[nutunited]

How to get the most out of FIFA 09

Before I start, go to C:\Program Files\EA Sports\, copy the entire FIFA09 directory and paste it somewhere you'll remember (obviously this is hard drive space dependent). That way you won't lose any of your 5 installations because of this - You can just replace the whole directory if things go belly-up...

GRAPHICS

NETS

Let’s face it, I think that we can all agree that the default FIFA nets are rubbish

Download Arslan’s Realistic Net Patch which changes the nets from this:



To this:


Or this :


DARK NIGHT LIGHTING

If you find that the default night lighting is too dark for you, download and install MonkeyDragon’s Lighting patch.

STUTTERING/LAGGING

RENDER RATE MODE

Navigate to C:\Program Files\EA Sports\Fifa 09\Data\cmn\

Open cfg_pc_h.ini (obviously these changes will only be made to the high quality setting – if you want to change the other graphics settings just open the cfg_pc_m.ini and cfg_pc_l.ini)

Change RENDER_RATE_MODE = 7 to 2 or 3 (you can try 1, but this does sometimes cause extreme slow motion in cutscenes)

LCD MONITORS

If you have an LCD you should try running the game at the native resolution of your LCD. (If your GPU can handle it)

The native resolution of an LCD is the maximum resolution it can display. To find out your native resolution if you have an LCD, right click the desktop – click properties – go to the settings tab. The native resolution is the maximum that the slider will go up to.



If your native resolution is not supported in FIFA 09:

You can force that resolution by creating a file called locale.ini in the FIFA 09 directory and adding this line to it:

RESOLUTION = 1280x800x32
(Or whatever yours is instead of 1280x800)

To create the file:
Open notepad
Add the RESOLUTION line above
save the file as locale.ini in the C:\Program Files\EA Sports\FIFA 09\ directory, and change 'save as type' to 'all files'

PROCESSOR AFFINITY ON DUAL CORE CPU’s

You can also try setting the fifa09.exe process affinity to both cores if you have a dual (or quad) core processor. To do this, when the game is open – press Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up Task Manager and go to the ‘processes’ tab. Scroll down to fifa09.exe and right click it. Go to set affinity. Select both CPU’s.
Unfortunately the affinity will reset itself every time you close the game, so to put it on permanently download something like this. Set Affinity II

LEVEL OF DETAIL (for more powerful GPU’s)

You’ve probably noticed that as you zoom out from a player, the textures get less and less detailed (particularly noticeable with hair). With this fix you can minimize this and the game will look much better from the gameplay view.

Open cfg_pc_h.ini in the C:\Program Files\EA Sports\Fifa 09\Data\cmn\ directory

Find the lines that look like this by default:

PLAYER_LOD_HIGH_NEAR = -1.0
PLAYER_LOD_HIGH_FAR = 1.806
PLAYER_LOD_MED_NEAR = 1.856
PLAYER_LOD_MED_FAR = 0.714
PLAYER_LOD_LOW_NEAR = 0.764
PLAYER_LOD_LOW_FAR = 0.21
PLAYER_LOD_SLOW_NEAR = 0.26
PLAYER_LOD_SLOW_FAR = 0.0
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_HIGH_NEAR = -1.0
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_HIGH_FAR = 1.872
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_MED_NEAR = 1.922
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_MED_FAR = 0.660
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_LOW_NEAR = 0.710
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_LOW_FAR = 0.0

Delete that whole block of lines and replace them with this:

PLAYER_LOD_HIGH_NEAR = -1.0
PLAYER_LOD_HIGH_FAR = 1.806
PLAYER_LOD_MED_NEAR = 1.856
PLAYER_LOD_MED_FAR = 0.714
PLAYER_LOD_LOW_NEAR = 0.764
PLAYER_LOD_LOW_FAR = 0.21
PLAYER_LOD_SLOW_NEAR = 0.26
PLAYER_LOD_SLOW_FAR = 0.0
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_HIGH_NEAR = -1.0
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_HIGH_FAR = 0.1
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_MED_NEAR = 0.1
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_MED_FAR = 0.01
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_LOW_NEAR = 0.01
PLAYERHEAD_LOD_LOW_FAR = 0.0
PLAYERSHADOW_LOD_HIGH_NEAR = -1.0
PLAYERSHADOW_LOD_HIGH_FAR = -1.0
PLAYERSHADOW_LOD_LOW_NEAR = -1.0
PLAYERSHADOW_LOD_LOW_FAR = 0.0
PLAYERACCS_LOD_NEAR = -1.0
PLAYERACCS_LOD_FAR = 0.25

If your game stutters, make sure your RENDER_RATE_MODE has been changed too (see above). If it still stutters maybe your GPU is not powerful enough.

FIXING JAGGED EDGES (ALIASING)

FIFA 09 does not have an option to switch on Anti-aliasing in game settings. Aliasing is what causes the jagged edges (stepping) on the player’s outlines. You can force this setting on using your Graphics card management software. This will either be Catalyst Control Center (for ATI chipsets) or Nvidia Control Panel (for Nvidia chipsets). If you don’t have CCC you might have to download it.

In the advanced/custom settings within the program you should force Anti-aliasing on (instead of allowing the application to decide). The settings vary from 2x to 16x, you’ll have to decide which works best for you – this is all dependant on the power of your system and GPU.

VERY NB: FOR ANTI_ALIASING TO WORK AT ALL, YOU MUST DISABLE DEPTH OF FIELD (DOF) IN GAME SETTINGS

While you’re in the Nvidia CP or ATI CCC, you could also enable Anisotropic filtering (AF) and multisampling transparency Anti-Aliasing (Called Adaptive Anti-Aliasing in ATI CCC).

There are other graphics settings in there that you can also change, descriptions of what each one does are available within the programs themselves.

OTHER GRAPHICAL ISSUES

If you’re having other graphical problems – common ones being messed up/really slow menus, invisible players or players in the T-model pose (arms outstretched to the side) your Graphics card might not be good enough or you might need to update your drivers.

To update your drivers:
ATI Drivers page
Nvidia Drivers page

Download the applicable ones from one of the above sites.

Uninstall your old drivers through add/remove programs (they’ll be called NVIDIA drivers or ATI drivers or similar). You can then optionally run Guru3D - Driver Sweeper to clean them out completely.

Then install the new ones.

The latest Directx might also help you. Download details: DirectX End-User Runtime


GAMEPLAY

LEGENDARY DIFFICULTY

If you’re finding the game too easy on World Class, as I did, you’ll need to unlock the legendary skill level. As far as I’m concerned it is the only level worth playing on…

You can do this in one of the following ways:

1. The old-fashioned way – Complete all the challenges from two zones (plus 1 challenge from another zone afterwards). If you don’t feel like playing all those leagues and cups just sim them

2. Using Outsider87’s unlock patch – This patch unlocks all fan shop items and also makes legendary skill level a buyable item from the fan shop. (costs 0)

3. Using this misc editor from 98182. You can also use this to enable legendary goalkeepers (I’m not sure if it works, but it seems to make a difference I guess we’ll never know for sure!)

LOCALE.INI
What the misc editor does is create a locale.ini file in the game’s root directory, you can create one yourself by doing the following:

Open notepad

Copy and paste the following code:

RESOLUTION = 1280x1024x32 // Input your resolution here, or just delete the line
PERFECT_GOALIE = 0 // 0 is default, 1 is on
AVAILABLE_LANGS = eng // coupled with default text lang below, skips language selection screen. Change to your own language.
VIDEO = 0 // skips the EA logo at startup
[OPTIONS]
DIFFICULTY_LEVEL = 5 // 0 for beginner, 1 for amateur, 2 for semi pro, 3 for pro, 4 for world class, 5 for legendary
KEEPER_DIFFICULTY_LEVEL = 5 // same as above
DEFAULT_TEXT_LANGUAGE = eng // change to your own language
[GUI]
SKIP_TITLE = 1 // skips the startup messages

Save the file as locale.ini in the C:\Program Files\EA Sports\FIFA 09\ directory, and change 'save as type' to 'all files'

FATIGUE
NB. The following fixes will not work in online mode, so please back up your config.dat file in the main FIFA directory so you can swap it back in when you need to play online...

Wan_Car_Lhos has been working on the fatigue/stamina/sprint issue by modifying values in the ai.ini file, because if you haven't noticed, the players can hardly run anymore after a couple of sprints! (particularly in the lower leagues)

So check out his thread for updates...

His latest list of fixes:

Originally Posted by Wan_Car_Lhos

WCLfix v0.8.8

• Players can sprint at full speed longer into the fatigue level

WCLfix v0.8.9

• Players can sprint at full speed longer into the fatigue level
• Same-team collision thresholds have been raised, decreasing collision intensity
• Team momentum is enabled

WCLfix v0.9.0

• Players can sprint at full speed longer into the fatigue level
• Same-team collision thresholds have been raised, decreasing collision intensity

WCLfix v1.0.0

• Players can sprint at full speed longer into the fatigue level (ai.ini)
• Same-team collision thresholds have been raised, decreasing collision intensity
• Team momentum is enabled
• Set attributes affected by fatigue to AGGRESSION, AWARENESS, ACCELERATION, BALANCE, BALLCONTROL, CROSSING, DRIBBLING, HEADING, LONGBALLS, MARKING, PACE, PASSING, REFLEXES, SHOTACCURACY, SHOTPOWER, STRENGTH, TACKLING, INJURYPRONE
• No attributes are set to be affected by morale

ONLINE

Yes, online sucks, but to minimize the likelihood of a disconnection you can try the following.

1. You may need to forward certain ports on your router:

• Firewalls
Note: If you have a firewall and want to play online, the following TCP/IP ports must be open in the outbound direction:
HTTP - 80 - TCP/IP
HTTPS - 443 TCP/IP
Peer Game Connection - 3659 - TCP/IP
Roomsvr - 30440-30449 - TCP/IP

• The following UDP ports must be opened for game packets, for the outbound and inbound connections
Game Packets - 3658 - UDP
News Ticker - 9570 - UDP

For more information on forwarding ports on your router go to PortForward.com - Free Help Setting up Your Router or Firewall

2. Make sure windows firewall is not blocking fifa09.exe

3. Make sure you antivirus/firewall are allowing FIFA through too. As a last resort you could try temporarily disabling them (at your own risk of course). Norton internet security is particularly problematic.

Other tips: If you have XP, get SP3 and if you have Vista get SP1

GETTING THE PATCH

You can download the patch from one of the following links, depending on your language and location:

• Central Europe (and UK) - English/French/German/Italian/Dutch:
http://eu.llnet.eadownloads.ea.com/u...tnl_patch1.exe

• Rest of Europe and Brazil - English/Spanish/Swedish/Danish/Brazil:
http://eu.llnet.eadownloads.ea.com/u...tbr_patch1.exe

• Eastern Europe - English/Polish/Czech/Hungarian/Russian:
http://eu.llnet.eadownloads.ea.com/u...uru_patch1.exe

• North America - English/Mexican:
http://na.llnet.eadownloads.ea.com/u...kmx_patch1.exe

CONTROLLER PROBLEMS/SETUP
Go to this thread

MODDING THE GAME

I think we're all waiting here for Creation Master 09 from Rinaldo, but in the meantime check out this thread by The Doc, and this one by myself for lists of unofficial game mods for FIFA09. The best place for news and info about modding would be the FIFA09 Soccergaming forums.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR OWN SUGGESTIONS GUYS, AND TO CORRECT MINE/SUGGEST BETTER OPTIONS THAN I HAVE