Moto X Mayhem for the BlackBerry PlayBook

Growing up I loved playing video games. My favorite though happened to be racing games like Pole Position, Mario Kart, or any of the ones at the local arcade including one where you sat on a replica of a motorbike. So it was a no brainer that I had to try Moto X Mayhem by Occamy Games for the BlackBerry PlayBook. It's one of those games that keep you occupied for hours.

Moto X Mayhem is a great game and it feels just right in your hands. Now I admit going from a controller to the accelerometer and touch controls wasn't easy. There's a certain amount of talent and coordination to juggle all the controls at once to get through the course that I definitely lack. I'll just need more practice to master it. However, controls can be mixed and matched to suit your needs. You could choose analog slider controls for the gas/brake and accelerometer for tilting or use touch controls for everything. 

Moto X Mayhem at its core is based on a simple concept: keep yourself balanced on the dirt bike and maneuver through the treacherous terrain to make it to the end of the course in the shortest amount of time. Sounds easy right? Wrong. I think it took me 10 tries just to finish the first stage. Not to mention that every time you fail the course (i.e. crash, fall off your bike, or lose a life) the level resets and a second is added to your overall time. There are only four main levels dubbed islands and each is comprised of 7 courses or stages. For some this means it's a pretty quick game, while for clumsy people like me it's just enough for now.

Overall, Moto X Mayhem is fun and looks and feels real on the PlayBook. It's a physics game so if you go to do a flip but are off you're going to crash. After you crash, you can pick up the driver and throw him around the course like a rag doll. I don't know why they added that but I use it to see the rest of the course ahead of time.

If you're the type of gamer that enjoys a challenge and loves the frustration it causes then this is for you. The other night I almost missed my train stop because I just had to beat the course. Between the nature sounds, clear graphics, and ability to toggle the accelerometer controls, you can't go wrong here. I hope future updates brings the expansion packs available on other platforms. You can pick up Moto X Mayhem in BlackBerry App World for $4.99. 

More information / purchase Moto X Mayhem at BlackBerry App World

UNO HD for the BlackBerry PlayBook

UNO is not just any other game. It's more like an institution. How many of you out there played this game in one form or another growing up? I know I can't remember a time I wasn't UNO'ing with my parents on the kitchen table. Yes, we did in fact make up a word to describe our addiction. While you can't jump up and slam down a card while screaming UNO, all the classic elements are there at your disposal, including some new rules, all thanks to Gameloft. The version on the BlackBerry PlayBook is similar to ones released on iOS and Android and I'm thrilled it's finally come to the PlayBook. 

To recap for those who might be unfamiliar, players of two or more are dealt a hand of seven cards and must play a card that matches the one on the pile either numerically or by color. If they have neither they draw another card and this continues until a player gets rid of all their cards. There are also wild cards that change the color in play or penalty cards that cause your opponents to draw extra cards or lose their turn.

Users can choose from three different types of play: Quick Play (short game), Single Player (Tournament or Custom Mode), or multiplayer where you and up to three of your friends share the BlackBerry tablet to compete against each other. When I say share, I mean you literally need to pass around the PlayBook to each player for their turn.

The real challenge lies with tournament play as you face fifteen rounds of play with varying rules and computer adversaries. You have five chances to win each round so make it count. As you win each game you'll collect reward cups/tables, unlock new backgrounds, and new avatars for your profile.

Graphics are outstanding and more importantly the colors are vibrant and extremely sharp and clear. It's also smooth, so no lag or jerks whatsoever. As a side note, I have a screen protector on my PB so if you saw any dirt or my finger slipping, it's the shield not the game. 

Gameloft has done an oustanding job turning this simple card game into a great tablet application. One thing I need to warn you about is that this version lacks the online player mode available on other platforms so that is technically one thing that was lost. Hopefully they'll work on that in future updates. What are you waiting for? It's fun, addicting, and its only $4.99. Just don't beat up your tablet when you shout UNO.

More information / purchase UNO HD from BlackBerry App World

BlackBerry App Roundup - 25 copies of Weather Plus by MMMOOO to give away!

Welcome to this week's BlackBerry App Roundup! This week we have 25 copies of Weather Plus by MMMOOO to give away! We have searched high and low and found some neat apps to share with you this week, so head on past the break to check them out and enter the contest! If you have an app you want to see featured in the roundup be sure to check the end of the post for information on submitting it to us.

GPS Trackdown for BlackBerry by: Rainium Research

GPS Trackdown is a social networking application that makes it easy to find and share your location.  It's a great tool to have In Case of Emergency. The Remote Trackdown feature can help you locate a lost phone or a missing person.  The Panic Trackdown feature can help you send your location history to a trusted emergency contact.  Share your location on FaceBook, Twitter, by Text or by Email.  The Remember Location feature can be used to help find your car at the mall.  Because GPS Trackdown uses local search you can get Weather, Movies, Maps and more.  Also, because GPS Trackdown can utilize GPS coordinates you can get directions to locations that don’t have a registered street address.

Most importantly, GPS Trackdown fully respects your privacy.  Your personal and location information is never sent to their website.  This application was not designed to replace an in-car GPS System and it does not support voice turn by turn directions. GPS Trackdown is FREE with versions for BlackBerry 7 devices as well as those on OS 5-6.

More information/screenshots and to download GPS Trackdown for BB7 devices

More information/screenshots and to download GPS Trackdown for OS 5-6

 

BlackBerry EMail Remote by MagMedia jSoft

Create tasks and memos and share them with other BlackBerry users that have this app installed. Create the memo or task, and BlackBerry EMail Remote will send it via email to those you specify, automatically creating the same memo or task on the recipients' device. You can even have the email marked as read automatically so your inbox doesn't get cluttered. BlackBerry EMail Remote is available on sale for $1.49 (reg. $2.99) for most BlackBerry smartphones.

More information/screenshots and to purchase BlackBerry EMail Remote

 

3D Draw by Robert McAuley

A unique drawing program for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Draw a picture, then spin it, rotating around the center point. Inertia mode allows you to continue drawing as the picture rotates, and ribbon mode keeps the drawing line a fixed length. A great drawing app that is both easy to use and fun. You can purchase 3D Draw for your BlackBerry PlayBook for $1.99.

More information/screenshots and to purchase 3D Draw

 

Orb It! and Orb It! Lite by Rotten Ogre

Tap and link orbs to destroy them before they collide. Three different endless game modes (Classic, Arcade and Waves) provide variations on the gameplay, including special orbs and power-ups. You'll have to be quick with your fingers to get a high score! The lite version of Orb It! is free and lets you play the Classic game mode and submit high scores of up to 50,000. To play the other game modes and to submit high scores of any amount, please buy the full version for just $.99.

More information/screenshots and to download Orb It! Lite

More information/screenshots and to purchase Orb It!

 

eBuddy XMS now available for BlackBerry and hoping to win you over

We know what you are thinking -- cross platform messaging clients are like a dime a dozen now a days, and with so many options, what makes this one any better? With clients like Kik, LiveProfile and WhatsApp available already, the folks at eBuddy XMS knew they had to step it up a level beyond the others and they feel they have done so very well. Features of eBuddy XMS include:

Knowing that not everyone can be tied to their mobile device at all times, or folks at the computer don't always want to pick up their device to respond to a message, having a web-based companion is a huge help that definitely sets it apart. Unfortunately eBuddy XMS is not available through AppWorld, but it is available through their site for download. More images after the break.

More information / download of eBuddy XMS

 

Weather Plus by MMMOOO

Weather Plus is an advanced weather application which adds push weather info to your BlackBerry's home screen and the app icon. If you don't have a theme with a "weather slot" but you still want to see your current conditions, this is a great app for you. Recently updated to include BlackBerry 7 devices, Weather Plus now features more polished icons, deluxe home screen badges and layout, improved connection and lots more! Weather Plus is available for $6.99 and is compatible with most BlackBerry smartphones running OS 5.0 and greater.

Features:

Contest: MMMOOO has given us 25 free copies of Weather Plus to pass on to you guys this week! To enter, leave a comment below. One entry per person, and the contest ends Sunday at midnight PST.

More information/screenshots and to purchase Weather Plus

 

Well there you have it folks! Be sure to check out New BlackBerry Apps, Updated BlackBerry Apps and Free BlackBerry Apps available at ShopCrackBerry.com. If you are a developer and want to have your app shown in the roundup or you're interested in having us host a contest for you, drop me an email at cbmichelle[@]crackberry.com. See you all next week!

Droplets 2.0 by XIMAD - An enchanting puzzle game for your BlackBerry

Puzzle games are great for keeping your mind sharp, and I always have a few on my BlackBerry to keep me occupied during idle times. XIMAD has released a new game called Droplets 2.0 that is both challenging and entertaining. Set in the rainforest, your task is to clear all of the water droplets from the playing board. Don't get the ladybugs wet, and watch the timer as it counts down! There are 100 levels to play through, each with increasing difficulty, so there's plenty to keep your brain busy.

Compatible with most BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry OS5/6 (no support yet for BB7 devices, sorry folks!), you can grab a free or paid version ($1.99) of Droplets 2.0 in BlackBerry App World.

More information/screenshots and to download the free version of Droplets 2.0

More information/screenshots and to purchase the paid version of Droplets 2.0

Play 5 different games of solitaire with SoloDeck for BlackBerry PlayBook

SoloDeck is a collection of solitaire card games for your BlackBerry PlayBook by Chef Delivered Ltd. Included at this time are five games: Freecell, Klondike, Scorpion, Memory, and Gaps. The app has been designed to maximize use of the screen as the play surface. The main screen consists of the layout with the playing cards, and nothing else, just as you might see it on a real table. There is nothing else on the play surface to distract you from the game itself.

Game play is simple and intuitive; you drag a card or cards from one pile to another with your finger. However, if you want to keep track of the game playing time and score, there is an option to place a "score board" on-screen. Using left and right gestures, you can navigate to the Options, Statistics, and Help screens where you can control aspects of the game, view statistics, and link to the developer website for more details and playing guides. You can also get to these screens by swiping down to reveal the app's navigation menu.

Game features include:

The free trial edition of this app is a fully functional counterpart to the paid edition, with one exception: the trial edition closes after each game played, requiring you to restart. If that's not your style, you can grab the paid version for just $.99 in BlackBerry App World.

More information/screenshots and to download the free version of SoloDeck

More information/screenshots and to purchase the paid version of SoloDeck

Shoot some hoops with Slam Dunk Basketball for the BlackBerry PlayBook

There's a new favorite BlackBerry PlayBook game in our house. I discovered Slam Dunk Basketball by VisualDreams yesterday, and haven't stopped playing yet, except when my son stole the PlayBook from me to beat all my best scores. This game is not only a ton of fun, it looks awesome with rich graphics and smooth play.

You've seen games like this before - arcade basketball is nothing new - but Slam Dunk Basketball adds in the excitement of power-ups earned through racking up points by completing tricks and goals. Save up points to unlock new backgrounds, balls, and special powers and get into the Hall of Fame.

FEATURES

You can pick up Slam Dunk Basketball for $2.99 in BlackBerry App World at the link below, and check out a bunch more screenshots after the break.



More information/screenshots and to purchase Slam Dunk Basketball

CrackBerry App Roundup: BBM integrated apps for BlackBerry smartphones

It has been about a month or so since RIM launched BBM 6 and its BBM social platform status allowing for apps to integrate with BBM. At the time of its launch there were a handful of apps that came with BBM integration, but since then the list has grown quite a bit. Doing a search on BlackBerry App World gives you a whole load of apps with BBM integration, but not all apps show in the same search. So to make it easier for our CrackBerry readers, here’s a round-up of all the current BBM integrated apps and games. Don't forget you'll need BBM 6 in order to avail of the BBM Social Platform, and not all apps are compatible with all devices. Keep reading for the full list.

 

WikiTude - the app that lets you browse events, tweets, restaurants or BBM contacts nearby using Augmented Reality.

Poynt - Everyone's favourite app to find businesses, restaurants, movie times, and local weather.

foursquare - Does it need an introduction? A favourite location based check-in app.

Score Mobile - Love soccer, or football as we call it here in the UK? Download this app to get up-to-the-minute scores, stats, league tables etc.

Jingu - Create an avatar and share it with your BBM friends as well as having fun with emoticons.

The Huffington Post - news on the go. With its BBM integration it allows you to share and discuss articles with your friends.

Scribbler for BBM - Send personalised messages to your closest friends. You can also interact with them from within the app provided they have the app too.

Mobiesta - A mobile fun guide for India. Find out what events are happening in the major cities and share this information with your BBM friends to get together.

Family Shopping List - Free for a limited time only. Create, share and sync your shopping list with friends and family in real-time.

AP Mobile Word Edition - Award-winning mobile news application. Most recent update allows you to share stories with BBM friends.

RWC 2011 - If you're a Rugby fan then this is the app for you. Don't miss anything during the Rugby World Cup 2011

Gift&Take - A mobile gift app allowing you to send gifts to people via Twitter, Facebook and now BBM friends and family.

Free Chat for Facebook with BBM - Chat application that integrates Facebook chat with BBM.

GPS Logger II - An app that logs physical activity on your BlackBerry over time. You can share your location with your BBM friends and even create a BBM-Channel for non-BBM friends to join.

Screen Grabber - Name says it all. Gives you the ability to send directly to your BBM friends.

5001 Amazing Facts - A great app full of amazing facts. Now you can share the facts with your BBM friends from within the app.

Twinkle - An app that counts down to events you set, share those events with BBM friends.

askLaila StreetSmart - Find and share local city information and events with others.

 

PowWow Premium ($1.99) - An app that allows you to create, plan and coordinate an event. BBM integration lets you plan in real-time with your friends as well as share current location information. There is a free version that doesn't include ability to check friends availability or location.

ZonaSnap ($1.99) - Multipurpose Screen Capture. Allows you to capture the screen of your BlackBerry and then send to Twitter, send to BBM Contact, save, send as Email and send to Photobucket.

Picture Puzzler ($1.99) - Send your own photos to your friends scrambled for them to put back together. Compete with each other for the leader board top spot.

EdShot ($0.99) - Simple screenshot that now enables you to share with BBM contacts directly from the application.

Greeting Cards Maker ($2.99) - Create greeting cards for all occasions and share them through social media platforms including BBM.

myProfile ($0.99) - An app that allows you to change your personal message, avatar and set a status message (busy/available) for BBM.

Buku Reader ($1.99) - eBook reader, ability to add DRM-free epub files. Discuss books with friends, even invite them to read books with you.

Mundu Radio Plus ($0.99) - Radio app. Includes a 30-day free trial.

Beer Buddy for BBM ($0.99) - No one likes to drink alone, so quench your thirst in the company of your beer buddies.

FunText ($0.99) - Generate texts with original characters, copy them in your MSN, BlackBerry® Messenger, Facebook, Twitter status.

 

Pocket Ants - You are king of the ANTS - feeding, squishing, burning, electrocuting, marching, zapping, exploding, fighting, moving, and racing your ants! BBM integration lets you invites friends so you can feed and squish ants with your mate. There is a paid version that is ad-free for $0.99.

Backgammon King - Name says it all. Now be able to play backgammon with your BBM friends and not just strangers. This app is free for a limited time only.

Caro for BBM - Love Tic Tac Toe? This is a version of the game that uses a 15x15 grid. It allows you to play against your friends on BBM.

Battles for BBM - A version of an old favourite Battleships. Challenge your BBM friends to a game and make sure you sink their ships first.

Penalty - Penalty shootout game. Challenge your BBM friends.

GameMachi - Gamemachi games consist of WAP games, In-Chat Games and Client Games.

Word Poker with Friends - A fun word game with a Poker twist to test your vocabulary.

 

SeaBattleSE ($0.99) - Another version of the game Battleships.

Nic Nac Noe ($0.99) - A version of the classic Tic Tac Toe games that includes ninjas.

LS Reversi Deluxe ($1.99) - Reversi or sometimes called Othello is an interesting, fun, and great board game for all ages. The object is to flip and turn opponent's discs over to match your color.

Trivial Pursuit Board Game now available on your BlackBerry smartphone

I'm a huge fan of developers bringing old school games to our BlackBerry devices and I was so excited to run across this one in BlackBerry App World. The classic game of Trivial Pursuit has been adapted and brought to our BlackBerry devices by Electronic Arts Nederland B.V. Pass ’N Play with friends, customize the length of gameplay in Classic Mode, or race through fast-paced levels and finish first in Pursuit Mode. Loaded with 1000 questions, you're sure to be entertained for a bit. Very nice visual animations and sound effects give it a nice modern touch.

Trivial Pursuit Ultimate Master Edition is available via BlackBerry App World for $1.99 (I'd personally like it to be a bit cheaper but it is what it is) and is compatible with most BlackBerry smartphones.

More info / purchase Trivial Pursuit

 

 

Sling Golf for the BlackBerry PlayBook gets updated bringing new characters, courses and achievements

Back in June we let you know about Sling Golf, the highly entertaining PlayBook game from BoltCloud Corp. The development team at BoltCloud has been hard at work and has just released a big update for the game. Sling Golf v2.0 brings 2 new and unique characters to play as, 3 new challenging courses, and 10 unlockable achievements and awards.

Complete features include:

New and challenging courses will be added periodically so go ahead and get your golf on! You can grab Sling Golf for your PlayBook for $2.99 and for you cautious folk there is a 30 day free trial available.

For more information/screenshots and to purchase Sling Golf

Bowling at Doodle Lanes by Pixel Brain Games brings the alley to your PlayBook!

Pixel Brain Games is back with Bowling at Doodle Lanes for the BlackBerry PlayBook. This game lets you enjoy fun and realistic bowling anytime with atmospheric sounds, the ability to customize your bowling ball and much more. Bowling comes to life with colorful graphics, accurate physics and cool sound effects. Enjoy Bowling at Doodle Lanes with your friends as 4 players can hit the lanes at one time.

It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or an expert, you'll be rolling in no time. Use the accelerometer by tilting your PlayBook to add some spin to the ball just the way you want it! Throw strikes like a pro and listen to the crowd go wild as you become a bowling superstar!

Features:

Bowling at Doodle Lanes is $1.99 in BlackBerry App World, and it's a lot of fun! Play solo or against your friends and family, either way you're sure to enjoy the game, and you don't even have to wear those funky shoes.

For more information/screenshots and to purchase Bowling at Doodle Lanes

My Mopetz Defenders for the BlackBerry PlayBook

If you enjoy playing Plants vs Zombies, you'll want to check out My Mopetz Defenders for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Originally released back in April, the game had some glitches, but since then it has been updated and now works great! Bright graphics and smooth gameplay make this a game you'll enjoy playing as much as the kids do.

Your job is to place your cute dragon and monkey defenders on the battlefield to defend against the zombies that are attacking your village. Collect glowing orbs that fall from the top of the screen to build up your army. Be careful where you place your defenders; if too many of the zombies break past your lines and get into the village, it's game over.

My Mopetz Defenders is easy to learn and fun to play. I was a bit confused at first as there is no indication of when or how you level up, so it's almost like one long game. There's nothing wrong with that, I just didn't realize it at first. As the level number gets higher, the attackers seem to be stronger and faster, so don't get too comfortable or they will overpower you. I hope future updates bring a wider variety of defenders to choose from, but as is I have no complaints about the game and feel it is worth the $.99 price tag.

For more information and to purchase My Mopetz Defenders

Bix: Simple yet highly addictive puzzle game for your BlackBerry devices

The folks over at Padadaz need to come up with a 12-Step rehab for those of us who have become addicted to this game. Bix sounded like a simple game that would help me waste a few minutes here and there. Truth be told, it is a simple game but as you level up it becomes increasingly more difficult. The object of the game is to use your tracer, a little white ball, to create different shapes on your screen. When you close a shape, you gain control of it. The bigger the shape, the more points you get. When you control 75% of the game surface, you advance to the next level. To make the game challenging there are bouncing balls that you must avoid touching or the game is over. You can capture special balls to unleash special powers.

While the game is simple, it brings back that old school feel of Atari arcade games and reminds me of playing around with an Etch-A-Sketch. Bix is available for pretty much every device and the BlackBerry PlayBook. For a limited time, the PlayBook version is FREE! There is also a Bix Free version for your BlackBerry (available via App World) that you can test out before purchasing the full version but, which will give you just 6 levels to play with.

More information / purchase of Bix

More information / download of Bix free

More information / purchase of Bix for the PlayBook

Sling Golf for the BlackBerry PlayBook - Who says golf is just for humans?

Golf isn't just for humans anymore. Robots, monkeys, and monsters want to play too! Ok, of course in real life you're not to likely to see these guys out on the back 9, but in Sling Golf by BoltCloud Corp for the BlackBerry PlayBook, they've taken over the course and are ready to play! Choose which character you want to play as and hit the course.

The lite version of Sling Golf gives you one course of nine holes. As you progress through the levels, they increase in difficulty. Your goal, obviously, is to get your ball in the hole, under par. Water hazards, sand traps, trees, and hills all provide obstacles, making the game challenging but still fun. The full version is $2.99 and unlocks 2 more courses for a total of 27 holes in all. Both games come with smooth animation, sound, un-lockable achievements, and awards. One word of advice: I don't recommend downloading the free trial that is listed with the full version of Sling Golf. This gives you only one hole to play. If you want to try before you buy, I recommend getting Sling Box Lite so you can play a full course.

For more information/screenshots and to download Sling Golf Lite
For more information/screenshots and to purchase the full version of Sling Golf 

Humans vs Aliens updated - 100 copies to be won!

A while back we posted on Epic Applications' new game, Humans vs Aliens. It is a very fun game, that seems to take full advantage of the current BlackBerry capabilities. The gameplay is very smooth, and I seem to find myself playing it for hours on end. In this update, they have made the following changes:

You can pick up Humans vs Aliens on sale at the CrackBerry App Store. Normally $5.99, they have cut the price to $.0.99 for a limited time. It is available for the Bold 9650, Bold 9700, Bold 9780, Curve 8330, Curve 8350i, Curve 8520, Curve 8530, Curve 8900, Curve 8910, Curve 8930, Curve 8980, Curve 9300 3G, Curve 9330 3G, Storm 9500, Storm 9530/9530T, Storm2 9550/9520, Torch 9800, Tour 9630.

More information and purchase of Humans vs Aliens
Humans vs Aliens free trial