Tony Hawk Ride 2: Will You Jump On Board?

If you were surprised to hear Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith reveal yesterday during ATVI’s 4Q conference call that there’s going to be a sequel to Tony Hawk: Ride in 2010, you really shouldn’t have been. Yes, the game currently hovers in the low 40s on Metacritic for all three versions (we threw it a bone and said it worked pretty well). Yes, it sold only 114,000 units in its first month on sale according to NPD. And yes, EA, not Activision, owns the best skateboard game franchise right now and plans to cement this fact when it releases Skate 3 in May.

But this is Tony Hawk we’re talking about. It’s not going away. It’s as much of a cornerstone brand for Activision as Call of Duty, which was on shaky ground too until Modern Warfare revitalized it. If you believe Griffith, Activision spent so much time and effort developing Ride’s wireless skateboard controller that they didn’t have as much time as they wanted to work the kinks out of the actual game. Sure, you can argue that they should have delayed the game to address some of the playability issues. They didn’t so it’s time to look ahead to Tony Hawk: Ride 2. Surely it’ll be a smoother Ride than the first one, right?

Related Topics: activision, playstation, second chances, skateboarding, Tony Hawk: RIDE, xbox 360, Gaming & Culture
  • Latest on Techland

    Jared Newman/Techland

    The 12 Best Android Widgets for 2012

    With all due respect to smartphone apps, sometimes you don’t want to open a new program just to get some quick info or perform a minor task. That’s where Android widgets come in handy, bringing the functionality of those apps right to the phone’s home screen. But not all widgets are wonderful. Some are glorified app launchers, while others are downright ugly. Here are the 12 best widgets that no discerning Android user should be without.

    The Thermostat WarsSlate

    Soulo

    Review: Soulo Converts iPad into Karaoke Machine

    Karaoke lovers typically fall into two categories: Those who enjoy it, and those whose arms have to be twisted to get up and sing in public. Enter Soulo, a software and microphone kit that can turn an iPad or other Apple device into a karaoke machine. It gives you instant karaoke in the privacy of your own home, or wherever you carry your Apple gadgets. That’s the idea, anyway.

  • anubus

    hell no, my experience with tony hawk ride was so bad I will never, ever consider buying another tony hawk game.

  • http://www.babylonsticks.com zaland

    There is little merit in comparing COD’s situation to where the Tony Hawk series finds itself at the moment. This controller was a wild stab at trying to save the series, perhaps taking a leaf from the Guitar Hero book, but the only real reason to do a sequel is to try and recoup some investment on the R&D and manufacturing of the controller. A contractual obligation with Hawk might also have a role in this, but it looks like Activision’s gamble did not pay off and the series in in really big trouble.

blog comments powered by Disqus