By Sarsfield Bowman
The EA Sports FIFA series is one of the most popular video game series the world has ever played. Since the first version was created in 1993, over 100 million copies have been sold around the planet. According to USA Today, FIFA generates around $1 billion dollars for the California based EA Sports gaming company, accounting for nearly 25% of its total revenue. As one of the leading consumer nations of this globally renowned video game, correlations between FIFA gaming and US soccer culture are becoming more and more evident.
Anyone who has ever played FIFA 15 understands the extent to which the game is universal. Americans have the option of playing and communicating online with other international gamers; FIFA is soccer’s social network. In the simple act of selecting a team for gameplay, one has the luxury of choosing from over 600 clubs in 31 licensed professional leagues. Not only does such variety highlight the 16,000 plus players from just about every nation you’ve ever heard of, but also the 41 licensed stadiums that have been digitally recreated to replicate the architecture ranging from Mexico City to Istanbul. As an avid video gaming population, college students have become familiar with geographically specific languages, sir-names, cities, towns, races, and football culture. When playing FIFA with Arsenal Football Club in England, one may learn of the ‘derby,’ or rivalry system that exists in the boroughs of British cities. For example, as a North London club, Arsenal have a bitter hatred toward the nearby neighborhood club that is Chelsea, home of the blues. They also hold utter condescension toward their other neighbor, Tottenham, the salty whites.
Another feature of the game pertains to the Global Scouting Network. Young players are produced according to the nation they are from. Therefore, depending on the nation, a player will have a particular range of facial and nominal characteristics as well as physical ability. Americans are beginning to consider international regions in ways they had little to no knowledge of prior to playing FIFA.
“With 34 percent of FIFA gamers becoming pro soccer fans after playing the video game and 50 percent becoming more interested in soccer after playing, there’s no doubt that America is becoming a soccer-centric nation”
stated Joseph Hirschhorn Howard of Dream Start Soccer, a popular American blog.
Similar to FIFA games, Americans are experiencing the World Cup in ways like never before. Since the 2010 Cup in South Africa, American viewers increased by 2.3 million for the Brazil 2014 Cup. There is certainly something to be said for the commonality of Americans playing FIFA, and the emergence of soccer passion and knowledge in the United States.