Scripting in 'FIFA' games? EA Sports claims its difficulty adjustment technology isn't used

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Scripting in 'FIFA' games? EA Sports claims its difficulty adjustment technology isn't used image

For years, "FIFA" players have claimed the games contain hidden features of scripting and momentum that change the outcomes of matches. The idea is that players begin to play differently — fail with more passes or tackles to help the opponent — to make matches more dramatic. It can sometimes feel like every game features a last-minute winner, or your opponent suddenly plays perfectly to get back into the game.

The "FIFA" community exploded upon the revelation of Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment, an EA Sports-patented technology that can predict how much longer a player wants to play. Once it detects an undesirable trait such as boredom or frustration, the difficulty of the game can be changed to re-engage that player.

While this technology has been known about for a while, EA Sports only recently released a statement to claim it had not been used in "FIFA 19" or any of the franchise's predecessors.

"We would never use it to advantage or disadvantage any group of players against another in any of our games," EA Sports said. "The technology was designed to explore how we might help players that are having difficulty in a certain area of a game have an opportunity to advance."

Global community franchise lead Corey Andress further explained on Twitter: "For those that will ask why it took us a while to respond, we wanted to be 100% sure that this patent didn’t exist in the game. This includes all aspects — every mode and gameplay. Hopefully this ends speculation, and appreciate the patience while we got the answer.

"Also important to note that this was an EA patent and it wasn’t specific to FIFA. This might help other titles (I don’t know the use in other places), but it wouldn’t make sense for us."

However, many "FIFA" fans were left unsatisfied.

While the technology could work across multiple EA Sports titles, parts of the patent are just as easily applicable to "FIFA" and sound extremely close to what many would define as scripting.

The online description associated with the patent explains it in more detail: "Some other non-limiting examples of features of the video game that can be modified, which may or may not be detectable by the user can include providing extra speed to an in-game character, improving throwing accuracy of an in-game character, improving the distance or height that the in-game character can jump, adjusting the responsiveness of controls, and the like.

"In some cases, the adjustments may additionally or alternatively include reducing the ability of an in-game character rather than improving the ability of the in-game character. For example, the in-game character may be made faster, but have less shooting accuracy."

Competing in "FIFA" is crucial to the livelihood of E-Sports professionals, so some players were and are horrified by the very idea of Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment. That includes pro gamer Kurt Fenech, who is never afraid to share his views.

"The technology was designed to explore how we might help players that are having difficulty in a certain area of a game have an opportunity to advance." Fenech recently said. "Why would you even want to interfere? That idea is so so f—ed. Let two players play and the better player wins. Simple."

Andress responded to that criticism by saying, "Probably the reason why it isn't in the game."

"FIFA" global community engagement specialist Gabriel Zaro also responded to those who are still skeptical: "Man, can't control what people think. What we can do — and did — is touch base with every single team (and even the patent author himself) to make sure that it's not present in FIFA, and share it with the community. We've been pushing for transparency since joining the team."

With "FIFA 20" on the horizon, EA Sports is pledging to be more transparent about the game with planned "Pitch Notes" for every month before the game's release. It's statement on Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment was part of that effort.

Whether gameplay will change much for "FIFA 20" remains to be seen, but many players will still be on the lookout for suggestions of scripting.

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