In today's unintentionally hilarious news, the demo for
FIFA 08 was
released today on to Xbox Live in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States ... but not in Europe. So the demo for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association game was released in the country that doesn't even
call it "football," but not in Europe, where a man can be shot dead in the street for calling it "soccer." Are they serious? Let us just soak it in for a second, OK? It rarely gets better than this for video game bloggers. Honestly, we feel like we should go out and buy a Powerball ticket or something.
Major Nelson told users EA has promised the demo will be coming to Europe "very soon." Until then, they'll just have to deal with our clumsy, misinformed American impressions of the demo. (Sample: "The kicking looks sweet, but why are the scores so low?")
[Update: The humor train has come to a screeching halt, and the demo is now available in Europe.]
{ Sep 13th 2007 at 10:10AM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
baby sea tuna @ Sep 13th 2007 10:16AM
Baffling.
Truepatriot @ Sep 13th 2007 10:19AM
@EU people
just make a us account! you can download demos and market place things just fine(minus videos)then if you want just switch back to your normal account and you can still play the content.
Dan @ Sep 13th 2007 11:22AM
Nah, they made a change in one of the big updates, and that doesn't work anymore, trust me, I've tried it.
Truepatriot @ Sep 13th 2007 11:29AM
um it works for me .i have a EU and JP account and i still can download themes pics(free ones from jp) and demos fine.i never buy video so i havent tested that.
OnimushaSoki @ Sep 13th 2007 1:49PM
So... basically, EA is treating Europe like us PS3 owners?
for example... late or delayed release dates, barely ever putting out a demo(and even those flop over late), or the current kick-in-the-junk: claiming they still don't fully support the system as well as X360, with games averaging 30fps. Total crock o'$#!+...
ComradeTrotskii @ Sep 13th 2007 10:24AM
Truepatriot: We all know that, that's not the point though.
The point is why have EA not put the demo up in Europe. What are they hiding?
shaf2k @ Sep 13th 2007 10:28AM
LOL that's the funniest pic ever
Jerk Face @ Sep 13th 2007 11:53AM
Oh my god I totally didn't even see that until you pointed it out! Ha!
Anonim @ Sep 13th 2007 1:15PM
Ar those A: "balls" ?!
ZOMG!
/me died from pun-ishment
Brian Fantana @ Sep 13th 2007 10:34AM
Gettin the shaft again!
That is strange.
Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Sep 13th 2007 2:42PM
A lonely shaft in a sea of balls jokes...
Neon Jebus @ Sep 13th 2007 10:31AM
Testicular symbolism: Day 2
McElroy, you complete me.
Zaphod Beeblebrox @ Sep 14th 2007 1:54AM
Save me Jebus!!!!! (Homer Simpson)
Donald @ Sep 13th 2007 10:32AM
Epic fail detected.
Austin @ Sep 13th 2007 10:33AM
Oh, I get it now. They're saying it takes balls to not release the demo in Europe.
Matt B (SDF - White Gold Ring) @ Sep 13th 2007 10:45AM
That would be like releasing a Madden Demo... in Japan only.
TAF @ Sep 13th 2007 10:59AM
Heard that final fantasy demo won't be released in japan either... NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA (how many time can u say this fast?) demos will all be europe exclusives...
elmersglue @ Sep 13th 2007 10:48AM
HELL YES. I've been waiting for this one for a long long time. I hope it's good.
GRANTED @ Sep 13th 2007 10:49AM
who in europe would want to play fifa anyway. pro evo ftw
Davinche @ Sep 13th 2007 11:00AM
They probably know they lost to PES2008 already, and no amount of gimmicks is going to cover over the fact that the gameplay is not as good as Konami's masterpiece, so they are trying to go for "less informed" people.
But its just funny cause EA should think carefully about treating their core fanbase who lives in Europe as second best, cause if they turn against you, people in the USA aren't going to cover the loss of sales.
Savok @ Sep 13th 2007 11:11AM
I don't give two shits about sport games but this is where regionalizing online content officially became one of the most fucking annoyingly stupid things of this generation.
And yes I'm still fucking pissed the TMNT Arcade game isn't "in" Australia.
Jimbo @ Sep 13th 2007 11:13AM
Yet another example of how undervalued the european market is. We get shafted all the time, whether it be pricing, release dates, banning of games, we always seem to get the short straw... then again it could be a licensing issue
Zaphod Beeblebrox @ Sep 13th 2007 11:19AM
SEE? It is not just Sony that likes to bend over Europe, Microsoft and Nintendo are pounding away at the European continent with just as much vigor.
Matt B (SDF - White Gold Ring) @ Sep 13th 2007 11:21AM
"The shortest straw has been drawn for you......."
Ska Oreo @ Sep 13th 2007 11:55AM
@Zaphoid
Yeah but sony does it a hell of a lot more.
tactics @ Sep 13th 2007 11:58AM
it's "pulled". "pulled for you".
-"superfan" tactics.
Matt B (SDF - White Gold Ring) @ Sep 13th 2007 1:27PM
Yes, pulled....blech!
My Metalica is a little rusty.
Zaphod Beeblebrox @ Sep 13th 2007 1:43PM
There is no Metallica, there is only lica, there is no Metal left in them thanks to Lars and to a lesser extent James. Poor Cliff, he has probably rolled over in his grave so many times that he must have splinters all over his body.
Zaphod Beeblebrox @ Sep 13th 2007 11:17AM
What do you expect? Remember who is in charge of EA Sports now dont you? Peter Moore, overseer of the failed Dreamcast, overseer of the 33%+ defective 360's.
What will he do next? I'm with Matt B. on this one.
Madden 2009 demo, coming soon to the land of the rising sun.
Priceless stuff it is. Pro Evo blows FIFA out of the water.
GRANTED @ Sep 13th 2007 12:14PM
try to stop saying stupid things in the same post that you say smart things. its hard to figure out how to respond.
BPM @ Sep 13th 2007 12:17PM
Yeah, why ARE the scores so low?
Poisoned Al @ Sep 13th 2007 12:31PM
Because all Americans have ADD, and fall into a narcoleptic coma unless someone scores every five seconds?
BPM @ Sep 13th 2007 12:43PM
Works for me.
Poisoned Al @ Sep 13th 2007 12:27PM
Maybe it's because I'm old and bitter, but has anyone noticed that the demo is being shown everywhere BUT the area's people will normally buy it? Japan, South America missed out too. My conspiracy theory is the the game is so shit that EA what to kick the demo under the carpet, losing it in areas that don't give a rodent's bottom about footy. They want us poor bastards to find out the game sucks balls (hehheh), AFTER they have parted us from our money.
h0mi @ Sep 13th 2007 12:28PM
"Until then, they'll just have to deal with our clumsy, misinformed American impressions of the demo. "
"Why is it so $!&*! hard to score a goal?"
hehe
Yuccadude @ Sep 13th 2007 12:49PM
So you're saying it's like hockey, but it's not played on ice, you can't touch the ball with your hands, and there is much less physical contact? I'll pass.
Oh yeah, I'll download the demo, but then I won't play it.
doomcloud @ Sep 13th 2007 12:58PM
BALLS!
why not the LS2/LS7? @ Sep 13th 2007 2:32PM
The idea that the scoring is too low isn't all just in American's heads.
The World Cup came to America, and the final game was 0-0 after the end of regulation, the "world champion" was determined by penalty kicks.
Penalty kicks are close to flipping a coin, the goalie either guesses right or wrong, based upon no real info.
So the "world's favorite game" came to the US and boiled down to coin flips.
And you wonder why Americans failed to get excited about the sport.
Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Sep 13th 2007 2:44PM
On behalf of America, I would like to thank McElroy for that low score zing. However, my question would be "Where the hell are the turtle shells and mega strikes?"
Night Elve @ Sep 13th 2007 3:04PM
Who cares about FIFA anyway, there is just one good and awesome game out there and is called: Pro Evolution / Winning Eleven.
blooh @ Sep 13th 2007 10:07PM
soccer is boring. little strategy and no overtime = gay
t_m @ Sep 14th 2007 7:39AM
kinda like baseball and basketball. Stats = so exciting.
Korova @ Sep 14th 2007 6:11AM
blame brussels or brussel sprouts
Anyway, why do you blokes want the demo? You are gonna buy the game anyway. Its the Americans and such that need the tease and preview before they drop cash on a game where you can score only one point at a time - uh.
Am. Football - 7 a pop
Basketball - 2 or 3 a pop
Baseball - upto 4 a pop
Hockey - no one watches hockey in US
milanfan_apoorv @ Oct 6th 2007 1:24PM
either way there are 3 times as many copies of the game sold in the u.s. than in th uk. why couldnt you guys hold onto some of your colonies enh? could've upped the purchases. (either way im not complaining, im indian!)
love the game but doesnt it always seem that pes and fm are respectively better than fifa and total club manager? i just buy it for the sake of authenticity. pes' gameplay has always been a year ahead of fifa. konami just doesnt have the budget for the licenses :(
either way i only buy fifa as i perennially succumb to the comfort of authenticity.