Quantcast

Xbox 360

The secret game modes YOU invented

We profile the greatest unintended gameplay quirks

Words: Ben Richardson, GamesRadar UK

Surfing

This owes much to coders balancing out the game, and a freak streak of luck. In Tribes, the PC multiplayer shooter, a beta player discovered a technique that came to be known as 'skiing' - where (in basic terms) a bit of code dictating friction on slopes, when combined with repeated jumping, created enough momentum to power across the game's huge maps in a matter of seconds. Whole maps were dedicated to the trick, making for some ludicrous designs.

Surfing turned up in Counter Strike, another friction/slope combination that created an entirely new game mode among faithful players, complete with purpose-built maps that more closely resemble bonkers rollercoasters. Thankfully, the entertaining skiing trick stayed untouched for the entire Tribes series, and surfing also returned unmolested in Valve's revamped Counter Strike: Source. Are you reading, Blizzard? Sometimes these gameplay oddities are quirky bonuses, not bugs. Though fans of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars don't seem to agree.

 
The 12 most useless game trailers
360 Feature
Nov 18, 2008
The best dead things in videogames
360 Feature
Nov 18, 2008
Pistol Porn
360 Feature
Nov 17, 2008
New Xbox Experience Gets Branded Destination... N4G
360 News from N4G
Nov 19, 2008
Gears of War 2 tops Live play charts N4G
360 News from N4G
Nov 19, 2008
Championship Gaming Series Shuts Down N4G
360 News from N4G
Nov 19, 2008
Infinite Undiscovery Gets a Massive Price Drop N4G
360 News from N4G
Nov 19, 2008
Midway Releases New Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe... N4G
360 News from N4G
Nov 19, 2008