Joystiq feet-on: Skate It

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jul 7th 2008 at 5:00PM }

What to do with the balance board now that you're totally fit? Well, you could ... skate it. We'll confess that stepping onto the yoga mat-turned-skateboard for the first time was intimidating. The original Skate taught us that even fake skaters have to practice their cool (and sent posers packing in the process) -- and that was just thumbs! Putting our body in the spotlight at a recent "feet-on" event that featured EA's Wii spin-off, Skate It, was another reminder that what looks easy on TV is just a carefully orchestrated illusion. Thankfully, our play session didn't end in a faceplant.

Gallery: Skate It: Control Diagrams (Wii)

Skate It isn't difficult because it's broken. Skating around the unfinished build on display felt as natural as skating has ever felt to us; no doubt emphasized by a number of ill-timed tricks and wipeouts. But Nintendo has designed a brilliant tool under our feet, and EA has turned it into a compelling toy. Simply put: This thing works. And with a little imagination, Skate It will truly entertain. Consider the option to auto-push whenever you remove one foot from the board: Obviously, you don't have to kick-push against the floor -- but, why not? Like most things Wii, the experience benefits from a hearty dose of exaggeration.

"This thing works."

Skate It does require more concentration than the average Wii spectacle. So-called casual players may be better suited to couch-skating; not that Skate It is entirely hands-free on the balance board -- making the learning curve all the more intimidating. A Wiimote is required for grabs, at the very least, but can handle any number of standard controls. We imagine the final version of the game will ship with a somewhat customizable control palette with a variety of preset schemes. EA is currently searching for that "sweet spot," the perfect sensitivity setting for the balance board, but if further tests show users prefer a broad range of responsiveness, then the game could ship with an option to tweak the trucks.

Any way you play, the focus remains on movements and gestures that connect players to the virtual world. The physical play doubles as a distraction from the graphical shortcomings inherent in the Wii -- this sure ain't last year's Skate. Developer Black Box has cleverly explained away the downgrade through "natural disaster." The world of San Vanelona is deserted now, in ruins, and looking pretty muddy -- apparently the internet's down too. There will be no online modes in Skate It for Wii. (Ironically, San Vanelona of the DS version has not been through the same disaster and will feature online play.)

Skate It is very much a game to be watched. Not necessarily on-screen, but in the center of the room. Friends and family will gather to giggle and applaud players as they twist and bend and perform X Games-like feats ... or not. Skate It is a safe way to entertain and be entertained, and we look forward to taking a few more turns on the board when the game ships this fall.

Gallery: Skate It (Wii)

Tags: balance-board, black-box, ea, hands-on, skate, skate-it

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Peter Vazkey @ Jul 7th 2008 5:07PM

Awesome! I diff have to get this game!

totoro @ Jul 7th 2008 5:12PM

"Obviously, you don't have to kick-push against the floor -- but, why not? Like most things Wii, the experience benefits from a hearty dose of exaggeration."

I think that is a point many people miss about the Wii-mote. Its like bowling in Wii Sports-you don't have to go thru all the bowling motions, but people do, and enjoy doing it. And that is part of the fun. (and not just the Wii-mote actually-I tend to use a lot of body english with any controller, even though it hasn't helped to date :p )

riggs @ Jul 7th 2008 9:46PM

yeah i remember my cousin playing the early need for speeds and when he makes a turn his whole body goes in that direction, it was all laughs....until i started doing it too :(

Co @ Jul 7th 2008 10:18PM

Nah totoro, that's whack bro. I'm 17 and chug Mountain Dew all day on my 720 Box. I don't own ONE game rated under T bro cuz my friends would laugh and so would I (plus the 720 Box doesn't have any games under T cuz they're all crap, that's why they rate them E.). Kinda like the way we laugh at the stupid Wii owners!! LOLZERZ FTW!1!1

A Pissed-off English Gamer @ Jul 12th 2008 1:52PM

"I tend to use a lot of body english with any controller" Body English? I'm pretty sure most nationalities use similar body language.

totoro @ Jul 12th 2008 2:18PM

lol, where DID that term come from, anyways?

Tez (PSN: Tezasaurus) @ Jul 7th 2008 5:13PM

Super cool.

Shagittarius @ Jul 7th 2008 5:16PM

I guess its just as much fun pretneding a cardboard box is a ferrari as owning an actual ferrari is.

nope, if you want to believe magic is real go ahead, i prefer challenges based on skill, not imagination.

voodoomage @ Jul 7th 2008 5:31PM

Do you really think we care?

SoulBlade @ Jul 7th 2008 5:35PM

Imagination is a key component to a lot of games. If you expect every game you play to be a real simulation, then you're going to eliminate a lot of FPS games, arcade racers, fighters, etc.

The two can coexist, and I'm sure this game will require some skill to excel just like any other game.

SoulBlade @ Jul 7th 2008 5:36PM

Actually, just ignore my reply. It's probably best to save my brain cells and ignore you like most others.

PunchyMcJunk @ Jul 7th 2008 5:38PM

...or pretending that you are shooting aliens, stabbing space marines, driving a dumptruck into a parked car, playing golf with Tiger Woods, or playing guitar in a rock band...

Face it, Shags.... its all pretend...

Now pretend that your graphical bias and fanboyism isn't showing...

Co @ Jul 7th 2008 10:19PM

I believe your mom in my bed is real. Oh wait, it is.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 7th 2008 11:45PM

@Co

I know you are but what am I?

How old are you? 12?

Fishstick @ Jul 7th 2008 5:20PM

This game has had a severe beating from the ugly stick.

Mr Khan @ Jul 7th 2008 6:23PM

Agree. As most know, i'm more tolerant than most about "bad" wii graphics, but their visual efforts in this case are particularly sucky. They were trying to give a more Spartan look, but even the objects they have are pretty bad looking

Co @ Jul 7th 2008 10:24PM

It appears that the Wii's new input devices (remote, balance board) have taken the development teams efforts away from anything not involving the controls. This seems to only affect 3rd party developers.

It's funny seeing how the industry has been trending towards the exact same thing for the past 10-12 years, then BAM here's the Wii and all these "powerhouse" development teams are left looking like drool face infested half-wits kicking out crap after crap effort.

Hopefully this one turns out for the better...

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 8th 2008 12:03AM

In most cases the first party games on the Wi are not graphical masterpieces. However, they are very clean and have a certain charm and appeal to them. The new Wario game is a perfect example of this because it has very simple yet clean graphics and looks to have some awesome gameplay and catchy music. The successful first party games are always clean and charming but not all first party games are successful. For example, the graphics in SSBB do not blow you away but they are very clean and just plain fun. In contrast, I felt that MK WIi had pretty bad graphics especially for that series but the fun and easy gameplay has made it playable.

There is no need for high definition graphics to make a game fun. But, trying to make a game look realistic (like this Wii Skate) and failing miserable just begs for comparison to the original Skate. The only way to succeed graphically in this sort of retread is to make it more exaggerated and clean.

WPstart @ Jul 7th 2008 5:45PM

And once again, a developer skips out on Wii online yet keeps online for DS. Is the Wii really that different to DS online? They're both crap so I can't see why they're ignoring the Wii.

Without online this game will end really quickly.

WPstart @ Jul 7th 2008 6:00PM

"They're both crap"

Talking about the online modes not the systems themselves. :)

Mr Khan @ Jul 7th 2008 6:25PM

It's a weird contradiction. DS Online has already had voice chat, real-time text chat, and a rivals system for codeless friending in some games, all of which Wii online hasn't even touched yet

It just seems weird for the handheld to be ahead of the console

Superstar90 @ Jul 7th 2008 9:36PM

@Mr Khan
Not to mention many 3rd party games with DLC. Like even FIFA 08 has downloadable challenges. The weirdest is the voice chat, not even smash or mario kart wii have that, yet pokemon, advance wars and many others do.

Omorda @ Jul 7th 2008 7:08PM

a natural disaster to wipe out peoples facial features? that sounds pretty bad and painfull actually.

i wouldn't mind playing this actually. but just like light gun games i'd assume it would get a) annoying and b) be not at all like shooting a real gun/skating. though this reminds me of countless arcade games that have failed over the years..hopefully this one lands the trick of being successful but i doubt it. it does make me glad to see EA taking a risk though and doing something new *to home consoles*.

Mr Khan @ Jul 7th 2008 7:14PM

A severe example of gameplay over graphics, i think

Though it may actually wind up being too complex and involved, like the mode of DDR Hottest Party that had you doing both Wiimote thrusts and dancing simultaneously

Phillip @ Jul 7th 2008 10:36PM

I might have to pick up the balance board if it's good. My mom wants me to get Wii Fit for her so I guess I could kill two birds with one stone. But another game or two that rally uses the board well would be excellent.

Phil

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 7th 2008 11:43PM

Wow this looks like an Ok idea gone completely wrong. Better off sticking with the formula that made Skate such a great game. I applaud the developers for going out on a limb and trying to make such a creative project. However, anyone who has ever stepped foot on a skateboard knows it will not translate well into any peripheral because of the nature of the sport. They would be better served trying to make the graphics and controls using the Wii mote & classic controller as close to the PS360 versions as possible.

Obviously the Wii is not capable of the same graphics but dumbing down the landscape as being a post apocalyptic Fallout 3 style haven full of menacing skaters wreaks of MEH and LAME. If they plan on using that trump card at least throw in some zombies to make it funny and have a sense of humor.

I want this game to be good but its obvious to me it will be little more than an exercise in futility. They need to scrap the balance board idea for this game, improve the graphics, make the controls solid & add online play. Thats my take on the situation.

perfectchaos @ Jul 8th 2008 12:42AM

for the record, the wii balance board isn't the only way to play it. ign has a hands on preview with the balance board and the wii remote and nunchuck controls and according to them flicking the remote is just like using the second analog stick on the other systems.