4 posts and columns on skateboarding

Talking Videogames With Tony Hawk

in News on November 18, 2009 at 12:00 am PT

While Tony Hawk has been a skateboarding legend since the 1980s, today there is a generation of kids who know him for his eponymous videogames. Starting with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater in 1999, the Tony Hawk series has spawned more than 10 titles–among the more successful gaming franchises, and popular among skateboarders who play videogames as well as gamers who have never stepped on a board.

The Agony and Ecstasy of Paula & Simon (Plus: When Abdul Did D6)

in News on August 5, 2009 at 10:44 am PT

BoomTown is wearing all-black today, in profound mourning for the prospect of no Paula Abdul on “American Idol” next season. “With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return,” tweeted Abdul yesterday, bidding goodbye, natch, on Twitter. Here is a cool video look at her and co-judge Simon Cowell and one of her appearance at the D: All Things Digital conference. (I kid you not!)
idol

The Economics of Skateboarding Videos

in News on March 2, 2009 at 12:05 pm PT

This weekend I wrote about the Berrics, a skateboarding Web site that was the sport’s most popular in January, thanks to an unusual competition free of ramps or handrails like you’d see on TV competitions. It revolves around a game called SKATE, which is a skateboarding version of the shot-for-shot basketball game HORSE. Skaters have been playing SKATE for at least two decades, and skaters of any skill level can play it, which helps explain the popularity of the contest.

The Entire D6 Interview With Activision's Bobby Kotick (3 of 3)

in News on September 17, 2008 at 12:36 am PT

We’re posting all the interviews from the sixth D: All Things Digital conference that took place in late May. Here’s an interview I did with Activision Chairman and CEO Bobby Kotick about the state of the gaming business. It’s a good week to focus on the gaming industry since Electronic Arts abandoned its hostile acquisition bid for Take-Two Interactive over the weekend. The move was–in part–in answer to Activision’s recent merger with Vivendi Games, which includes Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft, one the most popular multi-player games. This has made Activision one of the gaming industry’s largest companies, due to some of its well-known franchises, especially its hugely popular Guitar Hero, which debuted version IV at D6. In this third video, Kotick publicly demos “Guitar Hero IV” for the first time, with the help of special guest stars Paula Abdul of “American Idol” and skateboarding star Tony Hawk.