# Clusterz bubble game (not for the easily addicted) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 5, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989 "2009-01-05T20:36:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/1 "2009-01-05T20:36:12Z")
I did a search and didn’t see this game posted here before, so I thought to share and see your thoughts. It’s a basic bubble shooter (match three and they disappear). There is no gravity, meaning that bubbles can hang in the air without any support (though single bubbles do evaporate). Aiming is done entirely through a visible mouse pointer, which means I don’t have chalk marks all over my screen trying to line up the launcher with the target. New bubbles grow from existing ones every time you shoot but don’t eliminate a cluster. This is a nice touch, in that larger and larger clusters appear over time leading to mass eliminations. But it’s not that easy, as along with each bubble growing a friend, occasional random colors appear in different places. There challenge comes from solid un-removable bubbles that you have to shoot or grow around. There are a few other nuances that make it fun to play (e.g., missing everything and bouncing off the screen randomizes everything) but that’s the basics. There are also a couple nice programming touches (for the user). It has options to change size (independent of browser controls), if you fail a level you don’t have to start from the very beginning — it lets you replay the level right away, and you can change the music and sound effects independently. It was fairly straightforward up to about level twelve when the un-removables became more involved in the game. Also, right about level 19 it gets _hard_. So, if you want to lose a few minutes to hours, take a look. If you find yourself easily addicted to these sorts of things, and have a penchant for bubble-style games, you may want to call in sick. [Clusterz!](http://www.gamesgames.com/game/Clusterz-wellgames.html) Rhythm ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/2 "2009-01-05T22:01:42Z")
Not half bad…but [Bubble Spinner](http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=774) remains my sickness in the bubble popping realm of games. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/3 "2009-01-05T22:03:43Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Not half bad…but [Bubble Spinner](http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=774) remains my sickness in the bubble popping realm of games. Heh… that’s a fun one too. Was hopelessly caught up in it for a while until I got distracted by Clusterz. Kind of like going from coke to heroin to methadone or something. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/4 "2009-01-05T22:17:43Z")
I _was_ going to be productive this afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/5 "2009-01-06T00:32:05Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Not half bad…but [Bubble Spinner](http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=774) remains my sickness in the bubble popping realm of games. You are an evil, evil man. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/6 "2009-01-06T03:04:41Z")
Y’know, that stupid game could allow me to actually, y’know, **lose**. But, no. “Try level again”. I’m never getting out of here, am I. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/7 "2009-01-06T04:27:14Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I did a search and didn’t see this game posted here before, so I thought to share and see your thoughts. It’s a basic bubble shooter (match three and they disappear). There is no gravity, meaning that bubbles can hang in the air without any support (though single bubbles do evaporate). Aiming is done entirely through a visible mouse pointer, which means I don’t have chalk marks all over my screen trying to line up the launcher with the target. New bubbles grow from existing ones every time you shoot but don’t eliminate a cluster. This is a nice touch, in that larger and larger clusters appear over time leading to mass eliminations. But it’s not that easy, as along with each bubble growing a friend, occasional random colors appear in different places. There challenge comes from solid un-removable bubbles that you have to shoot or grow around. There are a few other nuances that make it fun to play (e.g., missing everything and bouncing off the screen randomizes everything) but that’s the basics. > > There are also a couple nice programming touches (for the user). It has options to change size (independent of browser controls), if you fail a level you don’t have to start from the very beginning — it lets you replay the level right away, and you can change the music and sound effects independently. > > It was fairly straightforward up to about level twelve when the un-removables became more involved in the game. Also, right about level 19 it gets _hard_. > > So, if you want to lose a few minutes to hours, take a look. If you find yourself easily addicted to these sorts of things, and have a penchant for bubble-style games, you may want to call in sick. > > [Clusterz!](http://www.gamesgames.com/game/Clusterz-wellgames.html) > > Rhythm It’s fun but I don’t like how much luck seems to become involved after level 12. So often the difference between success and failure is just what color happens to be given to you on the first ball, and that’s not good game design. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/8 "2009-01-06T21:14:39Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Not half bad…but [Bubble Spinner](http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=774) remains my sickness in the bubble popping realm of games. I was up until 3:30AM playing that damn thing. I’m telling my boss to bill you for the lost productivity. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/9 "2009-01-06T21:52:53Z")
I can give it up any time I want! (Twitch) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/10 "2009-01-06T22:52:08Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > I was up until 3:30AM playing that damn thing. I’m telling my boss to bill you for the lost productivity. Is it possible to clear the wheel? The best score I could put up was 300 and the leader board has people who kept going for 5 hours and scored 100,000+ points. I call shenanigans. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/11 "2009-01-06T22:59:04Z")
The main goal is to clear the wheel. You get one point per ball on the first wheel, two points per on the second, three on the third, etc. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/12 "2009-01-06T23:30:01Z")
I actually prefer puzzle games like [this](http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=131), which I found elsewhere at **Hal** ’s linked site. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/13 "2009-01-07T01:40:06Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > The main goal is to clear the wheel. > > You get one point per ball on the first wheel, two points per on the second, three on the third, etc. Yeah, but the closer you get the more frequently the new balls come flying in. Seems like a perpetual system that would prevent you from winning unless there’s some trick I’m missing. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/14 "2009-01-07T01:56:22Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I actually prefer puzzle games like [this](http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=131), which I found elsewhere at **Hal** ’s linked site. Games that make you go back to the beginning when you lose should be nuked. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/15 "2009-01-07T02:20:01Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > Games that make you go back to the beginning when you lose should be nuked. The alternative is being up till 2 AM because you’re up to level 21. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/16 "2009-01-07T04:00:27Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I actually prefer puzzle games like [this](http://www.deadwhale.com/play.php?game=131), which I found elsewhere at **Hal** ’s linked site. I’m not sure I trust a game where it’s possible to score 8,951,543,767,573 points. (I’m right. The high score list is maxing out right around 2,147,483,600, which is just a shade under 2[sup]31[/sup]. Higher scores are overflowing.) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/17 "2009-01-07T04:01:54Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > The alternative is being up till 2 AM because you’re up to level 21. I’m stuck on 18. It seems like it’s possible, but I’d need a miracle combination of the colors of my shooters to make it happen. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/18 "2009-01-07T15:07:12Z")
I spent three hours last night stuck on leven 19. Bastige. Yes **Rhythmdvl** , I’m looking at you. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/19 "2009-01-07T18:10:58Z")
I spent a few hours on 16 yesterday, and then got 17 and 18 on the first try this morning. I’ve played 19 a couple dozen times, and can’t figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989/20 "2009-01-07T20:55:43Z")
Seriously, 19 isn’t winnable is it? I’ve been stuck at 19 for-frickin-ever, arrghh! :smack: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clusterz-bubble-game-not-for-the-easily-addicted/479989.md?page=2)