Championship Surfer
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Championship Surfer
| image = ChampionshipSurferPALcoverart.jpg
| developer = Krome Studios
| publisher = {{vgrelease|NA|Mattel Interactive|PAL|GAME Studios}}
| platforms = Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Dreamcast
| released = Windows
{{vgrelease|NA|November 20, 2000{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=November 20, 2000 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/21/news-briefs-20 |title=News Briefs |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214225413/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/21/news-briefs-20 |archivedate=December 14, 2021 |url-status=live |accessdate=July 23, 2023}}}}Dreamcast, PlayStation
{{vgrelease|NA|December 4, 2000{{cite web |url=http://www.ebworld.com/ebx/categories/homepages/dreamcast.asp |title=Dreamcast [game mislabeled as "Champ Pro Surf"] |website=EB Games |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001213172300/http://www.ebworld.com/ebx/categories/homepages/dreamcast.asp |archivedate=December 13, 2000 |url-status=dead |accessdate=January 5, 2024}}|EU|August 10, 2001 (DC){{cite web |date=July 27, 2001 |url=http://www.sega-europe.com/english/news/000063/000063.php |title=August DC line-up |website=Sega Europe |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010801160251/http://www.sega-europe.com/english/news/000063/000063.php |archivedate=August 1, 2001 |url-status=dead |accessdate=January 11, 2024}}|EU|October 19, 2001 (PS)}}
| genre = Sports
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| caption = European Dreamcast cover art
}}
Championship Surfer is an extreme sports video game developed by Krome Studios, published by Mattel Interactive in North American and GAME Studios in Europe, and released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Dreamcast in 2000.
Gameplay
The title offers various modes including Arcade, Championship, Free Surf, Time Attack, King of the Waves and Rumble, and supports up to four players.{{cite magazine |last=Randall |first=Neil |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/5/53/DCUK_UK_20.pdf |title=Championship Surfer |magazine=DC-UK |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=20 |date=March 2001 |pages=62–63 |accessdate=July 23, 2023}} The Championship mode uses scoring methods compliant with the Association of Surfing Professionals methodology.
Players can select from one of eight real-life surfers including Cory Lopez, Shane Beschen, Jason Collins and Rochelle Ballard, with the game taking place on a fictional South Pacific Island with ten selectable beach locations, each with waves possessing their own unique breaking style and size, as well as varying weather conditions.
Development
Brisbane-based company Krome Studios led development of the title, and claimed to be "staffed with avid surfers, including current Australian national champion Mark "Richo" Richardson" who informed "development and implementation of wave dynamics, board dynamics, and the moves of the featured surfers in the game".{{cite web |date=August 23, 2000 |url=https://www.gamezone.com/news/mattel_interactive_announces_lineup_for_championship_surfer/ |title=Mattel Interactive Announces Lineup for Championship Surfer |website=GameZone |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010707085151/http://www.gamezone.com/news/8_28_00_02_19pm.htm |archivedate=July 7, 2001 |url-status=live |accessdate=July 23, 2023}}
The game was originally announced in April 2000 as Billabong Pro Surfing, but would ultimately release with the endorsement of rival surfwear company O'Neill.{{cite web |last=Justice |first=Brandon |date=April 7, 2000 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/08/surfs-up-on-dreamcast |title=Surf's Up on Dreamcast? |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230101635/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/08/surfs-up-on-dreamcast |archivedate=December 30, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=July 23, 2023}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| SDC = true
| PC = true
| PS = true
| na = true
| MC_SDC = 61/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/championship-surfer/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast |title=Championship Surfer critic reviews (DC) |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119143708/https://www.metacritic.com/game/dreamcast/championship-surfer |archivedate=January 19, 2019 |url-status=live |accessdate=November 1, 2023}}
| CNG_PC = 4/10{{cite web |last=Bub |first=Andrew S. |date=January 8, 2001 |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-5149,00.html |title=Championship Surfer - PC Review |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010125085000/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-5149,00.html |archivedate=January 25, 2001 |url-status=dead |accessdate=December 14, 2021}}
| CGSP_PC = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Abner |first=William |date=November 25, 2000 |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/030/186/surf_review.html |title=Championship Surfer |website=Computer Games Strategy Plus |publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030525184343/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/030/186/surf_review.html |archivedate=May 25, 2003 |url-status=dead |accessdate=June 21, 2020}}
| EGM_PS = 4/10{{cite magazine |last=Einhorn |first=Ethan |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/e/e5/EGM_US_139.pdf |title=Championship Surfer (PS) |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=139 |date=February 2001 |page=135 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010211031156/http://www.zdnet.com/egm/stories/main/0%2C11589%2C2668352%2C00.html |archivedate=February 11, 2001 |url-status=live |accessdate=July 23, 2023}}
| EPD_SDC = 7.5/10{{cite web |last=Nash |first=Jeff |date=January 23, 2001 |url=http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=5117&full=1#mr_toppy |title=Championship Surfer (DC) |website=The Electric Playground |publisher=Greedy Productions Ltd. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030324023358/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=5117&full=1#mr_toppy |archivedate=March 24, 2003 |url-status=dead |accessdate=January 6, 2024}}
| GI_SDC = 5/10{{cite magazine |title=Championship Surfer (DC) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=95 |date=March 2001}}
| GameRev_SDC = C{{cite web |last=Archer |first=Erik |date=January 2001 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32310-xxxxxxxxx-review |title=Championship Surfer Review (DC) |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906041704/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/xxxxxxxxx |archivedate=September 6, 2015 |url-status=live |accessdate=June 21, 2020}}
| GSpot_SDC = 7.2/10{{cite web |last=Davis |first=Ryan |date=December 13, 2000 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/championship-surfer-review/1900-2664665/ |title=Championship Surfer Review (DC) |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010123221300/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2664665,00.html |archivedate=January 23, 2001 |url-status=live |accessdate=July 23, 2023}}
| GSpy_SDC = 8/10{{cite web |author=Mr. Domino |date=March 19, 2001 |url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/championshipsurfer/ |title=Championship Surfer |website=PlanetDreamcast |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125092235/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/championshipsurfer/ |archivedate=January 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |accessdate=December 12, 2014}}
| NGen_SDC = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Erickson |first=Daniel |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen74Feb2001/page/n75/mode/2up |title=Championship Surfer (DC) |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=74 |date=February 2001 |page=75 |accessdate=June 21, 2020}}
| OPM_PS = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Kennedy |first=Sam |url=https://archive.org/details/official-u.-s.-playstation-magazine-issue-41-february-2001/page/94/mode/2up |title=Championship Surfer |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=41 |date=February 2001 |page=94 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010418223109/http://www.zdnet.com/opm/stories/main/0%2C11891%2C2667599%2C00.html |archivedate=April 18, 2001 |url-status=live |accessdate=July 23, 2023}}
| PCGUS_PC = 69%{{cite magazine |last=Hachisu |first=Chiaki |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/archives/review_2001-02-13ad.html |title=Champion Surfer [sic] |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=8 |issue=2 |date=February 2001 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040902023012/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/archives/review_2001-02-13ad.html |archivedate=September 2, 2004 |url-status=dead |accessdate=December 12, 2014}}
}}
The Dreamcast and PlayStation versions received "mixed" reviews, while the PC version received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Daniel Erickson of NextGen said that the Dreamcast version was "Easily the best next-generation surfing game so far." Atomic Dawg of GamePro said that the same console version "trades on the strength of an impressive game engine that truly makes you feel like you're gliding across the waves. While the game promises a lot, however, it doesn't quite deliver."{{cite magazine |author=Atomic Dawg |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/1/1f/GamePro_US_149.pdf |title=Championship Surfer (DC) |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=149 |date=February 2001 |page=81 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725112243/https://retrocdn.net/images/1/1f/GamePro_US_149.pdf |archivedate=July 25, 2023 |url-status=live |accessdate=January 6, 2024}}{{efn|GamePro gave the Dreamcast version 4.5/5 for graphics, two 3.5/5 scores for sound and fun factor, and 4/5 for control.}}
{{clear}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/2669/championship-surfer/}}
Category:Mattel Interactive games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:PlayStation (console) games
Category:Video games developed in Australia
{{sports-videogame-stub}}