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Seems like the basketball court is really the first place where we get to settle our scores. And thanks to NCAA Basketball 09, it's the last place as well. This is another one of those games where it takes more than trash talk to trash your opponent. Pull out a couple special moves, and you'll be sure to stuff it in your opponent's face.

The Spin Move is a great one... easy to use and easy to learn. Plus, you don't even have to be super close to the basket to pull this one off. The tricky part is that it only works in a one-on-one situation, so you have to set things up just right, and have your power forward or center backed up against the defender. Once you're one-on-one with your opponent, simply flick the right stick to the left or to the right (depending on which direction you want your player to spin towards the basket). It's a risky move, but you know what they say about risks and rewards. Besides, when it works, it's worth it – you get past your man, you will score every time.

Another move that is mandatory to master is the Fake Shot. Why, you ask, aside from the fact that it's ridiculously simple? Mastery of the Fake can add a couple of quick baskets to your score. And when you're playing here for those high stakes, and the game is close, well, a couple points can mean the difference between winning and going home empty-handed (and empty-bank accounted). Anyway, to do this one, Xbox users, just lightly tap B (PS3 users hit the Circle button). Use it to get to the basket for a layup, or just to get an open shot. It's such a cool move, because it's so simple and yet at the same time, can dramatically tip the scales in your favor.

So yeah, don't sweat if you haven't nailed all the complex moves. Sometimes all it takes is the light tap of a button to separate the winners from the LOSERS!

Madden 10. This is the game that separates the men from the boys. This is the arena by which all are judged. Okay, well, maybe that last part was a bit strong, but if you want to come out on top of this one, you'd sure as hell better do your homework.

The first move to master would be the Spin Move. Imagine the scenario: no defenders around you, and two blockers in front of you. Then, you catch the ball and the defenders start running in your direction. How do you pull this one off? Set up the first defender by sprinting toward the sidelines with the right trigger, moving the left stick up at about a 45 degree angle. Then, quickly hit the B button, and at the last second, move the left stick to the right. The Spin Move – it's a thing of beauty.

If you want to win, you also need to use Defensive Assignments. One of Madden's smartest features, Defensive Assignments lets you assign your best defender to their best offensive player (as opposed to a default “automatic” setting). Let's say your opponent knows how to use his star player, and he's just destroying you every time. Your best bet is to go into the Coaching Options menu, choose Defensive Assignments, and line up your best man to take down his best man. Because a good opponent (and trust me, these Madden fanatics are in a league all their own) knows how to make the most of his team... this way, you can help even the score.

Not much more needs to be said. Master these Madden 10 tools, and trust us, you will be far more than master of your domain.

In all the annals of sports games, the boxing game has always been a particular favorite. Sure, there's a tremendous satisfaction in beating your opponent at Football, Soccer, or Basketball. But there's something downright therapeutic about literally getting to kick the crap out of your best buds. And so it is with EA's Fight Night Round Four, where you get to play as some of the greatest men that ever took up the sweet science. But in order to float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, and make your rival holler “Uncle!” (or some other expletive that we're probably not allowed to print here), follow these tips.

First and Foreman... er, foremost, it's all about the counter-punch. Land one of these in, and the effect is far more potent than your typical uppercut, hook, or straight. There are three basic ways to get the counter-punch. First, the well-timed block; put up your guard right as your opponent's punch lands. Second is the lean; right as your rival is about to get one in, lean back left or right. Then, go to town. Third, bob; use semi-circle movements with the left stick to bob out of the way. Word of caution, though – act fast! You don't have a hell of a lot of time to make the counter-punch, so be sure to get in there quickly. Also remember that your opponent can land in a solid counter-punch after they've blocked, ducked or weaved. So try to keep your distance whenever possible.

It's also important to keep your opponent off-balance (literally and figuratively) with a series of jabs. The jab is the fastest one in the entire game, so your best bet is to land one in when your opponent is swinging an uppercut or a hook at you.

And when all else fails, do what comes naturally: fight dirty. Your opponent has you on the ropes? Nothing a well-placed head butt or body blow can't fix. Just be careful with this one: you could get docked a point, or be disqualified.

So just follow these tips, and you'll have your opponents eating canvas (served up with a side of crow). Like we said, there's just nothing quite like settling the score with fisticuffs.

Yeah, fall is here, and with fall comes college football season. And apparently the only thing better than parking your carcass in front of the 50 inch flat screen for an afternoon of watching college football is an afternoon (or night, or entire weekend) of playing college football, courtesy of EA's NCAA Football 10. Now, I'm not about to get into the merits of NCAA 10 vs. Madden 10 right now – some questions have no easy answers. But in order to send your opponent packing, here are a few NCAA 10 tips.

When choosing your Offensive Game Plan, conventional wisdom would say to go Aggressive each time. But believe it or not, there's some merit to going Conservative (don't start throwing shoes at me, I'm only referring to NCAA 10). They make it abundantly clear that there are pros and cons to each setting. But in the case of holding your blocks, going Aggressive will result in more penalties; having your players block longer will result in more clipping calls.

Same deal with the Defensive Game Plan; like the Offensive Game Plan, all the different options for defense will have an effect on the overall game. And also like offensive game plan, being Aggressive is not always the way to go (despite what the high school cheerleaders may have told you). Take the Big Hit example – going Aggressive with Big Hit, your defense will always try to go for the big hits (yeah, we get it, it's not brain surgery). The upside: you'll cause more fumbles and wear down the offense. The downside: your guys will miss more tackles. Best to play it safe.

Another defensive tip: when choosing the Pass Defense, go Conservative, with the swat. Yes, it's tempting to go Aggressive and go for the pick. No risk, no reward and all that other good stuff we've been taught since the first time we learned how to throw the football. But here's the thing – you may think it's worth going for the turnover, but you will miss the ball most of the time.

Yeah, we know it's damn near impossible not to go Aggressive; anytime you're going head-to-head in NCAA 10, there's no shortage of testosterone in the room. That being said, try something different – the Conservative Game Plan – and you will win big.

Who doesn't love FIFA 09, with all the tricks and techniques? There's nothing better than showing up your rivals with a few fake-outs. But we're all about winning here, and in order to do that, you need to score more goals. And the best way to score those points is to learn how to make your kicks count. Here are a few techniques that should do the trick.

First, there's the hard low shot, a great move to make when you're farther back on the playing field. To pull this one off, do a quick double tap – or even triple tap – on the shoot button. Whatever you do, don't hold the button down too long. Remember, it's all about the quick tap (by quick tap, I'm referring only to FIFA 09 – if you're doing the “quick tap” elsewhere, that's your business...).

Also good to know is the chip shot. Do this with a combo of the LB and shoot button; the ball goes right over the goalie. Just don't hit this one too hard, or it goes flying over the net.

And then there's the ever-lovin' finesse shot, a favorite of the FIFA player. This one can be executed simply by pressing the RB (or R1, depending on your system). Do this one when you've got a moment to stop and try for a well-aimed shot; the finesse shot is recommended for when you're closer to the goal, as opposed to the hard low shot.

These tips are easy to learn, and after getting the hang of it, you'll be cleaning out your rivals' accounts every time.