Blog Posts

EA vs UFC, New Michael Jackson Game and Am I a journalist or not? - Welcome to the column that has a job title that roughly translates into video game hack known as Dare to Play the Game.

Remember that whole spiel about how I was going to pick a new 360 game and play that instead of World of Warcraft? Hahaha, fooled you. Actually, more accurately I fooled myself. If you remember, I was working on my ambassador’s title and blacksmithing. Well, I did get exalted with Darkspear Trolls, giving me 3 out of the 5 home factions to reach that level. The remaining two did see a lot of growth. Silvermoon is now within 44 measly points of the goal (down from about 5k) and Thunder Bluff is 4300 away (down from nearly 14k). I’d say considering my progress over last week, I should have the title this weekend.

Rocketing Used Game Sales, Wii Hour usage and Pirate Bay Lives On? - Welcome to the column that after three years would like to issue a serious message to its fanbase and that is PBBBBTTTTT! and also known as Dare to Play the Game.

I hardly played my Xbox 360 at all this week. It was mostly used for Rock Band 2 and to get in some Cellfactor. Nothing changed in those games, no achievements were gained. What did I really do this week?

Warner gets Midway, Patcher on the Used Game Market & Console Price Drops coming? - Welcome to the column that is better than the rest because we gave the rest a very strong laxative in their morning cereal known as Dare to Play the Game.

Cellfactor was again the game of the week for me. I only gained one achievement this week, but it was perhaps the most important one left. The ArenaMaster achievement finally clicked this weekend. I went into a Training Room DeathMatch with another guy where we proceeded to have a good time. We just racked up kills and let each other get our smacks in. I ended up giving him the Slayer achievement and he gave me the Arena Master in return. This leaves two achievements, All Rewards Unlocked and Marathon. Points wise, I think I have about 505,000 points. 600,000 is All Rewards Unlocked and Marathon is a Million. Looks are deceiving since the only thing I can do for points is Multiplayer and kills are 10 points a piece. Nobody seems to do capture the flag or assault even though that is where the larger points are at. Sure there are other variables like double kills, triple kills, using abilities and arena master but if the only games being played are Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, it kinda limits your options.

360 Dashboard Speed, Moore vs Obama & Digital Downloads or Bust? - Welcome to the column that dares to cross the line but quietly goes back behind it afterwards known as Dare to Play the Game.

Cellfactor off Xbox Live was my main addiction this weekend. I have gained 115 achievement points and only three achievements stand in my way. Two of those achievements are All Rewards Unlocked and Marathon. All Rewards are Unlocked when you achieve 600k points, I am just a smidgen under 500k. Marathon is 1 million. Those can be done in time with a lot of grinding. However, there is one achievement that I can’t seem to get. Arena Master. As the name implies, I have to score 5 kills in a row without tasting death. I’ve gotten 3 a few times, and I think I did get 4 once. But 5? No such luck. (again, if somebody out there is willing to trade this achievement, I am more than willing)

Rock Band goes Country Tracklist, Ronnie James Dio Dropped & No Van Hagar? - Welcome to the column that sings for their dinner and any other meal too just to keep from paying known as Dare to Play the Game.

My two Arcade reviews for Wolfenstein 3d and Cellfactor: Psychokinetic Wars were posted this past weekend. In such, I played a lot of those two games. My mood of those games was a very positive experience as it was the only week I could think where I bought all of the new releases Xbox Live had to offer. In Wolfenstein 3d, I primarily played around in the opening levels of each episode getting used to the gameplay before I really try to finish. I had beaten the game a few times on PC and my goal is to ultimately beat all 6 episodes. The problem is I have a feeling it will be like Doom and might not happen right away. Then all of the sudden, I’ll get a groove and try to finish it in a couple of mad sessions.

More Project Natal, EA Fight Night MMA Year Rotation & Should Apple iPhone Games be Rated? - Welcome to the column that would be interested in a hands-only controlled game if they knew where their hands had been known as Dare to Play the Game.

A funny thing happened to me with NHL 2k9 this week, I didn’t play it. Yes, it involved World of Warcraft and yes I am ashamed. Okay, not really but it sounds good when I apologize for playing a ridiculously addicting PC based MMO and trying to get my character to level 70. I’ll explain more under Mutterings. However, I did spend the time to try out two wonderful Xbox Live Arcade demos: Wolfenstein 3d and CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars.

Halo 3 ODST, Project Natal & Facebook on Xbox Live? - Welcome to the column that would have gone to E3 if the show organizers didn’t do background checks for booth girl stalking known as Dare to Play the Game.

Many video game columnists are currently at E3 getting all giddy over the latest announcements and acting important like somebody is supposed to be impressed with their credentials by being at this event. The rest of us get to sit back and feed off their info and wonder what it really takes to get into one of these things besides a plane ticket and some secret “handshake”. Okay, there is no handshake but it sure does feel mysterious. I would like to think in my lifetime I would attend one of these, but I’m not holding my breath. Maybe next year.

Warner Bros wants to buy Midway, Thoughts on new hardware for Nintendo, and Bill Clinton in Fallout 3? - Welcome to the column that offered $9.95 for the rights to the TNA Impact series and was turned down because I bid in pesos known as Dare to Play the Game.

After playing 15 games in the franchise mode of NHL 2k9, I am a strong 11-4. Most of the games are very close, common scores being 3-2, 5-4 and the like. Overtime is a frequent occurrence as well. However, my luck in overtime has been very solid so far. By the way, I do the old traditional Sudden Death overtime, no pansy shootout for me.

Free Realms Draw a Million, Tatsunko vs Capcom and Wal-Mart Goes Gamestop? - Welcome to the column that will open up a used video game store and only take Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt combo NES carts known as Dare to Play the Game.

Still playing NHL 2k9. I did pop a few achievements this week. Nothing special, just more of the win this many games, score this many assists and sit in the penalty box for these many minutes types. I stand at 200 achievement points and in franchise mode I am currently 6-2 on the middle of the road difficulty with the San Jose Sharks. Not bad, not bad. But even though I do like the game a lot, it doesn’t come without its faults.