2011 Team Based Sports Game of the Year: FIFA 12

[RaychelSnr]

The team based sports game of the year is always the most popular award here at Operation Sports -- mainly because the sports represented in this award are also the most popular. Games in contention for this award include Madden, NBA 2K, MLB: The Show, FIFA, NCAA Football and other similar titles.

2011's year for Team-based sports gaming was a bit disappointing on many fronts. Several games shipped with major bugs and one in particular (NBA 2K12) took a noticeable step backwards in terms of fan enthusiasm. This is all to be expected as we have yet to have a game win the Team-Based game of the year back-to-back.

This year's winner was the game which managed to avoid the bug-a-palooza this year and seemed to generally garner the most enthusiasm from the staff: FIFA Soccer 12.

Read More - 2011 Team Based Sports Game of the Year: FIFA 12

[peigone]

I'm confused. FIFA 12 won, but then it says the Reader's Choice winner was The Show with 31.42% of the vote. Huh?

[ps3veron]

Wow! But I gotta agree, FIFA 12 is spectacular.

[jb12780]

The staff picked FIFA but we the people voted for the show.

[rangerrick012]

I agree. I picked up FIFA for Christmas and am having more fun with it than 2K12. And I'm a much bigger basketball fan than soccer fan. Dont own a PS3 so can't weigh in on The Show.

[Ermolli]

Re: 2011 Team Based Sports Game of the Year: FIFA 12

Sure, your AI teammates are inept on defense under the new tactical defending model, but that's a relatively minor problem compared to the major issues we've seen in other titles.

I don't understand how this is a minor problem, this is what make not play this game. It's frustrating that you try to play good defense and your AI teamates aren't even trying to defend well. Sure FIFA is a great game but with the AI having issues I don't know how this game can be game of the year.

[peigone]

Re: 2011 Team Based Sports Game of the Year: FIFA 12

The staff picked FIFA but we the people voted for the show.

Thanks or clarifying. Not that it makes things any clearer, lol. Several hundred members all vote for the best game(s), but none of that means anything because the dozen people who run the site make the final call? So someone mind explaining the point of voting?

Not that it matters to me. FIFA 12 is the only sports game I've continued to play since I picked it up. Never got past the rental with PES; played MLB 2K11 for maybe three weeks tops; I don't have a PS3 for The Show; and I never play basketball games. So I'd go with FIFA 12 anyway.

[peigone]

Re: 2011 Team Based Sports Game of the Year: FIFA 12

I don't understand how this is a minor problem

What, you can't understand how the offline AI, which has been an issue in FIFA for a decade and has never been addressed, can be considered a minor problem only? Because of the outstanding graphics man, because of the graphics!

Seriously though, the teammate AI isn't as bad as people make it out to be. I have had many, many instances where my CPU-controlled teammates came out of nowhere and blocked shots or took on the CPU ball carrier without me directing them to do so.

[moylan1234]

sad commentary on the state of sports gaming when a soccer game wins this award

[lnin0]

The readers got it right - FIFA should be 3rd on this list.

[jyoung]

I prefer PES to FIFA this year, but soccer was the best video game sport by far.

Had to be one of those or Football Manager.

[SDwinder]

People did not give enough attention to the Analog Pitch stick in The Show this year. It was revolutionary, compared to the crap 2K has. As a former pro pitcher, it really upped the fun/realism/challenge for me this year.

The Analog hit stick needs work though in The Show.

[bomccready]

I don't understand how this is a minor problem, this is what make not play this game. It's frustrating that you try to play good defense and your AI teamates aren't even trying to defend well. Sure FIFA is a great game but with the AI having issues I don't know how this game can be game of the year.

I guess I described it as a minor problem because it can be overcome by the user taking greater control of their defenders - and, as peigone noted, it's not like they just stand there. It's frustrating at times, but it's not a game-breaker and slider adjustments can make it even less noticeable.

[peigone]

Re: 2011 Team Based Sports Game of the Year: FIFA 12

sad commentary on the state of sports gaming when a soccer game wins this award

Those of us who basically only play soccer games might take offense to that comment! Oh, and the other many millions of soccer gamers around the world as well!

[aloncho11]

Football (Soccer) is the world's most popular sport. I figured this year the winner was obvious with all the other sports titles feeling "unpolished".

Many people have come to appreciate PES and Fifa more and more. I still prefer PES when it comes to gaming, but you have to give it to Fifa 12 and the "World of Football" immersion they have created in their game.