Digital Downhill

By CNN Interactive Producer Steve Baxter

February 11, 1998
Web posted at: 11:28 AM EST (1128 GMT)

(CNN) -- Are you tired of watching Winter Olympics coverage and want to get out on the ski slopes yourself? If you don't have time to hit the slopes, don't like the cold or have never bought skis, don't despair. Your computer comes to the rescue yet again with another virtual experience.

"Ski Racing" is another in Sierra's Front Page Sports line of products. It capitalizes on the unique name recognition of Olympic gold medallist Picabo Street. Not only does she lend her image to the product packaging and title sequence; she did extensive consulting with developers, sharing her technical knowledge and love of skiing.

At its heart, "Ski Racing" is pure simulation. Its powerful 3-D engine pumps out graphics at an alarming rate. Gates, trees and tons of virtual snow fly past at breakneck speed. Winding downhill terrain keeps you guessing at every turn. You can have your race accompanied by rock 'n' roll guitar riffs or turn the music off and listen to the sounds of the wind and snow, your own labored breathing or the sickening thud of bone-crunching crashes.

Like real skiing, the trick of course is to stay on the course from start to finish. At speeds up to 90 simulated miles-per-hour, it can be very difficult. Just remember when to tuck, dig in your ski edges and cut the turns like a knife. If you get really frustrated, Picabo has recorded some helpful racing tips on video for you to playback. If you get bored with letting gravity have its way with you, you can have some freestyle fun. There are several keyboard and joystick commands that will let you do seven different freestyle maneuvers.

Choose from six different world-class mountains to ski on. Canada's Whistler, Oregon's Mount Bachelor and Colorado's Aspen and Vail provide challenging alpine courses. Europe's Garmisch and Val d'Isere resorts are also represented. Players participate in Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill events in single or multiplayer races. There is no Olympic license involved in the product but you can race for a season to win the "Sierra Cup." "Ski Racing's" VCR-style playback feature lets you choose different camera angles to build digital movies of your races.

"Ski Racing" lets you set up the game in a number of different ways. The condition of the snow, weather and visibility are all selectable. You can play electronic "paper dolls" and dress up Picabo in different combinations of outfitsand name brand equipment or you can create your own personalized ski champ. The game supports 3-Dfx and Rendition graphics accelerators as well Microsoft's new forcefeedback joystick.

"Ski Racing" has enough realistic action to please most simulated sports fans. But most snowbound adrenaline junkies will still want to be out on the slopes.

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