EVEREST Climbing Game
Last revised: 3 Feb 2009
| ONLINE version of Everest. |
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Everest is composed of 3 episodes, each with multiple climbs that must be completed in order. The first episode, Iceman's Apprentice, is shareware and consists of 2 climbs. The other 2 episodes can be obtained when you register the first one. You can click on episodes you do not yet own or qualify for, and get a short description of the climb. You can maintain climbing histories for up to 5 players. Each player needs to perform the climbs in order. You can repeat climbs any number of times. When a player finishes a climb, their strength (STR), confidence (WILL), ROCK and ICE skills increase. These attributes help in future climbs. |
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========= ROUTE MAP ========= Each climb is played on the mountain itself. The possible routes are shown as thin lines, connecting a series of waypoints that indicate potential camps. As each camp is set up, the possible routes decrease. When a route is first led, it is shown as a thicker cyan colored line. Most routes require a certain amount of rope and hardware to be 'fixed' -- made safer for carrying loads. Click on the camp or goal to check the route difficulty in terms of rock and ice, and to see how much rope and hardware is still required. |
========= CLIMBERS: ========= Each climber has both a strength (STR) and WILL rating. These vary among climbers and sherpas. Various assignments and results depend on current ratings, and can affect them. For example, leading a new route, decreases strength but increases will. Storms, accidents or lack of food decrease will. If STR or WILL get too low, the climber must descend. Or the ratings may go so low that they cannot even descend. If STR goes to 0, that climber dies. |
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----------------- CLIMBING BASICS ----------------- Classic expedition climbing uses the 'siege' approach: hundreds of local porters carry equipment to set up a military-scale base camp. Then more experienced high altitude porters, traditionally Sherpas, carry loads to the camps on the mountain. Historically, western climbers did the route finding and actual climbing. Today, the climbing is split between the client climbers and the Sherpas. Ensuring that enough equipment is in place is a matter of organizing a logistical pyramid. Food and oxygen are needed in the course of the climb, so in order to supply a high camp with these goods, much larger quantities need to be carried and used at the lower camps. Modern techniques started in 1970 with Bonington's expedition to the South Face of Annapurna. This brought California/Chamonix big wall techniques to the Himalayan faces. Later climbers carried this 'alpine' style ascent to the extreme, in epics like Messner's solo ascents of the 8000 meter peaks. The game takes a middle road in which climbers attack difficult faces, but retain the security of a series of camps for retreat and rest. |
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More:
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References: ===========
| There are dozens of books on Everest alone, and many more on Himalayan mountaineering and exploring. Some of my personal favorites, and ones I used during the design of this game include:
Bonington, Chris, "Everest, the Hard Way" (NY: Random House, 1976). |
