Virtual Surfing Gets Personal

By Richard Young

A new video surfing game, "Waikiki Surf Challenge," is a PC-compatible game in which the player(s) try to score as many points as possible by hitting floating tikis while maneuvering on a threatening wave complete with man-eating sharks and treacherous reefs. The graphics and animation are all up to par with other top-selling surfing video games and operation is via the computer keyboard arrows or one's favorite compatible game control. Points are also scored by tricks the rider is able to perform... like aerials, cutbacks, and floaters... just like the real thing.

Some might have experienced the video surfing game through a company which rents it out complete with real surfboards mounted on motion sensors to control the movement of the on-screen surfer. And while the original surf simulators are out of reach for most of us, "Waikiki Surf Challenge" is the actual game used by this company offered in what might be considered a mini-version of the original! It might seem that taking away the real surfboard controls would put this game into the realm of the ordinary. However, "Waikiki Surf Challenge" is unique in a sea of similar products based on the personalization options it offers.

Messages like a birthday wish on the opening and closing banners of the game... a message and photo appearing in the background that's seen between the waves' rise and fall... and, most notably, a talking surfer bearing the customer's head and message that appears every time a wipeout occurs make the game almost as fun for spectators as it is for the players. The personalization is accomplished by customers, when purchasing a game, provide their desired message and photo which the company then incorporates into the game graphics prior to shipping it out to them.

The game is available to both individual users as well as companies or organizations that might wish to utilize the personalization options for advertising and promotional purposes.

The author, Richard Young, is the creator of hawaiibeachcombers.com, a website about Hawaii beaches. This article follows last week's launching of http://www.VideoSurfHawaii.com, the online source for the "Waikiki Surf Challenge" personalized video surf game.