Author Archives: Ben De Ayora

Tricks & Tips: CycloManiacs

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on November 4, 2009 – 11:51 am
Filed under Online Games, Tips and Tricks



CycloManiacs is just plain awesome! This game has everything you could ask for, from its crazy selection of 20 unlockable characters, to its perfectly balanced tracks set in 6 brilliantly illustrated worlds. Long story short: it looks good and plays even better! To unlock all of the secret goodies that this game has to offer, you not only have to play well, but you have to play smart. This is why I have come up with a few tricks and tips that may help you get your times down and your tires across the finish line first.

- Control is key when you are flying through the air and I have discovered that Sir Colon has a really tight flip radius which makes him spin a lot faster. This, my friends, can help you shave valuable seconds from your race time! I also found out that he is an ace when it comes to popping wheelies, which means more than just sticking sweet stunts — it can also send your score soaring. So give Sir Colon a try and see if you don’t start winning more races!

- Chose your upgrades wisely! When you get the opportunity to tweak your bike, focus on the important upgrades first. In this game, speed and agility rule, so upgrade your speed and spin first before worrying about other upgrades, like your brakes.

- Stay focused and keep your hands steady. Try not to anticipate too much, and instead, focus on the obstacle in front of you. A clear mind and steady hand will lead you to victory lane!

I hope these tips will help you unlock at least some of the game’s sweet extra features – and even more of its amazing potential. Keep on riding and racing and I’ll be back with more tricks and tips soon!

Play CycloManiacs

Tricks & Tips: R.I.P

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on October 23, 2009 – 1:34 pm
Filed under Online Games, Tips and Tricks

With Halloween only a week away, I thought I’d help you get your ghouly game on with some tips for the game R.I.P. In this spooky puzzle game, lost souls represented as ghosts are trying to get to their final resting space. With the help of some spider webs and some scissors, you must guide them to their graves and set them free. The game looks easy enough, but trust me it gets tough. There is a lot going on, but I have a couple of tips that may help you get it all done just a little faster.

- Don’t pass up the scissors. When you collect a set of scissors and don’t use them in that level, they carry over to the next level. As you get further in the game, things get more and more tricky, meaning you may need those scissors to cut your way out of a mistake!
- Draw your lines up. Just because the souls are drifting down doesn’t mean you can’t get them back up to catch some bonus points! Shoot your lines up to make sure you cover the whole level. You will get higher scores for sure!
- More points means more rewards! To max out your tokens in this game, you’ll need super high scores, and the only way to get a really high score is to collect all of the bonus points. Leaving precious points behind can cost you in the end.

I hope you found these tips to be helpful! You should have all the help you need now, so I expect to see you haunting R.I.P’s high score board soon! Thanks for playing and have a Spooky and Safe Halloween!

Tricks and Tips: 2 Minute Football 3D X

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on September 24, 2009 – 11:25 am
Filed under Online Games, Tips and Tricks

Score quick to win big!

The return of football season is one of my favorite times of the year. For me, this means more tailgating, more mud football with my friends, and more of my favorite Shockwave football game, 2 Minute Football 3D X.

This awesome 3-D football game puts you on the field with only 2 minutes left, giving you the chance to score big points with even bigger plays. But after the college mode, how can you really be sure to shut down the defense? This blog post will dive into a few tips and tricks that just may help you win the big game and boost your overall score.

- You only have 2 minutes to score in the game, so clock management means everything! Long runs eat up lots of clock, so try throwing diagonal passes towards the sidelines. If your player can get out of bounds with the ball, then the clock will stop!

- Don’t forget about the field goal! I know we all want to throw that Hail Mary pass for an extra 6, but you have to remember that a field goal is an automatic 3 if you are close enough! In a close game, those points could come in handy at the end! Also, there is no shame in throwing the ball away! Avoid the sack and loss of yards! You’ll get them on the next down!

- Practice makes perfect: use the practice mode ‘til you can linkup perfectly with your receivers. It doesn’t take long to master, and you will enjoy the bigger game scores!

- Finally, speed matters: you might be able to connect with the long pass, but you will need speed to break that last tackle. Building up speed will help you find the end zone, so take that into account once you have the ball in your hands!

Use these tips to your advantage, and you just might excel in this fast paced football challenge. The high score is currently at 2010 in College mode. Think you can beat it? Test your gridiron skill with 2 Minute Football 3D X and find out!

Carrie The Caregiver: Keep It Clean!

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 25, 2009 – 5:23 pm
Filed under Online Games

Wow, things are nuts around here! Will and I can barely keep up with the customers… we really didn’t expect the store to have such a loyal following after just a few short weeks. If things stay so busy, we may have to recruit one of the kids to start helping out after school and on weekends. Safi, darling, if you’re reading this, here’s lookin’ at you kid ;)

I know I shouldn’t complain. As Grettle reminded us last night after a particularly busy day, we’d be way more stressed out if nobody liked our jam. But with everything going on in the store, it’s sometimes hard to keep it all straight. But being experienced parents has served us well in at least one regard: Keeping our hands clean.

As all you moms and dads out there know, sticky hands are a fact of life… and so is washing them. Picking fruit, chopping wood and painting pots means keeping our hands clean for cooking is an absolute priority! I find that getting into the habit of washing up regularly helps, whether they need it or not.

Anyway, there is one thing I’m really excited about lately despite all the chaos around here: I’ve been able to get plenty of good guitar time in. I try and sit out on the porch every night, rain or shine, while the kids and Will tidy up after dinner. For me, there’s no better way to unwind after a day of sticky hands, fussy stoves and long lines. Today one of our customers even asked me to play a tune for her! Will thinks I’m getting quite a reputation around here.

Gives new meaning to the term “jam session,” doesn’t it?

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Play Carrie the Caregiver Crossroads Part 1: Carrie’s Country Jam

AddictingGames™ for the iPhone and iPod Touch

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 20, 2009 – 2:21 pm
Filed under Mobile Games, friends
Addictinggames.com on the go!

Addictinggames.com on the go!

Our good friends @ Addictinggames.com have recently released 3 new games for the iPhone! We thought we would help them get the word out by reposting their blog post on the Spark! These are some really fun games that you should have a blast playing! Check them out today!

ALSO: Daily Jigsaw ToGo is now also available as a lite version, or get the full thing for the new low price of $2.99!
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AddictingGames.com has been the online gaming destination for the coolest gamers on the net for a while now but you know we weren’t just going to stop there. We have finally taken our first steps into the world of iPhone / iPod Touch games bringing you 3 of our most addicting titles to your iPhone or your iPod Touch. The first 3 games we will be putting out are iPark It! , 50 States, and World Wars. These games use the iPhone’s features to the fullest giving you a whole new way to play on iPhone with AddictingGames on the go! Be sure to check out these titles and get ready because more are just around the corner!

iPark It!

Head towards the spot!

While parking your car doesn’t sound like the most intense game in the world do not be fooled! This AddictingGames classic has been keeping people pumped on parking since the beginning and now we have turned it into an iPhone game that even the DMV would be proud of! It sounds simple enough, guide your car to the glowing yellow spot but there can be many obstacles to get in your way. The coolest part about this game are the controls which use a touch sensitive steering wheel and throttle to keep you zooming around the lot. The screen center also comes in handy when wide turns might impair you view. Simply tap on the screen twice to center the game and park at will! You will get hooked fast and never look at a parking lot the same ever again!

World Wars

world-wars

Here at AddictingGames.com, World Wars has been keeping battlefield junkies fighting online and now that you can play it as an iPhone game, the fight for global domination has truly become portable! Using it’s classic dice rolling attack system, the game brings all of its great game play and fun graphics to your iPhone / iPod Touch. The best new feature for World Wars is the auto save option which works right away if you have to get out of the game by pressing the home button. Now if you don’t have time to conquer the eastern hemisphere, you can come back and do it later and without being glued to your home computer!

50 States

Can you find all 50?

Geography can be a tough subject, but at some point in your schooling you’re just going to have to know where the heck Kansas really is! With 50 States as your guide you will quickly learn where all of the states are with ease! Not sure where South Carolina is on a map? No worries! If you come across a state that leaves you baffled you can simply shake your device to get a new one. Impress your friends with your knowledge and have fun learning at the same time! That right! Learning can be fun!!

These 3 are just the start of a bright friendship between the iPhone / iPod Touch, and AddictingGames.com that is sure to grow and get very exciting in the time to come! All of the games are now available at the iTunes app store and on our web site right here! So get going and keep playing where ever you may roam!

I’ll keep you posted on new titles as we get ready to roll them out!

Stay tuned and keep on playing!

Carrie The Caregiver: A Girl Named Pearl

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 19, 2009 – 11:25 am
Filed under Community, Online Games


This week Carrie fills us in on the newest member of her family Pearl! Things are staying busy on the farm and there always seems to be something going on!
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A Girl Named Pearl
Well, this week should prove to be quite the challenge – Grettle has an old friend visiting from out of town, so she won’t be able to babysit as much. And since the big kids will be back at school, little Miss Pearl will be joining us at the store from time to time. How on earth am I going to handle looking after the baby and keeping the jam-fires burning?

Pearl!

Lately, it seems to be all mommy, all the time. Do your little ones also cry more for mom than for dad? I must admit, I’m sort of looking forward to her going through a “daddy phase” ;) One of the nice things about Pearl, though, is that if I tend to her right away, she settles down nicely and takes a nap, which should take the pressure off at the store.

Oh – and to make matters worse, the old kiln’s been driving us nuts… burning through fuel like crazy. We had at least a few cords of chopped wood stockpiled at one point, but now that production has increased too; looks like it’s time to add manual labor to our lengthening list of things to do :(

Fortunately, there is a plus side: Will’s biceps will be looking great in no time!
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Carrie the Caregiver Crossroads Part 1: Carrie’s Country Jam - Play The Game
Carries Facebook - Add her as a friend!
Carries Twitter - Follow her!

Coming Soon: Drift ‘n’ Burn 3 World Tour

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 11, 2009 – 4:19 pm
Filed under Coming Soon, Online Games

There is something about race cars that have kept me hyped up for years. Starting out as a child with my toy cars, the thrill of winning the race has always been attractive to me. Of course we grow older and get behind the wheel ourselves but there is just no way I’d ever be able to power slide through hair pin turns in my 1999 Nissan Sentra. Thank goodness for video games!

To take it a step further, thank goodness for the Drift ‘N’ Burn Series on Shockwave.com. Collectively the first 2 games have shown hard core race fans how to do it right for a while but I am excited to announce that a third game is coming to Shockwave.com very soon and it’s sure to keep you revved up and running for a long time to come!

In Drift ‘n’ Burn 3 World Tour takes the already amazing franchise that is “Drift ‘n” Burn” and overhauls it for a super charged gaming experience like never before! With new modes, new cars (there are 100 to collect!), bigger weapons and super slick graphics, this is sure to be one of Shockwave’s best racers ever.

Everything is upgraded in this game from the exotic track locations to the improved steering and game play music. You won’t have to take my word for it for too long. This game will be live on Shockwave soon. So if you are a true gear head like myself, get ready for a game that will have you speeding for the finish line again and again!

Carrie The Caregiver: Ripe For Picking!

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 11, 2009 – 2:26 pm
Filed under New Features, Online Games



Well my great friends at Shockwave.com have decided to let me also feature my blog on The Spark. I am really excited to share my words with all of you and I hope you enjoy my blog as much as you do my adventures! Below is my most recent post! Thanks for reading and there will be a new post from me on The Shockwave Spark every week!
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Carrie The Caregiver: Ripe For Picking!

Phew! What a day… now I totally understand why they say moving is one of life’s biggest stresses.

The truck showed up late, we got lost along the way, and the new house is a complete and total mess… but at last we’re here and the worst is behind us. Thankfully, we had no trouble hooking up our Internet access. I don’t think I could handle country living without my lifeline to the outside world! By the way, please please PLEASE feel free to shoot me a line anytime you like – just knowing you guys are out there reading my blog and supporting me gives me strength! :)

Since Will and I need to put the store together A.S.A.P and start learning the ropes, I asked Safi and Peter to tackle the mountains of boxes over the next few days, while Grettle looks after Pearl. (She grabbed the baby the instant we arrived and wouldn’t let her go!). Just seeing Grettle with my kids warms my heart. My mom died when I was young, so she really is like a grandmother to them.

Boy, am I wiped out. Was going to play some guitar under the stars, but I think I’ll turn in instead… tomorrow’s going to be another crazy day. The berries are ripe on the but she’s and ready to be picked, so it’s now or never! Plus, we’ve got to get started on those jars… and they have to be pretty, too, so painting them is super-important. Hey – if I’m going to give Martha Stewart a run for her money, I better be prepared! ;)

First night in the new place… feels kinda weird, you know? Or maybe it’s just nerves… we’ve put it all on the line for this family adventure, and I’m not quite sure what we’ll do if things don’t work out.

Read More »

Tricks & Tips: Fishdom H2O: Hidden Odyssey™

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 6, 2009 – 4:26 pm
Filed under Download Games, Tips and Tricks

Fishdom H2O: Hidden Odyssey™ is an incredibly addictive download game with some of the coolest visuals under the sea! It’s up to you to build up your aquarium by collecting cash that can be found hidden throughout the visually stunning areas that make up the game. There are a lot of really cool items to collect which make the Fishdom H2O: Hidden Odyssey super customizable and even more enjoyable! The levels are fully interactive which allows you to use your imagination for a totally unique gaming experience. The developers of Fishdom H2O: Hidden Odyssey have sent us over some tips and tricks that will help you on your way as you begin to build your under water habitat. Check them out below and get the most out of the great under sea adventure!


Tips and Tricks:
• Click on the Options button in the main menu to switch between ”Relaxed” and ”Against the Clock” game modes any time you wish.
• Fill up Fish, Beauty and Comfort meters to 100% to earn a trophy and unlock a new tank.
• If you keep buying the same fish and accessories over and over again, it will take much longer to fill up the relevant meters.
• A purchased ornament can be sold back. To do so, drag and drop it into the bin. The bin appears in the lower right-hand corner of the screen when you start dragging the item.
• A purchased fish can be sold back. Just click on the ”-” button next to the fish icon in the shop.
• Keep your eyes peeled for seahorses in the levels. Click on them to collect an extra hint.
• Videotapes on “My Tanks” screen contain the cut scenes of the game. You can recap the storyline and watch them any time you wish.
• Note that the game doesn’t end even when you win the Best Aquarium Award. You can keep working on your tanks and take care of your finny pals.

Coming Soon: Carrie The Caregiver Crossroads - Part 1: Carrie’s Country Jam

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Posted by Ben De Ayora on August 3, 2009 – 8:46 am
Filed under Coming Soon, Online Games

We have a special treat for this edition of Coming Soon. Carrie The Caregiver herself has been nice enough to give us an update from the farm to fill you in about her new game and her new life! Shes blogging a lot these days and we are happy to feature her work on The Spark!!
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It’s finally time! After packing boxes, wrangling teenagers, baby and a husband we are almost on our way! Are you ready for country style Carrie? I know I am! In my newest adventure I will not only grow fruit, make juice, jars and jams but this time the family has been recruited to join the fun. We will be working simultaneously, picking the fruit while painting our ceramic jars and selling our delicious goods to our ever- growing customer base. Now that is what I call multitasking! Each week there will be new tasks to conquer from our growing business, but you can only find out the details on my blog. If you aren’t already my friend on Facebook, add me today and leave comments on my wall and on my blogs., I can’t wait to read what you all think about my new journey.

As always, the health of my family is most important, so staying motivated while tackling this new task will be difficult, but we are up to the challenge. Grettle, my most wonderful mentor, will also be joining in jam making and we are so happy to have her love and support. She has helped us adjust to the country life and is showing Safi and Peter the ropes 

Oh, got to run! The moving truck should be here any moment now. Remember to stay tuned to my blog and twitter for updates on the business, family, and adjusting to a new way of life!

Take a peek behind the scenes of Shockwave.com at The Shockwave Spark, an online gamers blog that keeps you up to date on the coolest titles, the hottest deals, and other newsworthy and buzz worthy tidbits. Get the scoop on the latest in online games, you'll have the chance to ask questions, comment on recent posts, and chat with the rest of the gaming blog community.

Of course, we appreciate your feedback on our gaming blog, including all your game suggestions. But, there's a lot of it! So, while we read every single one of our members' comments, we can only do so much. We'll get to as many requests as possible, but usually don't get a chance to respond to everyone individually. This is one popular online gamers blog! Check back each week and we'll post a response that addresses the most commonly requested games.

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