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Matt
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Posts by Matt
Get Your Power Play on With Ice Rage for iPhone
Feb 12, 2012
Today I checked out Ice Rage, a 99 cent game for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. In Ice Rage, you control one player against the computer or human component in some 1-on-1 ice hockey action. The game definitely has more of an quick-action, arcade feel than a realistic simulation 5-on-5 hockey game and that’s why I like it. You can currently choose from only two characters to play with, a human and a bear. For 99 cents more, you can also purchase a character that resembles Santa Clause. There are three modes of play, single player quick match, single player tournament and multiplayer. In quick match, you play against the computer in a 1:45 match. In tournament mode, you play against a number of players in 0:45 second matches that get tougher the more opponents you play against. In multiplayer, you play against the computer. The graphics are very crisp and gorgeous. The controls in the game are very accurate considering you’re using the touchscreen as a joystick and shoot button. Overall, Ice Rage is a game well worth 99 cents if you enjoy arcade style games and Ice Hockey.
Cut The Buttons iPhone Game
Feb 12, 2012
I downloaded this game called Cut the buttons for my iPod Touch and it’s pretty sweet. In the game you use your fingers to hold scissors on your screen while buttons and screws sewn onto pants pockets get flung into the screen. On the bottom of the screen is a cup that you can control with your other hand to catch the buttons as you cut them off the pants pocket. Each button you catch will score you a point but be careful because if you cut the screw you will lose 5 points. The quality of both the graphics and sound are very high. Someone spent a lot of time on programming the details of this game. The iPod Touch version that I downloaded was free but limited due to the small screen size. It is difficult to control both the scissors and the cup on the screen. There is an iPad version of the game which I have never played but would imagine to be much easier to control.
More @ openname.su.
News Republic for WebOS
Feb 11, 2012
It turns out that WebOS app beggars can be choosers, when selecting the right news app. I have officially replaced USA Today with a new goto news app for my Touchpad, News Republic. I like it so much that I even put it along the static app area on the bottom of the screen. USA Today wasn’t a bad app to use. It’s just that News Republic offers more categories, more stories, longer stories with more pictures, more up to date news and an overall slicker interface. That is saying a lot considering the USA Today app has been around for as long as the Touchpad and I want to say that it even came pre-installed on my Touchpad. It always left more to be desired though. The USA Today app always felt like a limited version of the popular newspaper I’d find waiting for me at my hotel room door while News Republic feels like an incoming feed of news that gets updated as soon as the story is released to the public and deemed appropriate for this app. Preferences are currently limited and they will probably stay that way but that doesn’t worry me.
Shamrock Shake Now at McDonalds Nationwide
Feb 10, 2012
The only fast food treat that’s almost as rare of an occurrence as the McRib is McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. This once a year limited-time mint flavored, green-dyed vanilla milkshake was first introduced in 1970 and is usually only available at select McDonalds restaurants. Two days ago however, McDonald’s announced that the Shamrock Shake would be available in all of its U.S. restaurants for the first time, from February 8 thru March 25, 2012. The Shamrock Shake ingredients include the food colorings yellow 5, and blue 1 and you may or may not realize that these two colors combined make the color green. Get ready to shake your booty down at the gym after enjoying a Shamrock Shake. The large contains 840 calories and 24 grams of fat.
Fat Jump With a Flying Pickle
Feb 3, 2012
Today I am taking a look at Fat Jump, a game for iOS. Fat Jump is like Doodle Jump meets Willy Wonka. A lot of the elements in Fat Jump resemble the elements in Doodle Jump but with a food twist. The goal of the game is to get your pickle character as high as you can without falling down to the bottom of the screen which will cause your game to be over.
As you jump up, you land on floating islands that if jumped upon a certain number of times, will collapse and leave you looking for somewhere else to jump. Along the way you will find different food items. Like in real life, you want to eat the healthy items and stay away from the sweets. Eat things like cupcakes and you will become fat and bloated which will make it more difficult to continue to move up but eating healthy things like apples will just give you extra points. There are also coins to collect and things like springs and spin hats that will help you progress higher, faster.
The version of Fat Jump that I tried is the free version which includes ads along the top of the screen that aren’t too intrusive on gameplay. I really like the pretty graphics in this app and I find the food elements a neat addition to what I’m used to out of similar jump games. Still, I can’t help but think the developer could have come up with a more original concept that doesn’t copy another game so heavily.
Build Some Legos on Your Notebook Paper
Jan 29, 2012
Moleskine paper notebooks are known for their high quality and high prices. But if you are in the need of a really nice notebook for a gift or for yourself, these notebooks just may be some of the best that you can buy. Some of the highlights include an elastic band, sewn spine, rounded paper corners, ribbon bookmarks, and a pockets on the inside covers. They also release limited edition notebooks just like this Lego notebook. This is no ordinary notepad of paper because you can build small Lego creations right off of the outer cover of the notepad. The bricks attached to the notebooks come in flat 2×4 pieces and 4×8 pieces depending on the size of notebook. The notebook also comes with stickers.
The Bosses of Final Fight
Jan 29, 2012
Boss 1: Damnd
The first boss in Final Fight is a big guy with a hearty laugh. Damnd looks a bit similar to Hulk Hogan. He is seen in the first cutscene of the game right before level 1 begins with Jessica over his shoulder. A crucial member of the Mad Gear gang, Damnd was brought up in the world of illegal street crime. After spending some time in the slammer and then being released, he started selling drugs on the streets of Metro City.
After busting through the front door of his hideout, Damnd will come right at you in full force. Don’t try to go to him but instead let him come to you from above or below but never from the side or he will have a reach advantage. After knocking him down a couple of times he will do a barrel flip onto the subway entrance and whistle for his buddies and fellow gang members to come out and help. After you start punishing his buddies, he will do another barrel flip towards you and try to jump kick you. Quickly move up or down on the screen to avoid him and then go to work on him again. This will happen three times before Damnd will start to lose energy. After the final hit he will fall down and with all his strength try to get back up but instead just collapse. This leaves the subway entrance open for you to start he next level.
Boss 2: Sodom
The second boss, Sodom is a dangerous shoulder pad wearing undefeated underground pro wrestler who likes to swing katana swords at anyone who chooses to get in his way. He was born in the United States and is obsessed with Japanese culture. In addition to Final Fight, Sodom has appeared in Street Fighter games sporting jutte blades.
After making your way through the subway, You will drop into the wrestling ring where Sodom will be waiting for you while sitting on a bar stool. There will be a huge crowd in the background watching and cheering on the fight so don’t disappoint and give them something good to watch. Sodom will jump off of his chair and come at you sword swinging. Let him follow you into the corner and then jump kick him. He will drop a katana but is still dangerous. He will stare down at the ground and be ready to charge at you like a bull. If you’re fast enough that is a good time to get a quickly jump kick him. Keep on attacking him and don’t let him get back to where his katanas are or it will be more difficult to defeat him. He will fall down after roughly 8 knock-downs and you can move on to the next level.
Boss 3: Edie E
Edie E wasn’t always a Mad Gear street crime gang member. He used to make a living as a cop on the streets of Metro City fighting people just like what he’s become. However, with a shrinking salary and a family to feed, Edie E thought that there would be a way to make some more cash in a life of illegal street crime. He begged Mad Gear for a job and proved himself worthy to them. He still hangs out on the Metro City streets but this time he’s working for the bad guys selling drugs in Westside.
When Edie E. is first is seen in Final Fight, he will come right at you. He is pretty fast for the large burly exposed-chest-haired man that he is. He will usually have one hand on his holster ready to pull out his gun and start firing. Don’t let him be within shooting range of you or he will get his gun out. Instead stay above or below him on the screen and let him come to you and then start attacking him. Once he’s down, stay near him and then as he starts to get up continue to attack. Eventually after a few punishing rounds he will fall face first onto the pavement and it will be time for you to go to the Industrial Area.
Boss 4: Rolento
Rolento is a former member of the special forces unit, the Red Berets. He is a trained soldier that doesn’t mind taking his battlefield combat skills to the Metro City streets. This means that he will try to destroy anyone in his way using a baton and hand grenades. He also has made appearances in some Street Fighter games under his same name.
When you’re at the end of the Industrial level, you will make your way to an elevator with many Mad gear Gang members attacking you. He will then jump out from behind the ladder behind the elevator and try to take you down. Rolento has a vicious spin attack jump that is so fast it’s difficult to see it coming. When he does spin attack, stay close to where he will land his jump and then attack him. When he gets up, get to the other side of the elevator. He will charge attack you but if you’re on the other side he won’t get close enough to hurt you. He will then spin jump attack you which is when you should attack him when he lands again. Once he starts to get desperate, he will start jumping on the top platform above the elevator and then jump spin attack you using grenades. Continue the same strategy until he eventually fails and commints suicide by blowing himself up with the rest of his grenades.
Boss 5: Abigail
Growing up, Abigail had a tough time in grade school. He was always the outcast in his class and took advantage of his large size by turned to violence to make up for his lack of friends. After graduation, the only real opportunities for him were offered by the city’s multiple street gangs. After a brutal street gang fight where he got mad, turned red and destroyed opponents, he caught the attention of the Mad Gear Gang where he joined and ruled the streets of the Bay Area.
With what looks like the Statue of Liberty in the background and a beautiful sunset comes a man so large that at first he looks nearly impossible to beat down. He will run at you out of nowhere. Instantly jump attack him and grab the sword on the ground if it is available. After he gets up he will come at you again which at this point simply swing the sword at him and he will fall. He will get up and run towards you along with other opponents but if you continue to swing your sword at him at just the right time before he gets to you, you will be fine and defeat him. Don’t let his red face scare you. Just because he’s upset doesn’t mean that he will be more difficult to beat.
Boss 6: Belger
We’re now Uptown on the final level of Final Fight which means it’s time to face Horace Belger. He pretends to be a businessman but is actuallt the mastermind of the Mad Gear gang. His wheelchair is just a front and he is perfectly capable of walking. He carries has a deadly crossbow in one hand and uses Jessica as a human shield in the other. Capcom has never stated exactly just what the final plan was for the Mad Gear Gang but it’s clear that making as much cash by selling illegal drugs is a part of that plan.
While uptown you will make your way off the streets and into a fancy building. Then up an elevator and to what looks like a different area all together because it’s filled with palm trees and swimming pools. Finally, make your way into another fancy building that dead ends with a window and Belger will appear from behind you. Instantly attack him and he will drop Jessica and fall out of his wheelchair. After he falls, he will jump up and fire his crossbow at you in midair. Do not get in his way or a bow will take a lot of damage off of you. stay above or below Belger until he lands and the attack him again. Eventually you will get Belger up against the glass window side of the building and after the final blow, he will fall out of the building. You have just saved Jessica from the Mad Gear Gang!
Tasting The Skittles Blenders Rainbow
Jan 23, 2012
Today at the gas station I noticed a new flavor of Skittles called Skittles Blenders. Curious about this new product, I decided to pick up a pack. I’ve been a Skittles fan for quite a while. I’m always looking for low-fat candies that fulfill my sweet tooth without giving me a ton of saturated fat that is so bad for me. After doing some research I found out that Blenders are the latest product introduced by Skittles and they came out in 2011. After anxiously tearing open the pack and spilling a few on the ground, I realized that Skittle Blenders taste a lot like Tropical Fruit Starbursts.
Skittle Blenders come in five flavors – Melon Berry Burst, Strawberry Lime Blast, Cherry Tropicolada, Watermelon Green Apple Freeze and Mango Lemonade Freeze. In case you were wondering, the theme here is that each piece of candy has two flavors blended together giving them a new unique taste. The colors of these Skittles are also different than the color of original Skittles. Personally I don’t find Blenders to taste better than original. There are already so many combinations of pieces that you can eat with original Skittles that Blenders doesn’t really add to much for me. Pick up a pack at your local gas station and judge for yourself.
Roger Von Oech’s Ball of Whacks Review
Jan 23, 2012
The other day I was walking through the mall and noticed that the Smithsonian Store was selling this interesting magnetic puzzle ball called Ball of Whacks. Being a sucker for these types of desk toys, I decided to pick it up and try it out. I was instantly hooked! The ball is made of 30 pyramid shaped magnets that can come apart. When you take this rhombic triacontahedron (a shape with 30 sides) apart, you will see that it’s easy to form other shapes including stars, spheres, blocks and even animals.
After reading through some of the 96-page booklet that came with the toy, it looks like this ball is supposed to expand your mind and get you into a creative mood. Even though this could spur up some great ideas, I also think it just makes a good fidgety toy for when you’re bored. The book could make a good reference but honestly I don’t think it’s necessary because once you get it in your hands you won’t care about what’s inside the pages.
When all the 30 pieces are assembled into the ball, it’s about the size and weight of a baseball. It has a nice feel to it and is made out high-quality plastic. When the pieces are taken apart however they feel a little cheap and flimsy. I don’t see the pieces ever breaking unless you try to break them or accidently drive over them. Although the ball is a lot of fun to play with, it’s a bit limiting due the the shapes and magnetic forces of the pieces. Yes you can make other shapes out of the pieces but they somehow always end up being the ball when all is said and done. Perhaps this was the intention of Mr. Von Oech.
Reading the reviews on Amazon.com, I see people saying that they play with the ball when stuck on a problem to find a creative solution. I can see how this could work for some people but I don’t see this solving any of my problems in the future. I’ve played with other desk toys such as BuckyBalls that have a more open-puzzle feel. Perhaps I just need to spend more time with my Ball of Whacks before I can unlock the power within. The Ball of Whacks comes in blue and red colors and can be had for around $25-$30. Overall I am pleased with this toy but it does leave some things to be desired.
The Legend of Zelda Timeline
Jan 21, 2012
Above is a graphic I made representing Link as he evolved into the character he is today in the Legend of Zelda series. This certainly doesn’t cover every Zelda game out there but it does show the main franchise games that came out over Nintendo’s history on their consoles. Click on the graphic for a larger version.
Also check out the Mario timeline.
Google Blacks Out Logo In Protest To SOPA
Jan 18, 2012
Today Google has blacked-out their logo to protest the SOPA act. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is a bill that was introduced last year that would expand the ability of U.S. law enforcement and copyright holders to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods. Proponents of the bill say it protects the intellectual property market and corresponding industry, jobs and revenue, and is necessary to bolster enforcement of copyright laws, especially against foreign websites. Opponents say that it violates the First Amendment, is Internet censorship, will cripple the Internet, and will threaten whistle-blowing and other free speech actions.
Wikipedia has taken a different approach into shedding some light (or dark) on SOPA. They’ve made every Wikipedia article forward to a page where the user can input their zipcode and contact their local political representative about stopping the SOPA bill. Social news site Reddit is going down for 12 hours to protest SOPA and PIPA later today. Other websites scheduled to go black include:
Video Flood HD: Streaming Video on the Touchpad
Jan 16, 2012
Yesterday I checked out Video Flood HD, a streaming video player for Touchpad. Instead of individually going to your favorite websites with streaming video content such as ABC Family, CBS & Fox, Video Flood HD gathers them into one app for an easy way to view them. All of the big streaming sites are here including many of the smaller ones you’ve never heard of before. In fact, Video Flood HD is a good way to find some of the web shows without a big budget but that are just as entertaining and boil down to specific genres you may be interested in. I never knew Ben Heck had his own show! Another neat feature of this app is that it allows you to not only stream the videos but also download the content to your Touchpad. Add favorite shows to your favorites tab for easy access to them. You’re not just restricted to shows because there’s even a section for easy access to Hulu, Crackle and other movie websites. Overall a pretty cool app and reasonably priced at $1.99.
More @ HP.
Is That a UFO Or a Hotel Room?
Jan 14, 2012
That’s the question that one may ask when they first see this picture. The answer of course is that it is indeed a hotel room that is part of Treehotel, a unique hotel experience located near the small town of Harads, Sweden. The Treehotel has six rooms available for nightly rental each with unique styles including a birdsnest type of room and a mirrorcube. The inside of the each room is designed with custom furniture, lighting and fabrics. Each one feature views of the Lule River valley and miles of forest. Rooms currently go for about 5,000 Swedish kronor or roughly $715 US dollars/night.
More @ Treehotel.
Kool in Disorderlies
Jan 14, 2012
The Fat Boys may make some of the worst Orderlies in the country but honestly Kool needs to get his priorities straight. After having a bad day and almost killing Mr. Dennison on the chair lift at the $5,000 a plate lunch, Kool decides that he’s had enough of highbrow life in Palm Beach and wants to head back to Brooklyn. He goes to wake up Markie and Bufie who are sleeping in Mr. Dennison’s room but what is with his sack full of balls? I mean come one, he’s demanding to go to a bus station with a sack full of balls over his shoulder. I would understand if he was a gym teacher or something but nope, he’s an Orderlie. What is he going to do with them?
Astraware Brings Solitaire To Touchpad
Jan 14, 2012
Astraware has extended support for the Touchpad by releasing Solitaire, a combination of 12 different card games. I downloaded Astraware Solitaire and I am impressed with the amount of fun I’m having. So far the games I’ve explored are my favorites from the past, Klondike, Golf and Pyramid. Over the past couple of months Astraware has also brought us Sudoku & Mahjong. I went to check out Astraware’s website and noticed that they posted something called The Touchpad Totalizer which is counter that displays how they will continue support as long as fans keep buying games for Touchpad. The next games on the list that are scheduled to come out are OddBlob and then Astraware Casino so keep buying those Astraware Touchpad games.
More @ The TouchPad Totalizer.