SSX dev diary tries shamelessly to play down gritty reinvention fears, and miraculously convinces us

News
By published

Okay guys, we're back on-board

It's not unusual for a piece of video released by a game publisher to have a strong PR message. Let's face it, dev diaries exist as entertaining ways to deliver PR in the same way that cakes exist as entertaining ways to deliver sugar. Without the corporate message, they're devoid of purpose. It's been a while though, since I saw one trying so hard to deliver such a specific message as this vid for the new SSX. And that message, rather gloriously, is "Don't worry about that dark and gritty bullshit in the teaser trailer; this is proper SSX"

Okay, no game footage (except SSX3 on the PS2, doubtless a calculated yell of "Hey guys, we're playing SSX3! You love SSX3, right!?"), but yikes, would you look at that production art. The track design concepts look like they could have appeared in SSXes Tricky and 3 no problem at all. In fact they look exactly like the unlockable concept art in SSX3. And the explanation of the new SSX's survival element? If it's true, and that controversial early teaser just misrepresented a philosophy of more mental tracks, then I am categorically back in.And you know how seriously I take my beloved SSX.

Also, note how the previously-touted "Deadly Descents" subtitle is mentioned precisely nowhere. It's not even on the title card at the end. A conscious image shift back to the friendlier tone of the original games? Definitely, I reckon. For now all we can do iswait and hope that the very specific message of this particular vid turns out to be the truth behind this new SSX and not just a panic-managed wool-pulling excersise. For now though, I am certainly willing to believe it.

What do you reckon? Are EA redressing some overzealous misinformation from the earlier trailer? Or is this all just a smoke-screen to diffuse fanboy rage?

April 4th, 2011

And weirdly for one as cynical as I, I'm very close to won over. Watch it and find out why.

Okay, no game footage (except SSX3 on the PS2, doubtless a calculated yell of "Hey guys, we're playing SSX3! You love SSX3, right!?"), but yikes, would you look at that production art. The track design concepts look like they could have appeared in SSXes Tricky and 3 no problem at all. In fact they look exactly like the unlockable concept art in SSX3. And the explanation of the new SSX's survival element? If it's true, and that controversial early teaser just misrepresented a philosophy of more mental tracks, then I am categorically back in.And you know how seriously I take my beloved SSX.

Also, note how the previously-touted "Deadly Descents" subtitle is mentioned precisely nowhere. It's not even on the title card at the end. A conscious image shift back to the friendlier tone of the original games? Definitely, I reckon. For now all we can do iswait and hope that the very specific message of this particular vid turns out to be the truth behind this new SSX and not just a panic-managed wool-pulling excersise. For now though, I am certainly willing to believe it.

What do you reckon? Are EA redressing some overzealous misinformation from the earlier trailer? Or is this all just a smoke-screen to diffuse fanboy rage?

April 4th, 2011

David Houghton
David Houghton
Former GamesRadar+ Features Writer

Former (and long-time) GamesRadar+ writer, Dave has been gaming with immense dedication ever since he failed dismally at some '80s arcade racer on a childhood day at the seaside (due to being too small to reach the controls without help). These days he's an enigmatic blend of beard-stroking narrative discussion and hard-hitting Psycho Crushers.