FIFA 14: Expanded Audio and Licensing Power Augments Overall Package

EA Sports has already flexed its gameplay muscle with a near 37-minute display at Gamescom on Aug. 26. To further drive home the concept that the FIFA series is an ever-growing and improving franchise, EA Sports agreed to an exclusive license with Brazilian club Corinthians.

Time de Povo is just one of 19 fully licensed Brazilian clubs that will be playable in FIFA 14, per EA Sports. In all, FIFA 14 will feature 33 leagues, over 600 clubs and 16,000-plus players. If that's not a sports-gaming universe all on its own, I don't know what is.

Licensing power isn't new for the franchise. The immense list of clubs and leagues is part of the icing on the overall delicious gameplay cake.

No one would care if all the game had to offer was a bevy of clubs, though. Ultimately, the glue that holds the series together is realistic and evolving gameplay. From the looks of the extended preview, those principles are intact.

Another slightly underrated aspect of the series that has reportedly received a boost is the audio commentary. Per the FIFA community site Futhead News, Jeff Stelling is the stadium and pre-match announcer for FIFA 14. The commentators will now go into greater detail when referencing previous match results.

In addition to that, there is also dialog about current transfer rumors. Some of this can be heard in the extended preview. This type of enhancement in audio adds a lot to a sports game's overall presentation value.

This is the type of information gamers won't tune out or skip through. I'm longing for other sports games to adopt this approach; but for now, FIFA is leading the charge with current and evolving audio content.

At some point, games will probably begin to include in-game audio advertisements in the middle of gameplay. It is a relatively untapped means of advertisement and could be inputted post release. As long as it doesn't impact anything from a gameplay standpoint, I'd be all for it.

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if FIFA was the first series to take that step. Stay tuned.

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