AllThingsD » skateboarding

Talking Videogames With Tony Hawk

Conor Dougherty — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:23 +0000

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.

Mr. Hawk came to the Journal’s office Tuesday to show off his new game, Tony Hawk: Ride. Players control a virtual skater through a motion-sensing board instead of a joystick, following a growing number of interactive, stand-up games such as Guitar Hero and nearly everything on the Wii.

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

Kara Swisher — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:44:05 +0000

BoomTown is wearing all-black today, in profound mourning for the prospect of no Paula Abdul judging on “American Idol” next season.

“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return,” tweeted Abdul yesterday, bidding goodbye, natch, on Twitter.

Of course, her departure was over money–the boy talent, co-judge Simon Cowell and MC Ryan Seacrest, got a ton of it and Abdul got much less (although $2 million a year is a lot, it paled in comparison).

She is worth the scratch, though–especially considering how much the television singing juggernaut makes on Coke advertising placement alone–whether she was falling asleep in Carrie Underwood’s first audition or sleeping with contestants (allegedly!) or just doing that goofy seal clap and blathering out incomprehensible compliments to contestants.

Memo to News Corp. (NWS) TV unit Fox, which produces the TV show in the U.S.: Hand over more dough and pronto!

Sigh, as it is probably not to be–even though her bio is still on the “Idol” Web site.

So, here is a very funny video mashup done about her odd relationship with the acerbic Cowell.

Plus, here is a video from when Adbul also actually appeared–stranger than fiction–at the sixth D: All Things Digital conference.

She was there to help Activision Blizzard (ATVI) CEO Bobby Kotick publicly demo “Guitar Hero IV” for the first time, with the help of skateboarding star Tony Hawk.

I’ll be honest–I was sure she’d do something crazy, like goose Bill Gates of Microsoft (MSFT) or maybe fall off the stage–but she turned out to be a pro and forever my girl (oh, I had to).

Check it out, since I am off draping crepe at the All Things Digital HQ:

Paula & Simon:

Paula at D6:

[ See post to watch video ]

The Economics of Skateboarding Videos

Conor Dougherty — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:05:59 +0000

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 competition concluded Saturday, but the finals had yet to be posted as of 1 p.m. EST Monday. After four months of competition, though, the site has already delivered some epic matches.

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

Kara Swisher — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:36:02 +0000

We’re posting all the interviews from the sixth D: All Things Digital conference that took place in late May.

Unfortunately, due to issues too complicated to go into, we have to post all the D6 interviews in several 15-minute parts (I know, I know).

But–as many readers have requested–they will all be available in their entirety in this column.

Here’s an interview I did with Activision Chairman and CEO Bobby Kotick about the state of the gaming business.

The video of the interview is in three parts.

It’s a good week to focus on the gaming industry since Electronic Arts (ERTS) abandoned its hostile acquisition bid for Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) over the weekend.

EA’s effort was motivated, in part, by Activision’s recent merger with Vivendi Games, which includes Blizzard Entertainment’s “World of Warcraft,” one the most popular multi-player games.

The merger has made Activision (ATVI), with its own well-known franchises–especially the hugely popular “Guitar Hero,” which debuted version IV at D6–one of the gaming industry’s largest companies.

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.

[ See post to watch video ]