I'd like to get this out of the way first, I haven't played PES at all or the new WE6. I've heard it's awesome however! On to what I would like to see in FIFA 2004 and beyond. This is not about gameplay (it is an issue yes, but it's not what this reply is about).
Crowd:
Crowd noises are improving but they still don't sound LOUD enough, I want a real atmosphere!
It's good how the away supporters are barely heard when their team scores a goal, but I think they could be a little louder also.
About what EA call the "Virtual Crowd", let's hope it is and none of this crappy bitmapped 2D sprite crap, there needs to be some serious improvements to the way the crowd looks are reacts.
How about when it rains we see people using umbrellas.
Sections of the crowd need to jump up and down at different times (causing a wave effect) not at all once.
Speaking of waves, how about the mexican wave.
I would really like to see where, depending on the game and what position on the table they are (including lower divisions) how this affects crowd attendence, there should not be a full stadium for low / unpopular teams, or for teams that are playing poorly. Attendence should increase when teams are playing well.
Attendence should drop if the game is almost over and the losing team cannot win.
How about seeing people get out of their seats before, during and after the games for whatever reasons.
If your team scores a goal or is in a situation where the crowd is very happy about what has or is about to happen, have them wave scarfs, lean over the fence and bang on it etc... not just jump up and down.
Not everyone who goes to a game wears team colours, so throw in some people who just wear normal clothing.
General:
How about seeing segulls flying around, not just hearing them if something like this was included. Same goes for things like Blimps, Planes and Helicopters.
The sky should move, not just be a pretty bitmap.
There should be dynamic weather, (start of as a nice day, rain, then stop, or start off raining and either stop or snow depending on where you are).
Day and Night should also be dynamic (if a game starts late it should get dark (GTA 3 does all of this VERY well!).
If you are playing a day match and it gets dark, you should see the lights come on.
The glare from the lights needs to be improved, it doesn't look authentic.
Sunglare would be nice, prehaps moonglare?
Clouds affecting sun and moonglare.
Also, in GTA 3 there was rubbish and paper flying around, especially on the ground, this would be a nice addition to see I think.
I read on here somewhere that the handball rule will ruin the game, I agree, don't include this, it WILL ruin the game.
If it rains or snows, it would be nice to see it drip on the screen.
Commentary:
There were some enhancements made but there needs to be more:
Commentators need to sound passionate about the game they are commentating on, they need to "feel" the game, become part of it, just not tell us what's going on. We can all sound more excited than John.
It would be nice to hear commentators perhaps make mistakes and then correct themselves.
I'd like to hear more interaction between commentators during the game.
More umms and errs (gives a sense of realisim).
Commentators should interrupt once in a while, or comment on something while the other is talking.
I'd like to hear them give us scores from other games (and not just at half time, but during the game as well; perhaps in dead ball situations).
I'd also like to see the scores (even though I problably won't have time to look) during the game, even at half time and perhaps the end).
I'd like to hear mild disagreements (with the refs and perhaps the other commentator(s)).
Have them tell you what "possible" injury the player just incurred.
After the game find out what the injury the player just got and how long he maybe out for.
And finally, something just "I" would like to see. It's never going to happen, but it would fantastic to have. There should be a way where you can put "yourself" in the game. You start off as a rookie playing for (say for example, really low end teams, I'm talking about before even being considered for the lowerst possible divsion), playing for whatever team EA give us (and I mean just you playing, as 1 player on the field, not controlling the whole team) as whatever position you want to play (goalie, defense, midfield or attack) and have scouts accessing you on how well you play and want the ball, and if your good enough, be asked to play for whatever team and at whatever price, (you of course can reject any offer) and attempt to establish yourself as the worlds greatest soccer player!
It would be weird contolling "just you" on the field, but it would certainly add a new a dimension to the game.
If you chose goalie as your position, there of course (as with any postion) be different views, but I would like to see either a FPS view, side view or a just above the goal view looking out on to the field (keep in mind this just goes for the goalie).
Just my 2 cents, thanks for reading!
Mike.