Welcome to the first post of a new weekly segment on Rival Spot’s blog, the FIFA 12 Simulator Series. Every week, we’ll simulate the biggest games of the weekend to come via FIFA 12 to try and predict the outcome. In a way, it’s just a fun way to try and guess how the biggest encounters in European football to come will pan out.

This week, we simulate no less than 5 fixtures; Man City vs Newcastle (EPL), Chelsea vs Liverpool (EPL), Valencia vs Real Madrid (La Liga), Fiorentina vs AC Milan (Serie A),  Bayern Munich vs Borrusia Dortmund (German Bundesliga)

Some important info:

1. The time per half was set to 5 minutes, and the weather conditions were kept to “clear”
2. Each clubs Team Management was set to default i.e. I didn’t alter anything
3. Game speed was set to “fast”

Manchester City vs. Newcastle - English Premier League

I guess the one glitch about FIFA is that it really doesn’t take into account current form for both clubs. While Manchester City, from the outset would be clear and comfortable favorites for a tie like this, Newcastle – despite preseason predictions – are holding their own against the big clubs of the league, and sit a comfortable 3rd on the table.

The outcome on the simulator though wasn’t completely unexpected. Manchester City bossed Newcastle, as the game ended with Sergio Aguero scoring a brace among the 5 unanswered goals scored by the team in blue. David Silva, Yaya Toure and even Carlos Tevez all recorded goals, as The Citizens brushed aside the team from the Tyne 5-0.

Manchester City 5 – 0 Newcastle
Aguero 12, 76
Y.Toure 31
Silva 67
Tevez 84

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Chelsea vs Liverpool – English Premier League

With both clubs boasting a plethora of “big name players,” this fixture ultimately became one of the ties of the round, as both teams displayed nuanced tactical ability in this tight, no-nonsense affair.

Fernando Torres (surprise) gave the home side an early lead within 15 minutes, after which Charlie Adam equalized from a long range effort. Juan Mata seemed to have sealed the victory, having scored a deft goal inside the box with just five minutes remaining, until Jamie Carragher equalized through a header of a corner kick with seconds remaining.

Chelsea 2 – 2 Liverpool
Torres 13           Adam 41
Mata 86            Carragher 90+2

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Valencia vs Real Madrid – Spanish La Liga

Despite being the away side, Jose Mourinho’s Madrid squad went into this one as favorites. Valencia, devastated by the departure of midfield maestro Juan Mata, who jumped ship to Chelsea in the Summer transfer market, seemed the weaker team from the outset.

And if you were a betting man, the result didn’t disappoint. Cristiano Ronaldo finished the game with a hat-trick, while Kaka, Ozil and even Xabi Alonso managed to get on the score sheet. To Valencia’s credit, they did score one goal in each half (courtesy of Roberto Soldado), to at least try and make the scoreline look somewhat respectable.

Valencia 2 – 6 Real Madrid
Soldado 40, 72     Ronaldo 6, 31, 55
Kaka 17
Ozil 83
Alonso 89

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Fiorentina vs AC Milan – Italian Serie A

Traditionally speaking, AC Milan would be shoe-in favorites for a tie like this. However, with Fiorentina wonderkid Stevan Jovetic hitting form – something the creators of the game managed to acknowledge – it was always gonna be an uphill battle for the Rossenieri.

And the result seemed to affirm that. Fiorentina took a lead right before the half hour mark, courtesy of a stunning long range shot from Jovetic himself. Juan Manuel Vargas gave the home side a comfortable two goal advantage over the visitors right when play resumed to push AC Milan deeper into misery. However, the Rossenieri seemed to have other ideas. After winning a penalty courtesy of a last-man “professional” foul in the box, which saw the Viola reduced to 10 men, Zlatan Ibrahimovich slotted home from the spot to give AC Milan a glimmer of hope. However, it seemed too little too late, as the game ended with the scores as is.

Fiorentina 2 – 1 AC Milan
Jovetic 28              Ibrahimovich 71
Vargas 48
Gamberini (red card) 70

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Bayern Munich vs Borrusia Dortmund - German Bundesliga

Arguably one of the biggest ties of the round, Bayern Munich vs Borrusia Dortmund will sea Germany’s two biggest clubs go toe-to-toe in an effort to reclaim the Bundesliga title. With Munich aided by a plethora of summer arrivals, and Dortmund’s Mario Gotze coming of age, this game promises, in real life and in the realm of FIFA, to be a cracker.

It lived up to the promise quite comfortably as well! Lucas Barrios gave the visitors a nice early lead thanks to a pinpoint cross from Shinji Kagawa, which was soon equalized by Arjen Robben after dribbling two players in the box and slotting it deep in the corner. Mats Hummels scored a late header in injury time to suggest an away victory for Dortmund. However, their plans were ruined by a clinical finish from Mario Gomes literally in the dying seconds of the game to divide the share of the spoils between the two teams.

Bayern Munich 2 – 2 Borrusia Dortmund
Robben 11                         Barrios 8
Gomes 90+3                    Hummels 90+1

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Hope everyone enjoyed the read. I’ll be back with more simulations on the eve of the midweek’s UEFA Champions League fixtures.

FIFA 12 is the latest edition of the internationally popular football (or soccer) game from EA sports. Coupled with new interactive features in the Career Mode, a brand new impact engine and a level of unpredictability installments of past years simply failed to live up to, FIFA 12 seems blow any potential competition – normally Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer – straight out of the water.

But does FIFA 12 actually live up to the billing? Was the wait for FIFA 12 really about improved gameplay, or simply just a matter of updated rosters? And of course the one question those of you who are still “on the fence” are thinking about: is it really worth buying?

Read the rest of this review to find out just how Rivalspot rates EA Sports brand new edition of FIFA.

First off, the Career Mode has been drastically improved, as now managers can interact pre-game with their own players, opposition ones or even just make a general comment on the other team. Also, managers now receive responses directly from players regarding their morale, energy levels or just general happiness, making it easy to avoid injuries etc.

Perhaps the biggest improvement on past editions though is the new “Deadline Day” feature, where managers get to make 11th hour transfers, ultimately adding an element of realness to the season. It also gives the managers the illusion of a “race against time,” as now every move is made with a sense of promptness and increased calculation.

Another recognizable feature of course is the much anticipated impact engine, which has essentially changed the entire gameplay of the label. Now, factors such as energy levels, dedication of players and even the weather determine whether or not you reach a rolling ball which would have easily been reached in past editions. It ads an element of realism, and more importantly unpredictability.

Of course, the other thing players will notice when first playing the game is the level of intensity in the tackles. Not only can you time them better, but they look simply stunning in HD when players go tumbling and then struggle to get up. It also seems to allow more deflections on shots – again adding a sense of realism never seen before.

Another feature most users would probably overlook though is the level of personalization added to the players this time. Though more known players like Rooney, Messi and Ronaldo have always had an individual feel to them in editions past, personalization of others has lacked. The creators of FIFA 12 though have put great emphasis this time around however, resulting in a great feel for players from smaller teams who are generally “less known.”

Of course the other most noticeable (and expected) feature of the game is the improvement in graphics.  When playing in HD – and everyone really should be – the game looks absolutely beautiful from just about any camera angle.

FIFA has added another level of convenience to the already user-friendly interface of the “Online Play” section. Now, instead of going through your console’s hub to find and then connect to a friend to play head-to-head with, the new “Friendlies” option allows you to find friends already online through the game itself. A big plus indeed, and coupled with the fact that your head-to-head record against each friend is recorded for eternity, there’s no reason you can’t earn bragging rights amongst your friends.

Of course, this edition is far from perfect, as there is still plenty of room for improvement.

First off, establishing and then staying connected with the EA server, even with a decent internet connection speed, is simply frustrating. The amount of times I’ve already, within just one week, been disconnected when cruising to victory online is simply inexcusable, and needs to be tended to quickly. For a game that relies so heavily on it’s “Online Play” mode, something needs to be done.

The crowd as well, which was boasted to be vastly improved in the run-in to the game’s launch, doesn’t seem all that vibrant either. Though the fan’s chants are supposed to weigh-in as the “12th man,” very rarely do recognizable or trademark songs heard from the stands during the game. Also, the home and away fans seem to celebrate together, regardless of who scores. A some may say it’s a trivial issue, but given the other improvements on realism EA has made with this edition, asking for an improvement in this department isn’t too much really.

Final Verdict

FIFA 12 is definitely a step-up from FIFA 11. Though the edition still has a few issues, the new features really do add appeal to the game. The new impact engine truly revolutionizes gameplay, and the overall presentation seems to have been improved greatly. The “Online Play” mode seems as great as ever, and the “Career Mode” definitely has had some work done to it.

In all, whether you’re the type of person that likes to socialize online through FIFA gaming, or simply prefer playing solo, FIFA 12 does not disappoint.

Worth buying? We think so.

Rating: 87%

As the 2011 MLB playoffs get set to start on Friday evening, it’s time to look ahead and predict which team will stand tall in October. The full series-by-series breakdowns are below:

Tampa Bay – Texas
A tricky series, because the Rays made such an incredible run on their way to winning the AL Wild Card. It’d be great fun to have their streak continue, but Texas is simply too powerful and too good. Of course, a terrific start from Matt Moore in Game 1 would turn the tables and give the Rays an edge with David Price and James Shields still to come. Still can’t quite see it.  The Pick: Rangers in 4

Detroit – New York
The best pitcher in this series resides in Detroit, but New York has the superior lineup. Plus, CC Sabathia is a pretty close second in the pitching department. Both teams lack starting depth after their top guys, but it’s the Yankees’ bats that will make lower-tier pitchers pay. Miguel Cabrera might be the best hitter in the American League, but Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano and company should return to the ALCS. The Pick: Yankees in 4

Arizona – Milwaukee
This writer hopes the Brewers win the World Series, and sees them squeaking by the Diamondbacks in this NLDS series. Yes, Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson will pose a problem for the Brewers, but Milwaukee has the bats to combat those arms. Plus, a starting trio of Yovani Gallardo, Shaun Marcum and Zach Greinke is plenty scary for the opposition, with Randy Wolf as a reliable fourth arm. The D-backs bats are plenty good as well, and this one should come down to execution. The Pick: Milwaukee in 5

St. Louis – Philadelphia
Like the Rays, it’s been an incredible journey to the playoffs for St. Louis. But the arms in Philadelphia’s starting rotation are simply ridiculous, and it’s hard to imagine the Cardinals overcoming this, especially with Chris Carpenter unavailable for the first two games. Even with an upset thrown in the mix, I just can’t see St. Louis advancing. The Pick: Cardinals in 4

ALCS
Texas – New York
This would be an even battle of powerful offenses, but the Rangers have more reliable arms. It won’t be easy, but here’s predicting a return to the World Series and a second consecutive ALCS victory over the Yankees. The Pick: Rangers in 6

NLCS
Milwaukee – Philadelphia
As much as I want to pick the Brewers, I just can’t. This series could easily go the distance, but I simply have too much faith in one of Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels or Roy Halladay closing the deal in Game 7, should it get there. The Pick: Phillies in 7

World Series
Philadelphia – Texas
Rational thought tells me that Philadelphia wins this in 6, but I haven’t picked a total “upset” yet. So while I don’t fully believe it, my pick is Texas as 2011 MLB Champions. Yes, there’s a very strong chance I’ll look back at these picks and sigh in a few weeks. The Pick: Rangers in 6

What do you think of the picks? Let us know your own and feel free to share thoughts in the comments.

And love video games? We host free tournaments at Rivalspot.com, where you can also play in head-to-head cash matchups, using your PS3 or Xbox 360. Register for free and get started with some bonus bucks – you can also play everything from Madden to FIFA, NHL, Fight Night, and soon… NBA 2K12, FIFA 12 and more!

Note: To register for free at Rivalspot.com and start playing in cash tournaments and head-to-head matchups, click here. You will also be able to find plenty of freerolls, and we’ll give you some bonus bucks to get started.

Rivalspot.com is excited to add the premier soccer franchise to its lineup of competitive gaming, as FIFA 12 will now be available for cash games and freerolls on the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

Joining a lineup that includes Madden 12, NHL 12 and more, Rivalspot’s FIFA 12 arena lets users wager their money or pride on head-to-head matchups, hoping to walk away with bragging rights and maybe a little extra coin in their pockets.

As well, multi-player tournaments will offer the chance to battle other gamers on the way to a potentially big payout, while Rivalspot will also offer freerolls to give users a chance to get started with no strings attached.

Love FIFA 12 and think you have what it takes? Simply hop over to Rivalspot.com and sign up today!

The first set of ratings for NBA 2K12 have been revealed in an Operation Sports producer blog, where Erick Boenisch lays out details for the new “Creating a Legend” mode.

Displayed within the post are two screenshots, showing the Miami Heat roster and Kobe Bryant’s player card. More importantly, we get our first look at individual player ratings for several of the top ballers in the game.

Beginning 2K12 on top is LeBron James, who debuts at 98-overall one season after entering 2K11 with a 97-rating. Kobe also began last year with a 97, but falls to a 94-overall in the initial 2K12 ratings.

As for the rest, Dwyane Wade will begin the season with a 96-overall mark, while Chris Bosh takes a pretty significant dive to 80-overall. The rest of the Heat roster is a wasteland, led by Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem at 68-overall.

Knowing Kobe fans, they won’t like the perceived lack of respect for to him by the guys at 2K Sports. But while 94 may be a bit low, it’s tough to see Bryant keeping up with the younger, more athletic LeBron over the course of a long season. That Wade comes out ahead is also a cause for discussion.

What do you think of the ratings we’ve seen so far? Should LeBron be the highest-rated player in NBA 2K12, or would you make the argument for Wade, Kobe, Kevin Durant or another of the league’s superstars? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

And love playing NBA 2K? We host free NBA 2K11 tournaments at Rivalspot.com, where you can also play in head-to-head cash matchups, using your PS3 or Xbox 360. Register for free and get started with some bonus bucks – you can also play everything from Madden to FIFA, NHL, Fight Night, and soon… NBA 2K12.

September 13, 2011 was a day of significant baseball milestones, after a pair of veteran pitchers achieved some big time numbers on the field.

First, it was Mariano Rivera saving game #600 of his storied career, as he pitched a scoreless 9th in New York’s 3-2 win over Seattle. Even more impressive, Rivera moved within one save of Trevor Hoffman’s all-time Major League record and will likely surpass that mark in the coming days. Clearly, he’s just the second man to reach the 600-save plateau.

And in Boston, knuckleballer Tim Wakefield took the next step in his improbable career by notching his 200th career victory against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 18-6 blowout was never in doubt after the middle innings, though Wakefield struggled to pitch through the 6th, allowing five runs on 96 pitches. Still, his amazing consistency is defined by this accomplishment, as he’s been a consistent member of the Red Sox rotation for years.

With these two milestones, we have greatness and consistency. Rivera is considered by many to be the greatest closer of all time, while Wakefield managed to win an incredible amount of games despite throwing barely above average during his time in the majors. Still, the latter has always been there when the Red Sox needed an arm, helping the team through various pennant races and to World Series titles.

Rivera, meanwhile, has been an integral part of numerous Yankees championship squads, and has remarkably shown few signs of slowing down despite his age.

Boiled down, yesterday was about celebrating the accomplishments of two classy players on two storied franchises, regardless of how they reached their marks. That it happened on the same night just adds another layer to the Yankees-Red Sox relationship.

What are your reactions to the milestones? Are you more impressed with Rivera or Wakefield here? Drop a line in the comments and let us know what you think.

And love video games? We host free NBA 2K11 tournaments at Rivalspot.com, where you can also play in head-to-head cash matchups, using your PS3 or Xbox 360. Register for free and get started with some bonus bucks – you can also play everything from Madden to FIFA, NHL, Fight Night, and soon… NBA 2K12, FIFA 12 and more!

No, it’s not quite the real thing, but FIFA addicts can try a taste of their favorite sports title with the release of FIFA 12′s demo for the Playstion 3 and Xbox 360.

Available to download from both the Playstation Network and Xbox Live, the 1.42 GB file includes six different teams and gives gamers a preview of the upcoming release. Playing three-minute halves, users can choose from Arsenal, Barcelona, Milan, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City, inside City’s Etihad Stadium.

Some of the transfers aren’t complete (Cesc Fabregas remains at Arsenal, for example), but EA Sports has included enough to give a satisfying impression of what’s to come. Download the demo, try it out and leave your thoughts in the comments – how do you like it, and how would you compare it to FIFA 11?

And soon enough, Rivalspot will host weekly FIFA 12 tournaments and head-to-head battles for cash at Rivalspot.com – it’s free to register and you’ll find all kinds of promotions to get you started. You can already play FIFA 11 tournaments any day of the week!

With the arrival of FIFA 12 getting closer each day, it was time for EA Sports to release the complete soundtrack list for the upcoming release.

As usual, the global game features tunes from far and wide, including 39 artists from 15 countries. Those include Australia, England, Italy, the USA, Brazil, Venezuela, Germany, Holland, New Zealand and more, in what was clearly an effort by EA Sports to give FIFA 12 a worldwide appeal.

Headlining the list of artists are The Strokes, Foster The People, The Ting Tings, CSS and Kasabian. The complete list of bands, songs and countries can be found below.

Remember FIFA 12 arrives September 27, so check out the soundtrack and let us know what you think!

Love online gaming? You can always play in our free weekly FIFA 11 tournaments or in head-to-head battles for cash at Rivalspot.com – it’s free to register and you’ll find all kinds of promotions to get you started. And soon enough, FIFA 12 tournaments will be on, so prepare yourself for the challenge!

With no NBA basketball on the horizon, much of the relevant hoops action is taking place overseas. In one such event, sponsored by Nike, LeBron James took to the floor in Taiwan for an All-Star charity game.

There, he was obviously the best player in the floor, but that doesn’t mean everything was well and good. At one point, captured in the video below, LeBron got his pocket picked by a much smaller defender, who then finished with a jam while James flew by for a failed block attempt.

It was definitely a surprising moment, and one that the media has predictably been quick to jump on. But hey, who doesn’t want to see LeBron get slightly embarrassed on a basketball court… any basketball court.

Check the vid below:

What do you think of the play? And don’t you wish steam came out of NBA hoops after made baskets? Drop a line in the comments below and share your thoughts!

And love playing NBA 2K11? We host free NBA 2K11 tournaments at Rivalspot.com, where you can also play in head-to-head cash matchups, using your PS3 or Xbox 360. Register for free and get started with some bonus bucks – you can also play everything from Madden to FIFA, NHL, Fight Night, and soon… NBA 2K12.

After years of speculation and a long, drawn-out process, Cesc Fabregas is officially headed back to Barcelona FC, leaving behind an Arsenal club that failed to win trophies during his captaincy.

The final details of the 24-year old’s transfer are laid out below, courtesy of The Guardian:

The saga came to an end when Fábregas signed a five-year deal at Barcelona. The European champions will pay Arsenal two instalments of €14.5m (£12.8m) before the end of September, plus a further €5m in incentives, payable if they win the league twice or the Champions League once in the next three years. Arsenal will also receive €1m a year after Fábregas agreed to lower his salary from €4m to €3m to facilitate the deal.

So, the rich get richer, as if Barca actually needed another midfielder in Fabregas’ mold. The squad already features the uber-talented duo of Xavi and Andres Iniesta, and it remains to be seen just how Fabregas’ offensive power meshes with the others.

As for Arsenal, they are left to pick up the pieces and continue their quest for championship titles, which eluded them during Fabregas’ time as captain. In the Guardian article, he described the feeling of leaving unfinished business behind:

“At Arsenal, there were finals and semi-finals but we always lacked that little extra push to win something. That was hard to take. It was not that we didn’t win titles, it was that we kept going through the same routine, the same things happening to us and us messing up. I gave everything for Arsenal but it didn’t show in the [trophy] cabinet because I only won one FA Cup. That is the biggest regret I will have in my career – not to be able to lift a trophy as Arsenal captain.”

So, where do both teams go from here? How do you see the Fabregas transfer affecting both Barcelona and Arsenal? Drop a line in the comments and let us know what you think!

And FIFA 11 gamers, you can play online for real money at Rivalspot, simply by registering for free, hooking up your PS3 or Xbox 360 and challenging gamers from around the world in our community. With free weekly tournaments, there is plenty to be excited about at Rivalspot!