- Title: USA: Tony Hawk talks skateboarding and his new video game
- Date: 11th November 2010
- Summary: VARIOUS OF LOUIE VITO BEING SCANNED TO CREATE GAME CHARACTER
- Embargoed: 26th November 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVA4SNTWKT17TABOEGRPU1VJORPW
- Story Text: Skateboarding legend and branding wizard, Tony Hawk has released the next edition of his successful action videogame. Tony Hawk: SHRED is the latest version of an interactive game that uses a skateboard-shaped motion-sensing board controller. Gamers use the board as they would a skateboard, shifting weight and direction to manipulate the character on screen.
For Tony Hawk, who plays the game himself, blending realistic skateboarding with gravity-defying stunts was part of the fun.
"When I play the game, most of the tricks I'm doing are the ones I wish I had mastered in real life," said Hawk. "That's what's fun for me, just to live out my fantasies on the game... Without falling and breaking anything and also landing perfectly clean." Hawk recently recovered from a severe injury to his pelvis when he crashed at a skating event in July.
The game offers both skateboarding and snowboarding game play and features characters based on real-life athletes. U.S. Olympic snowboarder Louie Vito is one of the featured personalities. He demonstrated his own moves and style wearing a motion sensing jumpsuit, which was then translated into the game. Gamers can then skate or snowboard just as Vito does in person. Activision uses state of the art technology to capture the bodies and faces of their characters as well as their movements. All of these elements are then combined together to create playable characters for the video game.
For Vito, starring in a video game was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. "It's always been a dream of mine to be in a video game. I think that's pretty cool to be able to play yourself as a character," said Vito. "I mean, having Tony Hawk ask you to be in his game which has been super popular for years and years it was kind of an honor."
Hawk has been a front seat witness to the changing perception of skateborading over the years. "I've seen skateboarding go through all kinds of life cycles," said Hawk "I've seen it really popular, I've seen it not popular at all. I've seen it considered one of the most rebellious things you could possibly do and now it's something that is very tangible as a career, and something parents are encouraging. I love that we've come that far with it."
Tony Hawk has turned his video games into a billion dollar (USD) franchise and SHRED is the 12th in the series. Hawk's brand is also affiliated with a range of products including skateboards, Jeeps and cell phones. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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