There's been quite a buzz around the newest advertisement on Poptropica, Disney XD. Usually I don't even enter the ad spaces because I don't agree with Poptropica being invaded by commercials but... I played it today and thought I needed to write some pointers here.

Kickin' It
In this game, you are on the blue bicycle on the right, racing the red one. The indicator at the top shows the distance to finish line. The green triple-arrows are a speed boost, and every other graphic on the track slows you down. The first few times I played this, I lost, because I couldn't get to the boosts faster than I reached the obstacles. Then I realized that I won if I stayed to one side of the track. That way, there is only one way to go -- this increases your concentration.
Lab Rats
This is a classic matching game with a twist: not only is it timed for sixty seconds (and themed in some sort of freakish 'virus cleaning' UI from the nineties), the cards are 'rearranged' every time you make or fail a match... or so the flashy graphics lead you to believe. In truth, this is how it works:

• You click on a card (no, I REFUSE to call it a hexa-tile!), let's call this row ROW 1
• All the cards in ROW 1 are disabled.
• You select a card from the opposite row, ROW 2. (and probably fail)
• NOW, the interesting part: The cards all start flashing. Then you select a starting card from ROW 2.
• ROW 1 is now simply a copy of what ROW 2 was in the first try. This means you can use your memory from that one to make this match work. Continue until all four matches are made.

Sounds complicated? That's why I made a video (see above).
Crash and Bernstein
Do I really need to say anything about this one? Except that it makes me lose faith in my entire generation, and all of humanity, if this is what we accept as entertainment. Disney must be pouring serious money into this campaign!

...for a Steamworks Island Video Playthrough at last! Today I'm revealing my first full-island video guide in a year, for one of my most favorite, classic islands. Also check out my detailed written guide! Here's the video:

Finally! I now have the full written walkthrough for Steamworks Island up! You'll love Steamworks if you haven't played it yet, it's almost my favorite. It wasn't finished for some while... Counterfeit is next! After that, I'll have pretty much every hard island in the wrap.