2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

It's that time of the decade again when all sporting eyes are glued in EA Sports' latest FIFA World Cup game. This time around there's also an online component that will be live during the real-world tournament that is played out in South Africa this summer.

EA Sports maintains that this is not simply an adjunct to the already successful FIFA 10 game that represents domestic and international club competitions. It comes with 100 enhancements in fact.

According to producer Tristan Jackson, the Wii version of the game has been created in order to target a different consumer than the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. He says that they're trying not only to make a game for people who haven't played football, but also for people who haven't even played video games.

You can play with either a single Wii Remote, a Nunchuk attachment or a Classic Controller. In the latter mode

the Z button dashes, the A button passes, B trigger performs a cross and the D-pad makes you do tricks. Shake the Remote to tackle or shoot. It's simple stuff, but can put two players on equal pegging due to its accessibility.

Matches are split into three minute halves, and a 'Momentum' gauge at the bottom of the screen gives perks to those in possession of the ball - as long as they're not time-wasting, that is.

An added change is the Penalty Shoot Out, which now includes a power bar and allows the goalie to dive early.

The actual location of the World Cup tournament changes the way football is played too. Some of the fundamental physics of the beautiful game can be altered drastically depending on what kind of pitch you play on.

Altitude effects can make a difference to how you play, as player stamina can drop faster and long balls fly faster and straighter. With each world team having strengths and weaknesses thanks to the atmosphere in South Africa, it allows EA Sports to add an additional layer to home and away tactics.