[Wii] SSX Blur: Hot controls, Feb. 27 release

Lunker

Saw this linked over at Platformers and my pants exploded. I've always been a fan of the SSX series, and the fact that Blur looks to completely disregard On Tour, plus this control interview, makes me happy beyond measure.

http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/753/753208p1.html

US, January 4, 2007 - Late last year, Electronic Arts released the first gameplay trailer for its Wii-based snowboarding game, SSX Blur. The trailer, while short, showcased stylized graphics and a very smooth, clean snow-filled racing world. But as good as the title looked, Wii owners have ever since wondered how it would play and, specifically, how it might be different control-wise from other SSX titles. IGN Wii recently chatted with EA Montreal's Eric Chartrand, lead designer for SSX Blur. Here's what he had to say about the new control scheme -- and don't forget to check out exclusive new screenshots and a trailer in our media section.

IGN Wii: Does SSX Blur use both the Wii remote and nunchuk attachment?

Eric Chartrand: Our goals for SSX Blur were exactly that -- to max out the hardware and really utilize the controls that we felt translated so well to snowboarding. That is the basis of our On-the-Ground and In-the-Air control scheme, with the nunchuk used for the former and the Wii remote for the latter. The main use for the nunchuk is to enable your rider to carve down the mountain by pitching the nunchuk left and right to emulate turning. The Wii Remote is used for everything in the air, which includes moving side-to-side for spins and up and down for flips.

IGN Wii: Can you explain what both the nunchuk and remote do?

Eric: The Nunchuk is used for all on snow controls, hence the term "On-the-ground." Carving is now so much fun and intuitive. You simply tilt the nunchuk right and left to turn your character down the mountain, and the joystick is used for finer control adjustment if you really want to dig into a turn. You also use the nunchuk to jump by doing a quick up motion. In terms of buttons, the Z is for boost and the C is for a quick pivot on skis or a tail press on a board.

The other functionality of the nunchuk is for grabs while in the air. You can perform a variety of grabs by pressing the Z button and tilting the nunchuk left/right/up/down.

The Wii remote is used for tricks while in the air or on rails - this is the "In-the-Air" portion of our control scheme. It's really basic actually. To make your character spin, you swing the remote left/right and for flips you swing it up/down. In terms of buttons, the A and B buttons are used to finish your tricks and to "auto-land," which rights your character from mid-trick to the proper stance to hit the snow.

You use both the nunchuk and the Wii remote together when you fill up your groove meter and are set to perform an Uber Trick. For these, there are a series of shapes that you can draw with both controllers to unleash a bigger move. Think of your nunchuk and remote as paintbrushes, painting shapes in 3-D space. These tricks are really rewarding when you hit them as we have made them a little tougher to master.

IGN Wii: Does Blur use the Wii remote's internal speaker or built-in rumble functionality?

Eric: Yes. The internal speaker is used for non repetitive sounds like snowball throwing and the rumble functionality is used when you bail.

IGN Wii: Do you think this new control setup feels more intuitive than a traditional controller?

Eric: This is a totally different experience for SSX and for the Wii overall. But, I have to say that it is way more fun! We are really proud of how we have maxed out the potential of the controller and have really hit our target of bringing the soul of the SSX franchise to the Wii.

You get a better feel for the control of the character when you are turning and carving, which is so much more natural. Introducing the physical experience is just not possible on traditional consoles and it translates so well to the franchise. We really blow this out with our Uber Tricks. Not only is it physical, but it is more fun and even a bit artistic. The level of satisfaction is so much higher than pressing buttons.

IGN Wii: Is there anything that you can do in Blur with the Wii remote and nunchuk that can't be done with a traditional controller?

Eric: The Wii hardware finally gives us the feeling of actually bombing down a mountain in a way that I have never experienced before. There is no better way to play a snowboarding game than with the motion sensor controllers and this is the first thing you will feel when you pick up SSX Blur. You can now feel your movement, where before it was purely visual. So I guess the answer is - everything you could do on a traditional controller is now completely enhanced on the Wii and then some. Hard to compare them as they really are apples and oranges. SSX Blur puts the Wii controls at the forefront and I can't imagine playing it any other way.

IGN Wii: Are you using the Wii remote pointer functionality for pixel-perfect menu navigation or for any other control features?

Eric: We used the pointer of the remote as pointing device to select and navigate and the rumble feature is used to let you know if you hit a button.

AFAIK, SSX Blur is a Wii exclusive, right? It sounds like the sweeping, carving gestures could be done with the PS3's Sixaxis, but I'm really kind of stunned that I'm excited over how an EA title could take advantage of burgeoning technologies.

shrouded

Lunker wrote:

AFAIK, SSX Blur is a Wii exclusive, right? It sounds like the sweeping, carving gestures could be done with the PS3's Sixaxis, but I'm really kind of stunned that I'm excited over how an EA title could take advantage of burgeoning technologies.

I think that Sixaxis only detects change in the angle of the controller. That might let them do part of the carving gesture control described above, but not all of it. It certainly wouldn't allow for the 'paint in 3D' stuff described.

edited to add - I should have mentioned... I have enjoyed playing SSX, but its never been a must-have title for me. This one sounds great; I'll probably be reserving it soon.

thunderclump

Fucking awesome.

I'm so psyched for this game, and the fact that they aren't just half assing it.

The SIXAXIS couldn't do it, because they make it sound like you need two seperate motion sensing devices. It could be pulled off with some tweaking, but that would miss the point really.

Lew Zealand

Oh hell yes. Please tell me this is supposed to be out by May. SSX Tricky got buttloads of play from me BGH (Before Guitar Hero) and I was rather interested in this one. The control description pushed it to MUST HAVE NOW status.

bongi

if this is a wii exclusive, is there to be a 360 ssx game too? i love that series

mayor cigar face

Should I rent an earlier SSX game? I think the last snowboarding game I played was Cool Boarders 4 or something.

Blakout

mayor cigar face wrote:

Should I rent an earlier SSX game? I think the last snowboarding game I played was Cool Boarders 4 or something.

Get SSX3, it's great. Probably the best snowboarding game I've ever played, actually.

Lew Zealand

SSX Tricky is a lot of fun and worth some play time. You could probably find it to buy used for the same price it would cost to rent (assuming rental places are as expensive in your area as they are here).

thunderclump

mayor cigar face wrote:

Should I rent an earlier SSX game? I think the last snowboarding game I played was Cool Boarders 4 or something.

Try and find SSX Tricky. It's the best of them all in my opinion, with the craziest levels and coolest characters.

On Tour I'm finding hard to love, and SSX3 seemed a bit forced in the free roaming aspect. The original is good, but Tricky is basically a mastered version of it.

Lunker

shrouded wrote:

Lunker wrote:

AFAIK, SSX Blur is a Wii exclusive, right? It sounds like the sweeping, carving gestures could be done with the PS3's Sixaxis, but I'm really kind of stunned that I'm excited over how an EA title could take advantage of burgeoning technologies.

I think that Sixaxis only detects change in the angle of the controller. That might let them do part of the carving gesture control described above, but not all of it. It certainly wouldn't allow for the 'paint in 3D' stuff described.

edited to add - I should have mentioned... I have enjoyed playing SSX, but its never been a must-have title for me. This one sounds great; I'll probably be reserving it soon.

SSX as a series always rides right under the cusp of popularity; I've noticed that virtually no one lists it for recommendations, but if Tricky or SSX3 are brought up a lot of people say, "Oh yeah, that one! I really liked it." I also remember it as the only PS2 launch title worth playing. And, of course, this is shaping up to be a fine fourth installment in the series.

[spoiler:007a6adac1]THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ON TOUR[/spoiler:007a6adac1]

I'm sure the thing couldn't be ported wholesale to the PS3, but I'd wonder if at least the movement aspect couldn't be mapped to the controller. The Wii controls sounds sexalicious the way the designer describes Blur, though.

bongi

Blakout wrote:

mayor cigar face wrote:

Should I rent an earlier SSX game? I think the last snowboarding game I played was Cool Boarders 4 or something.

Get SSX3, it's great. Probably the best snowboarding game I've ever played, actually.

i preferred tricky, but you can't really go wrong with either

mayor cigar face

I'll see if I can't find a copy of either Tricky or 3 around here somewhere. I'll defenitly be getting Blur if it ends up being as awesome as it sounds.

Lunker

bongi wrote:

Blakout wrote:

mayor cigar face wrote:

Should I rent an earlier SSX game? I think the last snowboarding game I played was Cool Boarders 4 or something.

Get SSX3, it's great. Probably the best snowboarding game I've ever played, actually.

i preferred tricky, but you can't really go wrong with either

And I liked SSX3 better, but yeah, it's definitely about preference. Tricky has a lot more personality (I love those behind the scenes videos with the voice actors -- fucking Oliver Platt!) and is a lot more arcadey, but I really like the free-roaming, the electronica/Euro-cool aesthetic and the customization of SSX3. They're two very different flavors of awesome.

Kainy

So am I the only one disappointed that they're using the wiimote speaker?

I mean, the thing sounds like a $3 toy's speaker. It's awful.

Brue

Kainy wrote:

So am I the only one disappointed that they're using the wiimote speaker?

I mean, the thing sounds like a $3 toy's speaker. It's awful.

I doubt it will be used for anything more then blurting out... Awesome, Tubular, etc. The controls definitely sound shit hot though, thats the thing that excites me about the wii so much or is it gets my wii excited. The fact that we finally have another way to look at all these games, control-wise.

earthwormadam

Kainy wrote:

So am I the only one disappointed that they're using the wiimote speaker?

I mean, the thing sounds like a $3 toy's speaker. It's awful.

VOLUME CONTROL

Fireflash

This title has now achieved the rank of must-buy. The controls sound really fun.

Rociel

The only gripe I really have with this control scheme is the use of the nunchuck. I always seem to keep the nunchuck at an angle while playing, so I'll have to adjust that or else my character will constantly be turning.

thunderclump

earthwormadam wrote:

Kainy wrote:

So am I the only one disappointed that they're using the wiimote speaker?

I mean, the thing sounds like a $3 toy's speaker. It's awful.

VOLUME CONTROL

Seriously, do people not know this option exists?

Turn it down a little and the remote sounds fine.

Endomatic

I've played all the SSX games and I think that SSX Tricky is the best by far. SSX 3 is okay, but I like Tricky better personally.

Lew Zealand

earthwormadam wrote:

Kainy wrote:

So am I the only one disappointed that they're using the wiimote speaker?

I mean, the thing sounds like a $3 toy's speaker. It's awful.

VOLUME CONTROL

Seriously. Turning the volume of the speaker down a bit helps a lot. I thought it was terrible at first also until I lowered the volume.

The only gripe I really have with this control scheme is the use of the nunchuck. I always seem to keep the nunchuck at an angle while playing, so I'll have to adjust that or else my character will constantly be turning.

I had the same problem at first with Ultimate Alliance. Tilting the nunchuk controls camera movement. For a while I had the camera constantly spinning.

zero_bit

There's a nice video of the controls in action. The game oozes character and fun and I can't wait to get my paws on it.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

thunderclump

mcdermott wrote:

thunderclump wrote:

earthwormadam wrote:

Kainy wrote:

So am I the only one disappointed that they're using the wiimote speaker?

I mean, the thing sounds like a $3 toy's speaker. It's awful.

VOLUME CONTROL

Seriously, do people not know this option exists?

Turn it down a little and the remote sounds fine.

A better idea might have been to make the default volume level one that doesn't make me feel like I'm getting ear fucked, and adjust the ranges accordingly.

Just putting that out there.

It isn't like we're talking about the main audio out here, where it might be hooked up to different stereos or TV's...it's the same damn speaker in every Wiimote. They had to know it sounded like dogshit.

Perhaps.

But now that you know to lower the volume, it's not a problem anymore, so you can stop complaining, right?

SirUltimos

Holy shit. I was reading about this last night and thought it looked pretty cool, but reading this interview now makes me really want this game. I think I'm going to buy it once it's released.

Well played, EA.

earthwormadam

thunderclump wrote:

mcdermott wrote:

thunderclump wrote:

earthwormadam wrote:

Kainy wrote:

So am I the only one disappointed that they're using the wiimote speaker?

I mean, the thing sounds like a $3 toy's speaker. It's awful.

VOLUME CONTROL

Seriously, do people not know this option exists?

Turn it down a little and the remote sounds fine.

A better idea might have been to make the default volume level one that doesn't make me feel like I'm getting ear fucked, and adjust the ranges accordingly.

Just putting that out there.

It isn't like we're talking about the main audio out here, where it might be hooked up to different stereos or TV's...it's the same damn speaker in every Wiimote. They had to know it sounded like dogshit.

Perhaps.

But now that you know to lower the volume, it's not a problem anymore, so you can stop complaining, right?

Also, some games sound great on full volume. Like WiiSports. It tells you when it is your turn, and I refuse to play tennis without being able to hear my sound effects. But yeah, it was awful in Zelda and remained off pretty much the whole time.

Anyways, I'm sure that game makers will begin to realize that less is more, when it comes to the speaker.

When it comes to picking my favorite SSX game, I'd go with 3. I'm a big fan of the open mountain style of play.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

eelektrik

I cant wait till this game comes out, even if it does use rehashed courses from previous SSX games. At least they arnt half-assing the control scheme for the Wii.

Nexus Zero

thunderclump wrote:

Turn it down a little and the remote sounds fine.

No, it sounds less shit. I've turned it down to 1 and while I like it in say, Wii Sports, it's really, really off-putting in Zelda. If the bow didn't sound so good, I'd turn it off completely.

imbalanced

earthwormadam wrote:

Kainy wrote:

So am I the only one disappointed that they're using the wiimote speaker?

I mean, the thing sounds like a $3 toy's speaker. It's awful.

VOLUME CONTROL

For real, just mute it geeeez.

Alanias

So EA is putting a ton of effort into the Wii eh? First cool Madden controls and now this. If they keep it up I might stop hating them so much.

atkbob

Alanias wrote:

So EA is putting a ton of effort into the Wii eh? First cool Madden controls and now this. If they keep it up I might stop hating them so much.

CONFIRMED: UBISOFT IS THE NEW EA

AbsoluteZero

EA's Wii support makes me hate them less.

BaronVonSnakPak

i really really really cant wait for this game. as a snowboarder, ssx is one of my alltime favorite franchises. yes, i even loved on tour.

i just hope to god they include create-a-rider again, and they dont half ass the options. that said, my only fear is having both the carving and the jumping mapped to the nunchuck. i know for awhile itll be sloppy playing, jumping when trying to carve, carving when trying to jump.

Eight Rooks

Oh, Christ, this just got upgraded to "very possible reason to buy a Wii".

I've only played 3 and On Tour; I like them both, though 3 is golden while On Tour is somewhat awkward, and I miss the free roaming. Even on the strength of those two games alone, though, I think SSX is one of the best mainstream franchises going - the aesthetic really, really works; it's not OMG XTREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEME ololo rammed in your face or anything; the gameplay is a thing of beauty and the licensed soundtracks are just fantastic. 3 has one of my all-time favourite soundtracks and On Tour's not far behind. So yeah, I suddenly want this a whole lot more.

imbalanced

atkbob wrote:

Alanias wrote:

So EA is putting a ton of effort into the Wii eh? First cool Madden controls and now this. If they keep it up I might stop hating them so much.

CONFIRMED: UBISOFT IS THE NEW EA

CONFIRMED: BRIAN IS THE NEW MEG!







... shut up Meg....

BiggNife

Tricky was good but I loved SSX3. The sense of speed just worked so well. I didnt try On Tour though, because I have heard bad things about it.

If this is as good as 3 I will be very happy.

bruin

The controls sound sweet. If they nail them I buy definitely buy this.

Alfred J. Kwak

Ever since the (Zelda:TP spoiler ahead) [spoiler:104056aa53]snowboard race in Z:TP,[/spoiler:104056aa53]I thought of how awesome it would be to play a snowboard game with the wii remote. Now when I came across the newest incarnation of SSX, I was immediately sold. I was admittedly never really into the SSX series, but when the devs can get the game controlls to work as intended, this will be a day one purchase for sure.

StrangeAttractor

The new "soft lighting" looks really good.

eelektrik

BiggNife wrote:

Tricky was good but I loved SSX3. The sense of speed just worked so well. I didnt try On Tour though, because I have heard bad things about it.

If this is as good as 3 I will be very happy.

I actually thought they nailed the sense of speed even moreso in On Tour then in SSX3. Not to mention I thought the course designs were even better. I really dont know why On Tour gets such a bad rep, It was a fantastic game.