SSX (2000 video game)
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| above = SSX
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| caption = {{#if:SSX box art.jpg|North American box art|North American box art}}
| label2 = Developer(s) | data2 = EA Canada
| label3 = Publisher(s) | data3 = EA Sports BIG
| label4 = Director(s) | data4 = Template:If first display both
| label5 = Producer(s)
| data5 = Larry LaPierre
Steve Rechtschaffner
| label6 = Designer(s) | data6 = Template:If first display both
| label7 = Programmer(s) | data7 = Jon Spencer
| label8 = Artist(s) | data8 = Ian Lloyd
| label9 = Writer(s) | data9 = Template:If first display both
| label10 = Composer(s) | data10 = Template:If first display both
| label11 = Series | data11 = SSX
| label12 = Engine | data12 = Template:If first display both
| label13 = Platform(s) | data13 = PlayStation 2
| label14 = Release | data14 = Template:Vgrelease
| label15 = Genre(s) | data15 = Snowboarding, Racing
| label16 = Mode(s) | data16 = Single-player, multiplayer
| label17 = Arcade system | data17 = Template:If first display both
| data30 =
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SSX is a snowboarding video game, the first in the SSX series. It was developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports BIG label for the PlayStation 2 in October 2000. It was the first title released under the EA Sports Big publishing label, which specialized in extreme sports titles with an arcade feel.<ref name="Farlow 2017">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
SSX received widespread critical acclaim and commercial success, while also receiving numerous industry awards and was widely regarded by critics as one of the standouts of the PlayStation 2's launch games.<ref name="Farlow 2017"/> The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences gave the game five awards, including "Console Sports Game of the Year", "Console Racing Game of the Year" and "Console Game of the Year".<ref name="Console Racing Game of the Year"/><ref name="Console Sports Game of the Year"/> The executive producer and creative leader was Steve Rechtschaffner,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> who was also the inventor of the Olympic snowboard event called boardercross,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which served as the inspiration for the game.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Subsequent titles in the SSX series include, in order of release, SSX Tricky (2001), SSX 3 (2003), SSX on Tour (2005), SSX Blur (2007), and SSX (2012), the final installment.<ref name="Farlow 2017"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rechtschaffner led the development of SSX, SSX Tricky, and SSX 3,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before moving into the chief creative officer role for EA Canada. He had no involvement in the other titles in the series.<ref name="Bajda 2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
GameplayEdit
Players may choose one of a number of riders, each with their own statistics and boarding style. A course is selected, and the player is given the option of racing down the course or participating in a competition to do tricks. There are a total of eight playable characters: Mac Fraser, Moby Jones, Elise Riggs, Kaori Nishidake, Jurgen Angermann, JP Arsenault, Zoe Payne, and Hiro Karamatsu. Mac, Moby, Elise, and Kaori are available at the start, while the other four are unlocked by earning gold medals. Earning the first gold medal unlocks Jurgen, the second gold medal unlocks JP, the third gold medal unlocks Zoe, and the fourth gold medal unlocks Hiro.<ref name="Manual">Template:Cite book</ref>
Each course is filled with ramps, rails, jumps, and other assorted objects. Performing tricks fills up the player's boost meter, which can be used for additional acceleration, making tricks important even in a race. While some tricks have origins in snowboarding, many of the more advanced tricks are not realistic to actual physics. This matters little in games of this style, as the larger and more extreme tricks count for the most points and are the most spectacular to execute. Players also have the option of practicing or exploring courses in freeride mode.<ref name="Manual"/>
DevelopmentEdit
Template:Expand section SSXTemplate:'s development started on the Dreamcast. When Electronic Arts decided to end its relationship with Sega, the development was moved to the PlayStation 2.<ref name="Bajda 2018"/> The game was announced on February 17, 2000,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and had an estimated development budget of $8 million.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ReceptionEdit
The game received universal acclaim according to Metacritic, a video game review aggregator.<ref name="metacritic"/> Eric Bratcher of NextGen called it "The best game on PS2 to date. End of story."<ref name="ngen"/> In Japan, where the game was ported for release under the title Template:Nihongo on October 26, 2000 (the same release date as the North American PlayStation 2 launch), Famitsu gave it a score of 32 out of 40.<ref name="Fam"/>
GameSpotTemplate:'s early review praised the game's smooth graphics and direct controls, while also drawing attention to the game's dynamic soundtrack, which adjusts the intensity of the background music based on the player's current performance.<ref name="gamespot"/> IGNTemplate:'s review drew attention to the game's deft balancing of tricks and racing, saying that a mastery of both is a requirement of success in the game. The game's tracks were seen as a strong point, calling the Tokyo Megaplex course "a festival of lights, color and one of the most ingeniously designed levels that have ever been in a game."<ref name="ign"/> Both reviews mentioned the presence of some graphical slowdown but stated that it was a rare occurrence and only a minor issue. Edge gave it eight out of ten and said of the game: "You'll win races by fractions of seconds, and you'll lose them by less, but either way you'll find yourself tearing down another hillside within minutes. It's addictive and instinctive, and it's that seemingly rare thing: a PlayStation2Template:Sic title that values entertainment over image."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> GameCritics cited the scope of the game's tracks as a strength, and said that there is little revolutionary in the game's overall premise of snowboard races. The pre-wind jump system was also criticised, in that to ensure a good jump, the player must sacrifice the ability to steer long before they reach the ramp. The site praised the simplicity of the trick system, and called the game "an all-around solid title".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
AccoladesEdit
The game won the title of the PlayStation 2 Game of the Year at Electronic Gaming MonthlyTemplate:'s 2000 Gamers' Choice Awards and Readers' Choice Awards.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It also won the "Best Sound" and "Best PlayStation 2 Game" awards at GameSpotTemplate:'s Best and Worst of 2000 Awards;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="bestandworst2000ps2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was a runner-up for "Best Game Music",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Best Graphics, Technical",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Best Sports Game (Alternative)",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and overall "Game of the Year" awards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The staff dubbed it a "killer app" for the PlayStation 2.<ref name="bestandworst2000ps2"/>
SSX additionally won the "Console Game of the Year",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Console Racing",<ref name="Console Racing Game of the Year">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Console Sports",<ref name="Console Sports Game of the Year">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Gameplay Engineering",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and "Visual Engineering" awards<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> at the AIAS' 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; it also received nominations for the "Original Musical Composition" award, which was given to Medal of Honor: Underground,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> as well as for "Game of the Year", which ultimately was awarded to Diablo II.
The game won the awards for Sports Game of 2000 in Editors' Choice (it was a runner-up in Readers' Choice),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Graphics of 2000,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sound of 2000,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and PlayStation 2 Game of the Year at IGNTemplate:'s Best of 2000 Awards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It also won the awards for "Game of the Year", "Best Soundtrack", and "Best Extreme Sports Game" at the Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine 2000 Editors' Awards,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and was a runner-up for the "Best Multiplayer Game" award, which went to TimeSplitters.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>