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Activision
Not everyone can spin a skateboard 360 degrees, while gliding through the air, and then land back on the ground without wrinkling.
Tony Hawk can and, as arguably the most famous skateboarder on the planet, has also made it possible for millions of people to do so in his game series.
“The success of the games is probably why people still know my name to this day,” he tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.
“It changed my life, it is the reason why I have been able to follow my passion.
“To do it again 20 years later with the same game and the same enthusiasm is really rewarding.”
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Activision
Tony Hawk Pro Skater was first released 20 years ago and new versions were a constant part of game launch schedules for 15 years.
The early titles are considered by many to be some of the most popular games of all time.
However, there hasn’t been a new release for the major consoles since 2015, and that version was widely criticized.
Tony explains why he thinks now is the perfect time to revisit the series: “The seed was planted as we approached the 20th anniversary of the first game.
“I had seen all the fans say they wanted a remastering.
“The topic came up with developer Activision and it seemed like the right time.
“Vicarious Visions was given the task of developing it and I would say very quickly, we started to see progress that I knew the fans would be excited about.”
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Activision
This new release is a reworking of the first two Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater titles.
Games have changed significantly since the original was released in 1999.
Persistent online worlds, battle royale, and loot boxes were still a long way off back then.
But Tony is convinced that there is an audience for the remakes: “There is so much passion for this series, especially for the first games.
“Those fans are coming back because they enjoy the game and they can come back right away.
“I also like the idea that there is a whole new generation that has never experienced any of these, who will play them for the first time.”
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Activision
Tony thinks fans of the originals should be the most excited: “The levels and maps are exactly in tune with the early games,
“The developers have nailed the game and taken it into the new realm of technology.”
The original titles are credited with earning many Skateboarding stars on the boards for the first time.
Tony says that was never the plan: “It became kind of a bonus for everyone involved,” he says.
“I just thought we would make a game that skaters would appreciate, and maybe inspire some of them to buy a console, but it ended up inspiring players to skate.
“Going into this 20 years later, I think it will still inspire people, but for the most part, kids have already started skating at a young age.
“Skating is on another surge in popularity and next year it will be at the Olympics, so it is on a trajectory like never before.”
12-year-old British sensation Sky Brown should be racing next year and Tony has been practicing with her: “She does everything she can to solve problems, she doesn’t give up.
“She makes little adjustments here and there until she does. And that’s the mark of a phenomenal skater. “
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Activision
Tony promises that getting the soundtrack right has been an important part of the development of the remake.
It’s one of the reasons the originals were so successful: “There are a lot of the iconic hits from the early games and we have some new bands.
“It has the same energy, but it just got updated; it wanted to be true to what made it popular, what drew people in in the first place.”
At 52, Tony admits that he’s starting to slow down, but he’s hopeful that these remakes will keep his legacy for a while longer.
He says it also allows him to keep applying his trademark “900” trick: “Every now and then, I can do it in real life, but it’s not so easy anymore.
“I would say that if I am going to do more in the future, it will be through my character in the game!
“These are exciting times, I am grateful to be still here and I can see everything happening.”
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