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Tony Hawk HD developed by Robomodo, coming this summer for $15-ish
We first heard about Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD from none other than Tony Hawk, pro skater. Today, Activision revealed official media along with details of the digital update of the classic skating games.Tony Hawk Ride developer Robomodo is on board as developer -- but don't worry, the controls will be handled by normal gamepads. It sounds like more updating is being done, other than just revamped graphics for old THPS 1 and 2 levels, as the game features a new cast of skateboarding pros, including "Nyjah Huston, Chris Cole, Eric Koston, Andrew Reynolds, Rodney Mullen, Lyn-z Adams Hawkins (Pastrana), Riley Hawk, and, of course, Tony Hawk himself." Hawk also said that "We've updated many elements to reflect today's skateboarding scene as well." Not having spent any weeknights in any bank parking lots lately, we aren't sure what that refers to.According to Activision's unnecessarily coy press release, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD will be available "only on leading consoles' networks for about $15," sometime this summer.%Gallery-141619%
Robomodo partially funding 'Bodoink' with Kickstarter
Bodoink, a family-friendly XBLA Kinect title, which places player's Avatars inside a giant pinball machine, is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter. The money raised will be put towards the game's polish and "the final push for big fun." Developer Robomodo has a goal of $35,000, offering up spots in the credits of the game, along with posters and t-shirts for donations. Those who put up $5,000 or more receive an executive producer credit, likeness in the game and a studio tour -- but they'll have to pay their own way and hotel while visiting the Chicago studio. Robomodo's previous efforts were the shelf-filling Tony Hawk: Ride and Tony Hawk: Shred. Holding up the skateboard peripheral to your Kinect in Bodoink will instantly generate an on-screen apology.* *Not true, but that's something we'd pay for in a Kickstarter.
Activision still pushing Shred, believes Tony Hawk (the man) has staying power
Tony Hawk Shred's bad start at retail still has Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, doing damage control. In a recent interview with IndustryGamers, the executive stated that Tony Hawk, as a figure, has "relevance and tremendous appeal for people." Hirshberg described him as a "lasting icon," and explained that the company needs to make "smart moves in terms of innovation to see if [it] can recapture people's imaginations" with the game franchise. While Hirshberg feels it's too early to say that Shred fell crotch first onto the metal handrail it was trying to grind, Activision will "keep the pedal to the metal" through the holiday season, hoping to score a hit with kids and potential gift-givers. Clearly that Vans boost across the asphalt (proper metaphor!) does not include any focus on making sure the game gets reviewed and placed on Metacritic. Developed by hard-hit Robomodo, it has only one professional review listed across three platforms. NPD results will be out this Thursday, so we'll see then if Tony Hawk Shred picked up from the 3,000 sales it had in October. %Gallery-99321%
Activision hopes for Tony Hawk Shred sales turnaround over the holidays
It's been a sad story for Tony Hawk Shred, which managed to move a miniscule amount of product -- 3,000 units in its first week, to be exact. Despite marketing efforts such as putting Al Roker on a board and letting him go to town, it would seem that Tony Hawk Shred is bound to the same fate as Tony Hawk Ride. But with the holiday gift-buying season in full swing, Activision has hopes it'll see "a bigger ramp-up" in sales as the holiday season progresses. In talking to Gamasutra, Activision's CEO of publishing, Eric Hirshberg, admits that the company needs to "build awareness" for the title -- Hirschberg says Shred was selected as one of the top 12 holiday gifts on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (worked for Kinect!) and is banking on that exposure -- but attributed some of the sequel's lack of commercial success to the fact that, for the first time in franchise history, it's solely being marketed to kids. It's also "a gift-oriented game," he said, which plays into Activision's hopes that more units will fly off the shelves as consumers get to shopping. For the full interview, a majority of which talks about Call of Duty: Black Ops, hit up the source link below.
Tony Hawk: Shred wobbles first week at retail
In a video game's lifetime, the first-week sales are often the most crucial, representing some of biggest numbers a publisher will ever see for a game. That's why Robomodo's second peripheral-based Tony Hawk title, Shred, seems to have gotten off to a grim start, selling just 3,000 copies in its first week at retail. Speaking with GI.Biz, Investment firm Cowen and Company detailed October's North American retail showings (following yesterday's NPD report) and pointed out that another Activision October release, DJ Hero 2, moved 59,000 copies in its first two weeks of availability. For comparison's sake, those aren't huge sales for DJ Hero 2, but it nearly 20 times more than Shred. These numbers are perhaps least surprising to Shred's developer, Robomodo; the developer cut staff last month and is said to be off the Tony Hawk franchise.
Al Roker: Shred
During a visit to the Today Show, Tony Hawk advised risk-taking dream-seekers to "stay true to what you love doing, because you'll make it -- and it'll be great." Behind him, wobbling atop the Shred board, Al Roker realized that he had in fact veered dangerously off course from his chosen path.
Tony Hawk Shred gives you an olly taste at your local mall
Anxious to try your hands feet at Robomodo's next game? Activision has announced a mall tour for Tony Hawk Shred, where it'll bring the upcoming game to 10 of the biggest malls in the country, starting this weekend on through the end of the year. Sure, you could sit on your couch and just wait until the game launches on October 26, go to a store and buy it, but where's the fun in that? Oh, right, it's a video game. Those are pretty fun, we hear. Lapses in logic aside, if you like your video game-based entertainment to be more on the free and supervised side, head past the break for the list of participating malls. Happy shredding!
Robomodo lays off unspecified number of staff, leads remain
The ride has ended for some Robomodo staffers. The developer behind Tony Hawk Ride and the soon-to-be-released Tony Hawk Shred has let go of an unspecified number of employees, according to the following statement from president Josh Tsui: "It is always difficult to let hard-working and valued employees go. Robomodo has retained all of the company's directors and leads, along with other staff members. All are busy working on future projects and ideas, which will become the innovative games of tomorrow. We hope to bring back some of our team as we ramp up on our next projects."Again, we don't know how many were let go, but a source speaking with Joystiq suggested upwards of 30 would be affected. Of course, this is likely partially attributable to work wrapping on Shred, but our hearts still go out to those who'll have to start the morning off with a job hunt.
Rumor: Tony Hawk: Shred will include snowboarding
Tony Hawk: Shred is an actual thing that's coming, this much Activision itself confirmed. And we have it on good authority from our Joystiq Superspy™ that the latest game to bear the Tony Hawk name will not only let gamers shred pavement, but also some fresh powder: the game will incorporate snowboarding -- a first for the traditionally skateboarding-only series. It's been a tough time for the Tony Hawk series lately. Tony Hawk: Ride, which introduced a plastic peripheral, didn't do so well. And with competition from EA's Skate series, as well as newcomer Shaun White Skateboarding emerging on the scene, it's not going to be easy for Shred to stand out from the competition. We're expecting to hear more on Shred at E3 next week. We'll let you know what we find out.
Tony Hawk: Shred confirmed by Activision
Thanks to a since-deleted Tweet from the skateboarding mogul himself, the name Tony Hawk: Shred has been making the rounds as the rumored title for the next game in the venerable skating series. Now, Activision's made it official, telling us, "We can confirm we've given a name to the next Tony Hawk game – Tony Hawk: SHRED, and more details will be revealed in the coming months." What we don't know is if TH:S is the peripheral-based follow-up to last year's Tony Hawk: Ride that Activision threatened promised in February. It seems like a natural evolution, right? "Hey Steve, you seem to be riding that skateboard pretty well, but aren't you ready to do more than ride? Would you, perhaps, be prepared to shred?" (Also, as our own Ludwig Kietzmann points out, Tony Hawk: Shrek would probably make a lot more money.)
Ride dev Robomodo sucked into parallel dimension, increases staff
Tragic news today as we report that, due to the detonation of a hydrogen bomb on a weird island in 1977, Tony Hawk Ride developer Robomodo has shifted sideways into a reality running parallel to our own. We may not have all the details, but we've got all the evidence we need here in this Gamasutra article. As you know, here in our reality, Tony Hawk Ride was a poorly-received, overpriced game and peripheral that moved only 114,000 units during its first month at retail. In this parallel world though, the studio calls the game "high-selling" and is looking to actually increase its staff by as much as 17 percent in the near future for upcoming projects "across all platforms." The developer added that, at least in its dimension, its debut game is "very compelling." You know, maybe it's not so tragic, after all. As near as we can tell, Robomodo and Ride may be better off in this other reality. Perhaps it's best if we just let them be.
If at first you don't succeed, Ride, Ride again
You think the first time Tony Hawk, the man himself, stepped onto a skateboard it was a sick run? Heck no -- it was pathetic. But you know what? He got back on. And the rest is history. Activision today fessed up to that new installment in the Tony Hawk game franchise, confirmed for a 2010 release and paired with the skateboard peripheral introduced with Ride last fall -- and boy was that a big fall. Shaking off signs that Ride and its board are about as beloved as worn-out Levis and antique Tupperware, Activision has committed to another run on the Tony Hawk board. "Game ratings for Tony Hawk: Ride weren't as high as we would have hoped last year, and in hindsight it took longer to optimize the hardware, leaving less time to develop the software we launched in 2009," said Mike Griffith, President and CEO of Activision Publishing, during a financial report and outlook call today. "Still, play-testing and consumer feedback have been very encouraging." "This year, with the hardware complete, we'll be focusing on improving the software in order to unlock the full potential of the board," Griffith added. "We continue to believe that this innovative peripheral redefines the skateboarding experience and could potentially have different applications in the future."
Tony Hawk: details on next Robomodo project coming soon
It looks like we'll get to see the next Tony Hawk joint soon enough. The skateboarding legend recently tweeted that he just concluded a meeting with developer Robomodo. Tony Hawk said the project is already "much better than I expected," though we think he may be a bit biased on the matter. He added that details would be available "soon." As for what it is he liked so much, all signs point to a Tony Hawk Ride sequel -- the sequel that Tony himself said was already in the works during a recent interview. And should that be the case, we think Robomodo and Mr. Hawk have a lot to think about, especially if they want to avoid releasing another critical bomb. [Via MCV]
Tony Hawk bribing Xbox Live's 'Ride' players with friendship
Who wouldn't want to go gallivanting around the globe, bustin' silly skateboarding tricks with icon Tony Hawk? Well, you'll never get to, but you can have the next best thing: Tony Hawk on your Xbox Live friends list. He hit the Twitters last night, trying to drum up some friends to play Tony Hawk Ride with on the Xbox 360. You know, that game with the crazy board Tony would like to see used with more games in the future? Yeah, that one. There's no telling if it worked or not -- you can't check out Tony's friends list unless you're a friend with him. Still, it's interesting to see Tony take such an active role in trying to market the game. We guess when you invent a peripheral, you get all super passionate about it or something. [Via Kotaku] Source and Source - Tony Hawk's Twitter account
VGA 2009: Tony Hawk talks disappointing sales and future plans
This past Saturday brought us the Spike TV Video Game Awards and – before experiencing the litany of world exclusives that awaited us inside – we spent some time outside cruising the red carpet and talking (briefly!) to many of the game developers and talent. We squeezed them for information as fast as we could while simultaneously wishing them holiday cheer and good tidings. Yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. Here's what we learned from Tony Hawk about Tony Hawk Ride. You've been very vocal about the negative reviews of the game. What made you want to strike back? Because I feel like a lot of people ... not just bad reviews, but some of them were just mean-spirited. You know what I mean? I felt like that wasn't fair to us, and it was also turning people away from even trying it. I feel like it's not for everyone, but try it! I see kids love it. I see parents that take to it and really enjoy it, and I just wanted a fair chance for people to try it objectively. When I see people just coming down on me personally, that got me going and I was frustrated with it. But at the same time, I'm totally proud of it, I love the game. I spent two years of my life getting it going, and it was my idea ... I brought it to Activision. For people to say "Oh, you just stick your name on the game and that's it," that's not what it is at all. The sales figures came out and they were disappointing. Do you think Activision will keep going in the same direction with this game or will go back to the old Tony Hawk? I don't know, I guess that remains to be discussed. I really feel like the board is a good device, and we can make more games based on it. I really want to do that. This wasn't a gimmick, I didn't want people to think they have to buy a new one next year. I wanted to make this board so ... it's a platform to do other things with. Does the game have the ability to be mapped to a standard controller? Could Activision implement that via a download? You know what, we looked into it ... the way that you physically play the game, it wouldn't translate to a very challenging game with a joystick. The control scheme would have to be completely different, and we didn't want to make a game that was confusing like that.
NPD: 114K took a Tony Hawk: Ride in November
It looks like Activision's hopes for Tony Hawk: Ride are falling even faster than the average Tony Hawk: Ride player. IndustryGamers reports that this month's NPD numbers place the game at 114,000 copies sold across three platforms. Not that Activision is even paying attention to its own failure right now, distracted by the ridiculous success of its own Modern Warfare 2. This is the second disappointing month in a row for a big-box Activision game. While we don't have a per-platform breakdown of the disappointing sales, a forecast released before today's NPD results estimated that just 13,000 copies sold on Xbox 360. All of this just confirms what we intuitively knew: skateboards without wheels just don't work.
Metareview: Tony Hawk Ride
We're so proud of the individuals who managed to play through the pain radiating from their twisted, throbbing ankle, and craft a review for the latest (peripheral-infused) installment in the Hawkman's gaming franchise, Tony Hawk: Ride. Here's what these brave, persistent critics had to say about the experience. Game Informer (5.75/10): "As a skateboarder and as a gamer, Tony Hawk: Ride is a curious idea but a letdown in practice. The huge level of frustration is not worth the time it takes to master the awkward gameplay idiosyncrasies." IGN (5/10): "The idea? A more immersive skateboarding game that would ride the recent wave of hit games featuring their own custom controllers. The result? An expensive proposition that neither casual nor hardcore gamers will get much out of." GameSpy (2.5/5 Stars): "As expected, Tony Hawk Ride is an experiment -- an interesting and ambitious experiment, but one that doesn't come together as a fully functional experience. I love the basic feel of the board, and had occasional bouts of fun amidst frequent frustration, but THR's gargantuan buy-in price is an awful lot to ask of an effective guinea pig audience." Giant Bomb (1/5 Stars): "While the Tony Hawk franchise has been down on its luck lately, and was probably in need of a reboot as dramatic as this, the execution is such a miserable failure that it manages to splash even more mud on Tony Hawk's legacy. I'm left with a firm belief that whichever side of the Tony Hawk/Activision partnership has the out clause in the contract should just exercise it and part ways for good. Enough is enough. "
The terrifying prototypes of Tony Hawk: Ride
Not everyone can be as skilled as we were the very first time we tried Tony Hawk: Ride. Most people, as we understand it, are a bit daunted by the game's iconic peripheral at first. We're told it can be quite intimidating. That may be true, but just wait until you see some of the original prototypes Robomodo recently revealed to Develop. Employing wooden boards, blank decks, arcade buttons, trackballs and, yes, duct tape, the prototypes appear infinitely more frightening than the comparatively svelte final product. Check them out and be thankful for the Ride that never was.
Tony Hawk Ride ready to rock indoor tricks in the US (video)
After that false alarm about an October release date, the Tony Hawk: Ride bandwagon was all set for departure on November 17 and that's exactly what's happened. Available for a cent under $120, the new game / peripheral combo will allow players to shimmy, gesture, and ollie their way to (simulated) skateboarding immortality on the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii. The earliest European availability we can see is offered by Amazon UK, which indicates a December 4 launch for the Queen's isles and a discounted £89 ($149) price. You can check out our own feets-on with that wireless controller right here or, if you so wish, peruse the full PR at the read link. What's not optional, however, is missing the bonus "making of" video for that most radical of peripherals, which we've lovingly prepared for you just after the break.
Robomodo CEO hints at new software for RIDE peripheral
Robomodo CEO David Michicich hinted that more software for the Tony Hawk: RIDE skateboard controller could be on its way. When asked if the developer had other ideas for the peripheral's use outside of the skating genre in an interview with Develop, Michicich replied, "We're doing a game with Activision and we're not allowed to talk about it right now." In June 2009, Robomodo president Joshua Tsui commented that the (probably going to be involved in its fair share of accidental injury lawsuits) peripheral could be used for a variety of software. "The obvious ones are snowboarding and surfing and such," he told Videogamer. With a new entry into the Tony Hawk: RIDE franchise probably already in the planning stages, it appears the hardware will see new software to help lighten consumer guilt. Sure, our dream is for some kind of Lumberjack Simulator to be in development, but the controller will more than likely focus on something closer to snowboarding. If EA hasn't jumped on that train yet, former EA employees are more than welcome to try.
