SSX is a 2000 snowboarding video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts as a launch title for the PlayStation 2. It is the first game in the SSX series, as well as the first title released under the EA Sports BIG publishing label, which specialized in extreme sports titles with an arcade feel.
SSX was a commercial success and received widespread acclaim, being widely regarded by critics as one of the standouts of the PlayStation 2's launch games.
The executive producer and creative leader was Steve Rechtschaffner, who was also the inventor of the Olympic snowboard event called boardercross, which served as the inspiration for the game. Rechtschaffner led the development of SSX, SSX Tricky, and SSX 3, before moving into the chief creative officer role for EA Canada; he had no involvement in the other titles in the series.
Gameplay
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.
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. and had an estimated development budget of $8 million.