Before the iconic Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater shredded onto the video game scene in 1999, the legendary skateboarder himself had almost completely given up on the dream of bringing a skateboarding game to life. Tony Hawk recently revealed that during the mid-to-late 1990s, his numerous discussions with various developers and console manufacturers about such a concept repeatedly hit dead ends.
The Uphill Battle of Convincing an Industry
In an interview with USA Today, Hawk openly discussed the immense challenge of persuading anyone to commit to creating a skateboarding video game, describing it as “an uphill battle.” His personal motivation for pursuing this idea stemmed from his deep-rooted passion for the medium, having grown up playing video games. He recalled the Intellivision as his very first console, later owning a Commodore 64, SNES, and PlayStation. He even briefly worked on video-editing for the TurboGrafx 16 in the early 90s. However, after facing multiple rejections and seeing his idea passed over by company after company, Hawk admitted that by 1997, he had largely “thrown in the towel,” feeling disheartened by the lack of progress.
A Fortuitous Partnership with Activision
Yet, the story took a significant turn. Coincidentally, Activision was already in the early stages of developing its own skateboarding game and reportedly became aware of Hawk`s interest in the genre. This led to a pivotal meeting between the two parties. Hawk vividly recalled the experience: “And so I went to Activision. I saw a very early build of what became THPS (Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater), and immediately, I knew this was the game.” He instinctively recognized its immense potential for fun and authenticity, confident that his involvement—leveraging his connections, resources, and vast experience in skateboarding—could transform it into something truly special and genuine.
A Legacy That Continues to Shred
This collaboration ultimately gave birth to one of the most beloved and enduring video game franchises of all time. Spanning over two decades and encompassing more than a dozen titles, the Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater series has maintained its massive appeal. Hawk himself acknowledges that whenever he encounters fans in public, conversations almost invariably turn to the THPS games. The franchise recently celebrated a successful resurgence with the launch of the Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake, which brought classic levels, updated visuals, and a fresh experience to both new and returning players.
When playing the games himself, Hawk typically chooses to play as his own character. However, he enjoys experimenting with other skaters on the roster to explore their unique trick sets. If he were to select someone other than himself, he shared that his preferred choice would be to play as his son, Riley.
In other news, Tony Hawk is currently auctioning off the very skateboard he used to perform the first-ever officially recorded 900-degree spin, an iconic feat achieved in 1999—the same year the THPS franchise made its debut. For those interested in the visual evolution of the series, comparisons are available showing how the skaters in the Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake have been updated from their original 2000s versions, alongside new levels that enhance the skateboarding experience.