Despite the abundance of mini-games, Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 is a relationship sim that's all about collecting stuff: swimsuits, accessories and rare items. In order to succeed, you need to earn lots and lots of Zack dollars. Unfortunately, the game is very stingy unless you're very, very good at beach volleyball or jet ski races. But there is an exploit that will help busy gamers! First, save up at least a million bucks (races are easiest). Then go to the casino and play the Poison Danger slot machine with $500 or $1000 bets. Use the right thumbstick to scroll up to the payouts. Yes, it looks dangerous; you can lose almost your entire bankroll on one spin. And you probably will, but luckily this machine is rigged to generally pay out more than you'll lose! Just as long as you can afford the biggest loss once, you'll probably come out ahead (no guarantees... the bigger your bankroll, the better your chances). Press A three times to bet the max, and see what happens. Don't quit if you do suffer a loss that brings you near bankruptcy. You can continue as long as you don't hit zero, but if you leave you won't be allowed to come back until you have a new bankroll. Once you're over $1.5 million dollars, switch to $1000 bets (x3). When you hit the top payout with a $3000 bet, you'll get a cutscene of Christie pole dancing. (Losses tend to follow big wins, so you might switch to a single bet after winning big and then back to a triple bet after a big loss.) Each time you score the three Christie's, you unlock more of the scene and eventually a secret item in the game. Now you should be able to buy the skimpiest suits, shower your lady friends with gifts and pick up the most expensive jet ski - which will help you earn outside the casino... UPDATE: Shortly after posting this entry, I went from $10 million down to zero in one sitting - a good case for quitting while you're ahead! The good news is that I have a $2 million jet ski, all of the game tickets and most of Kasumi's swimsuit collection, which I bought with earlier winnings. So getting a million bankroll back shouldn't be too hard. Still, a cautionary tale - easy come, easy go...
