The Community Round Up

After weeks of waiting, the World Cup finally arrived and our community writers were on top form, providing an incredible array of features looking at players, teams, groups and schedules. We cast an eye back on those updates and also look back at reaction to the controversy surrounding the Official FIFA Fantasy game’s launch, whilst somehow finding time to keep an eye on latest developments in the Premier League.

The Community Articles

Our community writers were burning the midnight oil to help us get the most out of the World Cup Fantasy games, with more than 20 articles published over the week. Among our pick of those articles was Home Run Baker’s look at the fixture schedule and the teams with the best run should they progress further in the competition.

For those playing the Official FIFA Fantasy game Bonz was on hand with a handy guide to the controversial rules and point scoring. Meanwhile, DanielLevy16’s series of articles looking at budget prospects proved essential reading for Official FIFA Fantasy players. His look at goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards with a friendly price tag are all worth bookmarking for when the game’s transfer window reopens after the group stages.

Balotellis Bib’s was another prolific writer this week – he produced a popular series of articles looking at the tournament favourites Brazil, Spain, Argentina and Germany. If, as predicted, they reach the knock out stages these articles will prove key to Fantasy team selection.

Another community article worth referring back to is our matchday one predicted line- ups feature. This is updated daily as latest team news comes in and with help from the community. All those that tip us off with team line up news will be credited in the article. A refreshed version of this will be up and running again ahead of the next round of group fixtures and we’ll once again be calling for your help.

Finally, for those looking for subject matter closer to home for excellent community writing Somalion was on hand to launch the first in a series of articles looking at players at the Premier League’s biggest clubs. First up was this excellent analysis of the Manchester City squad.

The Hottest Topics

You guys have also been helping us compile and collate our World Cup Set Piece Takers page. This set piece takers hot topic proved crucial to helping us bring this list together and we’re updating daily as new set piece takers emerge.

Last minute changes, launch delays and a general confusion over the rules meant the FIFA Official Fantasy game courted considerable controversy this week. Wakey pondered whether it is a game that can be trusted following the latest in a number of delays to the launch last weekend. Gargamel went further, citing it as the worst Fantasy Football game he’d ever played.

Mr Sarcastic was also on hand to provide an excellent round up all the major whines and gripes about the game so far. Among such concerns was around formation changes, a topic that Spectrum sought to explain in this hot topic.

Meanwhile, Cabaye4 opted to roll up his sleeves and get stuck in, warts and all, and started this handy discussion on the FIFA game’s best 1m options. Scoredelario even when as far as to defend FIFA’s effort. He’s particularly impressed with the game’s complexity, which he argues makes it ideal for more dedicated Fantasy Football managers.

The Community Tournaments

Fantasy Premier League 2012/13 champion SpiderM4tt is running an Official FIFA Fantasy Game – World Cup Charity League, to raise funds and awareness for ‘TASK Brasil’ the charity that supports abandoned street kids in Brazil. He tells us that the winner will not only receive the title of becoming the World Cup 2014 Charity League Champion, but they will also receive a special personalised World Cup winning mug. SpiderM4tt adds: “I received one of these winning mugs for winning the FPL last season, and I can vouch that it is a special prize, and it makes great brews too!”

The league is called: WC Charity League and no password is needed. More details on how to donate to TASK Brasil can be found on his Just Giving

The FFS UEFA group is among those to set up a competition around the Official FIFA game. Their latest article with updates on the progress of the competition can be found here.

Zepinho has been coordinating the “Dead Zone” leagues across both the Official FIFA and Fox games. Among front runners in the Dead Zone Fox league at the time of writing were Cesar Marques and Peter Conquest.

The World Cup Picks challenge, organised by TM245 is another competition taking place. Full details can be found here.