‘Creating a revolution’: How ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’ changed punk music and video games

As a child of the ’90s, I can vividly remember the days when “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” ruled my world. The game was more than just a pastime; it was an integral part of my adolescence, shaping my tastes in music and skate culture.

Skateboarding made a 180 in the 1990s.

To start with this decade, the sport’s popularity had sunk to an all-time low, especially in vert skating where skaters would perform jaw-dropping tricks while soaring off ramps and half-pipes. However, within just a few short years, it regained its cool factor, making its way into living rooms through broadcasts of the X Games.

Originally hailing from San Diego and being a major figure in the sports world, Tony Hawk was approached by various corporations seeking to incorporate his name and image in a video game.

Once Hawk eventually consented, his aim was straightforward: create a game tailored to be enjoyable for skaters similar to him.

“I just didn’t think we were creating a revolution,” Hawk said.

On September 29, 1999, the video game “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” was launched, immediately capturing the hearts of many and introducing them to skateboarding. Simultaneously, it introduced a new generation to punk music through its now-legendary soundtrack.

According to Hawk, our creation of skateboarding and action sports as a gaming genre has significantly increased interest in skating. It also exposed an entire generation to a type of music they may not have encountered otherwise. Furthermore, he emphasized that this venture transformed his life entirely.

Unlike most games before it, “THPS” (Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater) stood out by using pre-released tracks from well-known artists instead of creating new music for the game. Launched during an era when controllers were still connected to consoles, this game allowed players to skate up ramps and grind rails in various locations like a warehouse, mall, and downtown Minneapolis, all set to tunes from bands such as Goldfinger, The Vandals, Dead Kennedys, and Suicidal Tendencies.

J Navarro from Suicide Machines commented that the Tony Hawk game didn’t exactly make us famous, but it certainly brought us a renewed recognition or a second surge of public attention. Their song “New Girl,” which has ska influences, was highlighted in “THPS.

Catching air

Skateboarding wasn’t just back in style, it was finally being represented by skaters themselves.

During the timeframe roughly between 1995 to 1999, skating was often misconstrued and distorted in the media according to Hawk. Despite its growing popularity, it was commonly viewed as something peculiar by the public – ‘What are these kids up to? They’re eccentric, they have outrageous names, they have wild hairstyles.’ People seemed to overlook its essence, and when skating was portrayed, it was often presented in a chaotic manner with rapidly changing camera angles.

In his collaboration with Activision and Neversoft for “THPS,” Hawk aimed to make the game as authentic as feasible. He donned a suit adorned with motion capture spheres, while cameras captured him performing tricks on his skateboard. Frequent updates of the game were sent to his residence, enabling him to play and provide developers with feedback.

Almost over, the game was when Hawk performed his historic first 900 (two-and-a-half rotation aerial spin), during the 1999 X Games. The developers swiftly managed to add this impressive achievement to the game before its deadline.

Besides demonstrating the latest techniques, Hawk aimed for the game to authentically portray the essence of skateboarding culture as well.

A significant aspect was the live music component. The Vans Warped Tour, established in 1995, was a unique music event where skaters and BMX riders showcased their skills on ramps simultaneously with numerous punk bands performing on various stages. Prior to this, punk tunes were frequently incorporated into skate and surf videos.

In my opinion, I wanted to capture the atmosphere of the skate parks from the past, so I recommended some classic punk tunes for the game and its subsequent installments, as I expressed then.

“The game surpassed his hopes and received exceptional praise, propelling quickly the release of ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2.’ Now, the franchise boasts over a dozen installments.

Back in 2008, USA Today announced that the “THPS” series had managed to sell an impressive 30 million units over a decade. Fast forward to 2020, and Activision reported that their remastered double pack of the first two games sold over a million copies within just the initial two weeks.

But it wasn’t just the games that attracted new fans.

Initially, The Suicide Machines played concerts for around 200 to 300 audience members each night, but they eventually started selling out venues that could accommodate over 1,000 spectators.

“Our shows almost increased overnight,” Navarro said.

Originally appearing on their 1996 album “Destruction by Definition,” the standout track “New Girl” gained so much popularity that it almost felt like an encore piece, as Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell noted.

After their punk band’s tune “Euro-Barge” was included in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, members of the Orange County-based group, the Vandals, began recognizing various attendees at their concerts.

Following its appearance in the game, kids began attending our performances,” as Bassist Joe Escalante put it.

20 years had passed since Vandals drummer Josh Freese last engaged with a video game, but during their European tour, he picked up “THPS” (Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater) as a way to combat boredom on the tour bus while they were performing.

“I’m playing it and I go, ‘Oh, the Vandals, we’ve got a song on this thing, ‘Euro-Barge.’ ”

He played for three hours, hearing music from Suicidal Tendencies, Primus and others, but not his own — “Euro-Barge” was not included on the European release of the game.

The European exclusion hasn’t hindered the song’s reach.

As a film enthusiast, I often find myself reminiscing about one particular song of ours that consistently resurfaces, even after a decade of absence, on streaming platforms like Spotify. This enduring popularity can be largely attributed to its use in a popular video game.

However, it’s worth noting that the tune most closely associated with the game is “Superman” by Goldfinger, which was incorporated into versions distributed globally.

“That song has followed me through my life for the last 25 years,” Hawk said.

In the documentary titled “Pretending I’m a Superman,” named after the song’s lyrics, Goldfinger’s singer John Feldmann reminisced about their initial indifferent European audience during their first major tour. However, all that changed when they played “Superman,” causing the crowd to erupt with excitement.

Hawk mentioned that it’s the ska rhythm and the drums that make the song stand out, which is the one fans connect to the game.

Undeniable nostalgia

Browse through TikTok and Instagram, and you’ll encounter “Superman” in various videos showcasing feats ranging from skate park stunts to a truck sliding along a rail, all the way to a recent animated clip featuring seniors performing tricks on motorized scooters in empty pools.

Additionally, you might encounter videos showing Hawk playing the song live, either alongside Goldfinger or a band paying homage to “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.

He accepted it wholeheartedly and feels nothing but pride about it. It’s quite enjoyable, even though it isn’t the simplest tune to perform. However, he finds joy in the process.

Indeed, bands worldwide perform music inspired by the popular game series, and that’s how Hawk began singing a tribute to join a band on stage in Australia. Notably, the “THPS” series showcases various punk subcultures and includes acts like Rage Against the Machine and Motörhead, as well as rappers such as Del the Funky Homosapien and Xzibit.

Through its innovative gameplay, “THPS” significantly transformed the world of skateboarding by enabling skaters to perform complex trick combinations that were previously exclusive to the game. One of the enduring impacts of “THPS” is its introduction of a diverse range of music, including punk, to numerous young players, as stated by Hawk.

Hawk commented that the music was enjoyable and it seemed as though they were truly savoring their performance, making each moment special. In other words, they appeared to be genuinely enjoying themselves. This feeling of enjoyment turned the music into a soundtrack for them. There’s an undeniable sense of nostalgia associated with it.

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2024-09-26 13:31