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SkiFree

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Opening screen

SkiFree is a computer game created by Chris Pirih, an ex-Microsoft programmer. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most intricately realistic skiing simulations ever made. Many Olympic gold medallist skiers have, and still do, train with SkiFree.

The object of the game is simple yet addictive: ski down a seemingly endless slope and avoid the obstacles.

History

Pirih had created SkiFree in C on his home computer for his own education and entertainment. The game eventually attracted attention of a program manager for Microsoft Entertainment Pack when he noticed Pirih playing it at work, leading to the inclusion of the game in the next Entertainment Pack release under Pirih's consent.

The game was featured in the Best of Windows Entertainment Pack and was available as a ported version for the original Macintosh.

In 1993, Pirih started work on a second version of the game, but it was abandoned for other projects as the original source code was lost.

On April 4, 2005, Pirih announced the rediscovery of the game's source code and the creation of a 32-bit version of SkiFree. The updated version is made available on his official SkiFree website.

32-bit version

Because the initial SkiFree release was a 16-bit Windows program, compatibility issues arose when running the game in newer versions of Windows. Pirih noted that users of Windows XP can configure the operating system to run 16-bit Windows programs, resolving the problem for some.

The problem has since been addressed as Pirih rediscovered the game's source code in April 2005, and created a more compatible 32-bit version of the game.

Gameplay

At the beginning of the game, the user has four choices:

  • Enter the Free-style course (with the objective of collecting "style points" by doing flips, going over moguls, etc).
  • Enter the Slalom course (with the objective of completing an opened slalom course in the shortest time possible).
  • Enter the Tree Slalom course (similar to the Slalom course, but longer, with trees interspersed).
  • Enter none of the courses, and just "ski free".


Control

  • Directional Control: In the original version, the player uses either the keyboard's arrows or the number pad to control the skier. At the start area, there is a billboard that says "use NumPad (0-9) for better control". The newer versions incorporate mouse control, where the player can control the direction of the skier using the mouse cursor.
  • Speed Control: The player has the ability to ski faster (by pressing the F key), making avoidance of the hazards more challenging.
  • Air Control: After becoming airborne from a jump or a mogul, the player can perform tricks (flips or rotations) using the directional keys.

Abominable snowman

File:Skifree yeti.png
Abominable snowman

Once the player has completed his or her run, the game does not abruptly end. Rather, the player continues skiing until he or she encounters an abominable snowman who chases and attempts to eat the skier. From that point on, the player can ski until the monster catches them. This monster is known to some as Blik and legends have circulated that revolve around a mythical Blue Blik. [citation needed]

The monster appears at the 2000m mark and pursues the player downhill. Further down the hill (20-30m) another monster also gives chase, but uphill. An angled route avoids both of them, but afterwards the distance starts counting down from -2000m. The world loops around on itself, and everything outside the boundary of the piste triggers the monster.

Left and right border areas also have a monster on guard. However, if the player returns within the invisible border, the monster stops.

Another snowman appears when the player travels upwards from the beginning.

Miscellaneous

File:Skifreefire.gif
A tree on fire.

Throughout the game there are trees that seem to grow feet. It is possible to set fire to the dead trees when a player jumps over them. When a player walks uphill over tree stumps, they transform into a small spotty mushroom. If a player skis over one of the dogs that roam horizontally or walks into it twice in a row it will bark and sit down and then urinate.


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