BrickBreaker on the BlackBerry Storm

Now you know that the BlackBerry Storm is officially headed to the Verizon network this fall, that its touch screen feels like nothing else and that it cannot only handle your e-mail needs but also your video, movies, and pictures. But how does it handle your favorite BlackBerry activity: BrickBreaker? While some people were putting the Storm through the paces during our preview of the device, I was busy playing a quick game of BrickBreaker on the Storm. Embarrassingly enough, RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis was in the room and thought I was a bit nuts. But he also shared with me that he isn’t too good at the addicting BlackBerry game. He wouldn’t even share his high score with me; apparently he doesn’t have much time for games these days. So how does the touch device handle the strenuous task of breaking bricks with a tiny ball? Well for starters there is a learning curve for those that are used to the precision the trackball provides in maneuvering the paddle and aiming the ball. Instead with the Storm you use your finger to adjust the placement of the paddle. I had no problem sliding the paddle by pressing slightly on the screen and swiping my finger. Catching some falling capsules was easy by just getting my finger underneath it. But aiming the ball was another story. To aim the ball, you place your finger inside the circle placed underneath the paddle area and pivot your finger in the direction you wish to aim it. This was a bit finicky on the device I was playing around with and the ball would release before I was done aiming it at the bricks. I didn’t have time to figure out what you do to shoot the laser or gun since the device lacks a Space key and you can’t just tap on the trackball, but I am sure there is some sort of gesture to support destroying on the Storm. Either way, playing BrickBreaker with your finger is fun, but it would be even cooler if you could maneuver the paddle by moving the phone using the accelerometer, similar to on the iPhone.