This is a topic that comes up a lot. It comes up in nearly every review of any winter sports game that has been released in the last decade. Rightfully so. Expectations are important right? Players want to know what they're getting for their hard-earned cash.
But then the never-ending battle of which is better gets dragged out in the comments section. Many believe that games should be as realistic as possible while others point out that games are fictional and should be an extension of fantasy. Who's right? Where do we stand in this? What is Powder VR aiming for and why?
Some players enjoy super-difficult, technical challenges which is usually the simulation route and some players just want to strap in and fly at 100mph through the craziest, most dangerous terrain. Obviously it's more nuanced than just choosing one side and making a game. There's more than one facet to action sports- from terrain, to controls, to style, there are many pivotal points when designing a game to choose which direction to go.
If we were to make a perfect winter sports game, it would take the visuals and exploration of Steep, the style, creativity and excitement of SSX 3, and the technical aspects of Skate 3 and mash them into a gamer's dream. Alas, we don't have all those resources and many of our decisions have been made for us given our platform, our resources, and our players.
There is one tenet in video gaming that overrides both realism and fantasy, and that's fun. More details in the next post.