So... Malware in Zuma Blitz?

Many people have claimed this, so I used Fiddler to debug the web connection process when running the game with ads showing. This has been verified.

It appears to work by doing some cross-site scripting on one of the ads in the form of a iframe. A cgi file then redirects to two other sites (not Popcap and not of US origin) before initializing Java and installing malware. It's also possible it's using an SWF exploit to do this as well. (Oh, it also redirects to twitter part of the way through, which explains what some users are experiencing)

Luckily, it's injected as part of the ad, so any ad-blocker such as AdBlock for Firefox should prevent this problem from occurring.

To be safe, I'll be off the game for a while and will not pursue anymore high scores for the remainder of the week until they get it fixed. (I am in 3rd for the time being, and 2nd after recently getting a 5m score.)

Quick Guide to Game Recording

This is specific to Zuma Blitz but this can be used on any flash game. On a Core2Duo at 2.33Ghz with a standard (Geforce 9700 or better) video card, the game can be recorded smoothly at 20fps.

1. Install x264vfw and Hypercam 2 before doing any of the below steps.
2. Run Hypercam
3. on AVI File tab, set Framerate to 20 (Record), Key frame every 100 frames
4. Video compressor: Select x264vfw - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec
5. Hit 'configure this compressor', on the left drop down box select Single pass-Quantizer-based, and set the slider to 24. Press OK
6. on Sound tab, check 'record sound'
7. on Screen Area tab, press select region and (while the game is open) draw an area around the game window (click on the top left of the game screen and then the bottom right of where you want to record)
8. Round up the width and height to a multiple of 4
9. uncheck 'show rectangle around recorded area'
10. check 'Hide hypercam window' (if it's blocking your game screen)
11. Before starting the game, hit F2 to begin recording and F2 after the game is over to stop recording.

imo, x264 is the best compressor I've seen: Small file sizes for quick uploads, while having very good quality.

Zuma Blitz Playthrough: 4.7 Million

Playthrough @ Level 80 with Chrono Balls + Multiplier. Total score: 4,727,790. Treasure Chest obtained with 8 Idol win.

Three months ago, I did a 1200k run. One month ago, a 2 million run was done. Today, this one.

 
Breakdown: 
1:52 extra time
Speed: 423,140
Special: 381,130 (331,200 Hot Frog, 49,930 from Crit Hits)
Chain: 70,200 (max chain: 16)
Combo: 315,000 (max combo: 4) 
Fruit 734,000 (collected 8 fruit)
Gap Shots: 2,435,160 (done 65 times)

I got very lucky on this game. One for getting enough time balls for a high score, and another for the game not freezing on an 8 idol win.

Above and Below

Board Name: Above and Below
Date Board was Introduced: March 7 - March 14, 2011
Blog Author's Highest Score: 5,090,270 (Lvl 80)*
Highest Recorded Score: 6,291,190 by Liang Hsu (Lvl 80)

Above and Below. When I saw the name of the board I originally thought they might put a bit of 3d perception effect into it.

Anyhow, circled areas indicate fruit locations. They are slightly harder to get to than the snakes board a couple of weeks ago, so you might want to not use the Epic Fruit powerup unless you're good at getting them while going on gap shots.

TIP: Sorry, no board specific tip here, but a few points to make:

• As you approach the two minute mark the balls will be at twice the initial speed so you'll need to lead your shots (one or two balls ahead down the track from where your intend to hit).
• If you have to wait at least 2 seconds to wait for a ball to move to just the right place for gap shots (or anything else) you should use that other ball and make other matches / openings while you're waiting.
• If you want the highest scores, you need to rely a lot on luck that enough time balls will appear in order to get a high score. I have noticed that the highest scores I've seen was because they got 1:44-2:00 in extra time, and during the last four weeks of game playing, I have never gotten that much extra time. (I have now. On the very next video post.)

On a personal note, I find the competition harder - need at least 4 million on this one to even get a medal at all.

2x or 3x Mojo?

Many users have asked whether or not the 3x mojo introduced today (for 30 idols) is a better deal than the 2x mojo potion (15 idols). They said it's overpriced and costs more with less benefit. So let's work this out. Ascii Art Style.

 ####                            #####          ####  ####        ##          ####
## ###                          ##  ###         ## ## # ##                   ##  ##
   ##  ##  ##    ####  ## ###      ###  ##  ##  ##  ##  ##  ####  ##  ####      ##
  ##    ####    ##  ## #### ##  ##  ###  ####   ##      ## ##  ## ## ##  ##    
###### ##  ##    ####  ##        #####  ##  ##  ##      ##  ####  ##  ####      ##
                                                                 ##

Assumed: Lvl 80 with 900 mojo gained on each game, without potions.

== Comparing 3x Mojo Potion Options ==

(Each bar = 3 games)        0    15   30   45   60   75   90
                            |    |    |    |    |    |    |
3x Mojo 12 Games - 10 Idols ||||                           (21,600 total mojo from potion)
3x Mojo 90 Games - 65 Idols |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| (162,000 total mojo from potion)

3x Mojo 24h      - 30 Idols ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| >
                            |||||||||||| More cost effective than 12 game pot after 36 games
                            |||||||||||||| More cost effective than 90 game pot after 42 games 

== Comparing 2x and 3x Mojo Potions ==

                    (Assuming you play 60 games in 24 hours)
                    (Blue Color = Time when potion is active) 

                    [Day 1 (24h) of Gameplay]      [Day 2 (24h) of Gameplay]      [Total]
                   / 60 Games | 108 000 mojo       60 Games | 108 000 mojo     \   216 000 Mojo Gained
                   / 54 000 mojo gained normally   54 000 mojo gained normally \   108 000 Mojo gained normally
                   / 54 000 mojo from 2x potion    54 000 mojo from 2x potion  \   108 000 from Mojo potions
2x Mojo - 15 Idols   ||||||||||||||||||||||||      ||||||||||||||||||||||||     
3x Mojo - 30 Idols   ||||||||||||||||||||||||      ||||||||||||||||||||||||  
                   \ 60 Games | 162 000 mojo       60 Games | 54 000 mojo      /   216 000 Mojo Gained
                   \ 54 000 mojo gained normally   54 000 mojo gained normally /   108 000 Mojo gained normally
                   \ 108 000 mojo from 3x potion   (no potion used)            /   108 000 from Mojo potions

As you can see, you get the same amount of mojo in a period of 2 days (48 hours). It's if you actually have the incentive to play through the 2nd half without the use of mojo potions. (Note that it amounts to the same idol usage since you're using the x2 potion twice for a total cost of 30 idols)

By normally gained: The mojo gained without potion use. That is 900 mojo * 60 games = 54 000 mojo.

Spring Break

It's finally here for me. In addition to a few projects to finish up, I've completed a lot of goals since the last update: (It's been a long time since I've done a post regarding Day Zero Project goals. Those pages will be updated soon)

Classic Day Zero Project

• 26. Fully play out a game of Civilization IV. (Completed)
• 48. Create a distinct HDR image using an SLR Camera. (Completed)
• 49. Learn PHP
• 56. Watch all the episodes of South Park [update: 9 seasons completed]

Day 1001 Project

• 6. Acqure a ooVoo / Skype account OR successfully get into a video conference. (Completed by suggestion by friend)
• 15. Reach 400 total friends on any site that counts friends. (Increased by 50)
• 46. Create a Vector Art picture or diagram. (Completed, not the best imo)
• 78. Watch a movie in the Pacific Theatre (Completed - Watched Iron Man 2)
• 80. Get a HDTV (Completed. Watching shows in HD never looked better.)
• 83. Successfully host an event. (does LNL count as one? I think so.)
• 96. Reach max level in two FB games and then quit playing them. (Completed - Pirate Clan stopped after reaching a set level of 1000, and Social City after reaching lvl 44, last unlock).
• 100. Ask 50 Formspring Questions. (up to 25) It's unfortunate that all of my friends (and most who are friends of friends) have stopped using it. I managed to get my # of questions asked to 25 though, which the 25th one was marked with a smile. Time to search elsewhere...

Spiral Orbits

This week's board is called Orbits, which some people have said is just as hard as last week to gain a lot of points, despite the fact the devs are expecting some higher scores.

I've gotten 3.2 million so far, but I ran out of mojo and need to refill. I do know that 4+ million is possible on this board though (maybe 5m). Thankfully I've got an entire week to do this. (Also, thought of a powerup idea in mind that might solve mojo problems for high level people and take the place of a daily bonus)

TIP: You might want to wait a bit if you're going for mass gapshots. To save some mojo, epic fruit may be removed as a powerup.

Tip 2: Towards the end of the week, they added new potions, and raised the multiplier for mojo gains to 3x. They did double the idol price of 24-hr potions, so make them count. (Use this if you are a slow player and can play more than 40 games in that day.)