Activision details skatebard controller

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 19th May 2009
Comments (27) Stumble
Activision details skatebard controller

The skateboard controller for Tony Hawk: Ride will essentially control like a real skateboard, says Activision.

While Activision first unveiled the new skateboard peripheral for Tony Hawk: Ride last week, the publisher has been hesitant to actually detail how the wheel-less board might actually work. Until now, that is.

According to Kotaku, Activision thinks the skateboard peripheral will behave just like a real skateboard in many ways and will offer players the chance to feel like real skateboarders for the first time.

Discussing the details of the peripheral, Josh Tsui of developer Robomodo said that Tony Hawk: Ride will require only the board to play the game. Every trick and movement in the game is realised with the board, from steering to grabs.

While obviously without wheels, the board will also have a flat bottom to help new players balance, but steering will still be done by leaning left and right and the board will have rounded edges and raised ends to help facilitate this. Inside there are two accelerometers and four motion sensors which help track movement. The board will even be able to detect very fast moves - as proved by the fact that you can turn around on the spot by spinning the board 180 degrees.

Regarding the various in-game tricks, these will apparently be controller by sensors around the edges of the board that players will grab to initiate different tricks. Hunkering down and grabbing the nose of the board while leaning right, for example, might launch you into a Japan Air, while gripping the sides and shifting your weight forward may start a different grab. The only thing you can't do is actually jump the board, obviously.

As Kotaku points out then, all of this sounds like it could make for some fairly strenuous exercise for players - and a potentially dangerous health and safety situation for Activision if players end up tumbling by the dozen. Tell us what you think about the board in the forums.
Quote Cupboard 19th May 2009, 12:29
So is this just a souped up Wii balance board then?
Which may actually spin? "as proved by the fact that you can turn around on the spot by spinning the board 180 degrees. "
Quote Jamie 19th May 2009, 12:43
Soon every game will have it's own controller.
Quote capnPedro 19th May 2009, 12:48
Quote:
as proved by the fact that you can turn around on the spot by spinning the board 180 degrees
Right, so facing away from the TV. Great.
Also, it sucks for people with carpet floors.

I don't think it's a great plan, but we'll have to wait and see how it actually performs.
Quote Paradigm Shifter 19th May 2009, 12:58
Quote:
Originally Posted by capnPedro
Right, so facing away from the TV. Great.

I thought the same thing.
Quote Rkiver 19th May 2009, 13:06
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paradigm Shifter
I thought the same thing.

What, you've never seen someone spin a skateboard 180 while they remain facing the same way? It's not all that hard.
Quote Fod 19th May 2009, 13:09
skatebards sound cool. i always wanted to know what shakespeare on skates would be like.
Quote hrp8600 19th May 2009, 13:58
cant wait till people start falling of them and in to there big flat screens, or just breaking bones.
will be a blast when you and your mates try it out after the pub :-)
will they come with a surf board like strap or ski boot like clamps lol
cant wait till they try and sell it in the UK ,
Quote sc.uk^cRoSsFir3 19th May 2009, 14:13
erm you don't stand on a board with both feet facing front! You stand sideways so a 180 as pointed out won't be all that hard..just turn your head :P
Quote liratheal 19th May 2009, 14:17
Bet my ass it won't be usable.

I also bet that it will have a very low weight limit.

Activision: Offering more ways for you to look like a prat in your living room.

Whatever happened to just going outside and actually skating? Christ, it's not that hard :/
Quote perplekks45 19th May 2009, 14:23
I still have only one word for that:

USELESS!
Quote SMIFFYDUDE 19th May 2009, 15:06
This controller will result in more injury and damage to household objects than the Wii controller when it first came out.
Quote Rkiver 19th May 2009, 15:27
Quote:
Originally Posted by SMIFFYDUDE
This controller will result in more injury and damage to household objects than the Wii controller when it first came out.

Exactly. I heartily endorse it.
Quote kenco_uk 19th May 2009, 15:33
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fod
skatebards sound cool. i always wanted to know what shakespeare on skates would be like.

When you try and enter a watering hole it'll come up with "Y'BARD!"
Quote Trefarm 19th May 2009, 16:22
Sounds expensive... why not just buy a skateboard and head to your nearest bit of flat tarmac, I reckon you'll get more satisfaction.
Quote perplekks45 19th May 2009, 16:41
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trefarm
Sounds expensive... why not just buy a skateboard and head to your nearest bit of flat tarmac, I reckon you'll get more satisfaction.
...and the same bruises, broken bones. PLUS you don't have to get a new telly! ;)
Quote Flibblebot 19th May 2009, 17:47
We should all join Gamers Against Exercise and become GAEs.

Stand up for our rights to be slobs. Or sit down. Whatever.
Quote Burnin' 19th May 2009, 18:17
LAME...

Now there will be a lot of "virual skaters".... Bunch of couch potatoes that think they're real skaters just because they can perform a trick in the new TH game... What happened to REAL skating? They're thrashing the sport Just like they thrashed the whole guitar playing and music creating process with the whole Guitar heroes series....

Lame
Quote pendragon 19th May 2009, 18:23
looks pretty neat to me.. I'm sure you're going to have a bunch of dumb people complaining when they're so uncoordinated they start falling over :P
Quote cheeriokilla 19th May 2009, 19:11
AK 47 for BF:BC2 and COD:MW2 anyone?
Quote Slizza 19th May 2009, 20:16
Sounds like fun, it's a shame Tony hawks games are just garbage after the EA skate games.
Hope this one is better.
Quote Darkefire 19th May 2009, 20:20
Guitar Hero works because it's a severely stripped down version of a skill that takes years to master;while it's fairly challenging in its own right, it doesn't really resemble a guitar in anything other than basic shape. But a skateboard game that emulates....exercising on a skateboard? If it acts just like a real skateboard, why don't I just go buy a real skateboard and get some sunlight and fresh air? The only way this works is as another "party game" where everybody sits around, gets drunk, and laughs at people falling off repeatedly when they try and do something fancy (like standing up straight). Then, of course, somebody breaks it.
Quote HourBeforeDawn 19th May 2009, 20:51
alright so you could use this for snow board games too huh, ehh its not a bad idea to be honest
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkefire
Guitar Hero works because it's a severely stripped down version of a skill that takes years to master;while it's fairly challenging in its own right, it doesn't really resemble a guitar in anything other than basic shape. But a skateboard game that emulates....exercising on a skateboard? If it acts just like a real skateboard, why don't I just go buy a real skateboard and get some sunlight and fresh air? The only way this works is as another "party game" where everybody sits around, gets drunk, and laughs at people falling off repeatedly when they try and do something fancy (like standing up straight). Then, of course, somebody breaks it.

well with that in mind, personally I think they shouldnt allow sports games on consoles for the reason of they could go outside and actually play something instead of sitting on a couch making them fatter
Quote VaLkyR-Assassin 19th May 2009, 21:38
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fod
skatebards sound cool. i always wanted to know what shakespeare on skates would be like.

Heh, I was thinking along the same lines with that title :D
Quote kenco_uk 19th May 2009, 23:44
To skate, or not to skate? That, is the question.
Quote Fod 20th May 2009, 00:01
Quote:
Originally Posted by kenco_uk
To skate, or not to skate? That, is the question.

to skate, perchance to grind!
aye, there's the rub;
Quote kenco_uk 20th May 2009, 00:30
O skatebard, skatebard, wherefor art thou skatebard?

Friends, Skaters, Countrymen, lend me your wheels so I might not bury my face into tarmac.
Quote Fod 20th May 2009, 00:34
this is the best typo ever.
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