Previews// 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

EA Sports is also developing a 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa game for the Wii, and with it comes a completely different interface and control scheme.

The aim, according to producer Tristan Jackson, is to target a different consumer than the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. “We'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.”

And even though the graphics are a little cruder than in its HD brother, in playing it the Wii version of the game is really quite fun. In some ways, because so many control barriers have been broken down, it can be easier to get into than the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. You can play with either a single Wii Remote, a Nunchuk attachment or a Classic Controller, but I was using the Remote and Nunchuk combination.

In this setup, 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 3 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.

Along with some similar features from the HD version (World Cup Mode and online single player matches), the Wii iteration comes with some exclusive modes. Global Elimination works like a party game for up to four players, letting each person pick four world teams and then challenging one another in a knockout match. The last player with any teams standing wins.

A 'Zakumi Dream Team' mode is a rather interesting campaign where you build a team of players that haven't qualified, and challenge any of the 32 teams that are lined up for World Cup victory. If you beat them, you get to steal a player from that team and add him to your own.

The aim is to build a dream team consisting of world class players and go for World Cup glory yourself. These teams can be used in online matches and with friends too.

Motion control is working well for the Wii version, so does Simon Humber have any ideas in a football game with Natal or the PlayStation Move? “I don't think we can deliver a simulation football product for a Natal-based controller scheme. For one thing you'd be tired too quickly, you'd fall over and smash your head on the fireplace or something.” He added that the PlayStation Move might work with a Wii control system, but the PS3 audience wouldn't take to it.

“With Natal, the problem is what do you do with full body movement? Do you break it down into constituent parts - “You're now a goalkeeper, try saving the shots”? But you can't really ask people to dive across their living rooms. So, is it going to be a rich experience at the end of the day?” Humber concludes his thoughts by confirming his focus on simulation football, something that he says has a long way to go before being 'perfect'.

I found the Wii version to be a really accessible and enjoyable multiplayer game, with rules and features that I can understand (this is probably a good time to mention I'm not so much of a football fan. You can call Ray Winstone to punch my lights out now).

It was just as fun to play, if not more so in a way, than the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, which works as an excellent simulation game to advance to once you've had your fill of Wii gaming. So I can see both versions having a place side-by-side with footy fans.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is heading for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii on the 30th April.