Winter Games (NES)

Winter Games

Platform: NES Year: 1987 Developer: Atelier Double

Winter Games is an Olympic sports game. It was originally developed by Action Graphics for Epyx for several home computers before arriving on the NES courtesy of Japan-based developer Atelier Double. However, before the NES version, the game was previously released the same year for the Famicom Disk System, which is only marginally superior.

The original computer versions allowed the player to compete in up to nine events. However, the NES version was watered down to just four events, even less than some of the other console ports. The events include the following; Hot Dog Aerials, which is a ski jump. Second, there's the speed skating, where you must beat the computer (or Player 2). Third is the Figure Skating where you must perform the best that you can, and finally, the bobsled, where you must get to the end without crashing the bobsled three times.

The NES version was hugely criticized for its poor gameplay, graphics, and music. Even the name entry screen is a pain to use. In addition, many have panned this game for allegedly having the worst controls in any video game ever made. Also, the Atari 2600 version, which was a much weaker console than the NES, had more sporting events and controlled a lot better. In addition, the game doesn't save your scores when you turn off the game. The Famicom Disk System version featured a save function, so this wasn't a problem for Japanese players. You are also forced to watch the entire opening ceremony every time you turn on the game. The game received popularity when it was reviewed by the Angry Video Game Nerd in 2010.

Screenshots

The title screen. The opening ceremony. The ski jump, interestingly called Hot Dog Aerials. Speed skating. Figure skating to The Waltz of the Flowers. Trying the bobsled.

Music

The music is a butchered version of the computer versions originally composed by David Thiel, which in turn used many public domain pieces. The NES version's music consists of dull square waves, random tempo changes, and poor arrangements of the computer score. The Speed Skating music in particular has been shunned by critics and listeners, and was even described in gut-wrenching detail by the Angry Video Game Nerd. Even though the game was released in Japan for the Famicom Disk System, the music does not take advantage of its RP2C33 expansion audio. The music for the NES version was arranged by Atelier Double's in-house audio programmer, Kenichi Tomizawa. It appears that this was the first game Tomizawa ever worked on. To create the music, he had to write the music in pure 6502 assembly. He most likely had to learn all the songs by ear.

Recording

#	Title	Composer	Arranger	Length	Listen	Download
01	Opening Ceremony	Leo Arnaud	Kenichi Tomizawa	0:28		Download
02	World Records	Jean-Joseph Mouret	Kenichi Tomizawa	0:38		Download
03	USA	John Stafford Smith	Kenichi Tomizawa	0:11		Download
04	Canada	Calixa Lavallée	Kenichi Tomizawa	0:08		Download
05	USSR	Pierre De Geyter	Kenichi Tomizawa	0:11		Download
06	Japan	Traditional	Kenichi Tomizawa	0:06		Download
07	Great Britain	Unknown	Kenichi Tomizawa	0:09		Download
08	France	Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle	Kenichi Tomizawa	0:08		Download
09	Hot Dog Aerials	David Thiel	Kenichi Tomizawa	1:14		Download
10	Speed Skating	David Thiel	Kenichi Tomizawa	0:52		Download
11	Figure Skating	Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky	Kenichi Tomizawa	1:15		Download
12	The Bobsled	David Thiel	Kenichi Tomizawa	0:44		Download

Credits

• Ripper:
• Recorder: Doommaster1994
• Game Credits:
  • Not Credited Arranger: Kenichi Tomizawa
  • Not Credited Composer: David Thiel
  • Not Credited Composer: Leo Arnaud
  • Not Credited Composer: Jean-Joseph Mouret
  • Not Credited Composer: John Stafford Smith
  • Not Credited Composer: Calixa Lavallée
  • Not Credited Composer: Pierre De Geyter
  • Not Credited Composer: Traditional
  • Not Credited Composer: Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
  • Not Credited Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  • Unknown Composer: Unknown

(Source: Verification from composers; Game lacks credits.)

According to Tomizawa, because it was uncommon at the time, there are no credits in the game. This is also the case for the computer versions. However, we have contacted both Tomizawa and Thiel who have confirmed their involvement in their respective versions of Winter Games. The Famicom Disk System version's manual has credits, but only for the publishing staff at Pony Canyon.

Game Rip

This rip is missing songs.

Releases

Japan Title: ウィンターゲームズ (Winter Games) Platform: FDS Released: 1987-03-27 Publisher: Pony Canyon, Inc.     USA Title: Winter Games Platform: NES Released: 1987-09-?? Publisher: Acclaim, Ltd.

Links

• mobygames.com/game/nes/winter-games - MobyGames.
• gamefaqs.gamespot.com/nes/578392-winter-games - GameFAQs.