Big news today from the world of FIFA as EA Sports announce that women’s football legend Alex Scott will be featured as a commentator in the soon-to-be-released FIFA 22! She is set to become the famous franchise’s first-ever English-speaking female commentator.

During her playing career, Scott was a five-time Premier League winner and a seven-time FA Cup winner with Arsenal, a runner up in the Women’s Euros and a member of the England team that finished third in the 2015 Women’s World Cup, making 140 appearances for her country.

“This is a big moment for FIFA, for football and women and girls across the world,” said Alex Scott, speaking earlier today. “Representation is crucial and the inclusion of an English-speaking female commentator on FIFA is game-changing. The impact it will have is simply stratospheric”.

Happy to finally share the news that I joined the FIFA family and will be commentating for #FIFA22! 🙌🏾🎮

This is a big moment for FIFA, for football and women and girls across the world.
It’s also a big moment for me personally and professionally.#FIFA22 pic.twitter.com/A1Lhozl7K6

— Alex Scott MBE (@AlexScott) July 21, 2021

“Whilst I am the first English-speaking female broadcaster to feature in FIFA, I will certainly not be the last. I know this is just the start of stronger female footballing representation from EA SPORTS and the football community as a whole.”

Scott currently plies her trade on the BBC, having provided expert punditry on the channel’s recently concluded Euro 2020 coverage and is set to take over the anchor role on Football Focus this year.

EA Sports are yet to confirm whether gamers will be able to play as women’s club teams, having been able to play only as women’s international teams in recent iterations of the iconic football game.

Keep your eyes peeled here at Go2Games for all things FIFA 22 as the release date fast approaches!

The post Women’s football legend Alex Scott to be first ever female commentator on FIFA 22 first appeared on Get2Gaming.

It has been a week and a half now since the dream died and England were beaten by Italy in the European Cup final at Wembley. Our best chance of winning some silverware in 55 long and often painful years. To be honest, I think I’m just about over it – but to be honest, this writer is still not over Euro 96 – or World Cup 90 (yup I am ancient). However, it was what started happening immediately after 19-year-old Bukayo Saka missed the deciding penalty that dominated the headlines, social media and perhaps the private thoughts of every non-white English football fan for days. As I left my friend’s house that night, my dejection soon turned to thoughts of self-preservation. I swapped my shorts for a pair of trousers I had used on the cricket pitch earlier that day, zipped up my tracksuit top so the collar went right up my neck to my chin, donned a big black mask and a cap – and even wore some batting inner gloves. This way, you couldn’t see too much of me on that 25 min journey back from Brockley to Croydon – a Croydon that was demonstrably still reeling from the defeat as the drunken revelry had turned to detruitus and despair on the streets down from Boxpark, a sense of anger and fury palpable in the air. On the way home, social media quickly started revealing a face that had been hiding just beneath the surface of the water all tournament – the true face perhaps of England, the face of racism, volleyed at the three, young black and proud Englishmen who had missed the penalties in the game earlier. From monkey emojis to vile rants posted online, a trickle became a deluge and now we are talking about ID checks on social media accounts, lifetime bans, sackings – but perhaps avoiding discussing the root causes focusing instead on serving up heads on plates and moving things on until the circus comes back to town again for the next big flare up.

Gamers of colour (GOCs), for want of a better expression know all too well what our young kings have had to endure since Euro 2020 ended. The very same racist abuse finds its way all too often into the living rooms and bedrooms of eager gamers across the land, by people who have the privilege of hiding behind an avatar, a screen and a general cloak of invisibility. It comes in the form of text chat but more viciously, through voice chat and through video camera – to the point where many GOCs are just too traumatised to game or stream online due to the abuse they know they will get. In a 2019 study carried out by the Anti-Defamation League in the US, 53% of the gamers surveyed reported being targeted based on their race, religion, ability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.

This kind of abuse is followed up by racism rearing its head in other ways in the gaming world. Take for instance the Ugandan Knuckles meme – a Sonic meme which is now used to troll people, make fun of African accents and make racist jokes, especially around the topic of Ebola. Although it hasn’t quite followed in the footsteps of Pepe the Frog, a cartoon frog which has long since been weaponised by the Alt-Right and is now a symbol of identity and solidarity amongst fascists, it would not require a giant leap for Knuckles to follow in the same way, as racist users feel that they are having their ability to practise free expression prohibited, thus dragging Knuckles further into the culture wars.

When you also consider the poor efforts by the authorities to do what is admittedly a difficult thing to police, GOCs are left with very little space in which to feel safe enough to game freely and without fear. Groups like Black Girl Gamers have been set up in the wake of this, in order to give in this case young, black female gamers (probably the worst affected demographic) a safe space in which to do what they love doing. Since its inception, BGG has grown at pace, to 5,700 across the world – and has recently staged the UK’s first all-female gamers’ event. Groups like these are key in the fight against racism and other forms of discrimination in the gaming world. Why? Because ultimately, the buck stops with the gaming companies and game developers.

A study in 2013 claimed that Xbox Live had become a hub for “the overt racism that used to permeate our society”. Now, any person from a black or ethnic minority background will tell you that this is not a case of “used to permeate” but rather a case of “has always permeated” – it is just that with the rise of the internet and online gaming platforms, that racism can be practised often without fear of recrimination and without abandon. However, this same study did go on to identify the issue that lies at the heart of the fight against racism – the issue of structural racism. Whether it be in football management, our national institutions, the boardrooms or in this case the gaming industry, white male hegemony is the barrier separating us from progress. Black gamers, female gamers, older gamers, LGBTQI+ gamers are seen as “deviant”, as contrary to what “should be” in gaming, as the white, male-dominated industry and largely speaking, the games they make act as a perpetuation of this same white male hegemony.

Of course, this is not entirely true as today many games have characters of colour, LGBTQI+ characters, all of which are positive in their representations. However, it goes without saying that representation of non-white people in the gaming industry whilst slowly improving, is still an issue. In 2015, a Creative Skillset survey reported that around 4% of workers in the UK gaming industry were of a BAME background, well under the 10% across all sectors. With very little research done on race and representation in gaming, this does paint an underwhelming picture of the reality felt by BAME communities in gaming and also does very little to counter further truths in society at large.

This is then mirrored in the portrayal and misrepresentation of black people and other minority groups by stereotyping and by assumptions based upon racial identity or gender (or both) which then informs the creation of characters and storylines in the games themselves. Too often have we seen black characters in games portrayed as angry, dangerous and menacing which feeds back into false stereotyping based on the colour of one’s skin – and this has unfortunately been the case for many different communities of colour for as long as video gaming has been a thing:

So, where do we go from here? It is not enough for companies to just shoehorn in a black or ethnic minority worker round the table. This is simply diversity – not representation – and even if this happens, how can a BAME worker in the gaming industry fully commit to the task when there is a lack of visible representation around them? There are many great initiatives like blind recruitment, unconscious bias and antiracism training – but in this writer’s opinion, this has to be baked into the process well before companies start diversifying their boardrooms and workforces.  This is key to reaching and involving fully the diverse global audience found in the world of gaming and its marketplaces. Perhaps these firms are too spooked to “do the work” for fear of alienating who they mistakenly believe is their dominant, target audience.

In the US, black gamers are the dominant rising demographic, which should represent a shift in thinking from developers and marketeers within the industry. Here in the UK, BAME gamers are a large part of the demographic in the gaming universe. Will the industry follow suit and deep dive into what is surely, in financial terms at least, an ever-growing source of potential capital? Time will tell. And much like we are seeing in the world of football, saying that companies will not tolerate racism, sexism or homophobia is not enough unless those words are turned into concrete deeds. The Black, the Asian, the Latin, the LGBTQI+ experience is an important well from which to draw knowledge from and until the industry represents fully these strands, we may well be having these same conversations in the coming decades.

At Go2Games, we are proud to employ a workforce that is diverse through lines of race, gender, sexuality and ability – although we know that there is always more work to be done and this is what we strive to achieve. We see education, training and skills as a key pillar in ensuring that opportunity leads to experience which in turn, leads to representation for the many young people who spend time with us, often in their formative years in the world of work. It is through education, training and skills that we wish to develop our own mission, which is one of opportunity for all in the diverse, local community that we are all proud to be a part of. Working together with other community organisations who share our values and stand up for the different parts of our community is also an important part of our social DNA

Finally, circling back to the football, while a veil was lifted to expose something darker about English society, maybe England won something far greater than a big chunk of metal. In the wake of the sickening abuse, communities up and down the land came together in support of those three footballers. Communities with people of different colours, creeds and class – just like the team that brought everyone together, a team picked from every corner of this island. A team which played for us and perhaps spoke for us, on and off the pitch. For the gaming community and the gaming industry, this should represent a teaching moment. Because this is what representation really looks like.

Football may not have come home, but this side made England a home… 👏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

England Didn't Really Lose

Written by @SebSB Illustrated by @Alice_Devine_

🎥 Watch: https://t.co/feA311HWMe pic.twitter.com/5Qq3TnzRm6

— Tifo Football (@TifoFootball_) July 12, 2021

The post Racism in Gaming first appeared on Get2Gaming.

Konami is turning PES into a digital-only, free-to-play franchise called eFootball.

After over two decades, the historic franchise Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) is coming to an end. Konami is rebranding its PES into a digital-only, free-to-play series.

The long-running franchise will now be known simply as eFootball, with Konami pitching the reworked brand as a “next-generation, free-to-play football simulation experience.”

The move comes after Konami decided to rename the series eFootball PES — or eFootball Winning Eleven in Japan — in 2020, initiating a gradual shift away from the PES brand.

Outlining its plans for the refreshed franchise, Konami explained eFootball will be rebuilt in Unreal Engine and support cross-platform play between console, PC, and mobile platforms.

The Japanese company claims eFootball will be a “platform” in itself, and while the core offering will be free-to-play, some game modes will be sold as optional DLC to give players “the freedom to build an experience that follows their interests.”

A full gameplay reveal is slated for August. Still, Konami has teased a new animation system built around “Motion Matching” technology that “converts the vast range of moments that players make on the pitch into a series of animations, selecting the most accurate one in real-time.”

Some features, including mobile controller support, online leagues, cross-platform matches between console, PC, and mobile, will only be rolled out in Autumn and Winter.

At launch, players can play local matches using a selection of licensed clubs, including Juventus, Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester United, and play cross-generation matches on console platforms.

For updated news on eFootball, keep it at Get2Gaming.

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The post Pro Evolution Soccer Comes To An End first appeared on Get2Gaming.

Fifa fans are going to be shocked when they find out their beloved Messi has been replaced on the front cover of Fifa 17 for German star Marco Reus. It has been four years since Messi first got his place on the Fifa the cover and since then has never been replaced. This news has been confirmed from the publisher of EA.

The German star plays for national team plus Borussia Dortmund. The competition was between Anthony Martial (Man United), James Rodriguez (Real Madrid) and Eden Hazard (Chelsea FC). Reus won with 3.1 million votes towards the competition which is an amazing figure and puts in perceptive of how loved Fifa really is.

The Photo below is the brand new Fifa 17 case which will be on the shelf’s to buy from 29/09/2016.

The post Messi Move aside, there is a New Cover Model in Town! first appeared on Get2Gaming.

The UEFA Euro Championship is now upon us! Football fever has gripped Europe once again. Flags will be draped from windows, stuck on cars and worn proudly as a badge of honour on many a football fan’s breast.

Today we’re looking at the truth… that football fans are, in fact, secret cosplay enthusiasts.

Exhibit A

The casuals.

People dressed in their team’s colours. A common site at any football match. People who want to commit to the team spirit. Much like somebody sporting the Attack on Titan Survey Corps jackets or a few choice accessories.

Who doesn’t want to step into the clothing of their hero? Whether it’s good ol’ Cap, Spidey or Wayne Rooney of the England football team.

GO TEAM!

Number #2

The hardcores.

Some may sport team shirts, some go that extra mile and crack the body paint out.

Exhibit C

Flowey.

This one speaks for itself.

After all, who doesn’t want to spend a day as Flowey, that terrifying yellow flower from Toby Fox’s hit Undertale.

Or, I’ve just been told, to show your Welsh pride!

So, there you have it. As much as they may try to deny it, who isn’t a fan of a good bit of cosplay!

To conclude, what bigger fans of footie are there than the teams themselves. I give you…

The Crystal Palace Football Club (CPFC).

And I think they look awesome!

What do you think? If there are any sports get-ups that didn’t make it into this post, share them in the comments!

Get your team colours on let’s welcome the EURO 2016 together!

#EURO2016

The post Evidence that Football Fans are Secretly Cosplay Enthusiasts first appeared on Get2Gaming.

April 19^th is when EA Access members will be able to download Fifa 16 for absolutely nothing! The last game to be available on EA Access was NHL 16 and has been available since March 29^th. As you all probably know, if you have an EA Access membership then you are able to download games for completely free when EA decide to put them into ‘The Vault’ on their app, EA Access. EA Access is an Xbox One only application so for this amazing deal then you’ll need an Xbox One.

EA regularly update The Vault with free games for its members. EA Access members are also entitled to ten hour trials on games to see if they like them before they purchase a game so paying £20 for a year’s membership really is a great deal.

Fifa is perhaps the biggest sports game that EA make, for it to be a free download for members is incredible. Fifa 16 has so many game modes on it that you could have endless fun and it will give you the chance to play the new game mode, The FUT Draft and now the ability to play as women on Fifa for the first time. EA Access members are also entitled to 10% off all EA digital purchases including Fifa points which you will be able to use to help improve your Ultimate Team.

EA Access now has full games for the latest Fifa, Madden and NHL games and that’s just sports games. It also has Titanfall, Battlefield Hardline and more also available for free download. Is EA Access worth it? Without a doubt!

The post Next free EA game first appeared on Get2Gaming.

With #FIFA hot hot hot in the press for all the wrong reasons, perhaps this could in some ways be seen as a very brief breathe of fresh equality-laden air.

The digital incarnation of FIFA has come up trumps with the promise of female footballers in their national team colours in the next release of the juggernaut football simulation series. The latest release in FIFA 16 seen on Xbox One and PS4 really is fantastic; the realism of just about every aspect of the game really rings true to real life. Football should never have been earmarked as a man’s world and this will take us one step closer to giving the female stars of the game the credit they deserve.

Prepare to be dazzled by photo-realistic ponytails and the odd bob!

#GET2GAMING!

The post FIFA NEWS: Football is a game of two sexes first appeared on Get2Gaming.

PS4 Vs Xbox One

Sony & Microsoft will be battling it out on the football pitch in a five-a-side game!

It’s almost time for the games industry five-a-side football tournament, in which the winning team will take home the Game5s Cup! Sony & Microsoft are set to go head-to-head on 21st May, and there are others who will be joining in with the games, such as Rockstar, Sports Interactive, Gameloft, GAME, Marmalade, Exertis, Testology, ShopTo and MCV.

Keep your eyes peeled for the winners. It’s definitely a tough call!

The post PS4 Vs Xbox One in Five-a-Side Football Match first appeared on Get2Gaming.