Manchester City women try out Fifa 16 and take control of themselves in 'surreal' gaming experience

  • Fifa 16 includes women's teams in the game for the first time in its history
  • Award-winning title is in its 20th year but has only ever featured men
  • Gamers can play with 12 women's teams, including England and USA
  • Five Manchester City women played for England at this year's World Cup
  • Manchester City women's helped launch the game at the Etihad Stadium

By Mike Keegan For Mailonline

Published: 12:45 EST, 24 September 2015 | Updated: 18:50 EST, 25 September 2015

Manchester City's women launched FIFA 16 - and then took control of themselves on the video game.

For the first time in the award-winning title's 20-year history gamers can choose to be a women's team.

Since 1995 there have been 23 editions of the EA Sports game - all strictly men only.

Manchester City women's players Jill Scott (from left), Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze and Karen Bardsley pose with a young fan at the launch of Fifa 16, which includes female players for the first time

Manchester City women's players Jill Scott (from left), Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze and Karen Bardsley pose with a young fan at the launch of Fifa 16, which includes female players for the first time

England captain Houghton poses with a custom Manchester City cover of EA Sports' new Fifa 16 game

England captain Houghton poses with a custom Manchester City cover of EA Sports' new Fifa 16 game

Haughton says the game is 'huge' for women’s football but that is is a surreal experience to play as herself

Haughton says the game is 'huge' for women’s football but that is is a surreal experience to play as herself

 Toni Duggan (left) with team-mates Scott, Houghton, Bronze and Bardsley at the Etihad on Thursday 

 Toni Duggan (left) with team-mates Scott, Houghton, Bronze and Bardsley at the Etihad on Thursday 

But this year's release includes the women's squads from 12 nations - including England, World Cup winners USA, Brazil and Germany.

The launch comes two months after England's Women, including five players from City, finished third in the World Cup.

Captain Steph Houghton, goalkeeper Karen Bardsley, defender Lucy Bronze, midfielder Jill Scott and striker Toni Duggan were all at the event at the Etihad Stadium.

Steph said: 'This is a huge moment for women’s football. FIFA’s always been a really big part of my life growing up and to see that my England teammates and I have been immortalised as avatars in the world’s biggest football game is fantastic.

Lionesses goalkeeper Carly Telford (left) and Scott try out their virtual skills on Fifa 16 ahead of the launch

Lionesses goalkeeper Carly Telford (left) and Scott try out their virtual skills on Fifa 16 ahead of the launch

Women's teams include Brazil, Germany  and USA two months after they won the World Cup in Canada

Women's teams include Brazil, Germany  and USA two months after they won the World Cup in Canada

England and Manchester City striker Toni Duggan immortalised in computer game avatar form by EA Sports

England and Manchester City striker Toni Duggan immortalised in computer game avatar form by EA Sports

England captain Steph added it was a 'surreal' experience, taking control of herself on the game.

'It's a bit weird taking all the free kicks, corners and penalties!' the centre-half joked. 

'It's something that is great for the women's game. You can play as your heroes and role models and I think it shows how far we have come and how far we want to take the soprt.'

Steph added that she was happy with her rating on the game and that she had already taken on her England team-mates before their 8-0 win in Estonia.

'I'm quite highly ranked so I'll take that,' she said.

Dozens of fans turned up to the event to have their games and memorabilia signed by their heroes

Dozens of fans turned up to the event to have their games and memorabilia signed by their heroes

Defender Bronze poses with three young Manchester City fans at their special launch of Fifa 16 

Defender Bronze poses with three young Manchester City fans at their special launch of Fifa 16 

Fifa 16 was released on Thursday and includes women's teams for the first time in its 20-year history

Fifa 16 was released on Thursday and includes women's teams for the first time in its 20-year history

'We all played it at St George's Park and it got a little competitive. The players look so similar to us - they even strike a ball like us and it's quite frightening.'

The event also marked the first official signing session by members of City's women's team.

'That's great,' said Steph. 'I think it drives younger girls to go and play football. We want to drive ambitious girls to be their best and class this as a job. We are trying to change the perception of women's football.

'Coming here and getting autographs - I would have loved that when I was younger.'

 

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