Video Gaming News - September 2005
Redwood City, CA (September 22, 2005) - FIFA, Xbox, and Electronic
Arts today announced the second FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC).
From EA:
As the world’s only FIFA-sanctioned global video game tournament, the FIWC
will combine both on and off-line football gaming action featuring EA’s all-new
EA SPORTS FIFA 06 for the Xbox and Xbox Live. The winner of the tournament will
be named FIFA Interactive World Player 2005 and take center stage to receive
his/her trophy among some of the biggest names in soccer at this year’s
prestigious FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich on 19 December 2005.
The 2005 FIWC tournament follows last year’s inaugural competition in which
thousands of contestants from six continents battled for a place in the final.
Ultimately, Brazilian Thiago Carrico de Azevedo was crowned the first-ever FIFA
Interactive World Player at last year’s FIFA World Player Gala, and he accepted
his trophy alongside fellow countryman Ronaldinho, named FIFA World Player 2004.
"The first FIFA Interactive World Cup was a great success -- we witnessed
thousands of gamers from around the world combine a passion for the game with a
burning desire to emerge victorious. Just like in the real game. This
competition is going to continue to grow in popularity and prestige and deliver
on FIFA's goal of bringing soccer to new fans and players beyond our core group
of soccer aficionados," said Urs Linsi, FIFA General Secretary.
Kicking off in October, the FIFA Interactive World Cup will travel to eight
cities in six continents, concluding with the final taking place in London in
December 2005. Regional Tournaments will be held in the following locations:
• London – Olympia 2 – Saturday 15 October
• Sao Paulo - Villa Noah – Saturday 22 October
• Seoul - Sang Am World Cup Stadium - Sunday 30 October
• Johannesburg - Acton Sport Academy - Saturday 12 November
• Los Angeles - The Globe, Universal Studios - Saturday 19 November
• Sydney - Overseas Passenger Terminal - Saturday 26 November
• Germany - Cologne – The Palladium - Sunday 4 December
• Paris - Carrousel de Louvre - Saturday 10 December
Contestants will have three ways to enter the FIFA Interactive World Cup:
• Register on site at one of the Regional Tournament venues
• Earn a place by registering for the FIWC 2005 Xbox Live Tournament
• Win a local qualifying tournament, which will lead to the Regional Tournaments
and ultimately to the finals in London – information on online and off-line
tournaments is available on www.FIFA.com
Soccer gamers will be able to compete in qualifying tournaments around the world
for a place in one of the Regional Tournaments. The eight players who have what
it takes to win their Regional Tournament will each win a pair of tickets to a
2006 FIFA World Cup match in Germany offered by FIFA.com and will compete in the
worldwide finals in London on 18 December. In addition, each finalist will win
an Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft plus their own
copy of EA’s FIFA 06.
In an exciting addition to this year’s FIWC tournament, two out of the two
million plus Xbox Live members will also qualify for the grand final, joining
the winners of the eight Regional Tournaments to make up a total of ten
finalists. From today through to 11 November, Xbox Live members can register to
enter the fierce online competition of the FIWC 2005 Xbox Live Tournament at
www.xboxfiwc.com. This global online arm of the tournament will see one Xbox
Live winner from each country automatically win an Xbox 360 and a copy of EA
SPORTS™ FIFA 06. Each winner will then be flown to London on 18 December to take
part in a knock-out tournament to determine just two finalists. Those Xbox Live
winners then join the eight winners of the Regional Tournaments in the grand
final of the FIWC on the same day.
“We are all very excited about this year’s FIFA Interactive World Cup” said
Peter Moore,. corporate vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing for
the Home and Entertainment Division of Microsoft Corp. “By expanding the Xbox
Live component of the competition we have really opened up the entry routes into
this year’s tournament allowing even more people to participate and eventually
win it. It also means that only the best, most competitive gamers will make it
through to the grand final. With over 2 million Xbox Live members sharpening
their skills online the competition is going to be tough and we can’t wait to
see who will be crowned FIFA Interactive World Player 2005.”
Additionally, during this year’s FIFA Interactive World Cup, gamers will have
the rare opportunity to get a sneak peek at EA SPORTS™ next generation FIFA for
Xbox 360 on which the FIWC grand final will be played.
“We are thrilled to work with our long-term partners at FIFA and Xbox to help
bring the second FIFA Interactive World Cup to soccer fans across the world,”
said Clive Downie, Vice President Sports Marketing, EA Europe. “This year’s
tournament will be the place to test your virtual skills in authentic,
interactive gameplay on EA’s FIFA 06. The game will be available in stores in
Europe on September 30, 2005 and around the world the first week of October, and
we’re looking forward to our fans getting ready to bring the athleticism,
individuality and emotions of world stars to life, and then competing for a
chance to stand next to them as the FIFA Interactive World Player of the Year.”
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