California Games
Platform: Atari Lynx
Region: USA
Media: Cartridge
Controller: LYNX Gamepad
Genre: Sports
Gametype: Licensed
Release Year: 1989
Developer: Epyx
Publisher: Atari
Players: 1 to 4 Alternating (ComLynx)
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California Games was the original "Extreme Games" -- what today's generation might call "X-Games in the sun". Compete in events such as skateboarding, footbag, surfing, roller skating, flying disc (frisbee) and BMX. Some events are ranked by judges (Surfing), which gives you a score to help you improve your routine.

The Lynx version of the game omits the flying disc and roller skating events, but adds a 2-player gaming mode via comlynx.

Tips:

BMX Tips 
BMX: If you stay just a little (about one pixel) above the place where the grass meets the dirt there won't be anything in your way (Like those pesky bales of hay). You can crash the game by hitting the bale of hay on the bottom of the track just before the finish line. The game will freeze and the only thing you can do it turn it off. Tiny tid-bit: If you're going _really_ fast when you cross the finish line and jump just a little after crossing it, you will end up crashing into something you can't see way to the right. 

Footbag Tips 
If you spin right after jumping, you spin faster than normal. Thus, jump and hit the bag with your head, then spin away... Also-- in the manual under Foot Bag it says: "Score an extra 50 points for hitting the seagull in the beak with the foot bag (but only in this game -- be kind to the birdies in the other events)." 

Half-Pipe Tips 
Hitting Option 2 while skating will show off the Lynx's awesome scaling capabilities. 


Network Four Players 
Although the manual says it's two player, up to 4 can be Comlynxed. It may take a few tries, but keep at it. (It's also a bit slow, but hey, it wasn't meant for 4 players.. :) 

Surfing Tips 
In the surfing game, you can ride the pelican. Run your last man into the bottom of the screen a few seconds before the timer runs out. The bird will fly across the screen until the timer runs out and you'll land on it! It's possible to do an UNREAL 360 (5 360's) for 1200 points (As opposed to 600 for a Quadruple 360)

Trivia:

While the rollerskating event was taken out of the Lynx version of the game, you can still see the rollerskating girl skate by during the high-score screen.

http://www.atariage.com/software_hints.html?SoftwareLabelID=1871
http://www.mobygames.com/game/lynx/california-games
