Two people, separated by an ocean, compete for glory, power, and money. Well, mostly for money. But it is all in good fun.

On Monday, November 2, 2009 Faceoffgames launched its competitive gaming site, allowing gamers to get together and compete for euros. For the last few weeks, myself in Lexington, Kentucky, USA - the horse capital of the world - and Michael McCormick in Dublin have been doing battle and talking smack to make sure the site is ready for the world.

Here is our story.

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First, you’ve got to deposit money into Faceoffgames. The currency is in euros and you can play for as much as €50,000.00 or as little as you like in the 1 v 1 system.

Knowing I’m going to be on a while, and also knowing of the bevy of sports games on Faceoffgames, I’m feeling pretty good right now so I whip out my debit card and pop in €40.00. Note to United States players, this exchange rate of dollars to euros is awesome right now and the transfer fee your bank will charge you on the foreign currency exchange is pretty nice. My bank only hit me for about $3 for the transfer fee.

Loaded up and ready to play, Mike and I meet in the challenge room. We decided to start with FIFA 10 for five euros. He issues me a challenge in the room, which I accept. Faceoffgames takes five euros from each of us and holds it, awaiting the winner. Also, all my games are set up with the email of timegan2@mystats.in for reporting purposes.

He’s Manchester United. I’m Arsenal. It’s a battle!

Advantage Team Ireland

Though I’m pretty much a Madden 10 gamer, I’ve been hitting the soccer pretty hard since hooking up with Faceoffgames.

I like the strategy, I like crafting a play, but I mostly like whooping’ up on Mike for euros.

The game starts and I’m come out with both guns firing. I thought I had him in the 4th minute as Robert Van Persie dings a header off the crossbar. Little did I know, it would be my only real shot at a goal all game long.

I own a four-game winning streak over Mike, but he’s running circles around me. After a scoreless first half, where my keeper made about 20 saves, Michael inserts Ryan Giggs and just starts abusing me. He’s dribbling circles around my defenders in open space, mocking me, but my defense remains stout.

In the first overtime following 90 scoreless minutes, Wayne Rooney on a breakaway chips a shot that my keeper gets a hand on, but the ball trickles helplessly into the net, giving Mike the win and the money.

I’ve always liked Rooney. I think he’d be a better fit for America than David Beckham because of his hard-nosed attitude and style. Right now, though, I hate him.

And I’m down five euros.

It was kind of like this, only with Rooney finding the net

Taking it on the Chin

Up next is Fight Night Round 4 and Michael hands off the control to his friend and cohort, Luke Ashe-Browne. The result is ugly.

I love this game. It’s the best sports game I’ve probably played this year. But I’m still learning and struggling a bit online. Luke, however, is ready to rock.

I’m Smokin’ Joe Frazier, and he’s Luke “Bang-Bang” Browne, of his own creation—a 6-foot-5 Celtic warrior with bad intentions. Six rounds later, my head is bleeding and getting up off the canvas is no longer an option.

I’m down another five euros.

Score one for the Home Team - Barely

Okay, no more fooling around here. Up next, Madden NFL 10. This is my game, this is my wheelhouse. I simply do not lose this game.

Normally my hometown Philadelphia Eagles, I decided to change it up and go with Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco and the Cincinnati Bengals. Michael picks the Arizona Cardinals.

I’m ready to go. I’ve lost two challenges already and I want vengeance. So guess what happens?

Michael immediately takes the ball and embarks on a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive that eats up nearly the entire first quarter. He’s up 7-0. I’m reeling.

Little by little I fight back. On my first possession, I charge down the field and score on a 1-yard sneak by Palmer to tie it up. He charges again but stalls out near the end zone and its 7-7 at the half.

With a sense of desperation, I finally pick it up. I take a 10-7 lead on a field goal, but then Michael goes up 14-10 after hitting Anquan Bouldin on a 52-yard TD pass. Thankfully I score twice in the fourth quarter, going up 24-14 late.

Michael connects on a gorgeous 65-yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald to end the game, but I pull out the tight 24-21 win, somehow.

Five euros are mine and I’m back in the game.

Laveranues Coles scored for the Bengals in my 24-21 win

Ice Time

Up next is NHL 09. I’m the U.S., Mike is Canada. I ended up winning 2-0 on a pair of power-play goals, one by Erik Cole in the first period and another by Ray Whitney in the third period.

Neither of us are especially good at the game and the challenge devolves into two guys trying to skate straight.

Somehow, I outshoot Mike 40 - 6 and get this win.

It’s sloppy, but I’m even now.

Rooney Redux

This is the decider. One game of FIFA 09 will decide who is champion of the day. I’m currently undefeated in this version of the game and ready to rock. Mike picked his customary Man United while I decided to change it up and go with Liverpool.

This was a very stupid decision on my part.

I can’t organize any sort of attack. Steven Gerrard is doing nothing for me while, once again, I’m surrounded by red shirts. Rooney burns me again, closing the first half with a breakaway goal. Rooney’s strike stands as Michael pulls off a 1-0 win.

The beauty of  Faceoffgames is that the challenge system is quick and easy. Go to the chat room, strike a conversion, pick a game, put in the money, and then go to work. That’s primarily why Mike and I keep playing each other—it’s so easy to set it up and go.

Just watch out if a guy called Luke wants a challenge in Fight Night Round 4.

It was a battle, but all in good fun...