Big win for GREE today: EA Sports has brought social game FIFA World Class Soccer to GREE on Japanese feature phones and smartphones (pre-registration actually started a while ago).
FIFA World Class Soccer has been co-developed with Tokyo-based gumi, one of the biggest third-party social game makers in Japan. The biggest selling point of the title is that it features real soccer stars, including Japanese players.
GREE explains:
FIFA World Class Soccer enables players to build and manage their ultimate team of soccer superstars from around the world, including many of the top Japanese soccer stars. Competing on global leaderboards and against friends, players utilize features such as player loans and player trades, scouting networks, and training in an authentic social gaming experience that replicates the emotion and drama of the real world of soccer. In addition, FIFA World Class Soccer on the GREE Platform will be highlighted by regular tournaments, special Teams of the Week, and in-game challenges.
As soccer has become increasing popular in Japan over the last few years, GREE and EA have a certain hit on their hands with this game.
The biggest soccer-based social game in Japan at the moment is Konami’s card game “J-League Dream Eleven”, which is so far only available on Mobage.
