Mark McMorris Infinite Air

[dbdynsty25]

Don't know if anyone else has picked this up. Released on Tuesday. What interested me is that the pre-release stuff and impressions implied that it was basically SKATE but w/ snowboarding. Ummm...in 100%. It's made by the same studio that does The Golf Club...which is weird. But interesting.

Sure enough, it's basically SKATE on a mountain. Which is awesome of course. It's not quite as "tight" from a control standpoint, but I guess that is inherent w/ a snowboard as opposed to a skateboard.

It's really weird. To start out they just drop you on a mountain and they don't tell you a damn thing. You just go down the mountain and there are user created events all around the resort. You can try to best your friends scores or create your own. It's really just an open world mountain that's completely open.

Ultimately you can delve into the pseudo career mode to unlock stuff, but they don't tell you how to do anything like that. It's just in the menu system. So far I've really only done the free roam mode and I've been having a blast.

If you guys like the SKATE games, give it a shot. Be warned...it's hard.

[pk500]

OK, color me intrigued. Thanks for the feedback.

You and I may have been the biggest DSP pimps for Xbox launch game Amped. LOVED that game. How does this compare?

[dbdynsty25]

OK, color me intrigued. Thanks for the feedback.

You and I may have been the biggest DSP pimps for Xbox launch game Amped. LOVED that game. How does this compare?

Hmmm...it's been so long since I've been on the Amped bandwagon, I really don't remember. I played SKATE 1,2 and 3 back on the 360 so it's a little more fresh and it feels a lot like it. Using the triggers and sticks for EVERYTHING. No buttons, no "grind" button...if you land on the rail you grind it, etc. So it's very similar. From memory, I think Amped was easier and controlled a lot tighter. Momentum and angles didn't matter as much, resulting in an easier game. IA is harder because it's more free flowing and loose. More realistic. If I had to guess, I was more hyped about Amped, but that's strictly a difficulty thing. Again, IA is hard and it'll take longer to get used to.

[pk500]

Right on, man. Thanks. As an avid recreational skier, I'm just glad to see two snow-based games coming out this fall.

[AcemanPR]

I'm also pleased to see a couple snowboarding games being released this fall. The videos I've seen on this make this game look a little stale, but the physics look spot on. I'm going to hold off and wait for some more Steep coverage. By Christmas, one of these snowboarding games will be in my library.

[pk500]

I'm also pleased to see a couple snowboarding games being released this fall. The videos I've seen on this make this game look a little stale, but the physics look spot on. I'm going to hold off and wait for some more Steep coverage. By Christmas, one of these snowboarding games will be in my library.

I think Steep also includes skiing, which elevates it over Infinite Air for me. I'm a skier, not a boarder. But this isn't a boxing vs. UFC blood feud for me. I have no problem with boarders or good boarding games.

[dbdynsty25]

I'm also pleased to see a couple snowboarding games being released this fall. The videos I've seen on this make this game look a little stale, but the physics look spot on. I'm going to hold off and wait for some more Steep coverage. By Christmas, one of these snowboarding games will be in my library.

It is a bit sterile, but that's part of the game IMO. I don't need an SSX type experience (backward compatible now on the XB1, lol, woohoo) in this type of a SIM game. Cruising the mountains without a ton of fancy graphics and over the top announcers are omitted intentionally. Given the studio that developed it (HB Studios), it's to be expected. Think The Golf Club vs. Rory. Same difference in approaches.

[AcemanPR]

It is a bit sterile, but that's part of the game IMO. I don't need an SSX type experience (backward compatible now on the XB1, lol, woohoo) in this type of a SIM game. Cruising the mountains without a ton of fancy graphics and over the top announcers are omitted intentionally. Given the studio that developed it (HB Studios), it's to be expected. Think The Golf Club vs. Rory. Same difference in approaches.

Because HB Studios did it is the reason I am intrigued by it. A game doesn't have to have flair to succeed with me. The only thing is that I've never snowboarded, so I don't know to much about it. I love watching it and playing videogames about snowboarding though. Now golf, I've played for 35 years and know everything about it. So the more sim the better in that category. I think the game goes for any other sports game out there. If you are passionate about a sport, you want to have a fun one to play that replicates the sport well to pass the time when you can't play for real.

Not to derail Infinite Air, but Steep has an open beta next month. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ62b5i13Yk

[sportdan30]

Yep, I just registered for the Steep beta on the Xbox One at steepgame.com

Looking forward to it!

[pk500]

Because HB Studios did it is the reason I am intrigued by it. A game doesn't have to have flair to succeed with me.

Agree 100 percent. I'm an HB whore, as I LOVE The Golf Club and still get a lot of enjoyment from it.

Steep intrigues me, as it includes skiing. But I have questions about Steep and McMorris: What are the objectives? Skill challenges? Competitions? Missions? Or is this just open-world snowboarding, tricking and exploring without much purpose than, well, tricking and exploring? And what comprises online play?

Thanks.

[sportdan30]

Quick preview of Steep from two guys at GameSpot who were fortunate to be able to play it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FxkYoTt3XY

[dbdynsty25]

Steep looks cool...for sure.

Been playing more McMorris and it really is a fantastically brutal game in terms of difficulty. Maybe it's my old(er) reflexes...but it's quite difficult. In a good way of course. The graphics of Steep look better it seems, but that's not a surprise given McMorris' developer. It appears it's better than Steep at least when it comes to finding and navigating the game...it looks painful in Steep.

So we'll see when Steep comes out, I'll get it because I love snowboarding games and I've gotta own them all. If only for the skiing aspect because I prefer skiing over snowboarding just in general.

It reminds me of that ski racing game we all used to play back when it was Sports Reviewers...I believe it was Ski Racing 2006 w/ Herman Maier or maybe it was the Bode Miller version. Either way, need to see if that game will still install on my PC, haha.

[pk500]

It reminds me of that ski racing game we all used to play back when it was Sports Reviewers...I believe it was Ski Racing 2006 w/ Herman Maier or maybe it was the Bode Miller version. Either way, need to see if that game will still install on my PC, haha.

That was a great game!

[dbdynsty25]

It reminds me of that ski racing game we all used to play back when it was Sports Reviewers...I believe it was Ski Racing 2006 w/ Herman Maier or maybe it was the Bode Miller version. Either way, need to see if that game will still install on my PC, haha.

That was a great game!

It's funny...it's so old, it's easy to find just on the internet. So downloading now and gonna try to install it. That would be awesome to do a little throwback season to see how we all stack up 10 years later! I own it, just don't know where the disc is, so it's not illegal!

[dbdynsty25]

It works! The crazy thing is it supports the fulled 3440x1440 widescreen resolution. From 2006!!!! And it even looks pretty damn good. Some games even today don't support that resolution. Monitors didn't even exist back then at that resolution. LOL.

[pk500]

Right on! You're right: That doesn't look half bad for a 10-year-old game.

[sportdan30]

The Steep beta is live through 11/14. I'll play it sometime later this evening on the Xbox One.

[vader29]

The Steep beta is live through 11/14. I'll play it sometime later this evening on the Xbox One.

Here is my beta code for any one who wants it as I will be without internet until Monday night::

The Beta Early Access will be live from
November 10th (2 AM PST)
to November 14th (11 AM PST)

Here is your Xbox One™ Beta Early Access Key:

3QRCC-GKKJ6-JXPJY-4336H-TPFQZ

[dbdynsty25]

The Steep beta is live through 11/14. I'll play it sometime later this evening on the Xbox One.

Here is my beta code for any one who wants it as I will be without internet until Monday night::

The Beta Early Access will be live from
November 10th (2 AM PST)
to November 14th (11 AM PST)

Here is your Xbox One™ Beta Early Access Key:

3QRCC-GKKJ6-JXPJY-4336H-TPFQZ

Dope, thanks! I'll use it.

Since I'm the only one here that appears to own McMorris, I'll at least be able to compare them for you guys.

[dbdynsty25]

Steep is awesome!

Way easier than McMorris and just seems to control a bit better. Graphics are also better. Only spent about 30 min with it so more to come.

[dbdynsty25]

After playing some more Steep I'd definitely recommend it over McMorris if you only want one game. McMorris is still way more realistic and serene if you just want to shred down the mountain and enjoy the quiet. Whereas Steep is more in your face SSX style. The control and graphics of Steep are in another league...just so smooth and fluid with very little framerate issues. McMorris, in typical HB Studio fashion, is kind of a graphical mess in comparison. Lower res textures and inconsistent framerates. I mean it's not bad, but in comparison it's really not a comparison.

The one issue Steep has is the menu system is absolute sh*t. The mountain is huge, and you can only scroll around with what is essentially a mouse pointer. It takes way too long to navigate and it's downright frustrating sometimes trying to select what you want.

Anyway, think the time w/ the beta ends today sometime, but I'll definitely be grabbing it on 12/2 when it releases. Awesome game.

[AcemanPR]

I bet sometime over the winter HB Studio will bring out some enhancements to McMorris.

I've heard the same opinions about Steep. Good to hear that it is fun to play. I'll probably lean toward getting Steep, but sounds like something to hold off and wait to get when it drops to $30, which probably won't be to far after it releases. Will need to spend my Christmas gift cards on something.

[pk500]

Steep Beta live this weekend for all. No code required.

I downloaded and played for a few minutes. Pretty graphics, nice vibe, solid control. Plus I really like the option to ski instead of board, as I'm a skier.

But I'm not seeing anything yet that distinguishes this game or feels innovative from previous snow titles. Yes, there's a huge open world. But I wonder what the hell you do with it besides fly down it, perform tricks and find new worlds. Early days, but this doesn't feel like a $60 new purchase to me.

Again, very early days. More play to come this weekend.

[dbdynsty25]

Steep Beta live this weekend for all. No code required.

I downloaded and played for a few minutes. Pretty graphics, nice vibe, solid control. Plus I really like the option to ski instead of board, as I'm a skier.

But I'm not seeing anything yet that distinguishes this game or feels innovative from previous snow titles. Yes, there's a huge open world. But I wonder what the hell you do with it besides fly down it, perform tricks and find new worlds. Early days, but this doesn't feel like a $60 new purchase to me.

Again, very early days. More play to come this weekend.

It seems to me the developers played it safe mostly. I mean these are the first two "current gen" snowboarding titles so they can't really take many chances. Make a quality, good looking game, and it's gonna sell. So that's kind of the way I went into playing both of them. They are definitely not even close to being similar however. MM is waaaaaay harder. I'm digging the challenge, but I like the whole package better in Steep.