EA has announced that the next game in the skate. series is scheduled to drop into Early Access in 2025. This will be the first entry in the series since skate. 3 in 2010. Shortly after, EA laid off most of the developer’s staff and shut down the studio. Last we heard, Deran Chung and Chris Parry who worked on the original run of games, are part of the team handling the new skate.

I haven’t really been keeping up with the development of the new skate. (which is apparently just called skate.). I think I lost interest when it was announced that it would be free-to-play and multiplayer focused. Actually, repeating that still sticks in my craw since my wish for a new skate. game did not include GaaS.

If you’re down for that sort of thing, EA has been holding playtests since 2022 to collect player feedback. The developer has said that there will be no loot boxes, no maps locked behind paywalls, and no pay-to-win. So, that’s maybe comforting, but that still leaves cosmetics as microtransactions. We’ll have to wait an?d see.

I loved the skate. series. I love Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, as well, but they’re two completely different approaches to skateboarding. skate. feels a lot more authen?tic. You try and find the perfect line to build the mo??st gnar gnar combo possible. The stick-flicking controls gave everything a more tactile feel.

But really, I have no interest in a live service multi-player game?. Thankfully, I still? have the original three games on PS3, so I can always turn to them. They’ve aged well.

skate. is coming to early access on 2025. More details to???? come.

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At the turn of the 21st century, there were few cooler things than skateboarding. Getting together with friends and boarding around town, or hitting the ramps and pipes at the local skatepark was the epitome of a good time for teenagers. The gaming world took notice of this pasttime in short order, resulting in the creation of the widely-beloved and highly-acclaimed Tony Hawk's video game series.

Launched in 1999 with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, the franchise gives gamers all the fun of skating without scraped knees and c??racked bones. With a range of professional skaters to choose from, including the legendary Tony Hawk himself, and customization options to make your own, you're able to skate in a host of environments, try out all kinds of moves, and, naturally, pick up some fun in-game collectables along the way.

In addition to new areas to skate and cosmetic options, the Tony Hawk's games allow players to unlock new skaters during their playthrough. Most tend to be real-world skaters or celebrities with skating backgrounds, but some are in another category entirely. From pop culture icons to downright weird entities, the Tony Hawk's ?games are full of bonkers and otherwise unexpected guest skaters.

Of them all, here are the 10 strangest, funniest, and coolest guest skaters to roll through the Tony Hawk's series.

10. Neversoft Eyeball

Throughout its time as an active developer, Neversoft Entertainment was responsible for some strong titles. Alongside the likes of Gun and the Guitar Hero franchise is the Tony Hawk’s series as its most notable product. Thus, it only makes sense that one of the developer’s key pieces of iconography, a severed eyeball, made its way into a Tony Hawk’s game. The execution of this, however, w??as a bit strange.

A version of the Neversoft eyeball seen in the game's opening, complete with a largely nude, stitched-together human body, is a playable character in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. It's weird, yet its absurdity fits the game's vibe perfectly. To skate as the grotesque eyeball-headed creature, you have a laun?dry list of things to do first. Complete career Mode all 21 times and get 54 Goals and three Gold Medals with all skaters and it is all yours.

9. Spider-Man

In the modern day, a good portion of the Marvel Comics roster has broken through to the mainstream, but in the 1990s into the 2000s, that amount was much smaller. Leading the pack was none other than Spider-Man, who was popular already but became a phenom??enon with the release of his first live-action movie. Two years before the film hit theaters, though, the webhead took to the halfpipes.

Spider-Man is playable in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 and he returned for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2X. Peter Parker has four different co?stumes as well, those being his classic red and blue suit, the black and white symbiote suit, the comic Iron Spider armor, and his Captain Universe look. Achieve 100% in Career Mode with a created skater and the web-slinger will be unlocked.

8. Eddie the Head

One of the most beloved parts of the Tony Hawk’s games is their soundtracks. Each game brings in a blend of rock, metal, rap, and pop for gamers to enjoy while they play. On a handful of occasions, the music selection of certain games has bled over to the gameplay. Case in point, the inclusion of “The Number of the Beast�by Iron Maiden in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4.

Alongside the classic track, the band’s iconic mascot since 1980, Eddie the Head, is accessible as a skater. Additionally,?? there are a few Iron Maiden-themed decks one can use. Thankfully, the process to unlock the zombie-like Eddie isn’t too convoluted, but it might take a bit of time. He’s purchasable as “Metal Head�in the Spend Cash section and costs $9,000, so you’ll have to get some play time in before taking him for a spin.

7. Doom Guy

Seeing characters rooted in video game franchises jump from their home universe to another is nothing new. After all, the Super Smash Bros. series has built an entire gaming saga on the idea. Still, that doesn’t mean it’s not fun or surprising when it happens. This is especially true of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, where an icon of the first-person shooter genre makes a guest appearance?.

Believe it or not, Doom Guy of the Doom series fame is playable in the aforementioned Tony Hawk’s title. If you never knew he appeared in the title, that’s probably because you didn’t own the PC version. The demon-slaying space Marine is only accessible in that specific version of the game and only unlocks if you enter a cheat code. Type “idkfa�in the Cheat Code menu and you’re ready to ??rip, tear, and shred.

6. Iron Man

As mentioned, before the Marvel Cinematic Universe came along, only a few Marvel heroes were super well-known. The popularity level of most members of the Avengers paled in comparison to the likes of Spider-Man, Hulk, and Wolverine. Be that as it may, one of those overlooked do-gooders who has since become one of the most beloved in the world managed to score a spot in a Tony Hawk’s game.

Genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist Tony Stark, better known as the Armored Avenger, Iron Man, is a playable skater in Tony Hawk’s Underground. To play as the hero the entire MCU was built on, completing the game’s story mode on normal difficult?y is all that’s asked of you. With that, you can pull him away from his world-saving duties and Stark Industries responsibilities to skate around whenever you want.

5. X-Ray

As any skater would tell you, skateboarding is not for the faint of heart. Even the most experienced and skilled skaters can get seriously hurt, be it hitting their head on pavement, taking a bad fall down some stairs, or any other number of horrific situations. Broken bones are far from uncommon in the sport, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 goes out of its way to drive that point home.

In the Xbox version of the aforementioned Tony Hawk's game, a character called X-Ray, who's a literal skeleton, is an unlockable skater. Yes, humble gamer, you can see in real time what kind of impact ??skating mishaps can have on the human skeletal system, albeit within the game's mechanical limitations. To take X-Ray for a ride, simply complete all objectives and get three gold medals with two skaters.

4. Jango Fett

The Tony Hawk’s game series hit its stride in the early 2000s. From the gameplay to the soundtracks to the fact that skateboarding culture was on fire at the time, there was no better point for the series to unfold. Simultaneously, Star Wars was back at the forefront of pop culture thanks to the prequel trilogy. So, it’s no surprise that collaborations be??tween ?the two entertainment juggernauts came to pass.

Darth Maul’s inclusion in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 is well-known, somewhat overshadowing Jango Fett’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 presence. He’s a fun skater to play as, and, much like Iron Maiden’s Ed??die, unlocking him isn’t difficult, just a bit time consuming. Purchasing “Star Warrior�from the Spend Cash section for $9,000 unlocks him and his unique board designs.

3. Wolverine

While the Spider-Man films can take much of the credit for the superhero movie boom of the 2000s, they didn’t make it a spandex and cape-wearing reality alone. 20th Century Fox’s X-Men movies were also hugely responsible, bringing the mutants to the big screen in adventures die-hard Marvel fans and casual moviegoers could enjoy. As this saga got underway, fans could express their love for the X-Men through a Tony Hawk’s title.

Though one would expect a younger, more hip X-Men member like Iceman or Jubilee to do so, it’s actually Wolverine who features in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. How you unlock the adamantium-clawed Canucklehead varies between consoles. For the Xbox, Playstation 2??, GameCube, and PC versions, completing all career goals and achieving gold in all three competitions with two characters unlocks him. As for the Nintendo 64 and the PS??X, you must complete all gaps.

2. Shrek

Just as Marvel was beginning to finally get some traction at the movies at the start of the 2000s, so was DreamWorks Animation. The studio was formed in the mid-�0s, but only started to achieve Hollywood prominence at the start of the new millennium. This is largely thanks to 2001’s Shrek and the popularity of its big, green, Mike Myers-voiced title character, who became? a cultural icon practicall??y overnight.

In response to enduring ogremania, Shrek 2 released in 2004 to much fanfare, the same year Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 hit store shelves. Shrek himself features as an unlockable skater in the game, and it’s not much?? of a challenge to make him playable. Complete the story on easy difficulty and the face of DreamWorks is yo?urs for the skating.

1. The Hand

Evidently, the Tony Hawk's franchise is full of wacky skaters. Some are superheroes, others mascots. The??re's a little something for everyone in regards to characters not roote?d in the real-world skate scene. What they at least all have in common is their human form. Each of them have a head, torso, arms, and legs. In this way, one guest skater very much goes against the grain.

What's likely the most bizarre Tony Hawk's secret skater is the Hand. As the name implies, this is a giant, sentient hand with a love for skateboarding, apparently. To unlock this oddball skater in Tony Hawk's Underground 2, all you have to do is complete Story Mode on normal difficulty. With that, you can fingerboard t??o your heart's content.

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Riders on the VOID

OlliOlli World was one of the biggest surprises for me this year. I respected the two previous games in the series, but I had bounced off both of them. I was afraid I was going to do the same with OlliOlli World, but now it stands as one of my? favorite relea??ses this year.

It’s great to have an excuse to revisit it and feel insecure about how rusty I’ve gotten. VOID Riders is the perfect excuse to do so. It’s a rather sizeable collection of levels and a whole heap? of new customization items to unlock. A new mechanic has been slotted in for good measure, as well, giving your thumbs new reason to get confused and disappoint you.

OlliOlli World: VOID Riders (PC [Reviewed], Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Developer: Roll7
Publisher: Private Division
Released: June 15, 2022
MSRP: $14.99 (Part of Expansion Pass)

VOID Riders sees your gnarly skateboarder rubbing elbows (or similar appendages) with aliens from another dimension. They want to steal our cows and check your tricks. Better pop some dope kicks. Otherwise, our guests will be bummed. I’m doing my best here with the lingo, but I never claimed to be ?cool.

For the price, you get 14 regular levels and four “boss�stages. It’s a decent chunk, and all the stages are rather long. The new extraterrestrial theme is put to good use in rails that curl themselves out in front of you and tractor beams that? lift you up.? You need to grab your way into a tractor beam; that’s the right stick. Note that this isn’t the right trigger, nor is it the left stick. Maybe get that into your heads, thumbs. Quit letting me down.

Totes gnar

Yeah, I had a lot of humiliating failures, which is kind of the way with OlliOlli World. I’d often enter a tractor beam, forget the controls for half a second, and wind up getting pulled too late and missing wherever I wanted to land. That’s absolutely not the game’s fault, but I’m going to complain about it anyway. In any case, it's not any worse in Void Riders.

With the levels come all the challenges. High score, side objecti??ves, and attempting to make it to the end without using a checkpoint. Extra customization gear is awarded for the usual milestones, and there’s a decent assortment of mundane and unusual pieces to collect. If you're feeling sassy, you can try to climb the leaderboards by putting together the best combo possible. I kept dropping my long combos after a checkpoint, so you won't be seeing my name up there.

You'll at least put together a great bail tape

I was able to blast through the entire DLC in less than two hours, but that’s without going back for the additional objectives. Just note that it’s not for the faint of heart. That last level n??early killed me. I’m serious. I don’t think I breathed through my entire success run. My brain needs oxygen.

If I?? have one complaint, it’s that the story is nothing special. The base game didn’t exactly have the most thrilling narrative either, and this just feels like a branch of that. It’s mostly just there to tell you how transcendentally great your skateboarding is. You’re just the coolest. Everyone here and in the VOID thinks so.

If you’re looking for a reason to get back into OlliOlli World, VOID Riders is the perfect one. A lot of love has gone into these new levels, and they definitely live up to the quality of the rest of the game. Considering this is just the first half of the expansion pass, that little investment is already turning out to be good value. Here's h?oping that the quality of the next one nails the landing.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Double double whipless mochaccino half-caf

I tried multiple times to get into the OlliOlli games, and each time I bounced right off. I get that it’s a beloved series, and the straightforward interpretation of skating the perfect skateboard line appeals to me, but there’s something so clinical about the depiction. Just getting through the tutorial is exhausting. I understand that it’s a sort of easy-to-learn hard-to-master kind of deal, and that’s what makes it appealing, but a game has to get its hooks in me before I ?care enough to master it.

I’m guessing I’m not the only person who hit this wall, but OlliOlli World seems custom-built to address that problem. Eschewing the generic 2D designs of the previous games, OlliOlli World uses the magic of 3D to add som??e much-needed pizzazz. Moreover, the game has been given a better system of progression, a radical narrative, and a few extra moves under the hood.

OlliOlli World (PC [Reviewed], Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS4, PS5)
Developer: Roll7
Publisher: Private Division
Released: February 8, 2022
MSRP: $29.99

The world of Radlandia is in need of a new Skate Wizard, as their current one is retiring. The job of the Skate Wizar?d is to commune with the Skate Gods in Gnarvana. As someone who just began existing a moment ago, you’ve been selected by some group of? people to see if you’ve got the Skate Wizardy necessary for the role.

You travel through five world??s in your quest, picking up new skills as you go, in a bid to meet all the Skate Gods and maybe hang with them.

If you’re unfamiliar, the OlliOlli games are sidescrollers that task you with getting from the left-side of the level to the right-side in the gnarliest way possible. It’s a great little system, taking the stick-based trick system from EA’s Skate series and applying it to the die-a?nd-retry side-scroller formula. In a way, it boils skateboarding down to the barest essentials. You’re presented with a sick line, and you simply must nail it.

At the surface level, OlliOlli World overhauls the series' aesthetic. The sterile level-select menu has be??en replaced with a world map, a??nd while it’s still largely linear, side-quests have replaced the pro stages.

As previously mentioned, the game has swapped out its parallax backgrounds for a fully 3D world. This benefits it in a few ways; the worlds are easier to read, as it’s more apparent what is a grind rail and what is solid ground. OlliOlli World also looks nice, but the backgrounds are typically painted in a limited palette to ?reduce distractions. More importantly, though, there’s a customization system, which allows for better rewards for completing optional objectives and achieving high scores beyond b?ig-dick points.

You’ll unlock new boards and outfits at a pretty decent rate. I generally skipped completing the goals unless there was something I a?ctually wanted to wear, so it helped keep me progressing through the game. That’s a big improvement compared to when I’d drop it two worlds in because I had no interest in climbing the leaderboards.

The core gameplay is pretty familiar. There’s less emphasis on nailing a landing �OlliOlli World doesn’t even give you that tutorial until the second world �which makes it feel more approachable. Likewise, checkpoints have been added to the levels, but yo?u’re rewarded for not using them.

In terms of tricks, there are some additions. Grabs have been added, complementing the quarterpipes and branching paths. You can also tweak grinds using the right stick, and while this is limited, it is another color in your crayon box. The lack of grabs in the previous games seemed like a bit of an oversight, and OlliOlli World feels more complete because of its inclusion.

Of course, the more you learn, the more there is to get your fingers twisted up. However, each skill is provided to you gradually throughout the entire game. By the time OlliOlli World decided to give me a lesson in manuals,?? I was already using them and mistakenly thought that it was a duplicate tutorial. It’s all a matter of getting comfortable with the controls, bit by bit, then you can go back and shoot for the high score if that sort?? of thing flips your deck.

The levels themselves are a lot of fun. The later stages really feel like they push you to the edge of control, as you navigate a roller coaster of tracks. Part of t?he fun is learning to read the stages and react at speed. My brain often doesn’t have that sort of short-term memory, so going from grabs to manuals to grinds usually results in me eating dirt. Or worse, I accidentally press the restart button, even though it isn’t anywhere close to the pump button.

I never got frustrated with OlliOlli World, even as some of the jumps were spread out, requiring the perfect timing. Even when I attempted part of a level, like, fifty times because I need to complete an objective to get the b??enihana. It’s a mix of the chill soundtrack, the concentration-heavy gameplay, and the pleasant aesthetic. I found it hard to stay mad at it. It’s polished and well designed, so I always felt I only had my stupid thumbs to blame.

While I may have tried and failed to enjoy previous OlliOlii games, OlliOlli World really sucked me in. It feels like this should be the entry point? for newcomers to the series, but I also think that it’s such a superior product that it would make going back to i?ts predecessors more difficult.

To the end, however, I can’t say how people who have already mastered the first two games will feel about the added accessibility. From my point of view, the core OlliOlli gameplay hasn’t changed, but I never dug into the nuances before. The simplicity of the first two may be more appealing to some?. Likewise, the cartoon visuals might turn some people off if they take their side-scrolling skaters seriously.

From the perspective of someone who always respected but couldn’t penetrate the series, OlliOlli World feels just perfect. I was engrossed for long ?periods of time and absolutely ate through the title. I’m ready to move on, rather than push for completion, but I think that’s part of the beauty. There’s som??ething for everyone, whether or not you’ve got a competitive edge or just want to reach for Gnarvana.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Here we see the male birb as he attempts to impress the female with a sick kickflip

Let’s be honest; you already know if you want to play SkateBIRD.?? Just look at it. Does the concept o?f a small bird riding a skateboard appeal to you? Then we’re done here.

SkateBIRD (PC [reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Glass Bottom Games
Publisher: Glass Bottom Games
Released: September 16, 2021
MSRP: $19.99

Okay, so you probably also want to know if it’s actually any good, which is a much more complicated topic of discussion. For this particular game, we’re going to need to delve into what makes a skateboard game “good.�What was Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’s special sau?ce? Was it the challenge? The tight controls? The soundtrack? Then we’re in trouble here.

To answer everyone’s first question, SkateBIRD is more Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater than it is Skate. You have a button for grab, grind, and flip, and if you rock the control stick up and down, you’ll go into a manual. The controls will be familiar to anyone who played THPS, but the actual feel of the game will not.

You’re a bird! You have hollow bones and you are filled with fluff and birdseed. You can flap your wings and have to grab your board with your beak. The physics are entirely different because of this, and by different, I mean screwier. Floatier is perhaps the more appropriate term. The landings lack impact, the grinding feels frictionless, falling off your board is an?? appropriately wholesome experience. It’s nowhere near as tight, and that’s going to take some getting used to.

You’re really here for the bird, though, right? I h??ave good news: the bird is great. You can customize the crap out of your avian skater, choosing from a load of different species, then decking them out with all kinds of gear. There’s more to unlock hidden in the environment, just in case you? don’t think your feathered friend is fashionable enough.

With that in mind, hopefully you have the stomach for meme talk. Like, that sort of speech that maybe started with Doge. A scream is a screm and a bird is a birb. I’m okay with it, honestly, but I woul??dn’t be surprised if someone wanted to reach through the screen and slap the text boxes.

The story involves aiding the bird’s “Big Friend,�a human whose job has them down. This starts by simply cleaning their a??partment, but proceeds to corporate sabotage. It’s really not a great story, but some of the birds ha??ve character arcs that�are there and get resolved. You’re here for the birds, right?

There are five stages and the goal is to clear as ma??ny of the quests that are scattered throughout. You’re supposed to focus on the gold dots on the mini-map, but this confused me because there is no mini-map. Apparently, when they say mini-map, they mean a picture of the level on the pause screen, which I really didn’t figure out until the third level.

In any case, you don’t have to clear all the goals, but most of them. There’s usually just under 20 to get through. They range from collec??ting floating letters, to getting big combos, to starting f??ires. Likewise, they range from simple and pointless to controller-breakingly frustrating. I got stuck on the second level trying to fan bounce. I’m not even sure if I did it right in the end, it just finally accepted it. There was also this goal where I had to reach something that was high up out of a quarter-pipe, and my bird just refused to transfer out and grab it. Shouting threats at the screen didn't help.

It’s the worst kind of frustrating. The type where you swear you’re going through the process correctly but the game just won’t accept it. And SkateBIRD is a game that seems to take pride in being laid-back and accessible, then there are these finicky tasks that get in the w??ay.

The physics in general can be a pain in SkateBIRD, even though you’re able to tune them. You can make it ha??rder to bail or get rid of the balance mini-game entirely. It’s not a title that wants you to suffer, which makes the suffering I experienced a little unusual. Nonetheless, it’s supposed to be something you can reach the end of on your own terms, and that’s somewhat commendable.

In a similar sense, you can build your own mixtape. The soundtrack is going to be a bit hit and miss, and I personally found some of it abrasive after a while. Most of it gets unlocked by finding cassettes in the environments, which is unfortunate because it means you’ll be hearing a lot of repetition in the first couple of levels. Holy crap, I am so tired of the OST tracks which mix bird sounds, various genres of music, and clips from docume??ntaries. I’m uncomfortable just recalling them ??and I would like to purge them from my mind and salt the once fertile soils they seeped into.

The other music is contributed by v?arious bands, mostly ska and punk. I didn’t find it terrible, I even liked a few of the songs. They’re pretty on the nose, however. One song includes lyrics about how my entire generation can’t afford a house. Like, yeah, that’s pretty true. It could be worse, guy. Yo?u should talk to the dude singing about buying a house and finding out it's haunted.

SkateBIRD has it where it counts: the birds. Everything else, th??ough, is tolerable. Barely. It has a habit of making it ?difficult to enjoy the birds.

And that’s sort of where the paradox lies in SkateBIRD. It has this absolutely friendly veneer, inviting you in, telling you to leave your shoes on, have a seat on the couch. But NO not on that cushion! It pretends like there’s no pressure, ?then decides that it’s time you rack up 200,000 points.

It’s just overall not that well executed. The physics and gameplay are not where they should be. The levels are just okay. The goals are rarely entertaining. But you’re here for the birds, right? There are definitely skateboarding birds, I can guarantee they are in SkateBIRD. I'm not even b?eing sarcastic, the birds are absolutely great. Just t??ry to focus on that and nothing else.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: SkateBIRD appeared first on Destructoid.

Considering people are still out here emulating Skate 3 on PC, that's great

The new Skate, which I really just want to call Skate 4, is coming to PC. That would be a nice thing to say for any anticipated video game, but the sentiment goes double for the Skate seri??es �it's been regrettably console-bound, des?pite fans' continued pleas.

The PC version was confirmed this morning in a little monitor-hopping video on Twitter with the text "PC_confirmation.exe." We still know very little about this game!

//twitter.com/skateEA/status/1430938091834023941

The last major update on Skate was a "We're Working On It" teaser video posted?? in mid-July, in which the team at the newly-established studio Full Circle said it was too early to show any gameplay, and instead let fans' reactions to said game??play do the talking.

So yeah. The new Skate is still super elusive �funnily enough, I don't think EA has even confirmed any specific consoles yet, even if it'll surely be spread across PlayStation and Xbox platforms �but at least we know the game will be released on PC, too. Considering this series ended on such a high note, and it's been over a decade, I can see why they'd want to avoid rushing the new game as muc?h as possible. Lots to live up to.

To all the folks playing an emulated PS3 version of Skate 3 on their PC, that's progress.

The post EA’s upcoming Skate will be released on PC, too appeared first on Destructoid.

Bogus

Glass Bottom Games' adorable skateboarding sim SkateBird has unfortunately been hit with a new delay and is now expected to arrive later this fall. The developer cites several bugs at the umpteenth hour as having slowed shipping, with the title now expected to hit Xbox, PC, and Nin??tendo Switch platforms on its new release date of September 16.

"This wasn’t an easy decision," said Glass Bottom Games founder Megan Fox. "But SkateBird was always a game about doing your best, and we owe it to our backers, fans, and fellow bird enthusiasts to ship the game in its best state. As a small indie studio, completing certification on multiple platforms requires plenty of extra work. Launching on Sept. 16, 2021 lets us ramp up our efforts to ensure SkateBird comes to PC and consoles on the same day!"

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4aIuu0a4Fw

As a quick refresher, SkateBird will tell the story of a cute little birb who attempts to reignite its owner's forgotten love of skateboarding by mastering its own sick tricks. With creative courses built around household rooms and objects, SkateBird will task players with guiding their little pal through a variety of courses, while also unlocking neat customization options to ensure that you're the best-looking bird on ??the block.

At launch, players can also expect extra content including the new "Skate Heaven" stage and the "much-requested" Pet the Bird mode. Glass Bottom Games will use this delay development time to fix any remaining issues in SkateBird, while also fine-tuning the game's camera, UI, and array of mission objectives. SkateBird is?? still something of a dice roll, but nobody can deny the passion and dedicat??ion of the development team, who have been slogging away at the title for many years now. I can't wait to check out the finished product when it's finally ready to hit the half-(drain)pipe.

SkateBird ?launches September 16 on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna.

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Lo-fi vibes and skating

Some skateboarding sims have lots of goals and unlocks, but one upcoming minimalist skateboard game is just looking to create a good vibe. The Ramp is a new game from Paul Schnepf, a co-creator of Islanders and Superflight, and it wants to? just capture the th??rill of skateboarding.

The Ramp hits Steam right at the start of the new month, on Aug. 3, for $5.99. It's described as a "digi??tal toy for skateboard loving people," with "pure flow??, no extra fluff."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pcvc1z_-N8

That means no unlockables, and no collecting. Across ??four different levels, you can just hang out a??nd nail some tricks. Whether on the halfpipe, in the pool, or rocketing down the mega-ramp, it's all about going with the flow.

Though it might sound a little thin, for the price of a good latte, I'm thinking it seems like a nice way to burn a lazy, rainy afternoon. Stuck inside? Just grab some coffee and do some kickflips to what sounds li?ke a very? chill soundtrack.

I'm also just kind of in a skateboarding mood, because we're in a bit of a skateboard-game renaissance. Last year's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 remaster was like blasting back in time to the early days of? the series, ?and new arrivals are now capturing some of that same skateboarding magic.

"I always wished a game like this existed," said Schnepf ?in a press release. "T?hen I realized I could just make it myself. Being a game developer kind of rules."

New games like Session and OlliOlli World are working on some really cool things within the space, and The Ramp fit?s right in with the big resurgence of love?? for virtual skateboarding. No unlockable tricks or point goals, just skateboarding.

The Ramp hits Steam on Aug. 3, 2021. If you'd like, you can wishlist it here.

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Pyramid Shred

Konami has a new Silent Hill update for fans. No, it's not a new entry in the long-dormant survival horror series, but a new piece of merch in the form of a limited edition skateboard �just like the one famously ridden by James Sunderland in 2001's Silent Hill 2.

The new deck features a slick black-and-red design, along with a pop-art sketch of everyone's favorite Silent Hill babe, th??e Brookhaven Hospital Nurse. The board will be available in two distinct styles: one featuring more subdued coloring, with the other choosing a more Day-Glo palette of yellows, pinks, and blues to match your Bermuda shorts. Ay Carumba!!

(Note: I'm aware skateboarding is a contemporary sport, and I actually like the deck design here. I'm just continuously boggled by Konami's decision to promote everything about Silent Hill aside from the games themselves.)

In addition to the skateboard, a selection of Silent Hill shirts, baseball caps, and cushions will also be headed to the Official Konami Store. All of these items will go on sale June 23 at 16:00PT / 19:00 ET / 00:00 BST. The skateboards are limit??ed edition and only available while stocks last, so be sure to be there at the jump if you want to put your name down for one. No price for? any of the items has been revealed.

As for a new Silent Hill game? Well, there was no word at E3 last week, sadly, but rumors and whispers continue that the horror aficionados at Bloober Team have been working with a "famous gaming publisher" and might have something under its dark sleeve.

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I can see this pulling in a lot of new fans

It took a bit for today's Nintendo Indie World Showcase to get going, but I immediately latched onto OlliOlli World the moment it showed u??p. The next skateboarding game from Roll7 looks fantastic — and i??t's more ambitious than I would've expected. You've got to see these out-there character designs.

According to the studio, we'll be able to customize our skater's looks, tricks, and style while also ca?rving our own path in the wacky world of Radland — literally. The levels have branching paths. That's one way to ease players into the end goal of reaching a hyper-focused zen state with mad combos.

Game director Tom Hegarty says that like the prior games, OlliOlli World boils down to "flow."

The trailer pretty much shows what it needed to at this point. I'm in! One extra note: there will be a separate sandbox mode with procedural levels that players can share using a "Zip c??ode system."

OlliOlli World is co??ming to Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S from Roll7 and publ??isher Private Division in winter 2021.

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Sick Chick

It's been a minute since we heard from avian xtreme sports title SkateBird, which will see your local bird-box buddies take to fo?ur-wheeled decks and bust out some sweet-ass feathered flips, bro. But developer Glass Bottom Games has returned with a brand new video, showcasing the absurd but fun-looking skater.

The new two-minute preview gives us a look at SkateBird's "Office," as our adorable feathered friends take advantage of desktops, staplers, magazines, and other stationery (literally) items in order to pull off a sick run, racking up combos, points, and bonuses along the way.  The video is narrated by Glass Bottom Games' Xalavier Nelson Jr., who provides context for the amusing on-screen ac??tion.

SkateBird will feature a selection of suitably improvised stages, multiple customization options, a bevy of bird tricks, and a thoroughly wholesome and heartening storyline, which sees our tiny hero attempting to rekindle his human owner's love of skating once again. SkateBird will also allow players to import their own soundtracks, ensuring that your amazing r?uns are accompanied by some "lo-fi birb hop beats." It's definitely looking to be a perfect chill-out ti??tle after a hard day's nest-building.

SkateBird?? launches later in 2021 on PC, Xbox One, an??d Nintendo Switch.

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Canadian studio prepares for franchise comeback

During the never-ending nightmare of E3 2020, Electronic Arts announced that it was bringing back its skateboarding series, Skate. It seems that this project is about to get underway, with the establishment of new studio Full Circle??, whose first duties will be the development of the new rail-gri??nding release.

In an interview with VentureBeat, Full Circle GM Daniel McCulloch announced that some of Skate's original band were getting back together, wi?th leads Deran Chung and Cuz Parry reuniting to work on the new title as key desi??gners. In addition, McCulloch suggested that the team would be looking to the community for input regarding the series' comeback.

"The fans wished Skate back into existence, and we want them to feel involved in the process from development to game launch and beyond," said McC??ulloch. "We want them to feel like they are a part of Full Circle. [...] We’re all about having fun and making great games that people want to play with their friends. And, we’re looking for more developers to help us build compelling worlds for player?s to explore."

Full Circle - which operates out of Vancouver, Canada - is currently accepting applications for various roles in Skate's development. So while it looks like the project is still some ye??ars away, at least fans can take comfort in the confi??rmation that the wheels are definitely in motion.

EA cr??eates Full Circle studio in Vancouver to make ?Skate 4 [VentureBeat]

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'Private skate sessions, party migration, and leader promotion'

Surprise! Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 just got an update. No, it's not Tony Hawk 3 DLC. Wouldn't that be amazing though?

No, this one is a lot more low key if you're g??oing at it solo, as it's focused entirely around multiplayer. Vicarious Visions has just patched in additional party features, which include "private skate sessions, party migration and leader promotion." You also now have? the ability to play private matches across every map or "hang out in Free Skate."

Sadly, this patch doesn't open up matchmaking for free skate, so you're still at the whim of playing with people you know directly. It would be pretty amazing of Vicarious Visions intended on adding to the same game over time: patching in Tony Hawk 3+4, as well as social public free skating, to create some sort of Frankensteined Tony Hawk MMO.

That probably won't happen though, as Tony Hawk 3+4 as a separate SKU seems like a given, especially with the success of 1+2.

Vicarious Visions [Twitter]

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The create-a-gift that keeps on giving

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is out, and hey: Vicarious Visions did a pretty good job with ?it!

When it was released earlier this month folks were reliving their memories left and right, while also wishing upon a star for a Tony Hawk 3 + 4 (but mostly 3) remaster. It also didn't ship half-heartedly, like the Robomodo re-release (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD) did in 2012. ??In other words, it has split-screen play as well as all of the typical create-a suites you've come to love. That includes the create-a-park feature, which folks have been going hog wild with these past few weeks.

Over on Reddit, user TomHanks12345 (what a name) shared a fairly nonchalant course that earned the respect of the game's official Twitter account: Shipment from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. They had to work within the confines of? the game's creation tools, but the layout looks just right!

If you're playing on PC, ??you can search for it under the name "Shipment." Sadly, the create-a-park fea??ture is not cross-platform at the moment (a request that's since been made after numerous creations have been shared these past few weeks).

Shipment [Reddit via Twitter]

So I made a skateable version of Shipment from Modern Warfare. Yo?u can download it on the CAP download now. (PC) from r/THPS

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'It's just another Saturday'

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater left its mark on history...I want to say...within minutes of its r??e?lease in 1999.

It didn't matter if you skated or not, it was a cultural touchstone, a sign that skating had arrived. While it's faltered through the years (Tony Hawk himself dates it around 2006, when Project 8 was released), it's back now: for real this time.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (PC, PS4 [reviewed], Xbox One)
Developer: Vicarious Visions
Publisher: Activision
Released: September 4, 2020
MSRP: $39.99

This isn't the same mistake of a release that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD was in 2012.

Split-screen is back, as well as the ability to create-a-skater or lead a selection of pros through a campaign mode that spans the first two games; without the need for DLC or post-launch updates. The other key to the kingdom: it was genius to reintroduce the wall plant, transfer, revert, and manual concepts all at once. As you can see in the trick videos so far a hell of a lot is possible, as the mechanical inner workings of 1 + 2 were not hamstrung out of the gate.

That attention to detail is the crux of what Vicarious Visions was able to pull off. Keep it simple on the surface, but complex under the hood. Outside of a few instances every so often where it feels like my skater didn't quite land how they should hav??e (which could use some post-game patches to shore up), it's very similar to the old games, but with a framework that allows a lot more combo potential.

And what would a Tony Hawk game be without a killer soundtrack? The tracklist is available here to inspect, and suffice to say most of the classic songs from the first two games are intact. It's all subjective at the end of the day, but I turned off a lot of the new?? ones out of preference. Thankfully, the entire jukebox feature is customizable, and the R3 button instantly switches tracks even mid-game. "Little upgrades" are a running theme with this version.

As far as modes go, this re-release is dead simple — to the point where the lack of fanfare might leave you underwhelmed. The campaign consists of nine Tony Hawk 1 levels, eight standard Tony Hawk 2 stages (with a final Chopper Drop unlock and a secret level), and the ability to free skate or score-attack all of those stages in free play. You can also create-your-own park (or play with ?a few of Vicarious' brews) and play offline (split-screen) or online multiplayer.

That's basically it. You'll skate your way through each stage completing classic objectives — high score, collect the S-K-A-T-E letters, grab the secret tape, and other scavenger hunt-like stuff — and finishing enough of them unlocks the following stage. There aren't any elaborate new cutscenes or a story, really: even if you create and customize your own s??kater. The overarching game does have challenges and plenty of [in-game] cosmetics to peruse and buy though, if you're hell-bent on getting a true 100% completion rating. This "level-up" throughput also unlocks extra content and more custom tri?ck slots.

You can even use the same old school guides if you want for the most part (a few things have been added to the original campaign)! It's all straight drop-in and go, arcade style. There's a ton of classics here: Mall, School II, Venice Beach, all of which elicit fond memories as I forge new ones with the new visual style. It was a joy to replay all of them again, trying to remember where all of the well-hidden gap challenges were and seeing everything in another light. The first two games are a powerhouse in terms of playgrounds to mess around in and try to find the best combo lines, so it's no surprise that they still withstand the test of time. Some stages are more touched-up than others, but as a whole everything looks cleaner and smoother than it did with the prior HD release.

I do have to say though: this could have used some Tony Hawk 3 levels, even just for the sake of longevity. It didn't occur to me until replaying the entire series a few years back that the third entry low key had some of the best stages in the franchise, packed with more goal variety. The team could have added a bit of that panache to some of the smaller-scale areas of Tony Hawk 1 + 2, for those of you out t?here who don't want to chase high scores or online leaderboards. As a small concession, you do get a few cute cheat codes and visual toggles for 100%-ing ??each campaign.

I'm harping on replay value a tad here because while split-screen is a boon, it's not perfect. Available for up to two players (Free Skate, Trick Attack, Score Challenge, Combo Mambo, Combo Challenge, Tag, Graffiti, H-O-R-S-E), the mode ?takes a framerate hit, even in gametypes where only one person is on the screen at a time. I'm glad it exists in any form, flawed or not; but don't expect to be able to jump into it and have it run flawlessly.

Blemishes aside, Activision is doing so much right this time beyond just putting Vicarious Visions in charge. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 isn't going to blow people away, but? it preserves the original experience with a few modern conveniences. It's a win.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher, with a focus on local play.]}

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Unfortunately, Spider-Man isn't one of them

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 will have you grinding rails and manualing flatlands with some of the best to ever ride. You've got your Rune Glifbergs, your Chad Muskas, and, of course, you've got your Birdmans.

There are some more, umm, unconventional, skaters too. A fun staple of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is the stable of secret characters. Officer Dick, a lazy-ass mallcop-lookin' dude, debuted in Tony Hawk 1. Spider-Man swung onto the scene in Tony Hawk 2. (Unfortunately but also predictably, Spider-Man isn't in t?his game. Given how cagey Sony is about licensing Spidey, no one really expected Activision to pay out the nose for a secret cha?racter.)

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 seems to have three secret characters to unlock, although only two of them look to be earned in the traditional sense. Let's get the oddball out of the way?? first.

Ripper is a skeleton skater (and also the mascot of Powell-Peralta) who's unlocked by buying the Digital Deluxe edition of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2. There might be another way to?? unlock Ripper, but it probably won't b??e through gameplay. If anything, the smart bet is that he'll eventually show up as paid DLC.

The Roswell Alien is the neatest secret character. Not coincidentally, unlocking him is also the most involved. To get extraterrestrial, you'll need to find (and squish) the alien plushie doll that's hiding in each of the game's 19 levels. Fortunately??, YouTuber WorkTheSpace put together the guide that's embedded above which shows where each plushie is loca??ted. Knock them all out and the Alien is yours.

Lastly, we have the secret character mainstay: Officer Dick. This time, Officer Dick is played by Jack Black, which really is just perfect in every way. He's earned by completing all 24 Create-a-Skater challenges. These objectives can be found in the "Challenges" tab and then the "Sk??ater Challenges" sub-menu.

That's all we know about for now. There might be more than three secret characters found eventually (but the menu screen nicely fits 24 total skaters). We'll update this guid??e if any more are discovered. Until then, get skatin' if you want to unlock the Roswell Alie??n and Officer Dick; get payin' if you want to unlock Ripper.

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'So here I am'

Warehouse. Two minutes.

Show me what you've got.

What ??you see in the video above is the result of just 15 minutes of getting acclimat??ed to the remaster on PS4. So far so good!

It feels weird playing Tony Hawk with new physics (whether it's previous remasters? or new iterations), but Vicarious Visions really had a handle on the original games when translating this new version. There are small kinks: times where you're like "I totally nailed that trick!" But they are few and far between as you learn to better navigate the choppy seas of half-pipes and rails.

As a reminder, although this is technically Tony Hawk's Pro Skater "1+2," there are elements from future games that are present. The incorporation of the revert is the biggest blessing, which should allow for ?plenty of insane million-plus-point combos. It feels like such a small gesture but it's genius: as you'??ll have all of the tools available to make a perfect line combo on every level (of which there are 19 in the final version).

That includes the Warehouse. Picking everything back up in the very first level I played in this series in 1999 felt like second nature; in part due to Vicarious Vision's commitment to the classics. Unlike the 2012 remake fro??m Robomodo, which had its own issues with the Unreal Engine 3 skeleton, this one feels much closer to the original. Vicarious Visions i?s one-upping Robomodo by bringing back split-screen on top of that. Activision isn't keen to make the same mistakes twice, it seems.

Although our demo gave us limited access to the main menus, everything is looking good so far. You can check it out for yourself: aesthetic customizations are in, as are unique special trick inputs and the ability to select a music playlist (yes!). Billy Talent's "Afraid of Heights," Goldfinger's "Superman," Rage Against the Machine's "Guerrilla Radio" an??d Tyrone Briggs' "Lose Control" are the four songs on offer in the demo. Nearly every track from the original two games are coming back though, as well as 37 new tunes.

As far as UI options go, everything a Tony Hawk player could want looks to be covered, like turning off individual facets of the HUD, swapping to "legacy movesets" for both classic entries and allowing "assists" (kinda like cheat codes) for any type of trick. It's fairy comprehensive and should delight everyone from veterans to newcomers who are just earning their wheels. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is ou?t on PC, PS4 and Xbox One on September 4. If you pre-ordered d??igitally, you can access the Warehouse demo on August 14.

As for my early impressions with it: there's something so surreal about listening to the lyrics for Superman and hearing "I'm getting older all the time" 21 years after playing the original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. This is a series practically everyone I knew at least dabbled in. I hope that same sense of community blossoms out of a strong foundation for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, and sets ?the stage for more remasters and a proper follow-up.

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I can see my house from here

Easy Day Studios has released a new trailer for its sandbox skateboarding title Skater XL. The video showcases ?three brand new locations, all created by community members, that are available now on PC and will be arriving alongside the console ports later this month.

The first locale is real-world Chicago location "Grant Skate Park," as created by long-time Skater XL modder turned Easy Day team member Theo. The second map featured ??in the video is the "Hűdland Training Facility," an original creation?? by community member Pactole, which represents a burgeoning skater's dream facility to hone all manner of tricks and skills.

Finally, the video closes out with Jean Olive's "Streets," a unique blend of architecture from all around the world. From the hills of San Francisco to the unique, skat??e-happy structure of Spanish suburbs, with notable world-famous locations in-between, "Streets" is an international buffet of the world's finest skate spots.

While these three community maps have already been made available in the PC edition of Skater XL, Easy Day Studio?s has announced that they will be ready for launch alongside the PlayStatio?n 4 and Xbox One ports on July 28.

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Warehouse is the ideal intro to Vicarious Visions' remaster

Activision slapped a release date on the Warehouse demo for the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 remaster. If you pre-order the game digitally on PS4, Xbox One, or PC (Epic Games Store), you'll get access to the demo on August 14, 2020, just a few weeks before THPS's September 4 launch.

This is going to sound ridiculous – hear me out! – but I'm almost more excited for the Warehouse demo (assuming it's the full stage) than I am the rest of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 package. The vibe runs deep. I miss the days when I'd go hard on a demo b?ecause, well, that's just what we did back then.

Will it be as fun as we remember? Will it be better? I'm sticking to my modest expectations.

In a blog post, Activision also revealed eight new skaters that will join the original, aged-up cast of THPS 1 and 2: Lizzie Armanto, Leo B??aker, Leticia Bufoni, Riley Hawk, Nyjah Huston, Tyshawn Jones, Aori Nishimura, and Shane O'Neill. Naturally, the newcomers have "their own signature tricks to represent their strengths and accomplishments they have earned so far in their young careers."

I love this endless summ??er of d?emos, even if this one is tied to pre-orders.

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Grind it out

Easy Day Studios has announced that its sandbox skateboarding simulator, Skater XL, still needs a little more tweaking before it's ready to leave Early Access and hit the retail rails. As such, Skater XL?? Ver. 1.0 will now launch on PS4, PC, and Xbox One on July 28.

"What is up, guys! We just wanted to let you know that 1.0 will be launching on July 28, a few weeks later than the original date," posted the Skater XL team on Twitter. "We appreciate your patience as we finalize the game. Not to worry - between now and then, we? will be showing more new content & features that will be available at launch and continuing to polish the game".

The developer also noted that it would be revealing a date for the Nintendo Switch release in the coming weeks. Given the upcoming launches of both Skater XL and Tony Hawk's Pro-Skater 1 & 2, it seems like skating fans - who've?? been a little hard up for releases in recent years - have much to look forward to.

Skater XL launches on PS4, PC, and Xbox One July 28.

Skater XL Delayed [Nintendo Everything]

What is up, guys! We just wanted to let you know that 1.0 will be launching on July 28, a few weeks later than the original date. Despite our best efforts, and due in part to things out of our control, we will be moving the launch of Skater XL 1.0 on PS4,XB1, and PC to July 28th pic.twitter.com/OaRw2n21DL

— Skater XL (@skater_xl) June 6, 2020

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What a character he is in real life too!

I still remember where I was when I picked up Tony Hawk's Pro Skater for the first time.

I was at my friend David's house, completely unaware for what we were getting ourselves into. We were learning the ropes, then suddenly: "Superman" came on. It sounds clich??e to say that hearing one song was a life-changing mome?nt, but eight hours later, it still felt like we were in a split-screen trance. We just couldn't stop playing it.

That similar scene would happen as I played Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 and listened to "No Cigar" over and over, or "96 Quite Bitter Beings" in Tony Hawk 3, and...you get the picture. Soundtracks are a huge part of what makes THPS so memorable for a large swath of people, but the?? skaters were naturally a big dra??w as well.

Growing up, in and out of the game I was always a fan of Chad Muska. I not only admired his passion for skating, but the fact that each and every Tony Hawk entry he would reinvent himself and almost feel like a completely different person. He's also one of the few members of the cast that stuck with the series for so long, as he was frequently a large part of the various story modes across its strong decade-plus run.

He's still supporting the franchise, actually, as is evidenced in the video below, where he muses on the impact of Tony Hawk has a whole. That said, ?Brett also makes? a compelling case for Rune Glifberg!

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Like you have a cooler name?

Tony Hawk is the best, or at least the most talented, or at least the most influential sk8er boi of all time. He isn't?, however, the best skater in his own game. That honor goes to Ru??ne Glifberg.

You know how sometimes people can have opinions, but those opinions are also absolutely unquestionably unwaveringly right? This is one of those times. Rune Glifberg was, hands-down, the most badass skater in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.

Picture this: Rune is in Chicago or Portland or Roswell. It doesn't matter. He finds that big halfpipe, lands a couple 360 tricks for speed before unleashing a 720 Rocket Air. Oh fuck, this is just like when Michael Jordan decides he's not losing. Perfect landing, back up and into a 720 Benihana. That Special Meter is full. Just give Rune the gold medal now, we all know what's ??next. Hanging in the air forever -- looking still as a Polaroid but somehow also spinning incredibly fast -- 720 Ch?rist Air. 

Chad Muska needs that big-ass backpack to stas??h this big-ass L. It won't fit in the overhead compartment, now he's gotta check it. That's an extra $50. He'??s pissed, it's a whole thing.

Also, and I can't stress this enough, his name is Rune.

Anyway, I saw this video of Steve Caballero promoting the THPS 1+ 2 remaster and thought there might be some people out there who believe he is the THPS GOAT. Crazy notion but we live in crazy times. He's no Bob Burnquist and he's no Jamie Thomas. And he's certainly no Spider-Man. But he's defini??tely no Rune because?? only Rune is Rune. 

If you wrongly hold some ??other skater in the highest of regard, you can post your counter-arguments in the comments. They will be summarily ignored.

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Ominous Activision

Activision is the absolute king of saying things like "there will be no microtransactions at launch," and th??en laughing like an anime antagonist off camera.

While the "none at launch" phrase has become key for them, fans lament the fact that a nebulous "demand" requires adding them in after the fact: after reviews have landed and the publisher is in the clear. Although that's not written in the stars for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 (a rema??ster of the first two games du?e later this year), it's certainly a possibility.

Speaking to GameSpot, Vicarious Visions lead Jen Oneal noted: "Everything that you see at launch is going to be unlocked with gamepl??ay. We're not planning on having ??monetization at launch. If there is demand for additional content, Vicarious Visions might consider releasing more stuff to buy with real money down the road."

You could say this is a pretty loaded response, as there certainly will be a demand for a proper remaster of one of the most popular franchises of all time: but that does not nec??essitate microtransactions. A full, premium paid DLC will do just fine! Cross-play would help ease the sting a bit, which is also being vaguely teased and not ruled out, according to Oneal: "When the time comes we will say more."

Although after-the-fact-micros are a gut punch, if the remasters feel complete at launch, it'll be a much easier pill to swallow. Vicarious Visions has been doing great work this past decade, and the series seems like it's in good hands. I'm already clamoring for a Tony Hawk 3+4.

Tony Hawk??'s Pro Skater 1 + 2 Remasters Releasing This Year [GameSpot]

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The 2020 remaster got most of the way there with the track list

If you were anxious or curious about the soundtrack for this year's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 remaster, wonder no more: Activision released a "first look" at the track list on Spotify today.

• "Police Truck" by Dead Kennedys
• "Superman" by Goldfinger
• "Jerry was a Racecar Driver" by Primus
• "New Girl" by The Suicide Machines
• "Here & Now" by The Ernies
• "Euro-Barge" by The Vandals
• "Blood Brothers" by Papa Roach
• "Guerilla Radio" by Rage Against the Machine
• "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" by Naughty by Nature
• "You" by Bad Religion
• "When Worlds Collide" by Powerman 5000
• "No Cigar" by Millencolin
• "Cyclone" by Dub Pistols
• "May 16" by Lagwagon
• "Subculture" by Styles of Beyond
• "Heavy Metal Winner" by Consumed
• "Evil Eye" by Fu Manchu
• "Five Lessons Learned" by Swingin' Utters

Along wi??th these 18 tracks, Activision also shared a promo image with a few more names.

I see you, Speedealer. And that go??es for you too, Evenrude.

THPS wouldn't be nearly as iconic or groundbreaking without its soundtrack. That's a fact of life. At the same time – licensing being the mess that it is – there were bound to be omissions like "Cyco Vision" and "Bring the Noise." Those cuts hurt in such a nostalgi?c remaster, but I'm pleasantly surprised overall.

Do you feel old listening to these?? time-capsule tracks? Em??brace it! It's the mood of 2020.

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'Will you teach me to do a 900?'

With Tony Hawk's Pro Skater fresh on our minds, it's as good of a time as ever to remember that Jack Black has a lighthearted YouTube channel dedicated to his adventures in video games and life. Recently, he hung out with Hawk and spec??ial guests fo??r "a little gaming, a little skating, and a little rocking."

The video coincided with this morning's exciting Pro Skater 1 and 2 remaster news from Vicarious Visions, a studio that fans – at least some fans – think should be up to the task. The classic skateboarding series suffered a string of missteps in recent years,?????????????????????????? and there's no telling how this revival will turn out until it's in our hands, but for now, we're hooked on a glimmer of hope. So far, so good.

Jablinski Games got to fool around in the unmistakable Warehouse level which, conveniently, is the pre-order bonus for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2. If you pre-ord??er the remaster on PC, PlayStation 4, or Xbox One, you'll get a "Warehouse Demo" this summer before the game's September 4, 2020 launch.

"Where is the actual warehouse," Black asked.

"Du??de, this is a make-believe place," Hawk explained.

He was being one-hundred percent sincere.

They both were.

We must treasure them forever.

The gameplay is sandwiched between a Devo jam session and a skate session with "friends of the show" Chad Muska, Rodney Mullen, Kareem Campbell, Eric Koston, and Elissa Steamer, among others.

You might not have a soft spot for Jack Black, or Tony Hawk, or even THPS – what are you?! – but this video is still super enjoyable from a hanging-out, havin'?-fun, wholesome slice-of-life perspective.

The post Jack?? Black played the THPS remaster with Tony Hawk appeared first on Destructoid.

Skate or Die

An impromptu live stream hosted by industry figure Geoff Keighley has just confirmed one of gaming's worst kept secrets. Classic PlayStation skateboarding sims Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 are b??eing remastered f?or PS4, PC, and Xbox One. The announcement is the first of many "Summer Game Fest" reveals that Keighley has planned, in lieu of events such as E3 and gamescom.

Fun?? fact: It's ?also Tony Hawk's 52nd birthday today. Nice timing.

The remaster is being developed by Vicarious Visions, and will include the original courses, skaters, modes, and - most surprisingly - soundtracks that featured in the original PS1 titles, so it looks like publisher Activision has shelled out the cash for a fresh round of licensing. While almost everything in-game has been recreated from the ground up, the developer has been able to adapt the original physics code for the new engine, and will be pushing as hard as possible for a 1:1 experience when compared to the original games.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was an enormous hit upon release in 1999, and though the series would go on to see numerous highs and lows, there's no denying that the original THPS 1 & 2 are bonafide classics - titles that are prime to make a welcome comeback. I can hear G??oldfinger already...

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2 launches September 4 on PS4, PC, and Xbox One for $39.99. Pre-ordering the game will bag you Early Access, giving you the opportunity to take the classic "Warehouse" course out f?or a spin later this summer.

The post Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2 remaster coming September 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Dope Threads

Easy Day Studios has announced that sandbox skateboarding sim Skater XL w??ill leave Early Access on July 7, 2020, bringing its host of famous skaters, locations, and bran??ds to PC and consoles.

Players will be able to step into the scuffed-up shoes of skateboarding icons such as Tiago Lemos, Evan Smith, Brandon Westgate, and Tom Asta. If you fancy taking to the rails as your good self, then you're in luck, as a full custom character maker will also be included. In terms of gear, Skater XL has signed a deal with a huge range of popular brands, including Dickies, Santa Cruz, New Balance, Etnies, Vans, DC, 411VM, Blind, The N??i??ne Club, and many more.

You can check out some of these Totally Radical looks in the new trailer? below.

Skater XL, a community-driven sandbox title, will boast over 60 trick-laden areas just waiting for you to show off your wrist-breaking finesse. With the modding community heavily encouraged to create their own skaters, locations, highlight reels, and tournaments, Skater XL hopes to become an evolving release, one that is made bigger a??nd better by the players themselves.

Skater XL launches J?uly 7 on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

The post Skater XL will open its skateboarding sandbox Ju??ly 7 appeared first on Destructoid.

Heaven is a Half Pipe

For months now, third-parties have been coming forward on podcasts and social media to reference their involvement in a new entry in the legendary Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series, d??espite ongoing silence regarding the game's?? existence in any official capacity.

This past weekend, it was the turn of skateboarder Jason Dill to reference the mystery title, doing so on the latest episode of podcast The Nine Club. Speaking with host Chris Roberts, Dill mentioned that his music and his boards would both be featured in the game, joining previous spoilers dropped by Lizzie Armanto, Sabi, and punk band The Death Set.

Despite all of the attention being openly paid to this new title, there is still no official word from either Hawk or ??previous publisher Activision. All signs point to a new fran??chise entry, but whether it will be a straight sequel or the rumoured remake of the 1999 PlayStation original remains to be seen.

Jason D?ill: New To?ny Hawk's Pro Skater due out in 2020 [Gematsu]

The post People can’t stop telling us that a new Tony Hawk game is coming this year appeared first on Destructoid.

'Stay cool, Bret'

Another slip-of-the-tongue has further suggested the existence of an incoming Tony Hawk's Pro Skater title, which is expected to launc??h sometime in 2020. This newest leak comes from a since-removed social media post made by punk band The Death Set.

Speaking on their official Facebook page, The Death Set referenced that they had licensed several tracks for a "Tony Hawk 2020" game. As quickly as it arrived, the post then vanished. But as the old adage goes, the internet never forgets, and the post was quickly resurrected on Twitter by YouTuber @TheNathanNS.

The Dead Set aren't t??he first outside interes??t to speak of a new Tony Hawk game's existence. In a soundbite that was later edited out of the podcast, pro-skater Lizzie Armanto mentioned that she would be starring in a new title during a 2019 interview with The Nine Club. Longtime rumour-mill Sabi also suggested back in November that Activision were hard at work on remakes of classic PlayStation releases Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.

After an (initially) highly successful run of titles, Tony Hawk and Activision parted ways in 2015.?? The split seemed relatively amicable, however, so there's no reason why both parties wouldn't reunite for either a run of remakes, or an all-new re??lease. And given this ever-increasing string of leaks, the new Tony Hawk project seems to be long past the point of being merely "rumoured".

New Tony Hawk Pro Skater game inbound!

Keeping hopes l?ow after the long, long row of abysmal gam??es since Tony Hawk's RIDE.

But this also seems like a major NDA breach. pic.twitter.com/gGUiNZL6i8

— TheNathanNS (@TheNathanNS) March 10, 2020

The post More evide??nce suggests Tony Hawk title coming in 2020 appeared first on Destructoid.

Game on, fellow sitting enthusiasts!

While Lyle continues t?o scoff at doing anything physical, here's what's been happening in video games this past week:

• SkateBIRD is coming to Nintendo Switch!
• Puma is introducing the world to gamer socks
• Hellblade 2 was announced and so much more!

I never understood why energy drink brands sponsored MLG events or certain streamers. The correlation between energy drinks and playing video games always just seemed so bizarre to me. I tend to crash pretty hard after a few hours with that much caffeine, so, the thought of Twitch streamers playing games upw?ards of 12 hours a day and having an energy drink sponsor always seemed baffling.

But, the idea of “gamer” branded foods (remember Gamer Grub?) with supposed beneficial ??ingredients always sounded like a really interesting concept. Imagine an entire diet plan dedicated to folks who? play games for long periods of time? I think that could be genuinely interesting. Much more so than gamer socks, anyway.

Discharged question of the week: have you ever p?urchased any gamer branded clothing or items? Did it benefit in any way?

The post In this episode of Pregame Discharge: SkateBIRD i??s coming to Switch ??and gamer socks are a thing! appeared first on Destructoid.