Far Cry 2

Far Cry 2 is a game I looked forward to eagerly, but then never really got the chance to put that much time into. I don’t know if that is because other games came out or because I became too busy, but Far Cry 2 never got the appreciation and love it deserved from me. From my short time playing the game though, I found it to be extremely enjoyable. The malaria infection your character suffers from offers a different challenge that any other game I’ve played, while the ability to design on your online maps is an incredibly enticing prospect. The extremely realistic behaviour of fire in this game is also very enjoyable to witness.

Fifa 09

I’m a big sports enthusiast. I love sports games more than anyone else I know. Unfortunately, I have yet to come across a rugby game for the Playstation 3. Naturally though, there is also Fifa when I’m looking for a football (soccer in the States) game. Fifa 09 was far and away the best iteration of the Fifa series since the turn of the decade. The game has gone from strength to strength since the changes that began with Fifa 07, and Fifa 09 can proudly claim the title of “best footballing simulator” when in competition against Pro Evolution Soccer 09.

Formula 1: Championship Edition

F1: CE isn’t the most amazing racing game ever made, but it is incredibly authentic. This game really gives you the feeling of being in control of a Formula 1 car. This is the first Formula 1 game I’ve felt comfortable with since the 1995 version of the game. The graphics are superb, the weather has a major bearing on the outcome of your races, and the other drivers will compete against you strongly, but legally, when fighting for places in the race.

Fight Night Round 4

Fight Night Round 4 has continued on where its predeccessor, Fight Night Round 3, left off. While Fight Night Round 3 was once known as the ultimate boxing simulator, Fight Night Round 4 has taken its title. The game sports an expanded Legacy Mode, 3 separate weight classes for online championships and massive roster of real life boxers, ranging from Mike Tyson to Muhammed Ali and Lennox Lewis to Joe Frasier. If you’re looking for a boxing game, Fight Night Round 4 is the undisputed champion of the world.

G

Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV, or GTA4, is undoubtedly one of the best games of all time. While the map is smaller and there are less roleplaying elements than Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, GTA4 is still a far more complete and enjoyable package. The single-player campaign can take over 30 hours to finish if it is played at a leisurely pace, while the game sports an online segment for the first time in the franchise’s history. While Fight Night Round 4 is the undisputed boxing champion, Niko Bellic in GTA4 is the king of the streets.

2000: The series 2000 edition Barry Sanders, the star running back for the Detroit Lions. 1999-2000 Barry didn’t play a single down.

2001: Cover featuring Eddie George who led his team to the Super Bowl the year before. Injuries.

2002: Minnesota Vikings QB, Daunte Culpepper, knee injury.

2003: Marshall Faulk of the St. Louis Rams, running back, injured ankle.

2004: Atlanta Falcons QB, Michael Vick, fractured right fibula.

2005: Ray Lewis, Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, torn hamstring.

2006: Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, sports hernia.

2007: Shaun Alexander, running back for Seattle Seahawks, broken left foot.

2008: QB for the Tennessee Titans, Vince Young, hurt his right quadriceps on his right leg.

2009: Brett Favre retires and this year decides to play again. No team wants him. Becomes a Viking.

So how are Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu going to end up by the end of te season?

The Madden Curse – Fact or Fiction? You decide.

Hello!!!! Wouldn’t every NCAA video gamer by a plastic nerf sized football that feels like a miniature version of the real thing and has a bunch of buttons on it that connects to the nunchuk? It would be incredibly easy to map three dimensional controls for offensive plays. For special teams it should also be logical conformations perhaps mimicking a football kick off or punt and perhaps holding the ball is if running a punt return using the Wii balance board for the running speed. Defense would be more of a challenge but I am sure they can overcome it.

Image via Wikipedia

With all of the extras being made for the Guitar Hero and Rock Band series plus extra being formed for first person shooter games, why can’t we do the same for Football. Hey, EA Sports! 50 million units sold worldwide and most gamers interested in football own both NCAA and Madden. If you make a football control customized to each video game, you would sell twice the extras! Please, for the love of profits, and the sanity of those of us starving for NCAA gaming, make it already!

Keep Your Shortlist Active

Make good use of the shortlist tool. Add players you’ve found on player searches as well as good players you’ve come up against in matches. Make sure you check the availability of the players now and again by emailing their owners. Be sure to remove the players that you no longer wish to pursue.

Buy Young 

No offense to those who’ve done this but the biggest fail I have come across in the game are people who don’t take the age of a player into account when selecting their squad. When trading it doesn’t matter if the stats of an older player are slightly better, a younger player is always the better commodity. A younger player has time to improve whereas an older player is only going to get worse. In my opinion, a player over 30 is too old to buy. If you come across some real youngsters (16-19y/o) with good stats then snatch them up. They may not be quite as good as first team players but could show real potential for the future, their wage demands will also be very low.

Buy Utility Players

Buy players who can play well in more than one position. If you’ve got a few versatile players you’ll cope better if you’re hit by injuries. You’ll also have more options for substitutions when a player plays more than one position. If your substitute plays on the left OR right wing, you have the choice of bringing off the winger who has had the least impact on the game.

Never Sell Your Top Performers

Make a concerted effort not to let go of anyone who’s playing well for you. You may get good offers for them but the money will do you no good if your results drop. Sell players from the positions you have adequate cover for and those who aren’t fitting into your squad. Don’t expect there will be plenty of free agents on the market to fill the place of your best players, there really won’t be. If they a player is good, affordable and playing well then they won’t be for sale!

Look For Weak Links

Sounds like an obvious thing to say but before you buy a player, make sure you know exactly where it is you need to build from. Just because you’re not getting goals it doesn’t necessarily mean you need a new striker, perhaps your midfield is not creating enough chances to get the goals. Go by form ratings: Consistency is the key, get players who’ll play well week in, week out, over players who are amazing one week and a waste of space the next. 

Get Star Power

Get at least one star player to build your team around. Acquire him either in your starting line-up or within your first month. Pick the best man for the job, weighing out acquisition fee, wage demand, overall attributes and strength of name:

Acquisition fee: (If bought in initial squad) Look to spend around 100 to 150 thousand. If you spend any more, the money you have left will not stretch to provide a decent enough squad. (If bought in first month) Feel free to spend up to 500 thousand. If you have a relatively low wage budget once you start the league and start getting your media payouts you may find your financial position strong enough to part with up half a million provided you’ve been frugal this first month.

Wage demand: Get the most reasonable wage demand for your money. Some players (usually the older ones) have relatively low acquisition fees but ask for very high wages. If you’re a lower league team I wouldn’t think about paying anything over 20 thousand per day. Try to get a player with wages that range from 10 to 14 thousand. Make sure your daily income is more than your daily wage bill. It’s better to splash out on acquisition fees if you’re still making a daily profit, whereas if you can’t afford your wage bills, your funds will just gradually deplete until you reach your overdraft limit, and then you’re in trouble! It will pay off in the long run to pay a bit extra in acquisition fee if the wage demand is much lower.

Overall attributes: A player you can build your team around is not somebody who simply gets you goals. Pick a player who has good stats overall, not just a finisher with pace. You want a player who passes well, marks well and is creative for example, someone who will do a bit of everything for you.

Strength of name: What I mean here is pick somebody who you have heard of basically (somebody who plays in the EPL.) If you have heard of them then other people probably have too. Even if it’s not a first team player people will usually recognise the name and will therefore be more interested when you intend to sell them.

Form is never going to be static. You will have some good games along with some shockers. Make sure you experiment with your team; find out which tactics work and which don’t. It will take you a couple of weeks to truly find your feet but once you have finalised a squad that suits your tactics perfectly, you will get the results. Happy transfers!

Here Are The Top Ten Best Receivers For This Year’s Draft:

1. Roy Williams, Detroit Lions

   Williams has stellar receiving ability and runs precise routes. With Calvin Johnson in town and an improved running game, Williams should be open for big plays and a huge year.

   His stats include:
   1,310 Receiving Yards
   7 Touchdowns
   82 Receptions

2. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts

   Harrison once again amassed the 90 receptions mark in 2006 and continued to be a force in the high powered Colts offense. Year after year he has proved to be durable and reliable and this year should be no different as he has shown no signs of slowing down.

   His stats include:
   1,366 Receiving Yards
   12 Touchdowns
   95 Receptions

3. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys

   The bad boy of the NFL has had relatively no negative attention so far this off season, which can only be good news. The truth is, Owens is a TD scoring machine and he is still in phenomenal shape. With QB Tony Romo returning as the starter, you can bet on the two hooking up for plenty more scores.

   His stats include:
   1,180 Receiving Yards
   13 Touchdowns
   85 Receptions

4. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals

   Johnson led the league in receiving yards last season and it still wasn’t as much as he had in 2005. Johnson is a world class receiver with amazing athletic ability and a never ending supply of confidence. Now with Carson Palmer back in good health, that can only mean good things for Johnson this year.

   His stats include:
   1,369 Receiving Yards
   7 Touchdowns
   87 Receptions

   

5. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts

   Wayne had another brilliant year last year. As long as Peyton Manning is QB in Indy, Wayne will remain a huge producer in fantasy football.

   His stats include:
   1,310 Receiving Yards
   9 Touchdowns
   86 Receptions

6. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati Bengals

   T.J. put up impressive numbers last year in only 14 games. Now that Carson Palmer is back in good health, the sky is the limit as this young receiver will get plenty of chances to make plays while defenses try to stop Chad Johnson.

   His stats include:
   1,081 Receiving Yards
   9 Touchdowns
   90 Receptions

7. Plaxico Burress, New York Giants

   Burress is the Giants main option in the passing attack. QB Eli Manning should be better than last year and Plaxico should put up big numbers. He is big, strong and fast, making him the perfect downfield weapon.

   His stats include:
   988 Receiving Yards
   10 Touchdowns
   63 Receptions

8. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers

   Driver is one of the most sure handed and reliable receivers in the league. Playing with a future Hall of Famer Brett Favre, Driver should capitalize on last years Pro Bowl season by having another one.

   His stats include:
   1,295 Receiving Yards
   8 Touchdowns
   92 Receptions

9. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals

   Boldin is a tremendously athletic receiver with great hands. Now that he has a solid quarterback, Boldin should once again dazzle this year and improve on his 4 touchdown receptions.

   His stats include:
   1,203 Receiving Yards
   4 Touchdowns
   83 Receptions

10. Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams

    Holt is now in the veteran stage of his career but that doesn’t seem to slow him down. Once again he produced big in 2006, having his 7th consecutive year with over 1,000 yards receiving. Look for another big year out of Mr. Consistent.

    His stats include:
    1,188 Receiving Yards
    10 Touchdowns
    93 Receptions

Every year there are duds, guys that simply just don’t produce. No one wants to get stuck with one, it just seems to happen.

Stay Away From These Guys:

1. Joe Horn, Atlanta Falcons

   Horn has had a great year but he’s no longer at the top of his game. Trust in him without a reliable QB (Michael Vick is no longer playing this year) and you shall be sorry.

2. Keyshawn Johnson, Carolina Panthers

   Keyshawn lacks explosiveness and is getting old. Steve Smith should be healthy this year and rookie Dwayne Jarrett should take up some of Johnson’s catches.

3. Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens

   Mason had another disappointing season last year and it has now reached the point where one has to ask; when do I learn not to trust in him? Mason will be the number 2, possibly the number three option on offense by the end of the season.

4. Antwaan Randle El, Washington Redskins

   Pittsburg was the perfect place for Randle El. Now he will have to suffer as being the number 4 target on a team that is loaded with potential at WR and no one to throw the ball.

5. Brandon Lloyd, Washington Redskins

   Once he was a big name out in San Francisco. Now Lloyd will have to pray that he makes it on a Sportscenter show. In 15 games he only collected 365 receiving yards and no touchdowns.

The Best Of The Rest

1. Lee Evens, Buffalo Bills

   Lee proved to be a big down the field threat last year bringing in 8 touchdowns and 1,292 receiving yards. Look for another solid year this season.

2. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers

   He’s so explosive that he can take over the entire football game. This little receiver is no small threat although he does have durability issues. He’s worth the take in the draft, but try and find a good back up just in case.

3. Javon Walker, Denver Broncos

   This former Packer deep threat finally caught his rhythm in the last half of the season. Now that he seems to be back in full health, you can bet on him having an explosive season with improved statistics.

4. Santana Moss, Washington Redskins

   He’s explosive, fast and known as a Cowboy killer. This little man can do it all on the field, he just has to hope someone can come along and complete a pass. Still, Moss should have a good season.

5. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

   He’s the most talked about rookie this year and for good reason. He has all the tools and he’s playing on a team that successfully threw the ball last season. Look for him to make plenty of plays in his rookie season.

6. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

   Fitzgerald is one of the most physically gifted receivers in the NFL. Along with Boldin, they make up one of the best receiving duos in the league. If Fitzgerald can stay healthy, look for him to have a good year.

7. Laveranues Coles, New York Jets

   Coles had a standout year last year, going for 1,098 and 6 touchdowns. If QB Chad Pennington can stay healthy and consistent, Coles could be looking at another productive year.

8. Isaac Bruce, St. Louis Rams

   Bruce again went for over 1,000 yards and but only caught 3 touchdowns. He’s riding on his last years now, but still old faithful and productive. Pick him up later in the draft if he’s free because here is the stat of the night; He was 2nd in the NFL in catches that went for 20 or more yards so that 3 touchdown mark may have just been bad luck.

9. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints

   He went for over 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns in his rookie year; all that and he was hurt during the latter part of the season. He has talent and a good connection with QB Drew Crees so look for Colston to get featured often this up coming season.

10. Mark Clayton, Baltimore Ravens

    Clayton caught fire during the second half of the and finished the year with over 900 yards. He’s virginal, runs great routes and has hands of glue. This season he should be the number one receiver on the depth chart and should put up some big numbers against weaker teams.