22.Feb..2007

How excited was the team to develop SSX Blur?

This team worked on SSX On Tour for the PSP - we love this franchise and we are absolutely stoked to take SSX in a fresh direction.

Here in Montreal, winter can be pretty long, so we get lots of time on the slopes - almost everybody on the team is big into snowboarding or skiing. Our love for the sports is a real motivator for the team and we know it?s going to show through in the final product.

Why do you think this snowboarding franchise is a good fit for Nintendo's new console?

The SSX experience is perfect to take full advantage of the Wii hardware. SSX has always offered speed, huge air, huge tricks, super fun and approachable gameplay - taking that offering to the Wii is a great fit.

The Wii controller is a perfect fit for steering and tricks - the analogy to controlling a snowboard is really intuitive - it adds so much to the gameplay compared to just using analogue thumbsticks.

Why did you choose the name "Blur" for the game?

There's nothing like that rush you get when you are charging down a mountain. The whole world around you just blurs - it's awesome. We were trying to capture that feeling with this game - and with the Wii controller, we were able to make it all about feel and intuition. We've always been able to give you the insane speed, air and tricks - but our goal was to give you that feeling ? or shall we call it blur - as well.

How is SSX Blur different from the franchise's previous iterations?

SSX Blur really brings back the soul of the franchise - but remixes the favorites to fit the soul of the Wii. You will see your favorites return - characters like Mac & Elise, and tracks like Happiness - but with a completely new control system and some new additions. The game will still feel like SSX - but with a completely unique take on it.

How are the Wii Remote and Nunchuck used in SSX Blur?

SSX Blur delivers "on-the-ground and in-the-air" gameplay to take full advantage of the Wii controls. The nunchuck controls all on-the-ground movement - carving, speed, jump transitions - and the Wii-mote controls all in-the-air movements - grabs, spins, ubertricks - etc. This breakthrough approach is taking full advantage of the hardware and controls, and is delivering everything that is great about an SSX experience.

What's your favorite ubertrick and how do you do it?

Sure - my favorite one is the heart shape. Think of the controllers as paintbrushes and you literally draw a heart - but one half of it with the nunchuck, and the other half with the Wii remote. You start with them together and bow them out at medium speed creating each side of the heart while pressing A. Really rewarding once you get it down

Are these all new tracks and characters? Or will we see the favorites return?

SSX Blur is a new game, but we took a lot of inspiration from the best tracks from a few of the titles in the series. We wanted to take the best of SSX tracks and characters and remix them. Adding in the 'on-the-ground and in-the-air controls', we have created a fresh SSX experience.

We also wanted to highlight the things that people really love about the series, and take them on to bigger and better tings. So your favorite tracks and characters will be there, but you can play them in new ways, and have a completely new experience.

What are the Multiplayer Options?

SSX Blur features 2 multiplayer options. The first is a Split Screen that allows 2 players to go head to head in Race and Slopestyle events. The second option is Hot Seat where up to 4 players can compete in Big Air, Half-Pipe and Slalom competitions. Players go one at a time during this 2 heat event.

Is it true that you can throw snowballs in the race mode? How does it work out?

You can actually throw a snowball at any time by pressing B on the Wii remote and swinging it side-arm. When you are going hear to head with competitors you can use the snowballs at them to get the edge!