Enough talk about GEM, so here are some other pointers:

- light cycle combo: L ramp, Quorra, R ramp. Get good at it. Love it. Need it on many different stages of the game (completing LCMB, Increasing EOL, spelling out DAft Punk, collecting 3 "safe" disc shots during DMB or during the disc stage of SOS)

- stacking LCMB & QMB: everyone realizes this is helpful and important, so here are three nuances on what not to do... (1) don't start QMB alone with CLU lit, as the CLU mode running will override any LC shots you're trying to hit to qualify LCMB during the QMB. (2) Don't start QMB with either of the LC orbit shots required to qualify LCMB, as the orbits won't register whenever you're in auto-save mode of QMB, which is quite frequent due to add-a-ball. (3) Have the # of Quorra shots left to qualify QMB down to two or less before starting LCMB, which drastically increases your chance of getting QMB qualified before you drain one of the balls in LCMB.

- if you've got three or more of the first mode inserts solid when SOS is ready to begin at the scoop, and if your next TRON award is double scoring, it's worth the risk to start double scoring, and double your beginning SOS bonus. My best ever is having all the way up through Disc solid, so my initial SOS bonus was 42MIL!!! just on the initial shot to the scoop.

- during SOS disc mode, don't forget that the disc shot spots your left-most disc insert. Very very helpful on the GEM disc insert, and also on the R orbit disc shot (less risk IMHO).

For advancing to Portal...
- try to complete LCMB before qualifying SOS: LCMB double super jackpot is much easier to get than having to complete all six shots in the pressure situation of SOS (GEM shot, too, of course).