Tony Hawk Nearly Quit His Iconic Skateboarding Game in the ’90s
▼ Summary
– Tony Hawk initially gave up on creating a skateboarding game in the mid-to-late 1990s after multiple companies rejected the idea.
– Hawk’s passion for video games, stemming from owning consoles like Intellivision and PlayStation, drove his pursuit of a skateboarding game.
– Activision approached Hawk with an early build of what became Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, which he instantly recognized as the right fit for his vision.
– The Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise became a beloved series spanning over two decades, with fans often discussing the games when meeting Hawk.
– Hawk is auctioning the skateboard he used for the first-ever recorded 900 trick in 1999, the same year the THPS franchise launched.
Tony Hawk almost walked away from the skateboarding video game that would define his legacy before it even launched. The legendary skateboarder recently shared how close the gaming world came to missing out on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, revealing that by 1997, he had abandoned hope of turning his vision into reality. Despite his passion for gaming, from early consoles like the Intellivision to later systems like PlayStation, Hawk struggled to find developers willing to take a chance on a skateboarding title.
Everything changed when Activision entered the picture. The publisher was already developing a skateboarding game and reached out after hearing about Hawk’s interest. After seeing an early prototype, Hawk knew instantly it was the perfect fit. “I could tell this would be the most fun, the best one to be involved with,” he recalled. His expertise and connections helped shape the game into something groundbreaking, blending authenticity with addictive gameplay.
The result? A cultural phenomenon that spawned multiple sequels, remakes, and a lasting impact on gaming. Fans still approach Hawk more often about the THPS series than his real-life skateboarding achievements. When playing, he typically chooses his own in-game character but occasionally switches to his son Riley’s skater for variety.
Beyond gaming, Hawk continues to make headlines. He recently auctioned the historic skateboard used to land the first-ever recorded 900 in 1999, the same year the original THPS debuted. Meanwhile, the latest remastered editions feature not just visual upgrades but fresh levels, proving the franchise still has tricks up its sleeve decades later.
(Source: GAMESPOT)
