Our Favorite Games of 2011

Our Favorite Games of 2011

2011 was a great year in video gaming if you like game announcements. Besides the release of yet another Madden game and a bunch of sequels, most people were disappointed by the actual titles available in 2011. But not us.

Here’s a list of our favorite games of 2011. You may have missed some of these gems, so pay attention.

Game Stop 10 199x300 Our Favorite Games of 20115. NintenDogs & Cats (3DS)

I bought this game on a whim during  a recent trip to GameStop and haven’t been able to stop playing it since. This is one of those video games that you play over and over again even though its basically an extremely lame looking game. Addictive? Not exactly. Just extremely cute and infinitely replayable. I’ve spent more time training and playing with my virtual puppies than my actual dog, who’s content to sit and bark at the screen. That’s how realistic these puppies are. You’ll love it.

4. Homefront (XBOX 360, PS3, PC)

Another GameStop impulse purchase, I bought this because of the unique plot. I’m not normally a fan of war games, but the notion of an North Korean invasion of the United States in the near-future was too good to pass up. The graphics are astounding, and you’ll feel genuinely creeped out as a war rages on in your own backyard.

3. Driver: San Francisco (360, PS3, PC, Mac, Wii)

This mutliplayer and single player driving and racing game is unique for one reason only–the “shift” feature that allows you to sort of possess any character in the richly detailed San Francisco map the game takes place on. You’ll be hooked because of the hyper-realistic San Francisco setting and because the soundtrack rocks.

2. Sorcery (PS3)

Motion capture technology is all the rage right now, and the PS3 got into the action this year with Sorcery. In Sorcery, you use real motion to cast spells, mix potions, and attack enemies using your various sorcery powers. This game was one of the most anticipated PlayStation Move titles, though it has faded into obscurity. We’re sure you’ll love it.

1. Catherine (PS3)

If there’s one game you should use your GameStop coupons on from 2011, its this title for the PS3. Never heard of it? We’re not surprised. It’s the first fully HD video game in America and is more like a piece of art than a traditional game. A bizarre and sexy action adventure reality game, Catherine will knocks your socks clean off.

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Top Fantasy Football Players 2011-2012

IDP Rookies and Sleepers

I love playing in fantasy football leagues which use single NFL players on defense instead of the more common Team Defense. This list of top fantasy football players for 2011 and 2012 is going to focus on the individual defensive players, usually referred to by the redundant term “IDP players“.

I want to focus on players who are good in 2011, but who might be even better in 2012. These are sleepers–not people you should be drafting until the late rounds of deep drafts. They’re especially good for someone in keeper and dynasty leagues.

Colin McCarthy, LB, Tennessee Titans – Colin McCarthy is likely to be sitting behind Barrett Ruud on the depth chart all season, unless an injury happens. But in 2012, look out. Ruud only has 1 year left on the contract and he’s not likely to be back next year. The Titans middle linebacker position has been huge for Keith Bullock and Stephen Tulloch in the last few years, so Colin McCarthy could be a stud for years to come. Ruud’s a nice late-round pickup in redraft leagues this year, while Akeem Ayers (rookie OLB) is a sleeper to look at in league’s where tackles aren’t all-important (MLBs tend to rule the tackle stats).

Mason Foster, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mason Foster is taking over for Barrett Ruud in the middle of the Bucs Defense. Ruud has been a solid fantasy performer these past 3-4 years, so adding a younger linebacker known for his athleticism could be huge.

Bruce Carter, LB, Dallas Cowboys – Bruce Carter was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2nd round this year based on the idea he would have been a 10-15 pick had he not had a knee injury last year. Carter’s 2011 season is going to be a waste, but he’s a sleeper candidate you could pick up late this season and have as a keeper in 2012. The future of the Cowboys’ inside linebacker positions are Sean Lee and Bruce Carter–not Bradie James and Keith Brooking.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants – The writing is on the wall in New York. Osi Umenyiora is unhappy and the Giants allowed Umenyiora’s agent shop him earlier in training camp–for a 1st round pick. When that proved unlikely, the Giants rescinded their offer. Still, Osi Umenyiora is on his way out of town, so expect Jason Pierre-Paul to eventually move opposite Justin Tuck as the Giants’ sack specialists. Pierre-Paul was a mid-1st round selection last year and showed some promise. The scouting report is he’s a physical freak who needs to work on technique. He should be useful this season, while 2012 should be his breakout year.

Honorable Mentions: Derrick Morgan (Titans), Marcell Dareus (Bills), Kelvin Sheppard (Bills ’12), Martez Wilson (Saints), Sam Acho (Cardinals).

I would list off defensive backs on this list of the top fantasy football players 2011-2012 (but mainly for 2012), but I find them to be the most unpredictable and inconsistent IDP position you can imagine. You’ll always be able to find someone in free agency to take these spots, so don’t worry about IDP safeties and corners. If you take nothing away from these fantasy football tips, take that away.

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How to Play London Lowball

As the name suggests, London Lowball is a card game that is mostly played in Europe and is a lowball stud poker game. Fans of Seven-Card Stud and Razz will understand the basics of the game. London Lowball is a variant of Razz that is played almost exactly the same as Razz, but it has one notable difference: straights and flushes count as high hands against a player, so the lowest possible winning hand is Ace, Two, Three, Four, Six. London Lowball is usually played as a pot-limit game, but the game can be played as a no-limit game as well.

All of the other normal Razz rules are followed in the game. Each player gets two cards face down and one card face up. The person with the highest card up bets first, and play continues clockwise. After the initial round of betting, all other betting rounds are initiated by the player with the lowest hand showing. The player with the best five-card low hand they can make out of their seven total cards wins the game.

It is very important to pay attention to the hands of your opponents in Razz and London Lowball. If you are showing Three, Four, Seven as your up cards, and there are other threes, fours and sevens in the face up hands of other players, then you know that the odds of you pairing up your cards is lower. It is unlikely that any player with a face up pair will end up with a good hand, so you should bet accordingly when players have pairs showing.

Guest post provided by Redkings poker code.

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