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GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Tony Hawk reboots on DS in '08, consoles likely in '09

Activision says "reinvention" of series will begin with exclusive installment on Nintendo's handheld this year, with other installments slated for 2010 fiscal year.
By Tom Magrino, GameSpot
Posted May 8, 2008 7:00 pm PT

Last year, Activision's long-standing Tony Hawk franchise received a wake-up call in the from of Skate from publishing archrival Electronic Arts. While neither game struck critics particularly well, EA's contender took the slight edge, prompting Activision to say in February that it would be "re-engineering the franchise." In a postearnings conference call today, Activision reiterated its plans to enliven the franchise, saying it would be "reinventing Tony Hawk from the ground up."

According to Activision, gamers will get their first look at the tinkered-with Tony Hawk formula in an exclusive Nintendo DS edition slated for release this year. The publisher gave no hard details on the game, other than saying that it would be independent from any console title, and "utilize new technology not yet seen on the DS." Activision did not indicate whether this "new technology" for the DS would be seen under the hood or manifest as a new peripheral similar to that used for Guitar Hero: On Tour, which will be released June 22.

While annualized franchises are often considered the lifeblood of publishing giants such as Activision, the publisher also said today that it would be sitting the next console installment out a year "to deliver the kind of breakthrough this franchise needs." Activision is targeting the game for release in its fiscal year 2010, which ends March 31, 2010. Traditionally, though, Tony Hawk games have released in the holiday quarter, making a late-'09 launch likely.

If details on the new DS installment were considered light, information on the new console edition was nonexistent. "For competitive reasons, we're not going to talk about it today, but we're very bullish on the kind of innovation this will bring," said Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith. "And this won't be your father's Tony Hawk."

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77 Comments

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KingSigy

Awesome, Tony Hawk was always good, but it needs serious help. The previous DS version was the last game in the series I bought and I was pleased with it. Hopefully Activision knows to keep it just like that.

Posted May 11, 2008 3:50 pm PT
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Patch595

i'm wondering how much can you change a skating game especially one like tony hawkes which has gone through just about every different theme there is. And how much can you change the control system as their just dosn't seem to be any more room for variation on a standard control pad. oh well i look forward to seeing how much of a change it realy will be and all credit to them for sticking their neck out on the line. Good luck and please don't disapoint.

Posted May 11, 2008 12:36 pm PT
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m_axe9

sweet gotta love ds. i think its prolly best system of generation. and you are full of crap if you say its only for little kids !

Posted May 11, 2008 11:13 am PT
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ColdRush88

It's a long time to wait so lets hope they put the huge amount of work into the game that it deserves.
I loved Project 8 but it still could have been a lot better.

Posted May 11, 2008 10:21 am PT
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supercool4

I never thought this would happen though it's probably for the better

Posted May 11, 2008 7:48 am PT
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OWLovethBL

I seem to remember 'building it from thew ground up' is exactly what they said about Project 8, which after all the hype and the awesome first trailer turned out to be the most dissapointing game I've ever played.

At least they're giving themselves an 18-month timeframe for this game instead of the usual 12 months, so maybe they can pull osmething out.

Posted May 11, 2008 7:42 am PT
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klugenbeel

yeah, its been a while since there was a good tony hawk. here's hoping for them to bring back the glory days!

Posted May 11, 2008 2:06 am PT
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speedjunkie4

DrKill, you are right. skate is the winner of the skateboarding race, and no amount of reinventing is going to change that.

Posted May 10, 2008 1:07 pm PT
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tennis12master

Yeah, Tony Hawk on wii balance board would be really good, legend26.

Posted May 10, 2008 11:03 am PT
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legend26

i seriously want to see tony hawk on wii balence board...
thank the heavens that activision is finally trying to inovate

Posted May 10, 2008 10:27 am PT
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thekodaman

Its's the epic struggle between Generic Skateboarding Sim No.1 Versus Generic Skateboarding Sim No. 2! Who will be the winner of this desperate struggle? Does anybody actually care? I've forgotten why I posted this now.

Posted May 10, 2008 6:05 am PT
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skullbird11

Damn, get the message, WE CAN'T BE BOTHERED with TH now!

Posted May 10, 2008 1:37 am PT
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DrKill09

Honestly, I believe the TH series is over. Skate was an amazing game. The best since Thrasher Skate and Destroy, and basically a spiritual successor to it. Don't get me wrong, even though I always liked Thrasher best, I've been a fan of the TH games since 2, and have most of them, but it is time to move on. Skate is fresh, and TH hasn't been truely great since about THPS4 or THUG1. THP8 was good, but I really could not stand THPG... they ruined the gameplay.

Posted May 9, 2008 6:19 pm PT
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Bamdude89

It's a good thing that Activision is taking a break for the series for a day. They really need to make something new in the franchise.

Posted May 9, 2008 6:16 pm PT
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razgriz_101

they need to get something original or they wont pull me back im happy with skate i think its awesome.they cant rip of the stick controls either they will need something completely new maybe redoctane could help cough*skateboard controller*cough

Posted May 9, 2008 4:13 pm PT
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Franzkill

Neither games struck critics particularly well? Sorry but skate pretty much killed Tony Hawks Proving Ground and it was an excellent skating game in its own right with great attention to detail and realism. What the heck do critics know? Make up your own decision.

Posted May 9, 2008 3:57 pm PT
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mcbride69

they say they are going to re-invent the series year after year!! Despite really enjoying all the TH games i really wish they would do something different....fingers crossed

Posted May 9, 2008 3:39 pm PT
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Serbine

I like the Tony Hawk game but man Activision need to give it a break and work on one of the other sport games they use to do like Kelly Slater Pro Surfing, Matt Hoffman Pro BMX, or Shaun Palmer Pro Snowboarder because I'd like to see a sequel to those games plus were it hurt anyone to make a Inline Skating game(especially when Agressive Inline was an awesome game)because we need one as well as an extreme Motocycle game.

Posted May 9, 2008 2:24 pm PT
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SonOfChewbacca

Please let this series die already.

Posted May 9, 2008 1:53 pm PT
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Thatsmypunk

I still dust off the old Dreamcast to play THPS 1 and 2.

Posted May 9, 2008 1:45 pm PT
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ThisIsntLeonard

Finally.

Now we'll have two developers really trying to breakthrough, hopefully creating two truly amazing games, rather than a THPS upgrade that we've been receiving for the last five years.

If Skate 2 can promise more of the same, AND some major development in personal creation, ie. levels, deeper character editing, tricks perhaps, then I'm not sure if TH can rebound. It'll take a LOT.

Posted May 9, 2008 12:47 pm PT
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AwakenedMaster

I guess the series could use a bit of tinkering, though I hope they don't go all crazy and change everything up. I'd really like to see the new one actually be more like the older ones...

Posted May 9, 2008 12:33 pm PT
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ctg867

Well as long as EA pushes Skate 2 to 2009 as well, then I think this will work out great. Tony Hawk gets a re-polishing. Skate gets more development time.

DS version? Yea, like anybody with any taste cares.

Posted May 9, 2008 12:30 pm PT
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snarple_basic

I thought Project 8 was fun for a while, but yea it did feel a little to much like the other TH games, and I have been playing them since the 1st game. I hope they really do something fun.

Posted May 9, 2008 12:19 pm PT
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Taegre

Glad they're taking their time on this one. I mean, this will be the tenth Tony Hawk game, that's a huge landmark. They need to make sure the game deserves it. That said, can't effin' wait!

Posted May 9, 2008 12:05 pm PT
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Natdaddy

And this my friends, is the power of competition. Now if only someone could do the same back to EA and start making NFL games again....

Posted May 9, 2008 12:03 pm PT
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thpghalo3

this $u#&! they should just leave it alone it was fine the way it was!

Posted May 9, 2008 11:47 am PT
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GreggD

Awesome. I'm glad to see they'll finally be taking their time on this one.

Posted May 9, 2008 11:26 am PT
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ps3thabest

better den that crappy skate game my friend gave me

Posted May 9, 2008 10:54 am PT
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supermariomelee

It's about time Activision realized that they need to tinker with the Tony Hawk series. The franchise hasn't been fun after THPS 3.

Posted May 9, 2008 10:46 am PT
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blackace

I thought they would have killed this franchise by now. I've gotten bored with Tony Hawk gaves after the 3rd one. A reinvention of the game may or may not help. This is the game that kepted me going after these T.H.

http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=24420

I'd like a sequel to this game as it was very good and different then T.H.

Posted May 9, 2008 10:39 am PT
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FallenOneX

"And this won't be your father's Tony Hawk." Wow, a comment like that..... Especially since the last 3 made me feel nothing like the joy I got with THPS2/3. Even the OG was a great deamo for my brand new SEGA DREAMCAST!

Posted May 9, 2008 10:36 am PT
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5-0

"reinventing Tony Hawk from the ground up." I find this funny. That's exactly what they said about Project 8, and look at that. Not significant improvements eh?

Posted May 9, 2008 9:33 am PT
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VirtualTofu

Nobody complains about Madden's age or his 20 games. They're more similar than any Tony Hawk game.

Posted May 9, 2008 9:17 am PT
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rexCo

I think it's safe to say this franchise needs this.

Posted May 9, 2008 9:15 am PT
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asimplerapper

Skate was really good!

Posted May 9, 2008 6:27 am PT
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SethandJeremy

The last game was good on the ds and this should be better.

Posted May 9, 2008 5:06 am PT
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Generic_Dude

My father's Tony Hawk? Jeez, those were the only good ones. I haven't loved a THPS game since THPS 3, and I haven't liked one since THUG2.

Posted May 9, 2008 3:52 am PT
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sun_spirit

Maaan, he just won't die, huh?
I do love the old Tony games, I stopped playing them after Downhill Jam.
They really need to get some work done here to get even a half decent response from their gamers.
'nuff said...

Posted May 9, 2008 3:28 am PT
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Zazalon

Tony Hawks happened to be my favourite game series until Project 8. They need to get back to the Pro Skater type gameplay. No bull, just skating around in lots of strange levels getting High scores.

Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 : Gamespot score 10.0 - 2001

Tony Hawks Proving Ground: Gamespot core 6.5 - 2007

Posted May 9, 2008 2:55 am PT
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CamisadoBlue

wait... were going a year without a cheaply made, badly designed tony hawks game with only a few small tiny adjustments to try and force people to buy the same crap again for the 10th time !?!?!

I feel scared

Posted May 9, 2008 2:42 am PT
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MsRockstar

But i liked my father"s (well, actually my brother's cuz he's kinda old) Tony Hawk..

Posted May 9, 2008 2:12 am PT
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gandalf_storm

no more tony hawk games please :/

Posted May 9, 2008 1:49 am PT
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drangel_jam

good because I'm sick of **** and tired sports sequels.

Posted May 9, 2008 12:49 am PT
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theclaw135

I'm hoping EA does the same thing with their canceling of Madden 09 for PC. They should use that extra development time from the year off to make improvements.

Posted May 9, 2008 12:41 am PT
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mightykoolaid

Now its EA turn with madden and live

Posted May 9, 2008 12:33 am PT
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Bandit_Haze

@ MallratsJaySB

ditto... though i never bothered with proving ground or project 8, just cause, like you said from underground they were getting worse.. ever since they started implementing stories and crud like that, THPS4 was imo the last great TH's game i've played... oh, and please, please, please bring back Elissa Steamer

Posted May 9, 2008 12:25 am PT
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B_ond

"And this won't be your father's Tony Hawk." Tony hawk kills hobos? Tony hawk meets grand theft auto? Oh I know, Tony Hawk does nose grinds on your face.

Posted May 9, 2008 12:13 am PT
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osxgp

It's about time. THPS was a great series, but grew to be the same game, over and over again. Hmmmm, kinda like Madden from EA.

Posted May 8, 2008 11:54 pm PT
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MallratsJaySB

Finally! Although Project 8 was my favorite game since the Pro Skater games, it's pretty obvious that their annual entry into the franchise is producing weak games. As far as I'm concerned, the whole series started going downhill with Underground, and don't get even get me started on American Wasteland. THAW was awful. However, Proving Ground was even worse. One of the franchises that used to be one of my favorite is now a laughing stock. Please, please let the new Tony Hawk be more polished.

Posted May 8, 2008 11:13 pm PT
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