Last year saw the most successful year for EA Sports' soccer simulation title, FIFA '10, and their hockey simulation title, NHL '10. Both games receiving universal praise from professionals and the gamers themselves. Any and all sports video game awards last year went to either FIFA '10 or NHL '10. Fans of each game can rejoice in that NHL has hit the stores, and today FIFA released their demo on the Xbox Live Marketplace to Gold Members, and of course the PlayStation Store.

Global Cover Boy Kaka, with regional cover stars Carlos Vela and Landon Donovan

The FIFA '11 demo allows you to play as six different teams (Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Beyer Leverkusen, and Olympique Lyonnais) in a game of three minute halves. Which should be enough time to feel the difference in this game. FIFA Developers have been promoting the brand new 360 degrees of fighting for possession, which will transform the way you play FIFA forever. The game will become far more physical and tactical now that true freedom has been given to the player.

One game mode gamers will not be able to test drive in the demo is the all new Be A Goalkeeper. For the first time in the FIFA franchise history, players will be able to take control of a goalkeeper and make clutch saves or cost his team victory. This feature has also been implemented in the Online Team Play, meaning for the first time ever, 22 gamers can compete in a full 11 on 11. An accomplishment that FIFA has been gearing towards since FIFA '08.

As always, you can expect the authenticity of FIFA to continue to grow from last year. Better player models, more accurate stadiums, and of course, player specific movements. Ever since the horrid FIFA 07 which insulted soccer fans everywhere, FIFA has been taking leaps and bounds each year pushing the limits of how people play sports simulation games.

Stay tuned to VGH for a FIFA '11 Demo breakdown!

One game that seemingly reached the pinnacle was NHL '10, winning virtually every sports video game award. The pressure the NHL '11 developers faced was enormous, but they embraced the challenge and have added over 200 gameplay enhancements to the award winning title. Hip checks, quick dekes, and a brand new face-off system are just a couple of the changes that have been added to this year's NHL title.

A Real-Time Physics Engine has opened the door to countless possibilities. No more being limited by player animations, this engine allows you to have full and total control of what happens in a game, exactly when you want it to happen. Things like taking shots and making passes as you are laying on the ice will now be possible. The ingenious plays you see in a real NHL game are now possible with the new Real-Time Physics Engine, or so they say.

While EA Sports' more popular titles like Madden and NCAA dominate the sports simulation market here in the United States, true gamers know that FIFA and NHL are the kings of it all, as they are constantly battling back and forth for the right to be called the best sports game out there. I expect the '11 series to be no different.