>yup, exactly. I actually had CMs showing up in the box when I
>could use them there. I was a bit dumbstruck. and FBs were
>making HUGE overlapping runs (which is something you see in
>online games, but they were so static when they're AI). I
>could have a winger decline the overlap, pass inside to the
>CM, and the FB would actually keep running so my CM could use
>the new angle to slot the thru ball. it's going to make
>toying with formations for your talent that much more
>interesting.

My fav part are the CM's making runs....you can actually take advantage of cb's who are playing too aggressive on your strikers/wingers because your midfield will now make a run.
>

>I didn't actually pick up a huge difference here, so I'll
>probably have to keep toying with it. how you played your
>first touch is something you become insanely sensitive to when
>you play online, because dudes obviously press like maniacs,
>often times you only have time to hit a first time pass
>otherwise you're turning it over, so I'll have to keep
>experimenting. I did notice CBs would fumble the ball
>sometimes, whereas my CAMs would almost immediately have it
>under control, and that's a welcome change, because I would
>naturally high press a lot against the CPU, but it was always
>a bit annoying the consistency with which a CB could dribble
>away from a press even when I anticipated the pass as much as
>possible without outright picking it off.

It was actually the first thing I noticed...if you want to feel it, just press heavily on your joystick right before receiving the ball and compare it to when you only slightly touch it. I noticed it and then on the demo intro screen, noticed it was actually a named new feature.

>pretty certain you're talking about the standing tackle and
>yeah -- that was my immediate first impression, too. they
>made it work. in FIFA 12 I would pace a guy, get directly on
>his shoulder with a ball-winning player, moving in the exact
>direction where I knew they were taking the ball, but the high
>level players (ESPECIALLY online) could still skip the tackle
>~80% of the time, even though I'd done everything right. lots
>of times there's these skill dribblers in FIFA 12 I simply
>never attempt a tackle on unless I'm sliding explicitly to
>foul. very, very glad they saw this and improved it, because
>playing d-mid was more about denying space than ball-winning
>(which is still fun...) but I'm excited to see if I'll be able
>to really anchor a team from a deep role as opposed to just
>being a safety valve.

I'm still all about constricting space...but now you can actually take the ball away far more effectively instead of having to read passes every time. It really makes position defense so much more effective and rewarding...as it should be.
>

>ha! yeah, I try to screen guys ALL THE TIME when I'm playing
>online in FIFA 12 and it's very effective. about half the
>time I'm off the ball I'm actually looking for a pressing
>forward to run into as opposed to actually trying to find
>space to receive a pass (part cuz it works so well, part cuz
>fools don't make simple passes). it'd be a welcome fix even
>if it's an exploit I use often.

This was such a big point of contention for me last year...really pisses me off lol. I constantly shift defenses with pass and go and also take advantage of any over aggressive defending...this was taken away from me constantly due to the unbridled obstruction.
>
>best sports video game I've ever played and it's only getting
>better. and that's just the gameplay. I have yet to play
>another game with the online social options FIFA has either.
>hopefully the finished product keeps all that intact, too.

Hands down best...soccer has always lended itself to that because of how dynamic it is but no game has ever translated as well as FIFA 12. With the new real life touches of FIFA 13, it's only getting better. I'm truly astonished at how well they've taken real life elements and put them into the game this year...the team continues to amaze.