Following my previous blog, I’m still yet to reach the elusive 100,000 gamer-score mark. However, having determined that somewhere in the region of 10% of my points so far have come from football games (including my first full 1000 being off FIFA 06), it seems only natural that FIFA 10 be the game to help me cross the the threshold. That, is of course, unless I still haven’t made it by the time EA’s World Cup game hits the shelves on the 30th.
It’s in playing this that I’ve come across a particularly frustrating bug with one of the game’s key features. No, I’m talking about the multitude of Manager Mode bugs that have been reported in the past, because I’ve been lucky enough to avoid the majority of these – especially the more serious ones, like getting sacked for losing one cup match. The problems I’ve encountered have been with the Virtual Pro feature.
Just so we're clear, this isn't my character. I'd never wear that filthy shirt.
The self-created character, which you can create a face for online using a photo, can be used in single games and the various tournament modes available. To improve his on-pitch stats, you complete accomplishments – play set numbers of games, score goals, make passes, etc. Sounds simple enough, but at times it has suffered from some highly frustrating problems.
It’s highly feasible that some of these problems were self-inflicted, a failure to save properly leading to the game losing several of my accomplishments and forcing me to repeat them. Not easy stuff either, excessively boring stuff like performing all the skill moves in the game, or successfully executing all celebration finishing moves after scoring goals. But nevertheless, I did what I had to do, and once again the accomplishments were unlocked.
Now, it seems, I’ve run into a new problem. For some reason, I’ve no idea what, the game has decided to stop counting matches played by the Virtual Pro. Anything done on the pitch in these matches is no longer being registered towards the player, who now appears to be permanently stuck on 95 games played. Playing matches in Exhibition, Manager Mode, and even Be-A-Pro Seasons couldn’t push it to 96. Scoring over 100 goals in a single season didn’t even make a dent in the overall tally.
There's only so much you can do here
Despite this, certain individual accomplishments are still unlocking, like scoring a driven free kick and a long range shot in the arena, winning an individual Cup tournament in Manager Mode. With this thoroughly annoying bug, which I’ve been unable to find a solution to, I have been left stuck at 87 accomplishments earned, with 100 needed to earn an achievement that would help with getting my score to where I want it to be.
Of course, there is one other possible option that I could explore – but it’s one that no gamer should ever…EVER…be forced to do at 87% complete. That option is to start again. Now, as much as I want those damn 25 points, I sure as hell ain’t performing all those damn skill moves and celebrations again for the sake of them. Find me a fix EA, or any one else who’s experienced this trouble, I’m begging ya! (Early evening update: It turns out it was all my fault, and I’m a complete idiot. The problem is now solved, and the achievement is unlocked. Just 64 more points to go!)
Now then, this brings me to the other half of this blog, something I came across following last night’s FIFA session. One of the great features of Xbox Live is the various video segments presented on Inside Xbox. Things such as Sent U A Message or IGN Insider Strategies provide an entertaining 10 minutes between games, or when you can’t choose what to play. Not only that, but they also provide us with Jane Douglas and Jessica Chobot. Huzzah.
Yesterday, however, I had the misfortune of watching the biggest load of crap that Inside Xbox has ever unleashed upon the public, known as The Independint Charles Show. And yep, that’s exactly how it was spelt. This show is meant to highlight games from the Xbox Live Indie Games section of the Marketplace, but comes across as the sort of program you’d see at 4am in the morning on some low budget satellite channel. And it wouldn’t take long before you’re changing the channel.
If I had your sense of humour, I'd be miserable too Robert
Filmed in psychedelic colours and filled with surreal moments, the show revolves around man-child Charles (played by ConsoleVania’s Robert Florence) and his favourite indie games of the week. What’s seemingly meant to be an in-joke based around older, obsessive gamers with no social skills, just comes across as sad and kinda creepy. Given that gamers are constantly faced with stereotypes from the ignorant and uninformed, when something like this is coming from our side of the fence, it really doesn’t help matters.
One can only hope that the show will be filed under the “it seemed funny at the design phase” label, and shelved permanently in favour of something that’s actually informative and, you know, entertaining. But let’s face it, the fact that it got to air in the first place suggests that somebody high up likes it, which is perhaps the only thing more disturbing than the show itself.
