Many thanks to all those that participated in the first Closed Beta testing last month.  The FIFA Online team has been hard at work on the game and, today, have launched Closed Beta 2. Here is a list of the features within FIFA Online that CB2 registrants will be able to get their hands on.  Go here to register now:  FIFA Online CB2 For the complete blog including new features to CB2, check out the Off the Bench Blog:  FIFA Online Closed Beta 2 Now Live

MOUSE PLAY Take complete control of your team using just your mouse. Direct your players from the sideline and control passing, shooting and tackling by simply using two buttons. Whether you want to play an incisive, defence-splitting pass or put in crunching tackles to break up an attack, the game engine makes sure that what you envision in your head happens on the pitch. ONLINE MULTIPLAYER Use an intuitive match-up system to play other gamers online and test your football skills against football fans across the nation. 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP: SOUTH AFRICA(tm) MODE FIFA Online features a completely authentic recreation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals. Play offline with your favourite nation and battle through the group stages before taking on the knockout stages in an attempt to reach the final. 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP: SOUTH AFRICA(tm) ONLINE MULTIPLAYER Compete online against other football fans around the world in an authentic recreation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup: South Africa(tm) finals. Play other gamers and represent your favourite nation through the group and knockout stages, working your way to the spectacular final itself where the best player will be crowned World Champion. COMPETE AND COMPARE WITH FRIENDS Make friends and communicate with other gamers using FIFA Online’s in-game chat. Build your own Friends List and compare your progress in private Leaderboards. BUILD AND MANAGE YOUR TEAM Choose your favourite club and build them into a championship-winning side. Add new players and nurture your existing talent with player upgrades to make them into stars. But the experience doesn’t stop there. We’ll be releasing new features and game updates over the coming months and will keep you updated on developments. Good luck and we hope to see you out on the pitch! Join the Beta! Click here:  FIFA Online Registration

Check out the latest information about EA SPORTS FIFA Online, a new free-to-play football game. The free-to-play EA SPORTS FIFA videogame will call on football fans and gamers to help shape features during closed beta testing prior to its English-language European open beta release in June 2010. To see an extended version of this video go here:  Interview with Adrian Blunt For more information and to register for the closed beta testing of FIFA Online, go here:  EA SPORTS FIFA Online Announced!

EA has just announced a new free downloadable game for the PC called FIFA Online.  I’m guessing it runs similar to the EA Tiger Online game that is in open beta right now.  FIFA Online looks to be an early stage closed beta so use the link below to sign up. Our screens gallery has been updated with screenshots from FIFA Online.

A new, free, downloadable football game for PC is unveiled.

Electronic Arts announced today development of a free-to-play*, downloadable game called EA SPORTS FIFA Online. The game will make its most popular and highest rated** videogame franchise available to football fans with a broadband Internet connection and an average-spec laptop computer or desk-top PC.

The free-to-play EA SPORTS FIFA videogame will call on football fans and gamers to help shape features during closed beta testing prior to its English-language European open beta release in June 2010.

“Listening to and engaging football fans has been one of the driving forces behind the success of our FIFA franchise and now we are inviting European football fans – in mass numbers and earlier than we ever have before – to help us develop a new football game,” said Executive Producer Kaz Makita.

“Fans will determine the features that matter most, and at the end of this process our goal is to deliver a game for fans looking for a quick football fix at home or at work.

“There are a large number of football fans who do not want a console gaming experience due to time and other priorities in their personal lives, but they still want to be able to play a top-quality football videogame. FIFA Online will be designed specifically for them.”

Beginning 3 February, football fans across Europe are invited to register to participate in the closed beta development and testing of FIFA Online by visiting fifa-online.easports.com.

More than 20,000 fans will be involved in the first phase of closed beta testing and then, during open beta in June, hundreds of thousands of fans will test the game, providing feedback directly to the game’s developers through exclusive discussion forums.

EA SPORTS FIFA Online will be released around the world in stages. The English language version will be available to all football fans in June 2010. Over the next 12 to 24 months, FIFA Online will launch in other languages across Europe and then in North America. Non-English speaking football fans will also be able to participate in the development process of these games.

EA SPORTS FIFA Online will offer an authentic football experience with 30 licensed leagues, 500 clubs and more than 15,000 players. During the first closed beta stage, the game will feature a 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa tournament mode and a control system that uses the mouse only. At the second stage of closed beta, the game will feature a League Mode that enables fans to manage and compete as their favourite football club, and the ability to play online matches. FIFA Online will enable football fans and gamers to build their favourite club into their dream team by developing or acquiring players, upgrading skills, and getting unique apparel by earning in-game currency to acquire items or through micro-transactions. Additional content will be designed for the game based on feedback by fans.

Register to play now at fifa-online.easports.com.