DOS Days

Ski or Die!

Released: 1990
Published by: Electronic Arts
Developed by: Electronic Arts
Author(s): Michael Abbott, Nana Chambers, Michael Kosaka, Connie Braat, Peggy A. Brennan, Cynthia Hamilton, Michael Anthony Lubuguin, Rob Hubbard, Nancy L. Fong


Introduction

Ski or Die was brought to us by the same team at Electronic Arts as Budokan: The Martial Spirit, Summer Games II, and Kings of the Beach. It takes the winning formula of multiple mini-games as in the 'Games' series to the snowy climbs for winter fun.

Enter up to 6 players and compete against each other in five events: Snowball Blast, Downhill Blitz, Acro Aerials, Innertube Thrash, and Snowboard Halfpipe. The game starts you in the town square where you can choose to take part in an event or go into Rodney's Ski Shop to register players, view the high score table, or choose to compete or practice.

Snowball Blast puts you in a snowball fight with the local kids. Throw snowballs at anything that moves to get points, pick up more snowballs, or get some bonuses. Move the crosshairs using the arrow keys and ENTER to throw.

Downhill Blitz is a race to the bottom against the clock (you have 2 minutes). Direct your skier along narrow paths, jump across crevasses, and handle the moguls using the arrow keys. Try to put as many tricks in as you can for bonus points. If you're heading for a cliff, hold ENTER + down arrow to jump, and release it land safely.

Acro Aerials is an aerial stunts event - fit as many combos in as you can while in the air. Use ENTER continuously to build up speed, alternating left + right to gain air, then when in the air use ENTER and the arrow keys (1 through 9) to perform combo tricks including front tucks, daffies, wide eagle spread, and twist flips. The judges will score you based on your style. If you don't land well you will lose all points.

Innertube Thrash puts you up against Lester, your opponent. Race down the piste while picking up items and hitting Lester with them such as a knife and fork to puncture his tube. When you see bumps hit ENTER to go up and down. Be sure not to fall off the edges though! Two players can also be set to compete directly in this event.

Snowboard Halfpipe is seen in a third-person view. Get up the sides using left + right to gain height, and use the lip to perform trick shots in the fixed time limit. Be sure to land correctly or you will lose you points.

For all these events you can choose to practice, enter into either a single event or play in a full tournament.

 


Game Intro with Ad Lib sound

 

Ski or Die! was released the same year on Commodore 64, Nintendo Entertainment System, and Commodore Amiga. For DOS it was limited to running in 320 x 200 16-colour EGA mode.

 

System Requirements

System Requirements Intel 8088/8086 and 384 KB of memory
Graphics support: CGA, Tandy/PCjr, and EGA
Audio support: PC speaker, Tandy/PCjr, Ad Lib, Roland MT-32
Peripheral support: Keyboard or analogue joystick
Original Media Two 5.25" DS/DD (360 KB) floppy diskettes or one 3.5" DS/DD (720 KB) floppy diskette
Installed Size 543 KB


From where can it be run?

The game must be installed to your hard disk. You don't need to use the INSTALL.BAT utility. You can alternatively just copy all files from the floppy disk(s) to a directory on your hard disk.

 

Copy Protection

Ski or Die! has manual copy protection. When starting you will be presented with a move and asked to describe it:

Use the manual to identify the move and enter the correct 2 letters. After 3 failed attempts you will see this:

A further three failed attempts will abort the game. NeverLock has a crack for Ski or Die! copy protection.

 

How to Setup

Insert the first floppy disk and run INSTALL C: (or other hard drive letter) to begin the installation. A directory will be created called \SKI.

The main executable, SKI.EXE can use the following command-line arguments, and is run in the following format:

SKI <graphics mode> <sound mode>

cga - Run the game in CGA 4-colour mode
ega - Run the game in EGA 16-colour mode
tga - Run the game in Tandy/PCjr mode
adlib - Use Ad Lib audio
mt32 - Use Roland MT-32 audio

e.g. to run EGA with Ad Lib sound, use:
ski ega adlib

If any arguments are not included, the graphics mode is automatically detected, and sound will default to PC speaker.

 

Problems

Symptom: The game hangs on startup.
Cause: Your machine is too fast to run Ski or Die!
Resolution: Disable cache(s) or run a slowdown utility to reduce your PC to XT/286/386 performance.

Keys

Menu Navigation

Arrow Keys – Move cursor/ski
Enter – Confirm/Select
Esc – Back/Quit

Acro Aerials

Left/Right Tap – Gain speed
Shift + Arrows – Tricks
Up + Down – Flip

Snowball Blast

Arrow Keys – Aim
Enter – Throw
Shift + Arrow – Turn

Downhill Blitz

Arrow Keys – Steer
Down Arrow – Accelerate
Shift + Arrows – Perform tricks

Innertube Thrash

Arrow Keys – Steer
Down Arrow – Accelerate
Shift – Use weapon
Enter – Sharp turn

Snowboard Half-Pipe

Arrow Keys – Movement
Spacebar / Up Arrow – Jump & perform tricks

 

To Quit the Game

From the main town square screen, press ESC and when prompted with "Exit to DOS (Y/N)?", confirm by pressing 'Y'.

 

Supporting Documents

 

Additional Files, Drivers & Utilities

I have no additional files or utilities for Ski or Die.

 

Save Games

The game has no means of saving your progress. Your name is automatically written to the High Scores chart in Rodney's Ski Shop if you choose to compete (practice rounds don't store anything in the high score table).

High scores are saved in a file called HISCORES. It is not text-readable or editable.

 

Versions of the game known to exist

Version Date Comments
1.0 7 Feb 1990 Initial public release.


Original Floppy Disk Contents

The floppy disks have an empty volume label. Here are each disk's contents:

    Disk 1 of 2 (5.25" DS/DD 360 KB floppy disk):

    Directory of A:\
    ADSKI    SMB              4,121 26-01-1990 18:24
    CPSHP    LZW              4,829 19-01-1990 13:28
    INSTALL  BAT              3,364 05-02-1990  9:29
    INSTALL2 BAT                968 29-01-1990 21:21
    MTSKI    SMB              8,259 26-01-1990 18:24
    PCSKI    SMB              1,835 26-01-1990 18:24
    SKI      EXE             12,957 31-01-1990 16:58
    SKI2     BIN             33,714 30-01-1990 11:30
    SKICGA                   52,753 07-02-1990 19:27
    SKIEGA                   52,729 07-02-1990 19:27
    SKITGA                   51,999 07-02-1990 19:27
    SPLASH   LZW              9,777 22-01-1990 20:31
    TNSKI    SMB              3,440 26-01-1990 18:24
       13 File(s)           240,745 Bytes

    Disk 2 of 2 (5.25" DS/DD 360 KB floppy disk):

    Directory of A:\
    ACROJUMP LZW              9,976 04-12-1989 16:40
    AJFBM    LZW             13,984 04-12-1989 16:35
    AJMAP    LZW              1,717 07-02-1990 14:40
    AJSHP    LZW              6,230 04-12-1989 16:36
    AJTIL    LZW             10,850 07-02-1990 14:41
    DHFBM    LZW             19,387 16-12-1989 13:39
    DHMAP    LZW             19,156 04-12-1989 15:41
    DHSHP    LZW                390 04-12-1989 18:53
    DHTIL    LZW             11,372 04-12-1989 16:47
    DHTILE   LZW             11,372 04-12-1989 15:01
    DHTUNE   LZW             11,128 29-01-1990 13:09
    HISCORE  LZW              5,865 04-12-1989 16:58
    HISCORES                    195 02-02-1990 21:10
    MNFBM    LZW              2,806 04-12-1989 16:55
    MNSHP    LZW              2,984 04-12-1989 16:56
    SBFBM    LZW             41,377 04-12-1989 18:27
    SBSHP    LZW              1,930 04-12-1989 18:27
    SBTUBE   LZW              5,823 04-12-1989 17:03
    SBTUNE   LZW              4,146 29-01-1990 13:09
    SFFBM    LZW             22,885 03-01-1990 12:29
    SFSHP    LZW             17,826 04-12-1989 17:24
    SHOP     LZW             14,194 30-01-1990 16:47
    SIGNUP   LZW              5,683 19-01-1990 12:43
    SNOWFORT LZW              9,107 31-01-1990 22:12
    SPLASH   LZW              9,777 22-01-1990 20:31
    TBFBM    LZW             17,717 09-01-1990 22:16
    TBMAP    LZW             15,047 22-01-1990 13:16
    TBSHP    LZW                362 20-12-1989 15:22
    TBTIL    LZW             10,100 14-12-1989  9:43
    TBTUNE   LZW              5,375 29-01-1990 13:09
    TSQUARE  LZW             16,871 31-01-1990 22:09
       31 File(s)           325,632 Bytes

    Disk 1 of 1 (3.5" DS/DD floppy disk):

    Directory of A:\
    ACROJUMP LZW              9,976 04-12-1989 16:40
    ADSKI    SMB              4,121 26-01-1990 18:24
    AJFBM    LZW             13,984 04-12-1989 16:35
    AJMAP    LZW              1,717 07-02-1990 14:40
    AJSHP    LZW              6,230 04-12-1989 16:36
    AJTIL    LZW             10,850 07-02-1990 14:41
    CPSHP    LZW              4,829 19-01-1990 13:28
    DHFBM    LZW             19,387 16-12-1989 13:39
    DHMAP    LZW             19,156 04-12-1989 15:41
    DHSHP    LZW                390 04-12-1989 18:53
    DHTIL    LZW             11,372 04-12-1989 16:47
    DHTILE   LZW             11,372 04-12-1989 15:01
    DHTUNE   LZW             11,128 29-01-1990 13:09
    HISCORE  LZW              5,865 04-12-1989 16:58
    HISCORES                    195 02-02-1990 21:10
    INSTALL  BAT              3,364 05-02-1990  9:29 
    INSTALL2 BAT                968 29-01-1990 21:21
    MNFBM    LZW              2,806 04-12-1989 16:55
    MNSHP    LZW              2,984 04-12-1989 16:56
    MTSKI    SMB              8,259 26-01-1990 18:24
    PCSKI    SMB              1,835 26-01-1990 18:24
    SKI      EXE             12,957 31-01-1990 16:58
    SBFBM    LZW             41,377 04-12-1989 18:27
    SBSHP    LZW              1,930 04-12-1989 18:27
    SBTUBE   LZW              5,823 04-12-1989 17:03
    SBTUNE   LZW              4,146 29-01-1990 13:09 
    SFFBM    LZW             22,885 03-01-1990 12:29
    SFSHP    LZW             17,826 04-12-1989 17:24
    SHOP     LZW             14,194 30-01-1990 16:47
    SIGNUP   LZW              5,683 19-01-1990 12:43
    SKI2     BIN             33,714 30-01-1990 11:30
    SKICGA                   52,753 07-02-1990 19:27
    SKIEGA                   52,729 07-02-1990 19:27
    SKITGA                   51,999 07-02-1990 19:27
    SNOWFORT LZW              9,107 31-01-1990 22:12
    SPLASH   LZW              9,777 22-01-1990 20:31
    TBFBM    LZW             17,717 09-01-1990 22:16
    TBMAP    LZW             15,047 22-01-1990 13:16
    TBSHP    LZW                362 20-12-1989 15:22
    TBTIL    LZW             10,100 14-12-1989  9:43
    TBTUNE   LZW              5,375 29-01-1990 13:09
    TNSKI    SMB              3,440 26-01-1990 18:24
    TSQUARE  LZW             16,871 31-01-1990 22:09
       43 File(s)           556,600 Bytes

 

Installed Directory Contents

Once installed, the following directory structure exists in the game directory:

    Directory of C:\SKI
    ACROJUMP LZW              9,976 29-06-2026  4:43
    ADSKI    SMB              4,121 29-06-2026  4:43
    AJFBM    LZW             13,984 29-06-2026  4:43
    AJMAP    LZW              1,717 29-06-2026  4:43
    AJSHP    LZW              6,230 29-06-2026  4:43
    AJTIL    LZW             10,850 29-06-2026  4:43
    CPSHP    LZW              4,829 29-06-2026  4:43
    DHFBM    LZW             19,387 29-06-2026  4:43
    DHMAP    LZW             19,156 29-06-2026  4:43
    DHSHP    LZW                390 29-06-2026  4:43
    DHTIL    LZW             11,372 29-06-2026  4:43
    DHTILE   LZW             11,372 29-06-2026  4:43
    DHTUNE   LZW             11,128 29-06-2026  4:43
    HISCORE  LZW              5,865 29-06-2026  4:43
    HISCORES                    195 29-06-2026  4:43
    INSTALL  BAT              3,364 29-06-2026  4:43
    INSTALL2 BAT                968 29-06-2026  4:43
    MNFBM    LZW              2,806 29-06-2026  4:43
    MNSHP    LZW              2,984 29-06-2026  4:43
MTSKI    SMB              8,259 29-06-2026  4:43
PCSKI    SMB              1,835 29-06-2026  4:43
SBFBM    LZW             41,377 29-06-2026  4:43
    		 
    SBSHP    LZW              1,930 29-06-2026  4:43
SBTUBE   LZW              5,823 29-06-2026  4:43
SBTUNE   LZW              4,146 29-06-2026  4:43
SFFBM    LZW             22,885 29-06-2026  4:43
SFSHP    LZW             17,826 29-06-2026  4:43
SHOP     LZW             14,194 29-06-2026  4:43
SIGNUP   LZW              5,683 29-06-2026  4:43
SKI      EXE             12,957 29-06-2026  4:43
SKI2     BIN             33,714 29-06-2026  4:43
SKICGA                   52,753 29-06-2026  4:43
SKIEGA                   52,729 29-06-2026  4:43
SKITGA                   51,999 29-06-2026  4:43
SNOWFORT LZW              9,107 29-06-2026  4:43
SPLASH   LZW              9,777 29-06-2026  4:43
TBFBM    LZW             17,717 29-06-2026  4:43
TBMAP    LZW             15,047 29-06-2026  4:43
TBSHP    LZW                362 29-06-2026  4:43
TBTIL    LZW             10,100 29-06-2026  4:43
TBTUNE   LZW              5,375 29-06-2026  4:43
TNSKI    SMB              3,440 29-06-2026  4:43
TSQUARE  LZW             16,871 29-06-2026  4:43
 43 File(s)           556,600 Bytes


Box Art


Box art for the PC version (front and rear )


Screenshots


Intro screen and Rodney's Ski Shop


Snowball Blast


Downhill Blitz


Acro Aerials

Innertube Thrash


Snowboard Halfpipe