Family Ski and Snowboard Comments by Ellie Gibson

I think I will get this. I wanted the first one as well but it was released at an extremely unfortunate time if I remember correctly (sometimes during the summer).

Your opinion on real life snowboarding is what's rubbish.

It's cheaper then £34.99 in most places so it's even more worth it! You can find it for £26.99 online and i got it for £24.99 using points..well worth it!

Your opinion on real life snowboarding is what's rubbish.

lol, most muppetlike response possible already in the second post - treating opinions as absolute facts. Nice one.

Totally off-topic for a sec... Ellie, when did you start doing articles for the BBC?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/79...

You sure do like your 7s.

Well, I think it's as odd as someone starting a FIFA XX review by saying: "Ok, I admit it, I hate football."

So is Ellie the only one at Eurogamer with a Wii and balance board?

But you can play football (of sorts) in your back garden. Last time I looked at my lawn, it wasn't 10 miles long, covered in snow and at a 70-degree incline...

I've got the wii balance board and that Shawn White and it's a lot of crap. The balance board is ill suited as an input peripheral as it gives the user zero feedback; on Shawn White they actually show you where your weight is lieing on screen to try and combat this, but it doesn't work very well. You end up contorting around like a buffoon trying to do tricks but it never feels like you're in control properly.

Must get that shit onto ebay when I have a minute.

Your opinion on real life snowboarding is what's rubbish.

Her opinion of real life snowboarding exactly matches my opinion of real life snowboarding. I have never experienced a more miserable and hate filled two hours than when I thought learning to snowboard might be 'fun'.

I'm more concerned with the Onechanbara poster on my right....

The Balance Board is hardwired to be controller four or something. You'll never have multiple balance boards unless nintendo release one that understands it could be controller 3.

Gaol: You're supposed to know where your weight is distributed. Or do you walk round in the street like the Minister of Silly Walks because it gives you zero feedback as well?

@PlugMonkey Well there is your problem you only gave it 2 hours.... what did you expect after that short time? Snowboarding has a short but very steep learning curve (to get fairly good) however its not 2 hours short....

Anyone who thinks any game this next or next generation could get close to the exhilaration of real boarding is a deluded fool

I find that generally people who hate snowboarding are just crap it at. Not really a valid reason imo.

First time I've seen Thomas Hobbes quoted in a game review. +1 for doing it but -1 for describing him as "Some old philosopher" as if you're an anti-intellectual. You can't have it both ways.

"They're right, of course - you can also gather speed by twisting the controllers and tucking your arms in, and I am "seriously amateur". Sorry."

Apology accepted Ellie

Your too nice to be a journalist - They never say sorry

'What's more, Family Ski and Snowboard improves on real-life snowboarding. It's sociable rather than solitary, and there's not a single nasty or brutish thing about it.'

er :D

If i wanted more junk under my tv.. i'd buy a balance board.. then i'd buy this.

First time I've seen Thomas Hobbes quoted in a game review.

I thought it was Jon Pertwee talking about the Sontarans...

Got this and enjoying it quite a bit. Just got back from my first time skiing and this brings back good memories, also the 6 year old seems to enjoy it too

Got this and loving it.

Not sure why it got reviewed bad in places on metacritic, Ellie's review seems about right and I think you can add a point if you like relaxing exploration games without much focus..You can just mooch all over the mountain. The graphics are lovely, the trick system works well and the sense of exploration is top notch. Loving it. If you like games where you can just wander and relax this is ideal. Thoroughly recommend it if you've got a balance board.

Would also like to say that there are plenty of things to do and challenges to complete if you're that way out. There are lots of races to do, trick scores to beat, things to find. Not sure why people say it seems like there's nothing to do. I just prefer mucking about on the mountain.

Best compliment I can give this is it reminds me a bit of the N64 Pilotwings, perhaps not quite as good but a similar feel of making your own fun and limitless possibilities. Missus loves it too. Quality game.

I was quite surprised at how good the graphics are, having played mostly PS3 and Xbox 360 games for the last 2 years. The night time slope has some excellent lighting effects. My 3 year old (who just started skiing for real this year) absolutely loves it... so much so that I rarely get a look in!

@Gaol
I've got the wii balance board and that Shawn White and it's a lot of crap. The balance board is ill suited as an input peripheral as it gives the user zero feedback; on Shawn White they actually show you where your weight is lieing on screen to try and combat this, but it doesn't work very well. You end up contorting around like a buffoon trying to do tricks but it never feels like you're in control properly.

Ok, that's probably that particular game. Family Ski and Snowboard doesn't have this problem.

@HolyJebus
I find that generally people who hate snowboarding are just crap it at. Not really a valid reason imo

Finally... someone talking some sense! I think the real problem is that the videogame generation are too used to getting instant gratification without putting any real effort in. Like this guy...

@PlugMonkey
Her opinion of real life snowboarding exactly matches my opinion of real life snowboarding. I have never experienced a more miserable and hate filled two hours than when I thought learning to snowboard might be 'fun'.

... who is a prime example. So you spent two hours snowboarding before giving up... why? Because you weren't Shawn White? What exactly were you expecting?

You obviously need to be in a environment where it's cold enough for the snow not to melt. You also need to be fit and a sensible weight. If you're unfit there's no way you can snowboard as you will not have enough strength or agility in your knees and upper body (which do all the work). If you're overweight, as with any sport, you will simply compound the problem.

I've been snowboarding for 10 years. It took 5 days of snowboard school to get the basics of balancing, stopping, linking turns etc.. After that, it takes practice (and a good deal of wiping out) to get really good. I'm enjoying every second of it.

@smelly
If i wanted more junk under my tv.. i'd buy a balance board.. then i'd buy this.

Umm... I think you've misunderstood what this is? You don't put the balance board under your TV, you put it in the middle of the floor in front of your TV and then you stand on it.

When you're not using it, you can put it anywhere you like. I slide my balance board under the sofa.

@Ellie:
What's more, Family Ski and Snowboard improves on real-life snowboarding. It's sociable rather than solitary, and there's not a single nasty or brutish thing about it.

I don't understand this comment in the review. Real-life snowboarding is surely only solitary if you've got no mates? And what exactly is nasty or brutish about it?