FIFA08 - Semi-Pro so FRUSTRATING!!!!!

[PurpleViking]

OK, so I have played other FIFA games (2005, 2002) (on PC) and I just got 2008 a few months ago. So I played for a while on Amateur and I can kick the computer's butt easily. Biggest win 10-0 vs Portsmouth. Even increasing the difficulty of the keeper doesn't make it much harder on Amateur.

So I just switched to Semi-Pro and it is SOOOOOO bloody hard and frustrating. I seriously have been within inches of throwing my entire computer out the window a number of times.

The things that kill me :

• The computer steals the ball constantly. I cannot hardly go down the field without the ball being stolen.
• The computer is SOOOO bloody fast. He can come up behind me, steal the ball, and take off in a blink. My guys in contrast are soooooo fetching slow.
• On Amateur I used to get about 15 shots on goal a game. Now I get 2 in an entire game if I am lucky.

I want to play. If I didn't, I would just quit. But I love the game, but man, it is frustrating.

Please help!!!!


-PV

 

[arsenalporno]

That's FIFA Series. Less playable with every year....

 

[rkoxm]

Just wondering...what team do you play with? If you're playing with a low division team, that what happens. I didn't stand a chance with my club.

And also...what levels are your assistant coaching levels at (example striker coach, defense coach?) I found that upgrading your staff to at least 5 or 6 definately make a huge difference when playing.

 

[Rayzor127]

OK, so I have played other FIFA games (2005, 2002) (on PC) and I just got 2008 a few months ago. So I played for a while on Amateur and I can kick the computer's butt easily. Biggest win 10-0 vs Portsmouth. Even increasing the difficulty of the keeper doesn't make it much harder on Amateur.

So I just switched to Semi-Pro and it is SOOOOOO bloody hard and frustrating. I seriously have been within inches of throwing my entire computer out the window a number of times.

The things that kill me :

• The computer steals the ball constantly. I cannot hardly go down the field without the ball being stolen.
• The computer is SOOOO bloody fast. He can come up behind me, steal the ball, and take off in a blink. My guys in contrast are soooooo fetching slow.
• On Amateur I used to get about 15 shots on goal a game. Now I get 2 in an entire game if I am lucky.

I want to play. If I didn't, I would just quit. But I love the game, but man, it is frustrating.

Please help!!!!


-PV

I feel your pain! I've noticed the same exact thing when I'm playing an MLS season as the NE Revolution. All teams in the MLS are about even in rankings but I constantly get called for fouls as soon as I try to steal the ball from the opposition (that is, if I can even catch up to them). I can sprint all out but never seem to catch up with the player with the ball. Yet when I have the ball, the defender ALWAYS catches up to me and steals the ball back even though he was at least 10-15 yards behind me. And fouls are hardly ever called when they do steal the ball from me.

And it really gets boring when the AI only seems to pass the ball in the same straight line in the center of the pitch, left to right with no wing play or long-ball play. I've tried a few different game play patches but have seen no improvement.

And for the record, I've tried other games - PES, Winning Eleven, etc. and although the graphics and some features are slightly better than FIFA series, gameplay seems to be lacking in all games where the AI is just so predictable.

Unless someone can suggest a gameplay patch that really does improve the gameplay, I'm not seeing any improvement in any of the games over the years.

Rkoxm, am I able to change the coaching ratings in the normal tournament mode or is that only applicable in Manager mode?

Thanks. Peace.

 

[kruger]

dude, play and learn from your own mistakes. i started playing 08 like 4 months ago in semi-pro and (although it wasn't that hard for me) i got my but kicked once in a while, after a couple of weeks you just know what to do, BTW learn all there is about the combinations, for instance: in past fifa versions you press the button which is now assigned to switch players to call your nearest defence, now is the pass button, pressing the button for switching player and the shot makes a more accurate shot and so on. anyways, in just one corny phrase "it's the practice that makes the master".
hope you can improve

 

[rkoxm]

Changing the coaching ratings is only applicable to Manager mode.
My bad...I should have mentioned that earlier.

I feel your pain. I stopped playing with MLS clubs in Manager mode b/c it was so frustrating.

 

[PurpleViking]

Re: FIFA08 - Semi-Pro so FRUSTRATING!!!!!

Thanks for the replies.


Also -- is there a way to break free from the opponent guarding you. So for example, if I ever get a through pass and I have a break away run for the goal, the computer will come up behind me and his man will literally hold me. He then will overtake you. First off it is total bullcrap, but that aside, is there a method for breaking free from the opponent?

 

[cmc211]

I was playing FIFA 07 for one year and I know that
FIFA 07's world class ≒ FIFA 08's pro.


I think that professional/pro is suitable for fun.

 

[PurpleViking]

I was playing FIFA 07 for one year and I know that
FIFA 07's world class ≒ FIFA 08's pro.


I think that professional/pro is suitable for fun.

I don't know. This game seriously is SOOOOOOOO frustrating. I just finished playing, I scored 2 goals in the first half. So I was thinking to myself, hey maybe I can figure this game out. Nope, in a flash, the computer started stealing the ball and scored 3 goals in the blink of an eye. So bloody pissing frustrating. I am going to throw the game away .... !!!!!!!!!!!


-PV

 

[AsmodaiPlay]

I don't know. This game seriously is SOOOOOOOO frustrating. I just finished playing, I scored 2 goals in the first half. So I was thinking to myself, hey maybe I can figure this game out. Nope, in a flash, the computer started stealing the ball and scored 3 goals in the blink of an eye. So bloody pissing frustrating. I am going to throw the game away .... !!!!!!!!!!!


-PV

Just keep practising and you will definitely find it easier. I had to have amateur when i first got fifa 08 on xbox 360 (although that was partly because the 360 was new and i was adjusting to that) and now i'm playing professional and i'm more than capable of winning yet the computer still stands a chance. And if the computer steals the ball just bring down the player that did it.

 

[Rayzor127]

Thanks for the replies.


Also -- is there a way to break free from the opponent guarding you. So for example, if I ever get a through pass and I have a break away run for the goal, the computer will come up behind me and his man will literally hold me. He then will overtake you. First off it is total bullcrap, but that aside, is there a method for breaking free from the opponent?

I believe "tapping" the sprint button when you have the ball & the defender is right on your heels, will hold him off a bit. But you can't really break away from him, just keep him from taking the ball from you for a few yards or so. I then make a quick shot or pass because the defender will eventually tackle me.

 

[PurpleViking]

Just keep practising and you will definitely find it easier. I had to have amateur when i first got fifa 08 on xbox 360 (although that was partly because the 360 was new and i was adjusting to that) and now i'm playing professional and i'm more than capable of winning yet the computer still stands a chance. And if the computer steals the ball just bring down the player that did it.

Thanks .. I will keep at it. I am not a quitter

I will just keep it on Semi-Pro and see if I can get the hang of it more. I thought I was during the first half of my game this morning, and then the 3-0 blitz in the second half almost resulted in me punching my monitor. I think the game is meant to be realistic and real world soccer is tough ... so it is all good I guess.

Thanks for the help.

 

[TonyEH]

OK, so I have played other FIFA games (2005, 2002) (on PC) and I just got 2008 a few months ago. So I played for a while on Amateur and I can kick the computer's butt easily. Biggest win 10-0 vs Portsmouth. Even increasing the difficulty of the keeper doesn't make it much harder on Amateur.

So I just switched to Semi-Pro and it is SOOOOOO bloody hard and frustrating. I seriously have been within inches of throwing my entire computer out the window a number of times.

The things that kill me :

• The computer steals the ball constantly. I cannot hardly go down the field without the ball being stolen.
• The computer is SOOOO bloody fast. He can come up behind me, steal the ball, and take off in a blink. My guys in contrast are soooooo fetching slow.
• On Amateur I used to get about 15 shots on goal a game. Now I get 2 in an entire game if I am lucky.

I want to play. If I didn't, I would just quit. But I love the game, but man, it is frustrating.

Please help!!!!


-PV

You WILL get better.

At the moment I am playing on Legendary, with semi-pro goalies. It can be tough...but IMO it's now the only way to have a realistic premiership season. I'm playing Liverpool, so I have the goal scoring ability of Torres, which helps no end. I still haven't scored with keane yet (just like real life).

I simply cannot imagine dumbing the game back down to semi-pro or pro or even world class now. There'd be just no game in it.

At the moment, if I play smartly and well, I can get a win. I can also scrape a 1-0 win too. Some easy wins against lower level teams can occur too and there are 0-0 draws against teams that I should have beaten.

Again...just like reality.

My usual win is 1-0 or 2-1. Which is a realistic scoreline for most topflight prem teams. My usual losses are about the same.

Gone is the 6-0, 7-0 etc nonsense.


Some pointers...

Don't use speed burst all over the field, there's no need for it and your control of the ball is reduced.

Do use speed burst to get around a player. Speedy players can do this easilly enough.

Learn to pass the ball well and only pass to a player in the clear.

Practice your shooting, also try and change your direction just before the shot. This can put the goalie off.

Practice your frees. I use forward pressure on the stick and tap the shoot button. I can get quite a few frees in the goal with Gerrard with this.

Play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3

Keep tricks to a minimum, there not worth the bother. I never use them anyway, cos I can't on the PC.



Tony

 

[Styphelus]

You must be really bad at it.

It all depends on the skill of the players and on how good the team is.

I started with Toronto FC in the MLS. It was somewhat frustrating because most of the players suck. After 4 seasons i switch to Nacional in Portugal and than Sporting Lisbon. With Sporting i was able to win the champion's league twice in semi-pro. They were not the best team but I was able to find some brazilian players that were rated really high and sold for really cheap. After my 3rd season with Sporting Lisbon, they were rated 4.5 stars and the game improved dramatically. I could pull almost any move I wanted.

It's not a problem with Fifa, but a problem that happens in real life as well...some teams suck and the quality of the game is greatly affected. Try watching a second division game, and a game between top teams. Huge difference.

 

[PurpleViking]

You WILL get better.

At the moment I am playing on Legendary, with semi-pro goalies. It can be tough...but IMO it's now the only way to have a realistic premiership season. I'm playing Liverpool, so I have the goal scoring ability of Torres, which helps no end. I still haven't scored with keane yet (just like real life).

I simply cannot imagine dumbing the game back down to semi-pro or pro or even world class now. There'd be just no game in it.

At the moment, if I play smartly and well, I can get a win. I can also scrape a 1-0 win too. Some easy wins against lower level teams can occur too and there are 0-0 draws against teams that I should have beaten.

Again...just like reality.

My usual win is 1-0 or 2-1. Which is a realistic scoreline for most topflight prem teams. My usual losses are about the same.

Gone is the 6-0, 7-0 etc nonsense.


Some pointers...

Don't use speed burst all over the field, there's no need for it and your control of the ball is reduced.

Do use speed burst to get around a player. Speedy players can do this easilly enough.

Learn to pass the ball well and only pass to a player in the clear.

Practice your shooting, also try and change your direction just before the shot. This can put the goalie off.

Practice your frees. I use forward pressure on the stick and tap the shoot button. I can get quite a few frees in the goal with Gerrard with this.

Play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3

Keep tricks to a minimum, there not worth the bother. I never use them anyway, cos I can't on the PC.



Tony

Thanks for the thought and input TonyEH as well as others. Thanks, I have noticed some minor improvements since I started on Semi-Pro, and hopefully I will continue to get better. THanks.

 

[PurpleViking]

Another question -- I don't understand how crosses work in 2008.

In 2005 I used to be able to drive down towards the corner, and hit '1' which would cross the ball right into the box where I could look to head or strike the ball in.

But in 2008 this doesn't work. Usually hitting '1' down in the corner of the field will result in me crushing the ball out of bounds no matter which way I hit the joystick to cross. The only thing that seems to work is hitting '2' (pass) which does a ground cross. So I can never send the ball in on a cross in the air.

 

[Keegan]

I sympathize... I play on Professional mode as Bolton or as Bradford City in League 2... the AI cheats. Many times I have a chance to shoot or cross and when I press the key before my player does anything the AI defence just gets a superhuman burst of speed, runs around me and gets the ball. Annoys the hell out of me, and I've been playing it for some time now.

 

[PurpleViking]

I sympathize... I play on Professional mode as Bolton or as Bradford City in League 2... the AI cheats. Many times I have a chance to shoot or cross and when I press the key before my player does anything the AI defence just gets a superhuman burst of speed, runs around me and gets the ball. Annoys the hell out of me, and I've been playing it for some time now.

That is classic computer doing that happens in every game. You cannot hold onto the ball without the comp just assuming control. There are other times when the computer determines it is going to score and there is nothing you can do.

 

[dima123kool]

i play on pro the thing is to winning game is to keep passing the ball dont try to pass the ball to striker then try to run with him just keep the ball pass around couple good corsses and u score goals i mean i do lost sometimes on pro but not often , my avg scores are like 3-1 per game.

 

[PurpleViking]

Thanks everyone!


I realized that the team matters a lot. Many people were asking me who I was playing as. Initially I was playing as Hull City (Coca-Cola Champ) and every single game was total frustration and agony.

After switching to playing a better team, I went with Chelsea and Liverpool, I am able to play MUCH better. It is soooo much better for me. The games have been really challenging still, but not crazy frustrating.