New Tony Hawk Suffers Humiliating Launch

[John Funk]

New Tony Hawk Suffers Humiliating Launch

The latest installment in the once-mighty Tony Hawk series has launched not with a bang, but with a pathetic, pathetic whimper.

The Tony Hawk skateboarding games were once some of the most popular sports titles around back in the halcyon days of Pro Skater 3. In fact, there was a time when a new Tony Hawk title would have been a guaranteed hit, much like the annual Madden or Call of Duty releases are today.

Those days are evidently far behind us.

According to the monthly NPD numbers for October, Tony Hawk Shred - the followup to the rather poor [http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/tony-hawk-ride] Tony Hawk Ride - sold a dismal 3,000 units across the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 in North America during its first week of sales. That is an absolute abysmal launch for any game, especially a game in a series that once had such high brand-name recognition.

To put this in perspective: Another Activision title, DJ Hero 2, was described as having a "disappointing" launch, selling a meager 59,000 copies in the second half of October. Even taking into account that this includes two weeks of sales rather than Tony Hawk's one, DJ Hero 2's "disappointing" release still outsold the skateboarding title ten to one. That isn't just a disappointing launch, it's a thoroughly humiliating one.

Is it any wonder, then, that developer Robomodo was hit with layoffs [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104349-Tony-Hawk-Rides-Studio-to-Layoffs]? I mean, for crying out loud, guys - Nokia's original N-Gage sold more than that on its debut. When you're being outsold by the infamous side-talking taco, there is a serious, serious problem.

(GI.biz [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2010-11-17-tony-hawk-shred-flops-with-only-3000-units-sold-in-us])

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[icyneesan]

Oh God, Someone reminded me of the N-Gage! QUICK SOMEONE KILL ME D:

 

[Irridium]

It seems the people have spoken. They don't want anymore damn Tony Hawk games. Or at least anymore damn peripherals.

As for DJ Hero 2, well the first one sold well over 2,000,000 copies in its lifetime, so yeah, in time DJ Hero 2 will be fine.

 

[The Rockerfly]

Good, all this skate board add on shit is nonsense. It's rubbish, unnecessary and just not as fun as Skate

 

[The Hive Mind]

I didn't even know this game existed...

It's their fault for shitty marketing.

 

[killamanhunter]

I remember on the PS1 playing Tony Hawk pro skater 2 and loving every minute of it. Funny how we change eh?

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Geez, I remember when those games were all the rage on the Play Station...
Damn, I think that would make me feel old, if my brain didn't stab me every time I had those thoughts...
I think I feel some pity for the developer of that series.

 

[Credge]

The majority of people who play skating games play them not so they can do flatland backflip 3 flips but so they can skate realistically.

Nobody wants points anymore.

 

[messy]

There was a new Tony Hawk game?

Incidentally my flat mates and I have pro skater 3 down stairs. Still worth a go, I think the problem might just be that the games don't really bring that much new each time and its a game that encourages mastering so you stick with one.

Fifa does well due to the large number of football fans, and (in the UK) there is a bit of competition between fifa owners. I once had to write someone a letter of apologising for my poor performance and wasting his time when I lost 7-0 to them. He has it pinned to his wall still.

 

[Gorden Springel]

Didnt even knew this was getting released lol.

 

[radarbsm]

Dammit you Ninja's
Was there even an advertising campaign for this game?
Also come on being beaten by the N-Gage in sales.

 

[zombie711]

I saw the box for this game in stores, but they never put adds for it

 

[Ranooth]

I've heard absolutely nothing about this game, i think that could be the problem.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I'd say this belongs in the Guinness Book of World Records.

 

[vrbtny]

I'm just waiting for the game publisher to blame piracy on the bad sales....

(In my personal opinion) I think Pirates have too good a taste to illegally download this game.

(Insert Picture of Pirate eating a 5-course meal with silver cutlery)

 

[archvile93]

Geez, I remember when those games were all the rage on the Play Station...
Damn, I think that would make me feel old, if my brain didn't stab me every time I had those thoughts...
I think I feel some pity for the developer of that series.

You should have that brain checked out. I think it's trying to kill you.

OT: Yeah like everyone else said, that's just sad. The crappiest indie games probably do better than that, and even the N-gage. I'd bet even the virtual Boy did better.

 

[Imp Poster]

Yes, maybe some marketing would help. I didn't know it was coming out. I think people need to be reminded how great of a skater he is as well. The next generation might not even know who he is.

 

[Covarr]

Hmm, I didn't even know there was a new Tony Hawk game. Maybe if they'd bother to advertise it, or at least attempt a viral video, they'd be better off. Of course, they could just make an HD remake collection of THPS2 and THPS3, and people would eat that up, because that was back when the series was great, and those games largely still hold up today. I know I'd buy it.

P.S. Thanks

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

That's just dismal.

It's too late to return to the old ways either, with Skate having the skating game crown at the moment. And a well deserved crown, imo.

 

[Fox242]

I didn't even know this game existed...

It's their fault for shitty marketing.

Same here man. It's hard to believe that, in the space of roughly ten years, the Tony Hawk series went to the top of the mountan and then tumbled head first back down it.