Activision Takes Tony Hawk To The Proving Ground

Officials from Activision have announced Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground, the latest game in the company's long running Tony Hawk skateboarding franchise, which will debut for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo DS later this year. In development by series creators Neversoft, Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground follows the multiplatform releases of Tony Hawk’s Project 8 and Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam, titles which proved successful for the publisher and helped to bolster Activision's most recent and highly positive preliminary fourth quarter and fiscal year results. While few details have been announced, an official statement notes that the upcoming title will give players “the freedom to define their character, story and style based on the choices they make, the paths they choose and the style of skating they use on the proving grounds from Philadelphia and Baltimore to Washington, D.C.” The game is also expected to feature deeper character customization than has been found in previous releases, and will include a new video editor, as well as a customizable lounge area for players to meet up online and organize games. In addition, the game's online component will be featured prominently, with Activision noting that players will be able to segue from Proving Ground's single player mode to the online mode “seamlessly.” Proving Ground will also offer players the ability to utilize new gameplay mechanics such as skateable terrain altering and building, and bowl carving, as well as more “Nail the Trick” moves “such as Nail the Grab and Nail the Manual intensifying the thrill of pulling off big tricks.” Calling the game the “largest, deepest and most compelling Tony Hawk game ever“, Joel Jewett, president of Neversoft commented, “Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground drops players into the skateboarding world like never before...Proving Ground will throw you so deep into the lifestyle of skateboarding that you won’t be able to get out. Hands down, it’s the most exciting Tony Hawk title yet.”