SkiFree
From Free net encyclopedia
SkiFree is a computer game created by Chris Pirih, who was working as a programmer at Microsoft at the time. The object of the game is simple: ski down a seemingly endless slope and avoid the obstacles.
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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 4 April, 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".
Abominable snowman
Image:Skifree yeti.png Once the player has completed his or her run, the game does not abruptly end. Rather, the player continues skiing until they encounter an abominable snowman who chases and attempts to eat the skier. From that point on, the player can ski until the monster catches them.
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.
Trees
Moving Trees
Throughout the game there are trees that seem to grow feet. If you look close, you may see some of these trees.
Burning Trees
Environmentalist concerns were brought to the forefront when players realized they could set fire to the trees by jumping over them. It is unknown whether this was intended to cause an uproar or not.
External links
- The Most Officialest SkiFree Home Page - Author Chris Pirih's website
- SkiFree tips and cheats