FIFA 99

FIFA 99
North American PlayStation cover art featuring Arsenal's Dennis Bergkamp
Developer(s)	EA Canada
Publisher(s)	EA Sports
Series	FIFA
Engine	Virtual Stadium
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
Release	Windows, PlayStation EU: 20 November 1998 (PS)[2] NA: 24 November 1998[1] EU: 4 December 1998 (PC)[3] Nintendo 64 NA: December 1998[1] EU: 8 December 1998
Genre(s)	Sports
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer, multiplayer online

FIFA 99 is a football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label. It is the sixth game in the FIFA series and was released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Nintendo 64.

Gameplay

While the indoor mode was no longer featured, the gameplay's fluidity and responsiveness was increased. The increasing number of websites dedicated to the game and a larger number of leagues (the Malaysian League was removed, and on its stead came two new leagues: the Belgian First Division and the Portuguese Primeira Liga; this came to be a problem when the owners of the rights to the Primeira Liga tried to pull the game from the shelves locally). Graphically, it is a major improvement over FIFA '98, with the inclusion of basic facial animations and different players' heights as well as certain other cosmetic features such as improved kits and emblems, although they are unlicensed. Gamers may also create their own custom cups and leagues and select the teams they wish to participate.

FIFA 99 also features an elite league called the "European Dream League" in which 20 top teams from across Europe battle it out in a league format. It was also the first game to feature a block containing teams which did not pertain to any of the main leagues (back then, it was known as "Rest of Europe" since all teams were European, the vast majority of them featured either in the 1998–99 season of the Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Cup or Champions League).

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
	N64	PC	PS
GameRankings	83%[4]	89%[5]	88%[6]

Review scores

Publication	Score
	N64	PC	PS
CNET Gamecenter	N/A	9/10[7]	7/10[8]
Computer Gaming World	N/A	[9]	N/A
Electronic Gaming Monthly	8.875/10[10][a]	N/A	8.625/10[11][b]
Famitsu	N/A	N/A	29/40[12]
Game Informer	8.25/10[13]	N/A	7/10[14]
GamePro	[15][c]	N/A	[16][d]
GameRevolution	N/A	A[17]	A−[18]
GameSpot	8.2/10[19]	9.2/10[20]	8.4/10[21]
IGN	9/10[22]	8.7/10[23]	9/10[24]
N64 Magazine	83%[25]	N/A	N/A
Nintendo Power	8.6/10[26]	N/A	N/A
Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine	N/A	N/A	[27]
PC Accelerator	N/A	9/10[28]	N/A
PC Gamer (UK)	N/A	90%[29]	N/A
The Cincinnati Enquirer	N/A	[30]	N/A

The game received favorable reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.^[4][5][6] Computer Games Strategy Plus gave the PC version four-and-a-half stars out of five, calling it "one of the best sports games you can buy."^[31] In Japan, where the PlayStation version was ported and published by Electronic Arts Square under the name FIFA 99: Europa League Soccer (FIFA99 ヨーロッパリーグ・サッカー, FIFA 99 Yōroppa Rīgu Sakkā) on 26 August 1999, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40.^[12]

The game was a bestseller in the UK, replacing Tomb Raider III.^[32] In February 1999, the PlayStation version received a "Platinum" sales award from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD),^[33] indicating sales of at least 200,000 units across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.^[34] The PC version took "Gold", for 100,000 sales, at the same time.^[33] At the 1999 Milia festival in Cannes, it took home a "Gold" prize for revenues above €50 million in the European Union during 1998.^[35] The PC version won the "Best Sports" award in PC PowerPlay's Game of the Year 1999 Awards.^[36] It also won the award for "PC Sports Game of the Year" at AIAS' 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards,^[37] the Best Sports Game award at the 1998 CNET Gamecenter Awards,^[38] the "Best Sports" award (along with FIFA: Road to World Cup 98 and World Cup 98, collectively) at Computer Gaming World's 1999 Premier Awards,^[39] and the "Sports Game of the Year" award at GameSpot's Best & Worst of 1998 Awards,^[40] and was nominated for the "Best Sports Game of the Year" award at IGN's Best of 1998 Awards, which ultimately went to NFL Blitz.^[41]

Notes

1. Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Nintendo 64 version each a score of 8.5/10, and the other two gave it scores of 9.5/10 and 9/10.
2. Four critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version each a score of 9.5/10, 7.5/10, 9/10, and 8.5/10.
3. GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version 4.5/5 each for graphics, sound, control, and overall fun factor.
4. GamePro gave the PlayStation version three 5/5 scores for graphics, control, and overall fun factor, and 4.5/5 for sound.

References

1. Jebens, Harley (24 November 1998). "EA Kicks FIFA Out the Door [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 16 January 2000. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
2. "Home Computing & Games". Grimsby Evening Telegraph. 20 November 1998. p. 33. Retrieved 5 June 2023. The Games Exchange new releases, Tomb Raider 3 £37, Fifa 99 £36, free delivery.
3. "PC Retailer of the Year". Daily Record. 4 December 1998. p. 23. Retrieved 26 May 2023. FIFA 99 - Out Today - Inc Vat £34.99.
4. "FIFA 99 for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
5. "FIFA 99 for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
6. "FIFA 99 for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
7. Goble, Gordon (17 December 1998). "FIFA 99 (PC)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
8. Meyer, Bill (24 November 1998). "FIFA 99 (PS)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
9. Vallina, Joe (March 1999). "Shot on Goal (FIFA 99 Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 176. Ziff Davis. pp. 176–77. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
10. Hsu, Dan; Davison, John; Hager, Dean; Riciardi, John (February 1999). "FIFA 99 (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 115. Ziff Davis. p. 166. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
11. Davison, John; Hsu, Dan; Ricciardi, John; Hager, Dean (February 1999). "FIFA 99 (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 115. Ziff Davis. p. 174. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
12. "FIFA99 ヨーロッパリーグ・サッカー [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
13. "FIFA Soccer '99 [sic] – Nintendo 64". Game Informer. No. 79. FuncoLand. January 1999. p. 68. Archived from the original on 2 December 2000. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
14. "FIFA 99 (PS)". Game Informer. No. 79. FuncoLand. January 1999. p. 69.
15. Air Hendrix (February 1999). "FIFA 99 (N64)". GamePro. No. 125. IDG Entertainment. p. 120. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
16. Air Hendrix (February 1999). "FIFA 99 Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. No. 125. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on 26 December 2004. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
17. Hubble, Calvin (January 1999). "FIFA 99 Review (PC)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
18. Zimring, Jason (December 1998). "FIFA 99 – Playstation Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 5 February 2004. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
19. Taruc, Nelson (10 December 1998). "FIFA 99 Review (N64) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
20. Smith, Josh (9 December 1998). "FIFA 99 Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
21. Taruc, Nelson (10 December 1998). "FIFA 99 Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
22. Schneider, Peer (7 January 1999). "FIFA 99 Review (N64)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
23. Blevins, Tal (30 November 1998). "FIFA '99 (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
24. Harris, Craig (11 December 1998). "FIFA '99 (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
25. "FIFA 99". N64 Magazine. No. 26. Future Publishing. March 1999.
26. "FIFA '99". Nintendo Power. Vol. 116. Nintendo of America. January 1999. p. 122. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
27. Kujawa, Kraig (February 1999). "FIFA 99". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 5. Ziff Davis. p. 82. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
28. Smith, Rob (February 1999). "FIFA 99". PC Accelerator. No. 6. Imagine Media. p. 108. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
29. "FIFA 99". PC Gamer UK. Future Publishing. 1999.
30. Hopper, D. Ian (1998). "In the back of the net". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on 22 October 1999. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
31. Lackey, Jeff (10 January 1999). "FIFA 99". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 9 July 2003. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
32. "Game Charts". Official UK PlayStation Magazine. No. 43. Future Publishing. March 1999. p. 132. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
33. "Erste Doppel-Platin Auszeichnungen durch den VUD". Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (in German). Paderborn. 18 February 1999. Archived from the original on 12 March 2000. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
34. "VUD Sales Awards". Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (in German). Paderborn. November 2000. Archived from the original on 10 January 2003. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
35. GameSpot staff (12 February 1999). "ECCSELL Awards Name Winners [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 30 August 1999. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
36. "Game of the Year 1999 (Part 3)". PC PowerPlay. No. 47. Next Media Pty Ltd. April 2000. p. 30. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
37. "Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Personal Computer". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 4 November 1999. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
38. Gamecenter staff (29 January 1999). "The CNET Gamecenter Awards for 1998! (Sports Winner)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on 3 September 2000. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
39. CGW staff (April 1999). "Computer Gaming World's 1999 Premier Awards (Best Sports)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 177. Ziff Davis. p. 100. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
40. GameSpot staff (1999). "The Best & Worst of 1998 (Sports Game of the Year)". GameSpot. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2 October 2000. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
41. IGN staff (29 January 1999). "IGNPC's Best of 1998 Awards". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 27 April 1999. Retrieved 27 August 2021.

External links

• FIFA 99 at MobyGames