Winter Games FAQ/Guide 1.00 By Andrew M. Evans aka AndrewM
([email protected])

Looking for anything NES? Visit my hopefully-but-probably-not comprehensive NES
Site at www.neshq.com!


--== Table of Contents ==--
Section 1  ----- Revision History
Section 2  ----- Disclaimer
Section 3  ----- FAQ Introduction
Section 4  ----- Game Introduction
Section 5  ----- Hot Dog Aerials
Section 6  ----- Speed Skating
Section 7  ----- Figure Skating
Section 8  ----- The Bobsled
Section 9  ----- World Records
Section 10 ----- Closing Notes, Credits, and Thanks


--== Section 1 - Revision History ==--
Version          Date Released          Changes
1.0              July 28, 2004          Original Version


--== Section 2 - Disclaimer ==--
This FAQ is intended for private use and may not be reproduced on any sites or
in any publications without my prior consent, which I may or may not (I don't
see why I wouldn't) grant by having you e-mail me at [email protected]. If you
should fail to do so and I see my FAQ posted somewhere I shall be forced to
sue you into litigation Hell with my army of high-powered lawyers. Actually,
this whole bit is a bunch of ballyhoo. If you want to post or reproduce this
FAQ go right ahead and do so, just leave me my credit and the shameless
self-promotions for my NES Site, www.neshq.com (in case you have yet to see!).
Oh yea, and if you somehow get hurt using this FAQ I am in no way responsible
(is this even possible). As a matter of fact, by even opening this file you
have officially absolved me of any responsibility in my entire life. Ok, well
it was worth a shot......


--== Section 3 - FAQ Introduction ==--
Howdy. Hello. How ya doing? Welcome to my Winter Games FAQ/Guide. I managed to
dig out Winter Games while looking for a two player game. Chris "Skizzle"
Politi and I managed to play this game to its logical conclusion over the
period of a few days. What did we learn? Mainly that without instructions,
controls, or some sort of jedi mind control this game can be incredibly
(stressing incredibly) frustrating (thank you non-intuitive controls!). Once
We had conquered Winter Games I realized that I had to write an FAQ for it to
save others from the same unending frustration we endured. I hope you enjoy!


--== Section 4 - Game Introduction ==--
Welcome to Winter Games, your chance to win the gold. In Winter Games you
compete in four events - Hot Dog Aerials (ski jump), speed skating, figure
skating, and bobsledding. After you suffer through a completely unnecessary
torch lighting ceremony (you might not find it annoying yet but wait until
you hit reset a few times) you're presented with a main menu. From here you may:
Compete In All Events - Compete (either one or two players) in all four events
Compete In One Event - Compete (either one or two players) in a single event
Practice Events - Practice one event as much as you like
See World Records - Pretty Self Explanatory, eh?
Opening Ceremony - No, not again!


--== Section 5 - Hot Dog Aerials ==--
Section 5-1 - Introduction
 Time to show what you're made of! The Hot Dog Aerials (known as the ski jump
 to everyone but the people who made this game) is one of the two events that
 I personally consider to be the 'skilled' events. Depending on your trick(s)
 you get points that could take you to the coveted (note: sarcasm) Winter
 Games Olympic Gold.

Section 5-2 - Basic Controls
 Winter Games is really interesting because the B button is not used at all.
 The controls for the ski jump are as follows:
 A - Starts down jump
 B, Up, Down - Not Used
 Right - Forward flip
 Left - Backward flip

Section 5-3 - Advanced Controls/Tricks
 Front Flip (FF) - Pressing right once will make your skier do a front flip
 Back flip (BF) - Pressing left once will make your skier do a back flip
 Double Front Flip (DFF) - Pressing right twice will make your skier do a
   double front flip
 Double Back Flip (DBF) - Pressing left twice will make your skier do a
   double front flip
 Skis Back (SB) - Pressing up and right simultaneously (essentially
   northeast) will make your skier do a skis back
 Skis Back and Crossed (SBC) - Pressing down and right simultaneously
   (essentially southeast) will make your skier do a skis back and crossed
 The Y (Y) - Pressing down and left simultaneously (essentially southwest)
   will make your skier do a skis back and grab, or 'The Y'
 The Split (S) - Pressing up and left simultaneously (essentially northwest)
   will make your skier do a split
 Combo - Any combo may be performed by combining any two (non-double-flip)
   maneuvers

Section 5-4 - Point Values
 Points are awarded on originality and difficulty but are always the same
   (there is a .1 point variance on some tricks). Trick abbreviations are
   given above, in section 5-4. Point values:
 Trick/Combo           Point Value
 FF                    5.7
 BF                    5.7
 DFF                   6.3 (If trick started late enough point score 7.7)
 DBF                   6.3 (If trick started late enough point score 7.7)
 FF+BF Combo           7.1
 BF+FF Combo           7.1
 SB                    6.2
 SBC                   6.2
 Y                     6.2
 S                     6.2
 FF+SB/SBC/Y/S Combo   8.4
 BF+SB/SBC/Y/S Combo   8.4
 SB+SBC/Y/S Combo      9.5 (If trick started late enough point score 10.0)
 SBC+SB/Y/S Combo      9.5 (If trick started late enough point score 10.0)
 Y+SB/SBC/S Combo      9.5 (If trick started late enough point score 10.0)
 S+SB/SBC/Y Combo      9.5 (If trick started late enough point score 10.0)

Section 5-5 - Strategy
 I'm presuming you're reading the FAQ section because you want to beat your
   friend at Winter Games (you're a sad man, but hey at least you didn't
   write a Winter Games FAQ!). If you are then here are some good strategies
   for the Hot Dog Aerials...
 Strategy 1 (Play it safe) - Start with an easy double flip combo for a 6.3.
   Second jump go for a FF+BF combo for a 7.1. Last run go for something
   like a FF+S combo for an 8.4. You're bound to hit at least one of these,
   meaning you have at least a 6.3. Good if your opponent isn't good.
 Strategy 2 (Moderate) - Start with a BF+FF combo for a 7.1. Next go to a
   FF+SB type combo for an 8.4. Lastly go for an SB+S combo for a solid 9.5.
   Use against decent opponents.
 Strategy 3 (Hot Dog Aerialist) - Start strong with a FF+SB type combo for a
   decent 8.4. If landed move onto the SB+Y type combos, if not try again.
   On third jump go for a 9.5 type combo no matter what. Used in case you're
   up against a veteran.
 Strategy 4 (The Chris Politi) - Only use this strategy if you're up against
   Chris Politi, who has proven himself as the world's foremost expert in
   The Hot Dog Aerials (yes, he is the best in THE WORLD). In this strategy
   try a 9.5 combo on your first jump. If hit go for the 10.0, if not go for
   another 9.5. On the third jump you've either A)Hit the 9.5 and can only
   go for a 10.0 or B)You haven't hit the 9.5 and you're hopeless so why not
   go for a 10.0? Huh nancy-boy? Yea, that's right, go for the 10.0


--== Section 6 - Speed Skating ==--
Section 6-1 - Introduction
 Speed Skating (or as I like to call it, torture a la Nintendo) involves a
   classic Nintendo pastime: button mashing.

Section 6-2 - Basic Controls
 Only two controls here, not too difficult Einstein. You must hit left and
   right as fast as possible to get your skater skating faster.

Section 6-3 - Strategy
 I'm supposed to come up for a strategy on this? Didn't you read section 6-2?


--== Section 7 - Figure Skating ==--
Section 7-1 - Introduction
 Figure skating is, without doubt, the hardest event in the game. You are
   judged on your tricks and overall flow of your routine. You'll probably
   pull your hair out and maybe even punch your entertainment cabinet
   twelve times before this gets easy. I'll now touch on the two categories
   you'll be judged on as well as a little strategy.

Section 7-2 - Controls and Tricks
 Tricks are performed by using certain button combinations. If you use a
   combination not listed here you WILL fall and you'll see your score drop
   drastically. Moral of the story - stick to the tricks and win figure
   skating. Listed below are the tricks. A combination of directional pad
   buttons looks like: DUL (Directional pad Up and Left at the same time).
 Trick/Combo/Move                 Buttons               Point Value
 Double Axel Jump                 DUR+A                 .6
 Triple Axel Jump                 DDR+A                 1.1
 Double Lutz Jump                 DUL+A                 .6
 Triple Lutz Jump                 DDL+A                 1.1
 Camel Spin                       DU+A                  .7
 Sit Spin                         DD+A                  .7
 Camel to Sit Spin Combo          DU+A -> DD+A          1.2
 Skate Forward                    DR+A                  0
 Skate Backwards                  DL+A                  0
 As you can see, landing every trick will give you a perfect 6. To land the
   jumps you must press A while your skater is descending. Pressing A too
   soon or too late will cause your skater to fall. Making your skater fall
   is Figure Skating suicide, so make sure you get landings down well.

Section 7-3 - Feelin' the Flow
 The flow is the mysterious mantra, the figure skating jedi force. Ah, the
   precious flow. The flow can really wreck or make your round. What is the
   flow? The flow, simply put, is the combination of falls (or lack thereof)
   and continuity during your one minute figure skating exhibition. It goes
   like this: See how the scores above add up to a perfect six? Well, for
   every time you fall you lose 1.2 points. This means that if you did a
   perfect round but fell once at the end you'd only get a 4.8 (sucks, eh?).
   Now, as for continuity (bear with me, I read this in the manual for the
   c64 version of the game but it holds true for the NES version) - you want
   to be as graceful as possible. There are basically three parts to NES
   Winter Games gracefulness - front jumps, back jumps, and spins. Whenever
   you do a front jump (Axel) you need to make sure you hit the appropriate
   buttons when your skater has her legs spread apart. When you're doing a
   backwards jump (Lutz) you need to hit the appropriate buttons when your
   skater has her legs closed. Lastly, when you're doing any of the spins
   make sure you spin six times. Any violation of these three grace
   principles will deduct .2 point from your score. Seems insignificant, but
   if you landed every trick (but did so ungracefully) you'd only get a 4.6
   instead of a 6.0. Obnoxious? Yes, but it makes the game more interesting.

Section 7-4 Ye Olde Figure Skating Strategy
 By now you know how to do the tricks, what they're worth, and the finer
   points of Winter Games Figure Skating. Well, there are two more things to
   mention. First, you can only do each trick once. Any later attempts will
   not be counted on the final score, regardless of whether or not the
   original trick was successful. Second, you must be facing forward when time
   runs out. If you're not then you'll fall down (say goodbye to 1.2 points).
   So, now for strategy. The path I recommend is: Triple Axel, Double Lutz,
   Camel Spin, Triple Lutz, Sit-spin, Skate Forwards, Double Axel, and finish
   with a Camel to Sit Spin. This works well since the jumps sort of lead
   into the spins. Give it a shot.


--== Section 8 - The Bobsled ==--
Section 8-1 - Introduction
 The Bobsled is the one event where once you master it it's really just luck.
   After investing ridiculous amounts of time into The Bobsled to see if this
   was true or not. I can really say that once you learn the controls on the
   Bobsled the rest is left to the three fates to decide your time. I've
   tried riding the banks low, high, low-in high-out, high-in low out, and
   even right down the middle.... all seems to be the same. Good luck.

Section 8-2 - Controls
 Controls for The Bobsled are:
 Down - Slow down
 Left - Steer left
 Right - Steer right
 Everything else - Not used


--== Section 9 - World Records ==--
World Records:
 Hot Dog Aerials
   Name                  Score
   Chris Politi          10.0
 Speed Skating
   Name                  Time (Seconds)
   Andy 'AndrewM' Evans  43.2
 Figure Skating
   Name                  Score
   Andy 'AndrewM' Evans  5.4
 Bobsled
   Name                  Time (Seconds)
   Chris Politi          51.25


--== Section 10 - Closing Notes, Credits, and Thanks ==--
I hope the FAQ was helpful. If not well then you're probably just angry at the
 world and a joyless lump of coal (I'll go out on a limb and say there's a
 good chance Winter Games made you so bitter). Thanks to Chris Politi, with
 whom I had the joy of wasting several hours of my life on this game. I will
 use the rest of this space to once again shamelessly plug my website,
 www.neshq.com. If you see any mistakes or have anything to add to this FAQ,
 e-mail me at [email protected].

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