SSX (series)

SSX was released for the PlayStation 2 for its launch in October 2000. SSX was developed by EA Canada, while SSX Tricky was developed by EA Sports. The game was critically acclaimed. SSX Tricky was released November 5, 2001, for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Xbox. SSX Tricky was so similar to the original that many considered it an update rather than a sequel.[2]

In SSX and SSX Tricky, winning medals in a variety of events unlocks new courses, characters, and boards, as well as improved the boarder's abilities. New outfits may be earned by completing a character's "trick book", by doing a number of specific tricks during play. Three kinds of boards are available to players: trick-oriented "Freestyle" boards, all-around "BX" boards, and racing-oriented "Alpine" boards, which are not meant to be ridden backwards.

The courses in both games are located around the world, for example: "Tokyo Megaplex" (a course resembling a giant pinball machine) and "Merqury City" (which takes place in the downtown area of a city). The snowboarders also come from around the world, and speak in their primary languages.

On October 20, 2003, SSX 3 was released. It was released on all the same platforms that SSX Tricky was released on, as well as the Gizmondo, and was developed by EA Canada.

The most obvious changes to the series are the locations, and the graphics. In earlier games, individual tracks were located around the world. In SSX 3, the entire game takes place on one mountain, with three peaks and several individual runs. Runs are designated as "race", "slopestyle", "super pipe", "big air", or "back country" tracks, and are designed accordingly. Tracks are connected; it is possible to board down the entire mountain without stopping. The game also uses a new graphics engine, as the one used in SSX and SSX Tricky had become outdated and was considered "90s".

The reward system is also revamped. Although some rewards are still tied to what medals the player gets, most rewards are bought using money earned in competition or when finding hidden snowflakes. Outfits, stat improvements, "hidden characters" (character models) and game art are all available.

Other changes include the introduction of a second level of "uber tricks", the elimination of freestyle/BX/Alpine boards in favor of a single board type, and the elimination of statistical differences between characters. In general, the game emphasizes customization much more than in previous games; for example, different boards no longer have different effects on how your board handles, allowing the player to choose whatever board they like the most, instead of the "best" board, statistically.

SSX 3 also offered online play; once in a lobby, a player could initiate a 2-player versus match: slopestyle, halfpipe, or race event. However, in early 2006, Electronic Arts closed this option by terminating all servers designated to EA games released during and prior to 2005.

An enhanced version of the game was released on the Xbox One on April 17, 2018, as part of the Xbox One backwards compatibility program.

SSX on Tour is the fourth title in the SSX series of video games for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, PSP and Xbox. It was released on October 13, 2005, in North America.

Unlike its predecessor, SSX on Tour has no online play as the main focus was improving the gameplay and maps. There are many new characters, new maps, new tricks and skiers. One main variation from other consoles is the GameCube version since it has Nintendo characters and a special track.

SSX on Tour's main gameplay mode, "The Tour", allows the player to create a character and select one of a number of challenges available at any one point in time. Progressing through challenges (including medal events) earns the player both cash and hype; earning hype advances the player from amateur to pro level and unlocks harder challenges.

SSX on Tour is a departure from the previous incarnations of the series in several ways. Courses are no longer closed; the player will frequently encounter other skiers and snowboarders when freeriding or doing minor challenges. Additionally, stats are no longer tied to the character; the character's board or skis are the sole determining factor in the character's abilities. Finally, for the GameCube version, Mario, Luigi and Peach from Nintendo are included.

SSX was a new title in the series that was first announced at the Spike Video Game Awards in 2010. It features real world environments mapped by NASA satellites. The game's slogan was "Defy Reality. Own the Planet". It was released on February 28, 2012. Unlike previous titles, it did not include local multiplayer.

Players have the ability to upload their own music to SSX to create custom playlists for menu and in-game music. SSX also features a dynamic music remix tool that will automatically remix licensed tracks and custom music based on the player's actions and performance in-game.

The objective of the game is to beat Griff, team SSX's rival, and conquer all nine deadly descents. The story takes the player across the world with nine different characters, one for each descent, and it also features two special add-on characters.

SSX: Out of Bounds was released on the N-Gage on January 24, 2005. It is a port of the console installment SSX 3, but downsized for the handheld. The game features multiplayer capability over Bluetooth.

SSX iPhone was originally given a 2009 release date by EA Mobile, later delayed to 2010. As of late 2012, no new information and no screenshots have been released.[3]

On December 21, 2013, SSX by EA Sports was released on the LG SmartWorld app storefront for the LG G2. On December 23, 2013, the game was also released in the Xperia Lounge store for the Sony Xperia Z1 and Z Ultra.[4] As with the 2012 console installment, the objective of the game is to beat the antagonist Griff by conquering four "deadly" descents; the Rockies, Siberia, the Alps, and the Himalayas. SSX by EA Sports uses four descents and four characters. The game supports the PlayStation DualShock 3 controller.

SSX Snowboarder was a plug 'n' play game made by RADICA with EA Sports and Play TV which was a full game and controller in one. With AV cables pluged into your TV or VCR unit and 4xAA batteries in the base unit you were able to play with the snowboard controller to make it like you were actually snowboarding. It included four different game modes, Show off, Time Challenge, Pipedream and Tokyo Megaplex. The device was made for ages 8 and up with a maximum weight limit of 91 kg/200 lbs/14.5stone on the snowboard controller