Presenter Esther Sedlaczek joins the cult commentator duo Frank Buschmann and Wolff-Christoph Fuss in the German version of FIFA 21. We spoke to the trio about their work, fond FIFA memories and legendary comments just before the release.
The magic triangle of football commentators around Esther Sedlaczek, Frank Buschmann & Wolff Fuss is reunited. In the upcoming EA Sports game, the trio will provide the German language version. In our FIFA 21 interview , the three reveal whether Buschi and Fuss still enjoy their work and how Esther Sedlaczek prepared for the sound recordings for her video game debut .
Esther: In FIFA 21 you lead the game as a studio reporter. Can you tell us what exactly we can expect from you?
Esther Sedlaczek: A lot of highlights and no slips of the tongue, fortunately. I’m curious about the result myself. I was in the studio for eight or nine hours, so nothing compared to what Buschi and Wolff usually spend in the studio. It was a lot of fun and I’m just happy to be part of it.
What was it like going into the recording studio to record a video game? Did you record announcements written down on a piece of paper or is there more to it than that?
Esther Sedlaczek: Yes, you can imagine it like that. You have to repeat all the sentences what feels like 30,000 times and speak them again in very confusing variations.
Were you able to contribute to your comments yourself or were all statements given to you?
Esther Sedlaczek: Yes, I did have a few liberties. But since this is my first time, I mostly just went with what was presented to me to get a feel for it. Over time you become a little freer and I tried to bring my own touch into it.
The FIFA series is the most popular video game of the Germans. Did you have points of contact with the titles yourself and maybe even play them yourself?
Esther Sedlaczek: My husband is a passionate gambler, I sometimes play myself, but I have to admit that I’m not necessarily the most talented. I’m not a gamer, but there isn’t anyone in my circle of acquaintances who has never played FIFA.
With Frank Buschmann and Wolff Fuss you have two old hands at your side – what can football fans expect from the dynamic trio in FIFA 21
Wolff Fuss: To be honest, I don’t know yet. I practically lived in the recording studio with Buschi for weeks. I know what to expect from Frank Buschmann: the usual and much more. We have no points of contact, the sound recordings were a real challenge in Corona times. We were mostly alone and when we did take a picture together, we were separated from each other by a plexiglass pane.
“The sound recordings were a real challenge in Corona times.”
– Wolf foot
So if you’ve been in the studio that long, we can expect a lot of new lines, right?
Wolff Fuss: Yes, within the scope of our possibilities. Buschi has learned many stadium names, many special features. Of course there are also new comments this year. FIFA is a game that people sit in front of the console for a very long time. This is also the reason why our sayings have a very high repetition rate. We tried not to take the Kareem Abdul Jabbar saying to the extreme.
Frank Buschmann: It’s absolutely clear – when people gamble for hours every day, you hear the same sayings over and over again. The same applies this year: We’re not sitting live in your console and commenting on the game at your home. We are football commentators who comment football as closely as possible to reality for a game. People always have to keep that in mind. And as I said: Don’t get angry if the ball goes past the goal on the right and we say “He was clearly over it”.
“We’re not sitting live in your console and commenting on the game at your home.”
– Frank Buschman
You’ve been commenting together since FIFA 16, it sounds like you still enjoy the work?
Wolff Fuss: That’s the way it is! we like each other At least mostly.
Frank Buschmann: Yes, that’s actually the case. We have a lot of fun at work. For the recording of FIFA we are in the studio between 12 and 20 days and if you don’t have fun then it doesn’t work. It’s the eleventh FIFA that I’ve commented on.
“We are in the studio between 12 and 20 days for the recording of FIFA.”
– Frank Buschman
Do you sometimes slip out typical FIFA comments in the real moderations? According to the motto: “Wasted, said the rooster wasted”?
Wolff Fuss: No, so that something really slips out of us, there are simply no such typical sayings.
Frank Buschmann: In fact, we sometimes send each other messages at a conference, in which the other person is supposed to put a typical FIFA comment. Then, of course, there is a lot of laughter when the other person actually succeeds.
Do you actually play FIFA yourself and the most important question: do you turn off the commentators?
Wolff Fuss: I’ll play a new FIFA to see if it fits or not. Back then at gamescom there was the duel of the giants when I and 1. FC Köln beat Frank Buschmann 2-1 with Borussia Dortmund. After that, of course, I immediately ended my active career.
Frank Buschmann: Yes, yes. But now watch out: Half a year ago I played FIFA with the YouTuber Rewinside and I won 1:0! If there is ever a normal gamescom again, then there will be revenge, Wolff!
Wolff Fuss: Well, let’s see that first.
If you had to give one snappy comment about the FIFA 21 collaboration, what would it be and why?
Wolff Fuss: Extremely good and extremely trusting. It’s just fun and I think the players feel that too.
Frank Buschmann: I can no longer imagine life without FIFA and I am convinced that gamers feel the same way!
Esther Sedlaczek: It was the first time for me, so it was a completely new experience. It was really cool and a lot of fun.
FIFA 22 – FUTs
What could be cooler than just relaxed gaming and doing some sofa sports on the side? In FIFA 22, the player is on the move fast, but without getting sore muscles. With the Ultimate Team Event cards, the collecting instinct is now also satisfied. However, the FUT Heroes keep creeping into my mind, so here are the best Ultimate Team Event cards that are definitely worth adding to your collection.
Heroes cards selected by EA for top qualities
Admittedly, the FUT heroes will cost quite a bit of coin, but it turns out that EA has once again brought some top-class players into the game when it comes to selection. As a collector and hunter, it’s an added attraction for FIFA gamers to now include their own favorite heroes in the portfolio and benefit from their individual skills. Both in the game and in team building, the FUTs will revolutionize the game once again.
EA SPORTS FC: FIFA GAME SERIES TO BE CONTINUED UNDER NEW NAME
Of course, the soccer simulation game series will not be discontinued completely. After FIFA 23, EA will relaunch the game under the name EA Sports FC and market it independently. Old FIFA hares should now become quite an ear, after all, the EA Sports Football Club used to be a part of the actual game for years. A lot of playing was rewarded, points could be collected and items, boosts or balls for the individual game modes could be unlocked.
In this context, there could also be a complete revolution of the classic game. There is a heated discussion in the FIFA community about whether the game, which is expected to be released in the fall of 2023, will be free-to-play. This option is said to be on the table for the game makers from EA, because: It seems that EA earns most of its money with the purchases of FIFA Points in the game mode Ultimate Team and not with the sale of the game itself.
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