It’s Euro 2008, the Video Game. But Don’t Tell the Players

One of my favorite lines from one of the reviews of the Euro 2008 video game:

“The Bad [about the game]: No club teams.”

Um… No. Really?

(I guess that’s for the folks who don’t quite get the whole Euro 2008 concept of competition between national European teams.)

But since we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk “Euro 2008,” the video game, which is apparently something to behold. From another review:

The presentation is second to none in EURO 2008. The game looks simply phenomenal and the stadiums are faithfully recreated. The players look sensational, the crowd is even more vocal than ever before and the attention to detail is absolutely spectacular.

I think I’m going to need to start playing video games. First, because I think it would be kind of cool to actually be France. And second, because I don’t know how I can pass up the opportunity to experience this:

One of the neat little touches in the game is the gamer controlled celebrations. After a big play or a key goal you can push a button to celebrate (Y for example with raise two arms). Any of the four face buttons will execute a gamer controlled celebration, but there are also advanced celebration controls, for those who really like to gloat after a goal.

Because as any true fan can tell you, it’s all about the gloat.

One thing though: We need to keep these games out of the hands of the players. Because as Robert Green of West Ham will tell you, video games are THE reason England didn’t make Euros this year:

“We would have the best team if we could go into every household and throw away every PlayStation, Xbox and video game.

“We have the players and the best league in the world. The way the game is played here is so different though. Watching the Premier League is like Formula One - it’s that quick - and then you go to an international game and it’s like a game of chess.

“Other countries seem to bring on world-class players, countries like Argentina and Brazil where often it’s football or nothing. In contrast we live in a country where we have choices and perhaps the will to do it, the need to escape your own situation, is not so clear.”

So video game are too distracting. And they’re also dangerous. Just ask France coach Raymond Domenech.

And so, in conclusion, let’s keep these dangerous games out of the hands of the players and in the hands of us, the fans, where they belong.

(For more on Euro 2008, the video game, check out our gaming blog on The Offside.)