skateboarding
Latest
Virtually Overlooked: Skate or Die
Much like Madden and other sports games lost features in the transition between the last console generation and the current one, EA's skateboarding games have been downgraded rather than upgraded as technology has improved. Skate on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 offers only one option in its title (the imperative "skate") versus the two options found in their 1987 skateboard game Skate or Die. Perhaps in the next year's iteration, EA will be able to reinstitute the "dying" feature, although we're doubtful -- the latest skating game from the company, Skate It, goes so far as to tell you what to skate (it) instead of allowing you to specify the object of your skating.
Whatever 'it' is, the DS Skates It
EA has announced that their PS3/Xbox 360 skateboard series Skate (or skate. if you want it to look all pretentious) is branching out onto popular systems (the Wii and DS). Skate It, developed by Skate's Black Box along with Exient, translates the motions of jumping and doing your basic skateboard stuff to stylus gestures drawn over a picture of a skateboard. Producer Scott Blackwood said of the new control scheme " ... it's a totally new way of controlling your skater yet somehow very familiar... it feels right."Will a new control scheme be adequate competition against Activision's mysterious new DS skateboard game technology? It's an interesting time for DS skateboarding games. Check out the link for a few (nice-looking!) screens of Skate It in action on the DS.
Skate It: EA announces it
A month after IGN (basically) leaked the existence of a Wii/DS version of Skate, IGN has revealed it -- for real this time! Developed by Skate developers Black Box and EA Montreal, Skate It is a spinoff from the PS3/Xbox 360 game, although since it doesn't have a storyline or anything, whether it's a continuation or a sequel or a spinoff or whatever doesn't really matter. It is based on the same engine.The Wii version will use Wiimote motion controls, of course, but it will also use the Wii Balance Board! Check after the break for a trailer demonstrating the controls, and hit the link for IGN's interview with producer Scott Blackwood.
Skate to bust ollies on the DS?
Earlier today, IGN put up a post detailing that EA Black Box's (see what a little knowledge gets you?) Skate game was on its way to the Wii and DS, under the title Skate It. Of course, the page has now since been pulled and the link simply leads to a 404.Would EA bring the franchise to the Wii and DS? It would make sense to tap those markets and get Wii and DS owners into an arguably already casual game. Not to mention that the only skating game available on the Wii isn't too great and the DS could always use another good skateboarding game. So is this likely to happen? Well, we'll just have to wait and find out. If it's an April Fools' Day joke, IGN is really late to the party.[Via PALGN]
Tech Deck Live to, as the kids say, 'shred'
Prior to this post, we had never heard of Tech Decks, but apparently they're miniature skateboards you can play with your fingers. Building on this knowledge, then, it makes this announcement more interesting. Tech Deck Live will be an MMO where, one presumes, you'll be able to build, customize, and ride your deck on a number of different platforms and parks. This will be free-to-play, but also feature ' ... pay-for-it premium content available on a monthly subscription basis.' Wait -- microtransactions AND a monthly? Or is this just oddly-worded? Whichever it is, it's coming soon, so watch your heels, kids![Via G4]
Prove yourself in new Tony Hawk title
Has your appetite for new-gen skateboarding games not been whetted by clips from Electronic Arts' Skate? Activision has just sent out a press release unveiling the latest Tony Hawk game, entitled Proving Ground.New features with full-featured editing tools and visual effects for creating "epic skate videos," a customizable Skate Lounge where you and friends can skate around together, and seamless single player and online integration. There will be skateable terrain altering and more Nail-the-Trick moves.Proving Ground is slated for release later this fall for Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PS2 and Nintendo DS. GamePro is dedicated their next issue to the game. Has anyone already received their copy of the issue in the mail?%Gallery-3120%[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
EA's Skate video shows off "Flickit" controls
EA's Skate game continues to look impressive, and the hype that it'll be the Tony Hawk monopoly franchise killer might actually have some weight behind it. What's especially cool is when they throw up the Tony Hawk control scheme under Skate, letting you compare the two. You'll see which one looks more intuitive.With all the flicking you'll be doing, it's almost like Wii-ing on your 360. Click here for an HD version.
Motorized SnoDeck shreds through the snow
You may have a hard time pulling off an ollie with it, but this so-called SnoDeck developed by a group of students at the University of Waterloo looks like it could at least provide a suitable alternative to snowboarding for those that don't feel like trekking up a hill all the time. Relying on some electric drill motors to move it along, the deck apparently has a turning radius of two meters, and a kill switch to prevent it from taking out by-standers when the rider falls off. Of course, this being a student project you'll have to be content with admiring it from afar for the time being, which you can do by hitting up the video after the break.[Via MAKE:Blog]
EA's pure 'Skate' campaign
EA's been selling Skate without gameplay footage (pre-rendered or not). With a series of 'confessional shorts' -- featuring lesser-known, and therefore skaters' skaters like PJ Ladd, Chris Cole, Jason Dill, Jerry Hsu, and Dennis Busenitz -- EA is a building a thinly veiled promise. Skate will be pure; skateboarding without the "X," Gatorade, and lot of corporate sponsors. EA wants us to believe it's building art, not its next perennial sports franchise. This is smart advertising. But is it genuine?
Video Sandwich: September 29, 2006
This is, like totally the most EXTREME version of the Video Sandwich, dude! In our first video, you see a skateboarder pulling off a trick with his PSP while boarding. You don't ever see Tony Hawk doing that these days. Pretty cool, huh?The bottom video features yet another one of the hilarious "Let Tekken Decide" advertisements. After seeing it, you'll be one of the few on this planet that can confidentally say you've seen an Asian pimp send someone to an alligator pit-of-doom. And that's an accomplishment, right?See also:Don't get mad! Get even with Tekken
Motion Sensor Add-on for your DS?
You know the rumors that you hear that come from so many people it's hard to take it seriously? You know, the ones that are like "I heard this from my sisters cousins aunts dog" kind of thing? This is one of those. 1Up came across some news from Nintendogossip about a possible motion sensor add-on for the DS. Think, Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble meets Wario Ware Twisted. Supposedly this new device will work with Tony Hawk Downhill Jam forcing you to decide which way your skater goes by tilting your DS. Yes, it is a bit of a stretch. But think of the possibilities! If someone isn't already working on this, they should start. We would love to see some type of racing-fighting-running-jumping-climbing trees type of thing to add to our collection of totally ridiculous games.
Tony Hawk's Project 8: First gameplay screens
Team Xbox has the first gameplay shots from Tony Hawk's Project 8 and they look pretty...um...gnarly. Most would agree the last Tony Hawk game didn't do next-gen justice to the long-running series. Let's hope this Hawk has enough tricks to end Tony's video game career on high note, before he starts turning up with a wheelchair rather than a skateboard.[Thanks X Budd]
Tony Hawk coming to a PS3 near you
1up has posted 2 screenshots and have slapped an official title on the next Tony Hawk game that is destined to grace the PS3. Tony Hawk's Project 8 hasn't received any official announcement treatment from Activision yet, which is sure to change come E3, and the only information available through 1up is "continuing in the tradition of the original series, Underground and American Wasteland, the Tony Hawk series of skateboarding titles carries on."
