Recently, I've been skateboarding. I've been skating before starting work for the day, and I've skated once I'm all done. Unlike a fair share of my colleagues, I haven't picked up actual skateboarding during the pandemic - I've looked to videogames as wish-fulfilment for that, and my latest obsession is called The Ramp.
When I first saw The Ramp, it was via a gif on Twitter - a ramp in front of a blue background, lit by the digital approximation of a low afternoon sun drawing some choice shadows. The skater taking off on the lip of the ramp, gaining speed jumping, a simple nosegrab, repeat. A perfectly cut thing that I must've watched for hours by now. The Ramp was announced to a pretty large echo, not only because it looks very good thanks to bold colours and an isometric perspective, but also because its developer, game design student Paul Schnepf, offered a refreshingly honest description to go with it. "No missions, no point, no unlockables, no guns, explosions or helicopters," the game's description on Steam reads. "Just tons of flow. Easy to learn, difficult to master." For me, it felt as if someone was giving me permission to relax. Don't get me wrong, collecting letters in Tony Hawk can be tremendous fun, but it's great to play a game and not feel like you have to win something.
Still, when I first boot up the Ramp, the "tons of flow" seem to not have gotten the invitation - to start off I even struggle with just staying on the ramp and not veering right off as soon as I attempt a trick. All you need to play The Ramp is a button to jump, one stick to steer and one to do tricks with. The right shoulder button lets you grind, but that's it. The game has keyboard controls, but a controller is recommended - and I don't attempt to use anything else. It should be easy, but for the first I don't know how many minutes, I do nothing but try to get the timing of my jumps right. Press the button to kneel and gain speed in the middle of the ramp, release towards the lip, press again in mid-air, let go as you come down - or was it let go in mid-air? I'm honestly not sure anymore, but I think that is because after a while, I get to stop thinking about it. My body works out what it has to do, and I do it.