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NO NO NOTORIOUS

JuliusJack — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:35:15 +0000

Im a bum, really. I wake up every morning when my eyes open, I go downstairs to make some coffee and watch my first 3 hours of Sportscenter. As Im doing that I usually download some music, try and beat my high score in brickbreaker, send out some emails and texts to touch base with my accomplices for the day and maybe doze off for a 45 minute power nap. Then Ill usually take a shower; shampoo and condition every other day, the downside to having a great head of hair. Ill meet up with a friend for lunch, fuck around for a few more hours, possibly have sex and watch more TV. Rinse and repeat. This was a fun life to lead back in the Summer months but now I find myself getting stoked for Monday only because of MNF and Gossip Girl- no homo.

My quarter life crisis has turned into me burning my savings account on fire, gaining 20 pounds and well… grooming a great head of hair. Ive allowed myself to believe Im going to be an Actor/Writer only because Im too lazy to get a job. Well maybe its not laziness, I can wake up tomorrow and be motivated but a job would be the furthest thing from my mind. The only thing that appeals to me would be to do what I do now but get paid for it. I would like to obtain a 3 series, nothing too extravagant, within the next 6 months. But I have no desire to make payments because that would require a commitment to a source of income other than my own hustle and unless I’m getting residuals from a Colgate commercial, I don’t think I’m ready. It is my goal to never wake up to an alarm clock again unless for something important like a wedding or like if I went to bed and I was dying for a Sausage McMuffin and a hash brown- Id set my alarm so I could make it to Mcds in time. Ari Gold said it best, “Making something out of yourself is fucking hard”. I’m a funny guy, I think maybe if cameras were to follow me around and someone would edit a full day down to a 30 minute episode minus commercials, people would laugh. Matter of fact, I know they would. My friends and I are groomed for a reality show or a written show based on our lives. When I speak of my pilot, that’s what its about. Sounds cliche but very, very hysterical. The situations we get ourselves into really are outrageously funny and I really believe if we sat down in front of the right people we can make it happen and it would be epic. The odds of that coming together are stacked against us but knowing the way we work, I truly believe that one day soon we will get our chance. With that said, its not really something you can tell your Dad when he asks what your doing with your life. “Yeah Dad, picture Curb your Enthusiasm meets Seinfeld meets a guy version of Sex and the City. Now take all that- add some Jack Daniels and more sex, more drugs and healthy mix of quality music and thats what we’re creating. But don’t be worried, its brilliant and one day we will all be eating off of it” I should be pounding away at that but instead I just ate a few vicodins, turned on The NOTORIOUS BIG’s Life After Death and now Im blogging while my left hand is asleep.

I love this time of year- NFL is in full swing, my New York Yankees are back where they belong , it rained in L.A yesterday and I tried on a turtleneck. This is the time of year to shed your summertime swagger and find yourself a girl that you’re willing to wake up next to, often. I found mine, I mentioned her a while back- Brazilian/Italian. Shes dope, really. I love hanging out with her, shes a lot like me in that she doesn’t always need to be out and about. Don’t get me wrong, I love going out but it gets old after a while and with the Summer that I had- I’m over it. I use these lyrics a lot but I love the girl it describes “Pretty, witty, girly, whirly. One who likes to party but come home early”. That is my ideal, I love a girl that loves to be a girl, one that can allow me to be a gentleman and open a door for her but at the same time not take it for granted. A girl that I can be myself around and not worry about her thinking I’m crazy. My perfect girl rolls out of bed and looks gorgeous- meaning I like her as she is not with an hour in the bathroom. Natural beauty gets me every time. Aside from her looks, I usually fall face first for girls that can make me laugh. Not like politely laughing but a girl that is actually funny and that shares the same sense of humor as me. Call me a narcissist but I also love a girl that loves me. There is nothing better than being all about someone that reciprocates that same feeling back to you, I love that.

My girl now meets all of those things. She can just chill at the house and watch some TV or put on a dress and be an absolute knockout with minimal effort. She’s fun and I don’t know if I’m coming off a series of lame girls but I’m really giving this one power rankings. We actually went to sleep the other night around 3am, ended up talking and messing around for a few hours, decided at 5am that we should play the Wii. Split a bottle of wine and played Wii tennis until 7am. I’m dating a girl that got out of bed with me after we had sex to play a video game and drink a bottle of wine only to come back to bed 2 hours later to sleep for another 6, that’s hot. Now if I can convince her that she should stay in the states with me to play Nintendo and chase a dream instead of following through with her plans to take over her family business back in Brazil this December, Ill be set until Rehab opens again next Spring.

One Hundred

PS- If any of you readers out there know Larry David, put the two of us in contact. My best friend is a clone of him 30 years younger, no joke. The next chapter in American comedies needs to be written and we are the revolution. DO IT!

the champ is here!!!

solacewonder — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:30:39 +0000

…so i know it’s dorky as hell…but i’m super pumped cause i finally beat the brickbreaker game on my blackberry!!! i’ve been at it for about a year now and last night i finally beat it and came back around through level 11!!! i’m sucha nerd! anyway…just wanted to give a little victory cheer!!! whoot whoot! until later…..

The Phone Beckons: Got Game?

aliprivitera — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:03:47 +0000

While BrickBreaker may not be a social menace, the game is still having its way with a good portion of the obsessive BlackBerry-toting population.

Full Story

The Succubrix

clightnirish — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:45:52 +0000

Many people have derided the Blackberry and it’s role as an “electronic dogleash” – to quote the guy on the HSBC Soapbox ad. So I knew that caving into expectation and joining the “leashed” was a step backward for me. I immediately hated the expectation that I no longer have any personal time. But I had no idea just HOW evil this union between Blackberry and the world’s employers really was.

Until I opened the Applications folder. And then said “Oh, here is this brickbreaker game people seem to play all the time on the subway.”

At the time, I thought the little “woooosh” that I heard was the noise of the game starting. I only now realize that it was the first little piece of my soul and being sucked from my thumbtip.

This game is just another weapon in our employer’s esteem-crushing armory. You thought there was a moment of solace, without a cell signal, where you were free. No-one evaluating or judging you. Maybe you could even play a game. But this is no game. It is a trap. Be warned.

Just as you were starting to get back a skeric of self esteem, after a day of complaining customers, your boss piling more on your plate while he goes to play golf, and your computer crashing just at the wrong moments (which your employer also controls BTW!) now you have to deal with the realization that you cannot even break some bricks with a little ball, even if they give you some guns and lasers.

It consumes your mind. Did I just lose two balls trying to get the last brick on that level? And why does the “flip” feature screw with my co-ordination so much? I am surprised I can walk without falling if that is any indication if my co-ordination!!!

And then as you get better, they really fuck with you! It starts pausing and jumping at criitcal moments. Balls pass through bricks they should bounce off. The ball squeezes through a non existent gap between the wall and your “paddle”.

Even the high score screen is designed to demoralize you. Only your one high score is shown. If you happen to score only 10 points less than your best ever, there is no consolation prize. No “hey, good job, that’s your second highest score ever!”. Just a virtual middle finger, telling you “you failed again, you useless bastard!”

And with that the “wooshing” stops – as your last wisp of soul disappears.

My Crackberry

jessboulet — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:37:31 +0000

Dear Blackberry Curve,

I never thought I could love a phone so much. You were really out to prove me wrong, weren’t you, you sexy minx?!?! I wasn’t expecting to even get you, you came to me as a suprise gift. And you DID suprise me, in so many ways. I had always said “all I need on a phone is a vibrate setting, an alarm clock, and text messaging.” Then you came along and showed me that I was being a HUGE LIAR!!! There are so many things about you that I didn’t even know I wanted in a phone and now I can’t imagine living without them! Here are some examples:

BBM. For those of you not in the know…. or who are lame and opted for the less popular smart phone, the iphone… that stands for blackberry messanger. And it rules. It’s so much more fun than text messanging. Why would I even bother to text anyone anymore?!?! (Well, because not everyone has a fancy blackberry like you, that’s why) It’s like instant messanging FROM YOUR MOBILE PHONE!! It brings me back to the college/high school days that were spent sitting around the computer talking to friends online. Except it’s AT LEAST double the fun cause it’s from your phone and you don’t have to be at home in front of a computer, you can be ANYWHERE! A few more fun things about bbm: the symbols/icons you can use. You can send thumbs up or down, actual yellow smiley faces, kisses, and a heart. HOW FUN. You may not use these too often… in fact if you do, please stop, excessie symbols really makes them less special. But once in a while that thumbs up really speaks volumes and it s fun suprise to see! And (this may be my favorite part) you can tell exactly when the message is delivered AND when the person reads this. If you are a total creeper, like I am, you can tell when people read your messages then, if they don’t respond, you can bbm them more with creepy things like”I know you read that, I can tell, BBM ME BACK IMMEDIATELY!!” It’s real fun to creep people out… thanks bbm!

Brickbreaker. This feature alone has changed my life. Seriously. This game has kept me up late at nights, kept me from being bored waiting in lines, and has been an excellent distraction when I’m alone and trying to pretend I’m looking at you to prevent weird men from talking to me. I also like to brag to my friends about my high scores. Brickbreaker frustrates me when I lose and makes me happy when I win. The ONLY bad thing about this is that, for people like me, who MAY just drop you on a regular basis and cause the battery to come out, it doesn’t save your progress and you have to start a NEW game ALL over. This sucks because 2 weeks ago I has over 500,000 points with 94 lives. And now I am sad I lost that score simply because I dropped my phone at a cubs game and the battery popped out! I still love this feature you have and will forever be trying to achieve the score I once had.

Facebook. It’s simply not enough to only have facebook when I’m at home. JUST BECAUSE I don’t have a desk job, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be able to check my facebook at random times throughout the day. You, my love, have made this task possible for me. In fact, facebook is right on the front home screen and I love it. I can now check everyone’s “status updates” and creepily stalk all my “friends” more accurately throughout the day. I couldn’t effectively do this without you, so I am grateful (some of my “friends” on facebook are not!).

Yahoo email (or any e-mail account really). I can check my email without connecting to the internet and paying the ridiculous fees. And the many random emails I get throughout the day have been brilliant excuses for getting out of really awkward conversations. All it takes it a small glance at you when you vibrate, a sigh, shrug, then “gotta check this, it might be from my boss” and then walk away. Perfection

There are still many other things I adore about you. The fact that I can download “apps” from the “blackberry app store”. I mean, I don’t do this cause it kind of confuses me, but I love the fact that if I ever stop being lazy and lame and learn how to do it, I CAN. Many people don’t even have a phone that gives them that option like YOU do! I realize it should bother me that my smartphone is smarter than I am, but it doesn’t. I’m just proud to own something as smart and amazing as you are. You really have earned your nickname “crackberry”. Congratulations!

Wishing I was writing this blog post on you instead of my computer,

Jessica

PS. I forgot, unlike the “NEW AND IMPROVED “iphone, you can actually send and recieve picture mail. You’re way better, don’t even worry about it.

The Slayer

Dory — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:41:17 +0000

“In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against …. the forces of darkness. She is the slayer.”
— Joss Whedon

Color me sweaty from just finishing up set #2, The Upper Body, on Rodney & Mariel’s little DVD. I’m a sweaty little monkey right now, but my chest does feel nice and open, as promised. Rodney and his little California-cool self said that if I walked through life with my chest open and my lungs and heart free, I’d be happier, healthier and more peaceful. I don’t doubt him.

By the way, while I half-watched and listened to the set a couple times before actually getting on the mat to do it, I accomplished two things. One, I digested my delicious salmon salad dinner and two, I finally got past the last level in the BrickBreaker game on my BlackBerry. I beat my old high score by almost 9,000 pts. and I’ve moved up from being ranked 700,000 in the world, when I started, to 97,500 and change. Thank you unemployment for allowing me the time to get good at something so important! [ /sarcastic]

Layla and cupcake. Photo by: cupcakequeen

By the way, operation sugar-free goes well. It was easy once I set a date, ate every frosted baked good that came within 5 feet of me prior to the deadline, gave away most of my verboten foods (bye-bye Cheerios) and then went grocery shopping only for the stuff I’m committed to eating.

Besides, when breakfast is a hamburger patty and a couple o’ eggs fried in coconut oil, lunch is cottage cheese (fresh this time) with fresh blueberries and raw almonds, and dinner is organic mixed greens with grilled salmon or chicken, avocado and hummus, I certainly don’t feel deprived. Add in a hunk of Dubliner cheese to snack and it actually isn’t a bad day’s eating.

Brickbreaking

Tue, 26 May 2009 05:41:12 +0000

Yang punya BB pasti ngerti deh yang kumaksud. Ya, Brickbreaker adalah satu-satunya game yang diimpl

You Symbolize What I Want to Own

grapes — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:50:49 +0000

After posting my last post, I waited for some caring person to reach out and pull me away from the toxic bubbling goo of obsession. Then my internet died, because I had entered into Sequoia National Park. And I was in the middle of a particularly well-written fanfiction too. I know, well-written and fanfiction in the same sentence? Please excuse me, I was stuck in a car in the middle of orange-growing land. I was, and am, also sad because the space key on my Blackberry no longer makes that cool clicky noise anymore. My city-dweller instincts kicked in and I clung to the last source of civilization I had. Until it too died on me. So I proceeded to play brickbreaker.

But no, I took a few good photos that did not include my family standing dorkily against the backdrop of a “Welcome to Sequoia National Park” sign, and I did a good Mr. Bean impression that unfortunately will forever be captured on tape.

Now we’re on our way to Yosemite, so I apogize for this half-assed post. I’m just trying to get you guys something to read before I’m once again thrown into the wilderness. Soon I will have only my ipod and brickbreaker to keep me company.

Sayonara, Japanese goodbye…

Which reminds me: I spent last night watching old movies on amc (Mad Men!) like “The Untouchables” (sadly, I missed Sean Connery but I saw a photo of him), and “In the Line of Fire”. Also, the end of “13 Going On 30″, which if I keep randomly running into, could become a guilty pleasure of mine. Next to “The Pink Panther”. I also spent the night hastily changing channels when eharmony and Viagra-type commercials came up. Viagra commercials are stealthy. They start out all happy and normal, and then BAM. But I also had to make sure I saw a few ads for “Mad Men”. Speaking of, I’ll be missing “Numb3rs” tonight and cramming on homework tomorrow. Dangnabbit.

One last thing: if you ever get a hold of these home videos, the wailing of the PotC soundtrack and “Love Today” in the background is me and my little sister.

King of the World

mielu007 — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:30:51 +0000

Azi este una din cele mai importante zile pe anul 2009. Acum 30 de minute am reusit sa termin jocul

Crackberry

mywhatevs — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:08:00 +0000

All-access pass to e-mails, text messages and the internet with a click of a button or the scroll of

My name is Giles, and I'm an addict

gilesdotrobinson — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:40:44 +0000

Moment of honesty here…I hope nobody from work is reading this, but I am an addict. I have been using for the last three weeks, and my last relapse was two minutes ago.

Now…it’s not drugs that I am hooked on. Or alcohol. Nor sex (unfortunately). No…I’m addicted to my Crackberry, or blackberry if you want to refer to it by its trademark name. My new addiction has killed my social life, caused arguments with my flatmate and made me a 24 hour employee. But I love it! I’m hooked.

When I started my career in the communications biz, I dreamt of being handed my first shiny new blackberry, as a sort of symbol of success in this ever changing social media landscape. As it turned out, I got a slightly scuffed, and very chunky, 3rd generation hand-me-down, which despite its age, didn’t dampen my excitement. Within hours, I had the functionality down. I had even successfully synchronised the device with my mobile, filled up the speed-dial settings and beaten the top score on BrickBreaker…in your face Miss Badjonat! To top it off, I even had my favourite photo staring back at me as the screensaver. Perfect. But now what?

Sure…I’ve persuaded my best work mates to initiate their Blackberry messenger (MSN for crackberry addicts), which by the way was the cause of my aforementioned arguments with the housemate. Sure…I’ve figured out how to check my Facebook and single-handedly increased my typing to 100wpm. But now my hours of usage don’t fulfil my cravings like they used to. Like any drug (I’ve heard), I have got to the point where I need more of it, more often, just to get the same buzz! First thing in the morning and last thing at night, I need that hit…that satisfaction that another email has arrived – even though more often than not, it’s just another bloody google alert.

But I’ve come to realise something. For all of my expertise about the device, for all those wonderfully useless little shortcuts that cut milliseconds off my daily thumb workout, there is one button that I have never sought out and definitely never used…

The OFF button

And as such, I stand up in front of you now and begrudgingly admit…My name is Giles, and I’m a Blackberry addict.

Advice and condolences would be greatly appreciated.

Giles out

The Common Link Between President Barack Obama and Techbays

Carlo Maglinao — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:11:17 +0000

It’s our addiction to Blackberry Brickbreaker. Thanks to Eric Krangel of Silicon Alley Insider for his reference in his post “Barack Obama’s Favorite Videogame: BlackBerry BrickBreaker?”.

Dane Cook-ed

GKB — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:36:14 +0000

I was waiting for the subway yesterday at 34th street. I stood there, sweat dripping down my back, legs… pretty par for the humid course in the bowels of the NY underground (that sentence sounded good).

Anyhow, I have some pretty standard routines for satisfying lingering boredom, all of which leave me completely unfulfilled but I do them anyhow. The first check-down is to my signal-less Blackberry, where I pull out a fresh game of BrickBreaker, you know the ball into the blocks paddle game. That works for like 3 minutes until my brain goes numb and/or I am pissed off I caught the “reverse” Advil-looking pill that screws me up totally. So I put down the Blackberry. Still no train. I’m now sweating more than a gerbil in a Chelsea pet store. Next boredom option, count my friends and rate how close they are to me. This is supremely odd and self-indulgent, but I weigh things like who calls me the most, who I could ask for a kidney, etc. Needless to say, this exercise is weird and short-lived. Finally, with all else failing to entertain, I simply start staring at things around me. And that’s when inspiration for this post hit me as I gazed at the Subway wall.

I did a double take. One, what happened to Kate Hudson’s face? No, not literally, but the cut outs. Interesting. This lead me to think about who does this stuff? Why? When? Is this fun? Hmm. Anyhow, two, and the real point, is that Dane Cook?? And is he starring in this movie? HOW? I’m all for second chances, like the one no girl gave me in high school after I lost weight, but hasn’t Dane Cook had 19 chances to be a movie star and failed miserably? This guy is about as bankable as a negative Lindsay Lohan drug test.

I just checked IMDB, he’s been in such blockbusters as Dan in Real Life ($47M gross; almost zero to do with him), Good Luck Chuck (good luck earning any money back; $35M gross), Mr. Brooks (what is this?; $28M gross) and Employee of the Month (Dud of the Year; $28M gross). When do they pull the plug? He’s horribly unfunny as a comedian (at least since his very beginning work) and yet the studios can’t get enough. “I know he’s taken his lumps, but that Dane Cook, well, he’s a star, did you see Tourgasm?, genius, lets give him another starring role, America loves him.” Is this really what goes on?

As the heat was finally creating a full puddle in my sock, the train pulled in. Somehow Kate Hudson, though mouth had been partially ripped out, was still smiling at her co-star. And somewhere, only Dane Cook’s agent could be offering such a similar smile. I salute you Dane Cook’s agent.

The Ultimate Blackberry BrickBreaker Guide: Final Level 34

Carlo Maglinao — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:01:00 +0000

Previously:

Congratulations! There is not much to explain here, as you can see in the image below. As we obsess in getting Lives, don’t miss the lone Y labeled brick, which might just happen to give you another Life capsule in preparation for the next cycle. If you have just completed the second cycle, again congratulations! The succeeding cycles will never pose a challenge like the first two. Your job is done. Well, my job is done. Thank you.

The Ultimate Blackberry BrickBreaker Guide: Levels 31 to 33

Carlo Maglinao — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:01:56 +0000

Previously:

Fortunately, you’re down to the last four levels. Unfortunately, two of these can still end your game. But you’ve already come this far and by now should know better how to use your skills. Your main challenge here is carelessness. You are almost there, so better be attentive and wired. Here we go.

Level 31

I have lost many lives in this level, experimenting on how I can let the ball get past the second gap. The best way is to launch the ball as shown, and to repeat the same in succeeding bounces. There is no capsule in this level. Your only mission is to hit each brick once. Hopefully you have enough Lives to surpass level 31.

Level 32

At last, another chance of getting Life. We need that in preparation for the next level. This is a bonus level, with five chances of getting extra powers. This gets even easier if the entire set of bricks slowly moves down a step a time. You know what I mean.

Level 33

This level is won by pure skill. No capsules. Just you against you. All you need to do is to hit each of the bricks once. The strategy is to put the ball on the upper portion of the screen. That way, you’ll have better time to respond when the ball goes down for a paddle. I suggest to keep launching the ball sideways as shown. Sometimes the ball takes care of most of the bricks by just scrambling away. The faster the speed of the ball, the more you want to launch the ball high up northeast or northwest.

Wow, you really made it! The final level, 34, will not give you fits. In fact, it is a case akin to a red carpet walk to acknowledge a Crackberry on a job well done.

Next: Final Level 34

The Ultimate Blackberry BrickBreaker Guide: Levels 28 to 30

Carlo Maglinao — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:01:36 +0000

Previously:

There’s a lot of Lives to be taken from this set. Clearly an opportunity to recover from previous levels’ results

Level 28

Your mission is to always put the ball on the right hand side of the screen. Catch controls the ball best. Should Life capsule appears, be ready to position your ladder to take it.

Level 29

This level has a reputation as the most time-waster. Gun normally appears as a capsule. Take it and use the ammos to clear the two left most gray bricks so the ball will have more space to operate on hitting the Y labeled bricks. This level can easily end the game if you’re not sticking your eyes on the ball.

Level 30

There is no consistent way to launch the ball that would immediately hit one of those Y labeled bricks. The normal approach is to start as shown. Multi and Catch are always welcome capsules. Gun too. If only to finish the level quickly.

Next: Levels 31 to 33

The Ultimate Blackberry BrickBreaker Guide: Levels 25 to 27

Carlo Maglinao — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:01:20 +0000

Previously:

We are now like 70% in our target to complete a cycle. In this set, level 26 poses a real challenge. Let’s go on.

Level 25

Level 25 is similar to the dreaded Level 16. But this level gives more breathing space, and, unlike level 16, the inner bricks are better controlled thanks to those two gray bricks that serve as “lids” for the ball. Once the ball gets inside the “U”, the ball eventually will hit at least two Y labeled bricks. We want that to happen so we will get capsules that generate special powers for our paddle. The ideal capsule is Catch. Long also gets the job done. The five Y labeled bricks make this level much easier than level 16.

Level 26

This one you should watch out. Immediately launch the ball as shown. That way the ball clears the lower bricks before the ball returns to create havoc. The challenge is to clear the right-most two layers of bricks so the ball gets an opportunity to hit those Y labeled bricks. I have experienced getting Catch, Gun, and Long in this level. If you get Gun, clear the lower left bricks and one just below the Y labeled brick. The ball has a habit of returning frequently to challenge your paddle. So, eyes on the ball.

Level 27

This is the simplest of the batch. Launch the ball as shown. The ball, in its first launch, will not get into the middle entry. It will return once before it scrambles itself into the opening to hit that lone brick. The brick only needs to get hit once. It is that simple.

Next: Levels 28 to 30

The Ultimate Blackberry BrickBreaker Guide: Levels 22 to 24

Carlo Maglinao — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:01:48 +0000

Previously:

There are aspects in the game that you should know by now. Every time there’s a new capsule or power (that adds special function to the paddle or game) such as Laser, your course of action is to decide whether to take the capsule or not. For example, if you see Flip coming down, you will want as much as possible to avoid it. But there are capsules that can work with other capsules. To understand the mix, let’s review the functions of each capsule or power:

Life: this adds one life.
Multi: this gives three additional balls. All four balls can destroy bricks, but not the gray ones.
Laser: this fires unlimited laser beams. Two beams destroy a shade of a brick, but cannot harm the gray bricks.
Gun: this fires three bullets. A bullet can destroy an entire brick, including the gray ones.
Catch: this allows you to catch the ball and redirect the bounce or launch.
Long: this extends the width of the paddle.
Wrap: this allows you to move the paddle beyond the corners.
Slow: this slows down the speed of the game.
Flip: this reverses the movement of your paddle.

And here are the possible combinations.

If your paddle has the Laser function, it’s okay to get Multi, Slow, and Wrap.
In general, Multi, Slow, and Wrap can go along with Laser, Gun, or Long.
Catch cannot work with any other functions. Ditto Life.
The following functions will always replace each other: Life, Laser, Gun, Catch, Long.

Okay then. That should give you extra info on when to take those capsules. This is essential data to work your way through two cycles. Now, let’s continue.

Level 22

This level doesn’t generate any capsule. Your only mission is to survive. The key is to always bounce the ball back up at an angle so the ball will always get an opportunity to get through each “floor.” Sometimes this level gets completed in quite a while. Just be patient.

Level 23

My proposed approach is to clear the bricks on the left side so that the ball can freely hit the bricks when it passes through to the upper area, as shown in green arrow. That way the ball will have a shot at touching the Y labeled bricks. Catch and Long are ideal capsules in this level. The center portion of the paddle skews the bounce to the right. The right portion of the paddle can launch the ball wildly. So be careful.

Level 24

This level is your friend. All of the bricks can give you special functions. Woohoo! At this point, you should be focused on getting Lives. For the first two cycles, forget about getting a high score, such as by taking all the capsules for 50 points each. Instead, focus on getting additional Lives. You target is to get 20 Lives to survive the massacre that awaits in Cycle 2. And this level will put you in a life-extending position. There a 14/14 chance of getting a Life. The falling capsules sometimes can confuse you since there will be at least one every time you bounce the ball with your paddle. So watch out!

That’s it for today. See you tomorrow.

Next: Levels 25 to 27

The Ultimate Blackberry BrickBreaker Guide: Levels 19 to 21

Carlo Maglinao — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:01:38 +0000

Previously:

By overcoming the previous set of levels, you are now in a better position to complete the Cycle. A Cycle comprises of 34 levels. Levels 19 to 21 are almost harmless. Your challenge here is mostly carelessness.

Level 19

You cannot launch the ball directly above the paddle, so you will have to hit it slightly to the right and bounce it with the left surface of the paddle as shown in yellow. Immediately you will get a “power” by hitting either of the two Y labeled bricks. Again let’s hope it is Catch. At this point you already know what it means if you get Gun, Slow, Wrap, Multi, Long, or Life. If you get Gun, remove either the three gray bricks on the right or on the left. It is easier to handle the ball with one side clear. Multi is perhaps as good as Catch. In this setup, four balls annihilate the bricks fastest.

Level 20

The challenge in the later rounds are the extra bounces you need to take before the ball finally gets in a position to hit the bricks. In this level, for example, you will need to launch and then relaunch the ball in a more angled position so the ball passes through the small openings as shown above. However, expecially this level, the exercise is easy. I normally get a Life in one of the two balls. There is not much to consider, except that when Life is generated, make sure you catch it.

Level 21

Launching the ball this way automatically generates three special functions. There are seven Y labeled bricks and the chance of getting a Life or Lives is high. This is one those bonus levels, where you can add another Life to your target of 20 Lives to prepare for the second half onslaught of Cycle 2. Remember, after you surpass Cycle 2, the game slows down and simply becomes a score-all-you-want relaxation exercise. Level 21 is an enjoyable treat.

The levels are benign. You have to feel good completing this set.

Next: Levels 22 to 24

The Ultimate Blackberry BrickBreaker Guide: Levels 16 to 18

Carlo Maglinao — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:01:52 +0000

Previously:

This is it. Your game skills are finally tested. Welcome to the dreaded level “U”. This set of levels will be your defining moment.

Level 16

Let’s hope that the Y labeled brick gives you the ultimate controller of this level: Catch. However, that’s less than 20% chance of happening. Any of the following can also help. Multi allows faster clearing of the bricks and by the time one of the four balls reaches your paddle, the speed of the game would have slowed down. Gun allows you to remove the lower corner bricks and another one of those on the side. Removing the corner bricks gives you more room to control the ball. Don’t remove the three middle gray bricks. Long gives you two bounces to correct the ball’s movement before, if ever, you lose it. Long is also good in moving the ball from the left to the right corner. Without the above powers, your ultimate help is a skill to control the ball movement, once it reaches your paddle, from the left hand side to the right hand section. The ball doesn’t go wild if it touches the middle portion of the paddle.

Sometimes the ball takes care of clearing all the bricks if it moves in a 30 degree angle inside the U formation. The good news here is that after a certain number of touches with the paddle, about 30 hits, the ball slows down. That’s why we need those 20 Lives to survive this and the succeeding levels. After a number of hits with the paddle, the ball eventually moves at a slower, manageable pace.

Level 17

Don’t celebrate yet. This level looks deceptively easy. But it has a reputation of claiming what is left of your remaining Lives. The tendency to lose focus is predominant in this level. So be cautious and remain attentive to the ball’s movement. The ball will frequent the lowest portion of the figure. It will play with your paddle. This is part of the reason for the allowance of 20 Lives. Nothing in a form of special function is given. Like Level 13, your only mission is to survive.

Level 18

You may want to gather mental and physical energy before resuming. It’s good to realize that you have surpassed Levels 16 and 17 and you don’t want to lose what you have gained by playing carelessly. That normally happens when you’re overconfident and a bit tired. Okay then. By virtue of the eight specials generated in this level, it is relatively the easiest of this set of levels. Eight opportunities to gather power, including adding a Life or possibly Lives. Catch or Long are ideal powers to control the game. Be tempted to get Life if the remaining bricks locate close to the top-most gray brick. Wrap is also good in bouncing the ball in a more vertical approach as is ideal in this level, after that initial 30-degree launch.

Whew. Congratulations. We are finally halfway in completing a Cycle. See you guys tomorrow.

Next: Levels 19 to 21