdE

Josh R. @ May 24th 2007 5:36PM

My money is on Omar Bravo on the cover again...

Greg2k @ May 24th 2007 6:27PM

Kick ass, Sergio Ramos FTW!

Taha @ May 24th 2007 7:04PM

It'll be the same thing as last time, Ronaldinho with one American player and one Mexican player.

qO_Op @ May 24th 2007 8:21PM

Pro Evolution sh*** on Fifa

Arturo @ May 24th 2007 8:42PM

"My money is on Omar Bravo on the cover again..."

"It'll be the same thing as last time, Ronaldinho with one American player and one Mexican player."

Well this is the North American copy we're talking...who did you expect? Someone from Asia?

generaldane @ May 24th 2007 9:17PM

Steven Gerrad is one of the best there is

JRM @ May 24th 2007 9:24PM

""I seriously doubt it. My money is on some american, mexican, or central american from MLS :("

So where are u from?"

I'm Canadian, born in Perú. I actually don't have a problem with an american, mexican, or central american being on the cover. It just sucks that we don't get any major superstars on the cover because just because it's "regionalized" :(

adium @ May 25th 2007 5:25AM

save your money for pro evo/winning 11

Elias @ May 25th 2007 5:55PM

Fifa 08 is for me the reason to buy an xbox 360!!!!!
Go throw your crap copy of any PES game in the garbage.

Willie @ Jun 6th 2007 2:56PM

Man Ronaldinho and the rest of the brazilians can suck dese nuts
They should put C.Ronaldo in the center of the new Fifa
Ronaldinho did u know that u r a stingy azz

robert @ Jun 19th 2007 2:18AM

It should be the best player in the world... (Ricardo) Kaka, but it'd be nice to see Andres Guardado and Damarcus Beasley.

paulo @ Jun 21st 2007 2:31PM

Messi, Robinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho
They are the best

Nkosi @ Jun 26th 2007 6:49PM

Ross P, sorry to disappoint you but Thierry Henry no longer plays for Arsenal.He is now part of the best football club ever assembled. Barca!, Barca!, Barca!!!

MexicanoSaGritoDeGuerra @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:03AM

It should be San Oswaldo and that loser from the U.S. donovan cuz they hate each other. Funny U.S. gets lucky a few times and now they think their the superpower of the concacaf LOL!!!!!!!!!! Just imagine if they faced brazil in this copa america....pin*he masacre ...hahahahahahahahaha

Momo @ Jul 10th 2007 12:27AM

I remember in 1996 when I bought FIFA 96 and I started to buy all the FIFA games until I discovered Pro Evolution Soccer (also known as Winning Eleven) the best game of football ever. I can spend hours playing without getting tired. The only time I change the PES cd is to put a new one. I just bought PS3 and I can't wait to play PES 2008. So FIFA can still try their best they won't change my mind and other real football admirers.