Interview: skate taking on the streets with two (analog) sticks

Okay, first off, IGN’s writing it as “skate” (PS3, Xbox 360), so we’re wondering if the official way to write the game’s title has changed, or they didn’t want to hit the all caps (We’re using the small letters here). Second, in this interview with EA Black Box‘s Scott Blackwood (executive producer), they give the insights behind the game’s dual-stick gesture control.

The idea came as much (if not more) from the dev team’s “frustration with memorizing button mashing combos” (such as in Tony Hawk) as from the similar dual-stick control in fellow EA title Fight Night – although they acknowledged Tiger Woods‘ swing stick as an inspiration, as well as 720º and Street Fighter.

Between that, and the game’s physics engine, skate seems to carry a different aura from Tony. IGN observed that EA’s title is “a much more realistic game” in comparison, and with the dual-stick control, “while it’s easy to sit down and perform a few ollies and kickflips, some of the more difficult moves really require that you think about what you want to do and sort of practice them in your mind beforehand, much like a real skater might.”

Blackwood and IGN also talk about the game world of San Vanelona (“no fictional halfpipes made of garbage, but rather realistic plazas and sidestreets that skaters inherently seeks out”), licensing, and elements of player customization (for example: EA says tweaking truck tightness and wheel hardness on your virtual board will affect gameplay).

Okay, first off, IGN’s writing it as “skate” (PS3, Xbox 360), so we’re wondering if the official way to write the game’s title has changed, or they didn’t want to hit the all caps (We’re using the small letters here). Second, in this interview with EA Black Box‘s Scott Blackwood (executive producer), they give the insights behind the game’s dual-stick gesture control.

The idea came as much (if not more) from the dev team’s “frustration with memorizing button mashing combos” (such as in Tony Hawk) as from the similar dual-stick control in fellow EA title Fight Night – although they acknowledged Tiger Woods‘ swing stick as an inspiration, as well as 720º and Street Fighter.

Between that, and the game’s physics engine, skate seems to carry a different aura from Tony. IGN observed that EA’s title is “a much more realistic game” in comparison, and with the dual-stick control, “while it’s easy to sit down and perform a few ollies and kickflips, some of the more difficult moves really require that you think about what you want to do and sort of practice them in your mind beforehand, much like a real skater might.”

Blackwood and IGN also talk about the game world of San Vanelona (“no fictional halfpipes made of garbage, but rather realistic plazas and sidestreets that skaters inherently seeks out”), licensing, and elements of player customization (for example: EA says tweaking truck tightness and wheel hardness on your virtual board will affect gameplay).