We learned of the latest title in the best selling action-sports franchise, Tony Hawk: RIDE last week and its accompanying skateboard peripheral, but what about this plastic board? How will it work? What does Mr. 900 think of it?‚ Will RIDE recreate the glory of past titles or triple-mctwist to a grisly death?
“Tony Hawk: RIDE is a massive step forward for the franchise and the gaming industry as a whole,” said Rob Kostich, head of marketing, global brand management, Activision Publishing, Inc. “The skateboard controller will redefine sports games by offering players a true skateboarding experience, hands-free, playing with friends and family at home or online in a variety of different locations.”
While I do not object to the thought that the controller will indeed “redefine” the way in which skateboarding games are played, but some of the worst things were done with the best intentions in video games and elsewhere.
Mr. Hawk, a man I’ve come to respect and truly admire has gone on record saying:‚ “This is the game I’ve always wanted to make, playing on the board is unlike any other game, and I’m excited for everyone to have the chance to feel what it’s really like to experience the true feeling of skateboarding.”
RIDE is not simply a title bearing the famed skateboarder’s name, Hawk has been and continues to be in direct involvement with the game.‚ That said however, “Downhill Jam” happened.‚ eek.
And with Neversoft indefinetely committed to the Guitar Hero franchise, Robmodo has seized development duties for Xbox 360 and PS3, with BuzzMonkey handling Wii responsibilities.‚ In-game action, screens, or any other substantive material has yet to be found, so the door is wide open for a revision of the series.
The skateboard peripheral itself weighs in at 3.5 pounds and utilizes accelerometers and motion sensors which allow for both novice and hardened gamers to jump into the gnarly action.‚ The board itself is wireless, as it need be, and without the use of analog sticks or tricky button combos, allows for high-flying tricks to be commanded on the fly.
My cynical mind is again at work, but I will leave it up to an entirely surefire E3 demonstration to quell the many fears I have.
When more images and details surface we’ll be sure to collect them up and send them your way.
Tony Hawk: RIDE races to shelves this fall for Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii
As for now, do you have any interest in a new Tony Hawk title, developed for the first time by a new studio with a gutsy peripheral?
I wish they could make it fly (hoverboard). I suggest using ultrasonics, much like in this video Ultrasonic Levitation. The guys from Hielscher made things fly like UFOs.
Link to the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4exO4CuoSU
I think Tony Hawk skateboarding in the white house was absolutly amazing. I guys if you and old fart you would see it as repulsive. I wish i could grind on Obamas dinner table,lol.