No FIFA 08 online 5 on 5 for Australia

As we very recently reported, soccer fans will soon be one step closer to being able to play a full virtual game, thanks to Electronic Arts' announcement of 'Be A Pro: Online Team Play' for FIFA 08 on PS3 and Xbox 360. The feature is to be offered as a free download six to eight weeks after the game's launch, and will enable ten people to take part in a single game online, each controlling a single player, with five players per side.

Unfortunately, we have some sad news for Australian gamers. This feature is currently planned for Europe and the US only. It will not be available after launch in Australia, and it is unclear whether it will ever be offered here.

We asked EA Australia to comment on the rationale behind the decision, and a representative told us: "In regard to playing 5 on 5 in FIFA 08, without a good connection to the server, the result would have been constant drop-offs during Online play that would have booted everyone in the Online Area off at the same time." It seems as if our uneven online infrastructure and stunted broadband development has bitten us on the butt yet again.

The EA representative went on to say that: "The upside is that the 1 on 1 online gameplay will still be enabled! 1 on 1 uses another technology for players to compete against one another online."

What are your reactions to this decision? Has EA made the right call, nixing a mode that could have been hugely frustrating? Or should the company be trying harder to find a solution? Let us know in the comments thread.

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