Posted by Ironshef on Nov 27, 2009

Tony Hawk’s “Ride” is a killer app, err, game!

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The definition of a killer app is an application (software) made that demands its user base to go buy new hardware in order to use it, and they do, in droves no less! Anytime a game can package together a custom peripheral to accompany the game at release, it has done well. However, one question remains: How well will the game sell? I guess we will see if the 121.00$ price tag keeps Christmas shoppers away as we open the shopping gates at 4am this morning at most major retailers around the country! 121.0$ is steep! Will it be gimmick or all game play? It’s been out for 10days now, and I just picked it up for the Xbox360. From what I can tell, sales are out preforming on the 360 compared to the PS3-Stay tuned, I will have a review for you in the next week, but already I have some reservations. Briefly, here’s what I am thinking…

This game is published by Activision who pretty much dominated this space until EA’s game Skate & Skate2 came out and forced the Tony Hawk franchise back to the drawing board. This game “Ride” is their (Activisions’) rebuttal so to speak. Bobby Kotick & Activision are typically the wait and see types. He is a lot of things, and I’d probably be a happy camper who only saw positive if I were a share holder right about now (see current sales of COD Modern Warfare 2), but chance takers they just haven’t been in recent years. Typically they would sit back and let someone else test the market with a new product like this but perhaps the success of COD MW2 gave them the confidence needed. Add to that perfect timing for a holiday release and we are now in wait and see mode as the numbers roll in. I just hope the board is as responsive as I think it will be. It is going to have to pass my “3yr old” test!

In the meantime, check out Tony using it, he makes it look too easy. I like the 2nd video as well, and is one of the reasons I really respect Tony Hawk: Not only is he the father of skateboarding, a very wise business man, but he takes care of his people! After all the insanity Christian Hosoi has been through (even if he did bring it on himself, we’ve all made stupid decisions before), Tony is there advancing his sport, promoting its icons, giving back, and we know Hosoi was a huge part of it early on! (but that’s another story!) Kudos to Hawk!