I'm going to post a few games for next weeks session rather than wait to post them. It'll give me a good week or so off from posting any more games (though If I find anything I think will fit with the ethos of this project i'll probably post it still. :)
I came across the following snowboarding game quite some time ago while I was looking for extra content for one of the snowboarding games i have. It was the weakest of the games i had in that genre so was hoping to find some graphics enhancements; I revisited the pages today and discovered that the mods I'd found were in effect free standing and free, so you can play three different resorts each with several official runs plus you have the ability to be dropped anywhere on each mountain and find your own way down. By todays standards, for example comparing it to Shaun Whites game that was released nearly two years ago, it looks extremely dated, however, if you don't have any snowboarding games it'll give hourse of entertainment. i've mentioned another nowboarding game that i'd highly recommend buying if you find it in any bargain bin. Soul Ride, the game that the following games are based on is still being sold for full price on the developers web site, which I think is ridiculous considering it's over 10 years old. I'd have though at the very least we'd be seeing it on good old Games for around $6. Anyway, I do hope you find the following three standalone snowboarding games entertaining.
Virtual Resorts:
Virtual Resorts was developed as freeware by the developers of the snowboarding game Soulride. I bought Soulride several years ago as a budget buy and throughly enjoyed playing the game though I always though Supreme Snowboarding (released in 2000) was a better game. now of course we have Shaun White Snowboarding with it's breathtaking views and off pist snowboarding. This freeware program is a tribute to all snowboarders (though before my accident I much preferred skiing, lol.
Are you ready to explore and ride some of the best boarding terrain in the U.S.? Slingshot has created Virtual Resorts to allow you to do just that. We have taken the technology we built to create Soul Ride and mapped in some awesome boarding terrain from our partner mountains from across the country. Check out the links above to get some of the best terrain around and snowboard these great mountains from the comfort of your home.The Virtual Resort is a fully navigable 3D version of any U.S. mountain. We create the files so that it is available for download from our partner's web sites. At Slingshot Game Technology we use data from the United States Geological Survey and build real resorts. All you have to do is download and enjoy.
The Virtual Resorts then become a multitude of things to different people. To ski resorts the Virtual Mountain is the most cost-effective continual marketing tool they'll ever find. To gamers and young boarders the mountain becomes an exciting and fun video game that challenges and entertains kids of all ages. And for older more sedate boarders (are there such a thing?) the Virtual Resort is a great tool to explore the mountain, check out the views, ride the lifts, and find the safest way from point A to B.
None of the virtual resorts are collections of linear tracks, they are open ended, virtual worlds which may be explored at your leisure, however you wish.
On top of that it's a great game too. Drop in at your favorite runs, take a turn in the half-pipe or try out the boardercross run on your own terms. The Mountain is all yours. Virtual Stratton has six runs, which you can race down and pull off tricks to get the best scores. Check it out, play it and see how great Stratton is both virtually and in reality.
Reference accessed HERE June 2010
Do you want to feel the thrill of snowboarding without the associated bruises and frostbite? Virtual Stratton, Breckenbridge and Jay Peak (with the possibility of more being added) lets you board around the actual topography of each of the resorts mountain tops. The terrain is based on geological survey data of the mountain and surrounding area, with the addition of signature trails and buildings. The software is based on the extreme backcountry snowboarding game Soul Ride.
This is a great game fun and easy to play with realistic game phisics and many snowboarding runs including Interstate Slalom & Everglade. Changable weather conditions, VCR replays and also a free roam helicopter drop where you can get dropped off anywhere on the mountain and make your own trails. Trick`s can also be mastered and add bonus points to your score once you get a feel for the snow and your board. There is also 2 other Virtual snowboarding games, Virtual Stratton and Virtual Breckenridge, that once installed you can choose which mountain you want to carve up directly from the menus of all 3 games. All three games are a must download.
Controls.
The primary controller is a joystick or catapult controller however you can also use the keyboard and mouse to control your snowboarder. Mouse or keyboard controls include; left and right to steer the rider, button 1 or Ctrl to crouch (release to jump), up and down to attempt a flip while jumping, and button 2 or Shift in combination with left or right to do a grab while in the air, spacebar for view, Esc exit game
System Requirements
* Pentium II-300MHz or better PC running Windows 9x, NT4 or 2000
* 64MB RAM
* An OpenGL 1.1-capable video card
* Joystick or Catapult controller
* Mouse & Keyboard
Download:
you can download virtual Stratton HERE, Virtual BreckenridgeHERE and Virtual Jay Peak HERE. I've had problems accessing the home page for Jay Peak, so have had to use an alternate download location via Brothersoft. (Vermont)
