Gamestock 2001: First look: Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding

Microsoft lifted the curtain on Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding for the Xbox today at Gamestock in Seattle. The snowboarding game includes a career mode that asks players to get as much exposure in the press as possible in order to appear on magazine covers and in videos. The main goal is to become the world's biggest snowboarding media star.

Amped includes real mountains such as Utah's Brighton, Vermont's Stratton, and California's Snow Summit. There are also fantasy mountains designed by terrain architect Chris Gunnerson. To proceed in Amped, players must collect exposure points. Exposure points are awarded for pulling big tricks in front of spectators, photographers, and company representatives. Players are awarded points based on who sees them and how good they look when they are noticed. The game will include open freestyle riding, trick combinations, and mountains that may be unlocked.

There are more than 120 runs included in Amped, six unique challenges, hidden areas, and a freestyle multiplayer mode that lets players taunt their friends or hurl snowballs at them. We'll have much more on Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding for the Xbox later in the day including hands-on impressions.