We recently sat down with SAAD BASSY, the FIFA coach for Morocco, to hear his thoughts on the latest Electronic Arts (EA) new football game EA FC 24. Formerly known as FIFA, the game has undergone significant changes. Let’s dive into SAAD BASSY’s take on the pros, cons, and his personal experience with the new game.
EA FC 24 FOOTBALL GAMEPLAY EVOLUTION :
As the Head Coach of Morocco, the release of EA FC 24 BETA is a key moment for me. I have
played a lot of games seeking new meta moves and trying to understand how the tactics will
impact the new competitive season. I was quick to notice a sense of familiarity in the gameplay
mechanics. While EA FC 24 retains much of the gameplay from its predecessor FIFA 23, the most
notable alteration comes in the form of defense AI movement.
I have observed a more aggressive and coordinated press, as AI-controlled players push forward
to challenge opponents. This change underscores EA’s commitment to enhancing the gaming
experience by fine-tuning specific aspects of the gameplay. While overall mechanics may seem
largely unchanged, this strategic adjustment in defense AI movement injects an extra layer of
dynamism into matches, providing a fresh challenge for both casual and competitive players
alike.
The introduction of perks might also change how we perceive players in EA FC24. In fact, i know
what the perks can do because we had them in FIFA23 Pro Clubs, a game mode that i played a lot.
It gives you a unique boost to the aspects that the perk can enhance. Shooting perks for example
can make a huge difference between two strikers. I think perks will have a big impact on the pro
scene.
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Female players and the fact that you can mix them with male players is a huge change! For now,
we don’t know a lot about how you can mix both, when it comes to body type, I have noticed that
female strikers are very agile and super dangerous when they are in the box! If you are
mechanically gifted, you can make some very quick moves that will be very hard to defend
especially when now the defenders feel a little bit slower than usual.
Always keep in mid that the beta will never be as accurate as the game’s gameplay after the first update of the year ! That is something made very obvious by EA during last years !
THE ESPORTS TRANSFORMATION: CLUBS TAKE CENTER STAGE :
One of the most significant shifts in EA FC 24 is the revamped esports ecosystem. EA has strategically decided to transition towards an esport model centered around football clubs. Unlike the previous focus on individual players, the new strategy places clubs at the forefront of the virtual football competitive scene. This transformation is rooted in a strategic approach rather than just a shift in the esport model.
By encouraging clubs to invest more in their esports teams, EA aims to foster a stronger connection between traditional football and its virtual counterpart. This strategic move serves two purposes: first, it creates a united front against upcoming competition, and second, it aligns various football leagues and clubs with EA’s marketing powerhouse. The symbiotic relationship between EA and the clubs ensures mutual benefits and an expansive outreach to football fans worldwide.
Personally, I think this strategy can be dephased. In other words, organizations and esport structures have the knowledge and the expertise when it comes to esport. On the other hand, clubs don’t know much about esport, only few of them have a certain knowledge.
There is a big question mark about how much the clubs are willing to invest in esport, to learn about the scene, the players, and the content creation of it. Do they value esport enough to bring the storytelling we need and make this strategical move of EA a valuable one? Only time will tell us!
The road to the World Cup will be as follows :
FC Pro Open :
Anyone can compete for a place in the EA FC Pro leagues. There will be in-game open competitions
with a ladder. This will allow players to compete within their region representing themselves, esports teams or real football clubs.
The top finishing players in each regional ladder will compete in the FC Pro Open Regional Qualifiers for the chance at an invitation and paid trip to the FC Pro Open Global Qualifier, a 64 person competition scheduled for November. The top 16 players from the FC Pro Open Global Qualifier will join the top four players in the world from the previous season in FC Pro Open
FC Pro Leagues:
From February to April, League Partner competitions around the world will take place to crown national champions and offer players the unique ability to represent their favourite clubs. Players who compete in the FC Pro Open can also compete in the official league competitions such as the ePremier League or the eMLS.
FC Pro World Championships:
The EA FC Pro season will finish with the World Championship in June. This will be a 32-player event, and see the best of the best compete. This will also be the first time that EA SPORTS have hosted a World Championship event.
MOROCCO'S ASCENT IN THE VIRTUAL PITCH :
The recent accomplishments of the Moroccan national esports team in the FIFAe Nations World Cup have ignited hopes for the development of a thriving esports within the country. Morocco’s
achievements, including becoming African champions, Middle East champions, and ranked 6th
worlwide on the virtual pitch, have showcased the nation’s untapped potential in the esports realm.
The Moroccan Royal Federation of Esports was key and essential to showcase the depth of the talent Moroccan youth have.
The vision of the Moroccan Royal Federation of Esports was always about achieving results for
Morocco, we are thankful to be in such an era ! All the people at the Federation are woking towards
greatness and writing history for Morocco. The Federation has provided us with all the support we
needed, but most importantly, they always believed in us. It was not an easy road, but support, faith and work led us to all these achievements. I would like to thank all of them for this.
As the Head Coach, i know for a fact that we can be World Champions, it’s just a matter of ambition, determination, and patriotism. We have to work harder because we are still far from reaching our potential despite everything we already achieved. That is something truly exciting when i think of it.
Working with MrDoorey, Driss and Jounaid, I’m glad that the mindset, the process, and the work ethic we set with the help of the players has shown amazing results. The Moroccan players are truly gifted, and when they represent Morocco, they are true patriots! They are the main factor to all these results.
I do believe that these successes serve as a catalyst for the nation’s aspirations to cultivate its talent pool and ascend even higher in the esports hierarchy.
With the right infrastructure, support, and strategic investments, Morocco can establish a competitive esports league that not only celebrates virtual football prowess but also fosters a sense of national pride. Morocco deserves the best, and the best is yet to come!
