Dave Paterson (on right of this picture) was the winner of our FIFA 06 Competition to Play FIFA 06 First.

Below is Dave's account of our day at EA UK on 7th September 2005 when we were some of the first people outside of EA to Play FIFA 06 First (a full 3 weeks before it was released).

It was an early start, but for once a welcome one. I met Dave and Andy at Salisbury station before we began our pilgrimage to the EA Headquarters in Chertsey, Surrey. The building was no more modest than you might expect from such a successful games company, with huge metal strips skirting the outside, and a front that opened up before a purpose-built mini lake for those special occasions. Imposing and stylish, it was a feat of architecture to rival a footy stadium.

We grinned through the glass entrance and a lady at the desk approved us as worthy of entry. Inside, we were met by a fleet of Fifa 06 pods, which I felt would have gone well with my curtains at home had I had the means to relocate them.

As I curled my fingers around the control pad, I felt I was about to experience something great.

And I was not disappointed. When you play Fifa as much as some of us do, you become very familiar with the routines within it. I have never complained about it, but one thing that does strike you is the way situations rarely recur in the new game. As has always been when Fifa has had a complete overhaul, it took some getting used to, but the pace control is a great feature. The idea is that if you’re waiting for support (we’ve all crossed the ball into a vacant penalty box) you can now keep the ball right close to you with quick movements and keep the defender guessing until your boys are positioned.

The keepers are a great improvement, with loads of added sequences for different situations. If the goalie’s running back to scrape a save from a chip shot, he often ends up picking himself out of the back of the net.

The players’ movements are more realistic than ever before, and you have to consider how a real player would manoeuvre himself as opposed to wiggling a sprite goal wards.

Sam Bennett - better known as ‘Protagonist’ in the Fifa forums to some of you - gave us a brief tour before taking us into an industrial sized gaming hall. An enormous electric blind had extended down the sloping glass front of the building, lest any reality should permeate our haven.

Cue Hugues Ricour, producer of this year’s Fifa installment. He proceeded with a very interesting presentation on their approach to the game this time around, and his interpretation of ‘Pure Football’. The game even includes anthems for specific club teams, he explained as he told us what the sport meant to him.

As the pleasantries came to a close, the fingers started twitching and competition descended upon the room.

I, along with some other unfortunate chap incredibly managed to pick the only Fifa pod in the hall that didn’t work. Sam then proceeded to prove it doesn’t matter what level you’re at, the first port of call with a faulty Playstation is a quick blow on the disc, a quick blow inside, and a rub of the disc on your t-shirt if all else fails, in that order.

Sadly, his expertise was not enough this time, and we had to make do with the Playstation linked to the giant central plasma screen. We had enough time for one game before the league stage began. I lost in extra time. I sensed things were about to go downhill with this guy, but managed to win 2-0 when the second match counted.

The second match was very close, a 1-1 score stalemated by some impressive keeper acrobatics at either end, until I was silenced by a goal in stoppage time.

I was hanging on in there with one game to go and everything to play for. This one went to penalties which I hate as a means of deciding, but I squeezed through to the quarter finals.

After I was one up for the best part of the game, Dan Bream, also here with Sweetpatch drew level at the last minute. A grueling two periods of extra time led to another round of penalties, and this time I tumbled out – next time Dan!

Well, the quarter final was a respectable exit, I convinced myself. I was back onto one of the free pods to check out more of the features. Speaking of features, you won’t top the likenesses found in Fifa 06. The well known players have had a lot of time spent on them, which all adds to the angst when conceding vital goals to your rivals.

Use of focus in the replays is a very slick addition which acts just like a TV camera. As the player shoots, the camera behind the net throws him out of focus, catching the detail of the net for impact.

I took a break in time to see Dan cruise into the final and take his place under the big screen. It was a tense game and after going two down he pulled one back but it was too late. Kevin took home the PSP and copy of Fifa 06, but we all got some souvenirs and can expect a copy of the game on the release date, which is good enough for me!

All in all, a fantastic day – many thanks indeed to Dave for the wonderful opportunity. It just makes the wait until the 30th absolutely unbearable.

Check out the full Gallery from this day by clicking here.

Also, Dave sent us a nice piece of Flash below as thanks for taking him to EA UK.