EA to release Tony Hawk killer in 2007

by Blake Snow { Sep 19th 2006 at 2:00AM }

Reports surfaced today via PSM suggesting that EA's BIG label is developing a new Tony Hawk-esque skateboarding game specifically, though not exclusively, for the PS3. Gamespot later confirmed the report with an EA representative that revealed nothing other than the title of Skate, but did state more game details would soon follow. The title is expected to grace several next-gen consoles sometime in 2007 says TVG along with some other information nuggets:

"Skate for PlayStation3... is apparently being produced by EA Canada. Up to fourteen skaters will be featured in the game, along with EA's character customization mode. Multiplayer support will also be included in the game, together with claims that it's being made to take advantage of the PS3's 1080p high-definition capabilities. According to the [PSM] report, the control system will be intuitive and include a dual-analogue mechanic called 'Flickit', ensuring that grinding will be different every time."

The added competition should help keep Activision on its Tony Hawk toes. We just hope EA doesn't sign an exclusive deal with some yet to be formed skater association in the future.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ill trooper @ Sep 19th 2006 2:18AM

Well... I hope it's better than Microsoft's 'Amped' when compared to EA's solid and fun-to-play 'SSX' series.

bob @ Sep 19th 2006 2:23AM

yet another 1080p game annoucned for PS3

great news!

reppy @ Sep 19th 2006 2:33AM

And only what, 5 years too late? I also heard they're working on a Mario 64 killer. Can't wait to see that.

socrates @ Sep 19th 2006 2:36AM

Reppy -

Huh?

SymetriX @ Sep 19th 2006 2:39AM

Maybe it will have real-time skateboard change.

Zixaphir Kote Modnar @ Sep 19th 2006 3:12AM

Competition: The beautiful art of telling someone, "Stop Rehashing".

Finally, a reason for Neversoft to kick it up a notch. I mean, sure, they've been doing great with implementing something new each and every game, but maybe now we'll see a new flare from them.

And at the same time, lets hope EA doesn't just pull another clone outta the machine and rerelease it ever year. (sic)

Alkaiser @ Sep 19th 2006 3:16AM

Why not?

I mean, they already released an SSX killer...unintentionally.

James @ Sep 19th 2006 3:33AM

I hope EA release a Road Rash game for the nextgen already. Haven't seen one since PS1 days.

DAVE @ Sep 19th 2006 4:11AM

What do they mean tony hawks killer? I stopped playing that game ages ago

Mike @ Sep 19th 2006 4:19AM

Somebody's still buying them. I think the last one I actually played was the third one, and that not very much. They're probably still pretty decent games but I just got burnt out on them.

Always made me wonder how people can keep rebuying normal sports games every year.

theGreenGrunt @ Sep 19th 2006 5:33AM

Who plays these skate baord games? 16 of my LIVE friends and not one of them plays skate games like this.

Twenty5 @ Sep 19th 2006 6:16AM

who? EA?

HAHAHAHAHAHA yea right....... EA!!!!HAHAHAhahahHAHAH

dsub @ Sep 19th 2006 6:49AM

"EA to release Tony Hawk killer in 2007"

HAHAHAHAHA fat chance. There missing the one important element that would help sell there game...The tony hawk franchise.

Have they not learned from the countless attempt over the years? There a little to late.

The only way I would buy into this game is if it had BMX in it and it played as well or better than the Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX games. The BMX mode in Tony Hawk's American Wasteland was a joke, and the Matt Hoffman games were alright, but nothing STILL has been able to top Dave Mirra 2 in terms of a BMX game.

dsub @ Sep 19th 2006 6:57AM

ill trooper-

if it's anything like SSX I'll puke. The last thing I want is a skateboarding game in which I race around a neon-lit environment flying off ramps 100 feet into the air doing ridiculous tricks that don't even exist in real life.

Amped 3 is a fantastic snowboarding game, and it didn't get the recognition it deserved. Sure, Amped and Amped 2 were garbage, but Amped 3 had MASSIVE environments and TONS of fun challenges to do and a great storyline. Plus...it had snowmobiles that you could just jump on to get around the mountains to different spots, or you could just catch the ski lifts. It's a shame Indie Built went under, and that Amped 3 didn't sell well, because I think that is one of the most underrated games I've ever played.

Bruce Wayne III @ Sep 19th 2006 7:03AM

"I hope EA release a Road Rash game for the nextgen already. Haven't seen one since PS1 days."

There is a new Road Rash in development for the PS3 (and probably also XBox 360).

p-diddy @ Sep 19th 2006 7:37AM

This just in: God sells Tony Hawk's name and likeness to EA; Tony Hawk no longer able to endorse his own franchise. God went on record to say "All skaters in the-game-formerly-known-as-Tony-Hawk's-Project-8 will now be 'dave' and 'steve.' All official skater names and likenesses are now property of EA. The boss in THPS will now be known as 'Tiny Hulk.' Mr. Hawk, apparently dejected by the inability to use his own name, could not be reached for comment.

Personally I loved THPS games. I didn't get the undergrounds or watseland, but the THPS series was good. I'm looking forward to Project 8 personally. Thank God they ditched Bam.

-p-

lp @ Sep 19th 2006 7:45AM

>>I hope EA release a Road Rash game for the nextgen already.

They are doing :)

The Dude @ Sep 19th 2006 7:48AM

Na. You can't beat the Hawk series. Sorry EA. =/

Mabui @ Sep 19th 2006 7:59AM

The last skateboard video game I liked was Skate or Die on C64, these current and next gen franchises can't beat the simple fun of running through a chainlink fense and becoming little more than chunks of your former self.

The Intangible Fact @ Sep 19th 2006 8:16AM

Thrasher Skate & Destroy for the PS1 was the best skate game I have played!

JodyAnthony @ Sep 19th 2006 8:24AM

there was already a tony hawk killer, it was called Tony hawk's Underground.

Man, that ruined the series for me. Personally, I just want arcadey skating.

the world needs a new 720

DBX00 @ Sep 19th 2006 8:48AM

"EA to release Tony Hawk killer in 2007"

No Company would come out and say they are going to be a ____ killer. Can the media stop exaggerating and just report that EA has a new game coming out in 2007 instead of making it sound like you have to be a fan of one or the other game.

foobob @ Sep 19th 2006 8:53AM

noobies.

i see nobody remembers EA's Skate or Die from the NES days...

foobob @ Sep 19th 2006 8:55AM

except for Mabui, that is... ;)

Wild Homes @ Sep 19th 2006 8:59AM

actually, foobob, Ultra Games made Skate or Die. unless Ultra was later folded into EA... PS, 'flickit' should just read 'EA attempts to fold right-stick-control into every sporting title ever made'... it's too bad for me, I really don't like right stick control. I like to use buttons.

foobob @ Sep 19th 2006 9:09AM

Wild Homes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skate_or_Die

It's an original EA game for the C64, and ported over to the NES by Konami, under the Ultra label...

mykie @ Sep 19th 2006 11:00AM

Sure, sure Skate or Die was fun, almost as fun as Skate or Die 2 (The first NES game I've ever heard of that had LYRICS in the music)...

but nothing can ever top Atari's arcade classic 720°.

If they can manage to recreate 720° for this generation, I'd so be there.

Dale @ Sep 19th 2006 11:03AM

Thank GOD people remembered Skate Or Die... it was amazing, far more fun than the Tony Hawks games I've played (1, 2, 3 on PSone; 1 and 2 on GBA).

Doug Kaplan @ Sep 19th 2006 12:08PM

"EA Announces SKATE for Playtstation 3 and Xbox 360. New UP from EA Black Box delivers the most authentic skateboard videogame experience"

This was from a stock alert I get for EA.

Doug Kaplan @ Sep 19th 2006 12:09PM

That was supposed to be new IP, not new UP

Mike @ Sep 19th 2006 12:32PM

Wow, I had completely forgetten about 720... that was an arcade must-play.

Saneless @ Sep 19th 2006 12:44PM

Stupid EA. Maybe Activision should buy up all the rights to skateboarding period so a company that has the potential to put out a better game gets crushed. EA knows that one eh? F'in losers. Stupid NFL (the real culprit)

AT this point, who cares. THPS2 is the pinnacle of the series and I see no reason to play a 9th version of it, let alone a competitor's first (problematic) version.

the_pwnerer @ Sep 19th 2006 1:10PM

STFU, ok? I mean, some EA games are pretty generic (like sports games), and they are a monster company, but just as some people are willing to give MSFT a chance, give EA a fucking break, will ya? And while you're at it, the same applies to Sony's PNP.

1080p, yeah!

Troy Gilbert @ Sep 19th 2006 2:33PM

Don't count out Skate quite yet. I've worked with the team on occasion and the physics are really quite impressive. As an example, the skateboard moves along *because* you shift your weight to flex the trucks, not because of some virtual "motor" pushing you forward while you steer. As a result, tricks work because, well... tricks work in real life! It's pretty impressive (from a technical perspective... I've not played the "game").

And to all those comments regarding EA buying up skateboard names, etc., refs to the NFL license... why do folks not sh*t on the NFL? They chose to exclusively license, and they chose who they licensed it to. EA didn't "steal" it from everyone else... it's the NFL/etc. that sold out the diversity (don't think for a minute that the other publishers weren't wanting to sign checks as well).

Evan @ Sep 19th 2006 2:34PM

There's a lot of bias in Joystiq comments against any game that's not a FPS! There's hate against Nintendo for making casual games, and there's hate against EA for making sports games. Well guess what, the gaming world does not revolve around FPS.

Some_Jerk @ Sep 19th 2006 3:21PM

Hopefully this game will go 1 of 2 routes:

1) A realistic sim where you'll spend some time exploring basic tricks in an empty parking lot in an attempt to make kickflips fun and not just left and B.

2) A totally balls-to-the-wall Mutant League-esque game where skaters lose limbs and session minefields.

skr1lls @ Sep 19th 2006 4:54PM

EA Canada? oh great. then it'll definitely look like shite. reference Fifa World Cup if you don't believe me, lazy production there.

ill trooper @ Sep 19th 2006 5:42PM

Dsub - Amped 3? After playing it for a few hours, I don't like it too much, although I don't doubt it's a good game. Everything EXCEPT gameplay is cool to me - the menus, the map, the friends, etc., but the gameplay is loose and it's certainly not that much more 'realistic' than SSX. It's in my pile of games to be traded in, and I got for free... I wish it had the solid controls of SSX.

SSX 'TRICKY' is one of my all-time favorites, neon and all. Just a fun game.