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Tony Hawk: RIDE makes official US debut on November 17th
Turns out GameStop's October 13th listing for Tony Hawk: RIDE was just a hair off, to the tune of 36 days or so. Activison Blizzard's sent word today that the skating simulator's official North American launch is set for November 17th -- plenty of time to practice your faux ollies before showing your family some virtual board skills over Thanksgiving meals. Additionally, Europe's now official for November 20th, but we already heard that last week. No word on pricing, but across the pond, GAME.co.uk is pushing that £99 / $168 figure pretty hard, and while we're willing to bet that's the official Europe price, we're not convinced that's any indication of what we'll be paying stateside.
Activision details Tony Hawk Ride's 'celebrity' roster
Though we could call the list of folks showing their faces in Tony Hawk Ride a whole mess of things, one we wouldn't call it is "celebrity." Rather than drop in famous folks like Steve-O or, umm, Wolverine, the list that Eurogamer nabbed features more actual skateboarders than anything else. From Steve Nesser to Dustin Dollin to Mike "I beat up four dudes by myself" Vallely, the roster features little in the way of traditional Tony Hawk tomfoolery. Don't let the halfway-there hoverboard fool you, dearest reader, this is clearly a more serious skateboarding entry in the Tony Hawk game franchise. Peep the entirety of the list after the jump.
Rumor: Skate 3 in the works
Apparently EA is working on a sequel to Skate 2, if the Epicly Trife twitter is to be believed. Epicly Trife (NSFW) is a site dedicated to skating, and its twitter account said the following: "I just got told 'tonight we gotta celebrate,' one of the bro's got offered to be in SKATE 3." By no means a confirmation, we're still excited, as Skate 2 was not only a great sequel, but pretty much the best skating sim around. Plus, it's much easier to get up after falling down four flights of stairs in a video game, as gravity is a much more harsh mistress in real life.We've put in word to EA for comment, but with almost everyone taking the day off today, don't hold your breath for a response. We sure aren't.[Via Kotaku]
Skate 2's Maloof Money Cup DLC busting kickflips on July 9
Based on the highest-pursed skating event in history, the Maloof Money Cup makes its way to Skate 2 on July 9 for $3.00 and 240 on PSN and Xbox Live, respectively. That's one day before the real-life event takes place, and the DLC will mimic the setup of that event pretty closely, through a collection of single-player and online events. These events consist of freeskate, vert, and street contests, and will also provide Xbox gamers with an additional 250 Achievement points to earn. Considering the game's last update was back in February, we're surprised EA even remembered it had a skateboarding game.%Gallery-67115%
Tony Hawk will ride Tony Hawk Ride at Microsoft's E3 keynote
Want to see a real skateboarder on a fake skateboard? Check out Microsoft's E3 keynote tomorrow. Skateboard legend and video game mascot Tony Hawk just tweeted about his involvement in MS's conference. He'll show off Tony Hawk Ride -- wearing makeup, even!"Just practiced my part for Microsoft's E3 keynote tomorrow (introducing #thride)," Mr. Pro Skater said. "First time I've ever had to wear make-up for a rehearsal."We can't promise he'll actually get on the stationary board, but he'll at least be there showing it off. Mr. Hawk's presence at he MS conference suggests that there could be some component of the game that is Xbox-exclusive, like DLC or green skateboard decals or ... something.
Tony Hawk's new 'Ride' game includes motion-sensing skateboard controller for shredding your mom's new carpet
We'd heard rumblings that Tony Hawk was working on something with motion controls -- which seems only natural after EA's Skate hit the scene with its intuitive Flickit control scheme, and Shaun White's game put the Wii's Balance Board to good use, both making the Tony Hawk method of arcade-style button mashing feel a little dated. Well, Tony's new Ride is looking to change all that, with a skateboard peripheral that looks like... a skateboard. It's hard to tell from just looking at it how precisely interactive the controller will be -- it seems basic balancing and leaning would be in, while Christ Air-ing your little sister in the face wouldn't go over so well. According to the man himself, Hawk is quite good at the game, and skateboarders should find the transition easy. A promo video is after the break, and apparently on June 2nd we'll be seeing this thing in action.Update: We added another video after the break, including video of the actual board in action. Turns out the motion controls are quite detailed, and in advanced modes even allow for in-place 180s, but nothing seems to involve lifting the board actually off the ground. Grabs can be performed by actually grabbing the edge of the board, with infrared sensors picking up your hand position, and pushing is performed by running your foot along the side of the board. Ollies and flip tricks are obviously going to be a bit different than the real deal, while manuals and steering are pretty much spot on, and apparently there's a lot of choice as to how much "realism" you'd like in controlling the thing. Tony Hawk also sees the controller as a "standard," which could work with snowboarding games, surfing games, exercise games and other assorted cash cows for Activision.[Via Joystiq]
New Tony Hawk game to be revealed May 15
There was a time when we journalists had to go digging through people's trashcans to get the hot scoop. Now, our news is hand delivered to us by the Twitter feeds of celebrities. This is truly a great era.Tony Hawk just Tweeted that his latest game would be revealed on the May 15 episode of GameTrailers TV, saying, "I have been harboring the secret long enough." Yeah, another Tony Hawk game is being made. We're so glad he could get that off his chest. Can't imagine the burden.Speaking of "really well kept secrets", we figure there's a good chance he's talking about Tony Hawk Adrenaline, the possibly Balance Board-based, non-Neversoft title due out this year. ... Now Tony, what's the secret, exactly?[Thanks, Marcus]
Skate 2's new 'Classic San Van' DLC is old hat
Those of you who find yourself reminiscing about the "good ole days" of the first Skate game, we've got something you'll likely be interested in: EA has unleashed a new DLC pack for Skate 2 called "Classic San Van." Featuring a variety of locales from the first game, Skate 2 players will now be able to shred it up in classic spots such as the Parkade (yes!), the School (italicized yes!), and the Community Center (bold yes!), all while utilizing the new tricks found in the sequel. The DLC even places some objects for you to move around in each area, as you can see in the video above. Skate 2's "Classic San Van" DLC pack is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace and PSN for 400 and $4.99, respectively. %Gallery-23257%
Take a video tour of Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Plaza in Skate 2
EA was kind enough to send over this trailer for the new Skate 2 DLC, Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Plaza. As you can see in the video above, it provides plenty of areas to get your shred on. One of the things we like about this DLC is its lack of vert areas. We're street skaters here at The Stiq.%Gallery-45370%
Skate 2 introduces 'Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Plaza' DLC [update]
Update: EA has dished out some screens for the DLC. Hit up the gallery below to check them out.Unless you wanted to unlock everything the easy way or cut some awesome videos, there hasn't been much support in the way of DLC for us Skate 2 fans. That is, until now, as EA has unveiled Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Plaza for the game.The new bit of DLC is available today on PSN and XBLM for $5.00 and 400, respectively, and allows skaters to blunt slide and manual around the centerpiece of Rob's MTV show, Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory, as well as the surrounding downtown Los Angeles area. Rob was pretty impressed with Black Box's job of recreating the space in the game, as he comments it has all of "the ledges, gaps and rails" of his showpiece, and "more surprises outside the park that both gamers and skaters will enjoy."So who's going to shred up Rob's Fantasy Plaza?%Gallery-45370%
Neversoft bails: Tony Hawk's next game developed by another studio
We haven't heard much on the latest Tony Hawk game that is supposed to be in development, aside from there supposedly being a peripheral key to gameplay that Activision is designing themselves. Well, we've got some news now: Neversoft, the developers who started the franchise, have handed off the duties to another developer. Why? Because they need to concentrate on Guitar Hero.So who's working on the new game? Well, word is that it's Robomodo, a developer that has some ex-EA employees within its ranks. Turns out part of that rumor from EGM was true. We're fully expecting an announcement soon, with a look at a new peripheral to play the game. Just look at what they're doing with the DS game.[Via Joystiq]
Tony Hawk's Adrenaline to be 'way more realistic'
Inside sources suggest that it'll be "quite a bit" more realistic than the above image. And who better to trust on the matter than the pro skater himself, Tony Hawk? In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the 40-year-old boarder dubbed the next game to feature his virtual likeness as "a real departure" from previous endeavors. "It's a whole new direction for us," said Hawk. "And it's going to be way more realistic and way more interactive. I'm really proud of it."The "it" refers to Tony Hawk's Adrenaline, which is due for release in Fall 2009. Though details on the Skate competitor remain scarce, we know that it will not be played "with a controller in your hands." This has lead outrageous internet theorists to conclude that Adrenaline will come bundled with -- get this -- some sort of motion-sensing skateboard peripheral. Never.
Next Tony Hawk won't be played 'with a controller in your hands'
Though we'll leave the exact placement and nature of the controller for you to figure out, Activision is insistent that the item used to beat the Tony Hawk skateboarding franchise out of it stale stupor won't just be any ol' paddle. "You're not going to be playing this game with a controller in your hands," the company teased at a recent, in-game advertising summit. We've heard mumblings of a new peripheral before (the new DS game already has a confirmed tilt function), but are no closer to understanding just what the device is and how it works. Our highly educated guess? A giant plastic skateboard. For a skateboarding game. Is that pushing it?
Skate It: Build your career on it
Skate It kicks off in a destroyed city, and as the driving force for the game, you'll be building your skating career on the rubble of San Vanelona. It's important to exploit "virgin territory," as your cameraman says, for your own gains ... at least, in a video game. Wii owners will finally get their own chance to Skate (It) late next month, just in time for the big holiday season.%Gallery-22799%
New tilt-controlled Tony Hawk game revealed
Activision has revealed a new Tony Hawk game for the DS, titled Tony Hawk's Motion. Utilizing some sort of "Motion Pack" that attaches to the DS (how it attaches is an unknown at this point, but it's likely going into the GBA slot), Activision says players will "twist, tilt and turn through various skateboarding sessions." Sounds like a neat idea to us!But, in an odd move and series first, Activision will include snowboarding into the game. Snowboarding in a skateboarding game. We guess those two activities go hand in hand. We wouldn't know. When it comes to defying gravity, we're usually full of fail.%Gallery-30779%
Joystiq busts kickflips with Skate It
Our most cruel and unmerciful bosstypes over at Joystiq managed to try out EA's upcoming Wii port, Skate It. While they commented that the game does require a bit more concentration than your usual casual romp on the Wii, overall the whole thing was fairly easy to pull off. As you can see in the controls diagram below, it doesn't look easy. But, in action, it's more intuitive than you may think.Be sure to head over to Joystiq and read the rest of their feet-on impression of Skate It.%Gallery-27077%
Rumor: Activision making their own peripheral for next Tony Hawk
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Activision_making_their_own_skateboard_peripheral'; According to the latest issue of EGM, the next Tony Hawk title might not be utilizing the Balance Board after all. Instead, Activision has supposedly been thinking about putting out their own peripheral to interact with the game, bundling it with the upcoming title. Something that boggles our mind is the mentioning that Neversoft would not be developing the next Tony Hawk game. Considering that Neversoft produced a long-standing series from scratch and sustained it for many iterations, we'd be hard-pressed to think that Activision would take them off of the franchise. But, hey, that's just us. Many games are using Nintendo's Balance Board, including rival skateboarding franchise Skate It from EA. Do you want to know more about Nintendo's peripheral? Watch this instructional video and be sure to check out our own Mike Sylvester's fun with it in his Revolutionary feature series.
Skate It trailer: watch it
Aside from the eerie lack of people around, there's no indication in this Skate It gameplay footage of any cataclysmic event in San Vanelona. The parts of the city shown are intact, undamaged, and even nice and clean. Of course, when the city is full of benches, rails, and, uh, skate parks, there's plenty to do even without widespread destruction.The action in this trailer seems pretty fast-paced and smooth, with one trick connecting into the next rather quickly. That means that you may be able to get a little bit of a workout from all the frantic Balance Board leaning!
EA dishes out new Skate It screens
Click for larger image Those of you waiting to step on the Balance Board and bust some kickflips with EA's port Skate It later this year, we've got a treat for you. Some fresh screens from the title have just hit our gallery below, joining the rest of our collection. In these new screens, you'll see the usual stuff: some dude is skating on stuff. Being big fans of skateboarding as a whole, as well as fans of Skate, which totally killed the Tony Hawk franchise in our eyes, you can bet we're pumped to try out this with the Balance Board.%Gallery-22799%
Skate It trashes a city for your amusement
The Wii and DS versions of Skate It ostensibly take place in the same fictional San Vanelona locale as the PS3/Xbox 360 game, but, as this video illustrates, the city is far from identical. "A series of freak disasters" -- apparently including alien attacks, lightning storms, and a monster -- has devastated the city's structures, causing all of the non-skater population to evacuate and turning the city into a wasteland of awesome ramps.We think this is a brilliant move on the developers' part. It allows them to make any kind of wacky skating structure they want, as long as it kind of looks like it used to be a building or a bus or something, and it explains a lack of processor-taxing crowds. Apparently you'll get to move stuff around and customize the area, as well!
