Skate (series)

"Skate." redirects here. For other uses, see Skate.

Video game series

Skate

Genre(s)| Extreme sports game
Developer(s)| EA Black Box
EA Montreal
Exient Entertainment
Full Circle
Publisher(s)| Electronic Arts
Platform(s)| PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, mobile phone, Wii, Nintendo DS, PC, iOS
First release| Skate
September 13, 2007
Latest release| Skate 3
May 11, 2010

Skate (stylized as skate.) is a series of extreme sports games primarily developed and published by Electronic Arts. The first three mainline games in the series were developed by EA Black Box. After EA Black Box was shut down in 2013, the franchise was put on hiatus until the announcement of a fourth entry in the series in 2020.

## Overview

[edit]

The Skate series distinguishes itself from other skateboarding video games with its unique control system, called "Flick-it", in which players execute tricks with brief, rapid movements of either or both analog sticks of a twin-stick gamepad.[1] Players assume the role of a customizable skater and freely explore a fictional city in an open world setting, completing diverse and increasingly difficult challenges while being filmed by cameraman Giovanni Reda to unlock new areas, obtain new cosmetics and eventually rise to stardom.[2] Along the way, they can encounter, compete with and even play as famous real-life skaters, including Danny Way, Terry Kennedy and Rob Dyrdek, and must eventually choose from among several authentic licensed skateboard gear firms to strike an endorsement with for exclusive skateboard parts and gear. Players can make use of session markers to quickly travel to or return to a location of their choosing. A special injury system called the "Hall of Meat" tracks injuries sustained during wipeouts, particularly broken bones, which is key to completing certain challenges.[3]

## Games

[edit]

Release timeline2007| Skate

|

2008| Skate It
2009| Skate 2
2010| Skate 3
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025| Skate

The Skate series began during the seventh generation of video game consoles, with three major installments released on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and one spin-off released on that generation's Nintendo platforms, leveraging their motion controls to implement the series' signature "Flick-it" controls. All of these four games were released annually towards the end of the 2000s, before the series went on hiatus.

### Skate (2007)

[edit]

Main article: Skate (2007 video game)

The first game in the Skate series was released in 2007 on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and mobile phones. It is set in the fictional city of San Vanelona, a combination of San Francisco, Vancouver and Barcelona and follows the journey of an ordinary skater rising to fame after a devastating accident.[4]

### Skate It

[edit]

Main article: Skate It

Released in 2008, this spin-off, targeting the Wii, Nintendo DS and iOS, takes advantage of their motion controls to implement the series' "Flick-it" control system and is also set between Skate and the then-upcoming Skate 2.[5][6] An earthquake severely damages San Vanelona and a new person skates through the ruins of the city to gain fame, before traveling to other real-life cities in Europe, China and Brazil to prove their skills.[7]

### Skate 2

[edit]

Main article: Skate 2

The sequel to Skate, released in 2009, in which the main protagonist is freed from jail after the earthquake shaken San Vanelona is rebuilt by MongoCorp into a new city where skateboarding is illegal. They must once again develop mastery of skating while evading authorities determined to crack down on such activity.[8]: 4

### Skate 3

[edit]

Main article: Skate 3

The third installment of Skate was released in 2010 as a major departure from prior installments with its new setting in the city of Port Carverton and an unprecedented increase of freedom.[9] The player must once again skate to stardom after a dangerous stunt in the city goes wrong, costing them a lucrative endorsement deal.

### Skate (2025)

[edit]

Main article: Skate (2025 video game)

Over a decade after the release of Skate 3, Electronic Arts announced that a fourth installment of Skate was in development.[10] EA established Full Circle, a new studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, to lead its development.[11] The studio is led by Daniel McCulloch, and includes Deran Chung and Cuz Parry, who had created the original Skate games.[12] In late August 2021, Electronic Arts confirmed that the game will at least be available on Microsoft Windows and macOS for the first time ever in the series' history,[13] and will also target unspecified PlayStation and Xbox consoles, as well as mobile platforms.[14] In July 2022, the game was announced as Skate, stylized as skate. as the original game. The new Skate will be a free-to-play title,[15] and will be set in a new city known as San Vansterdam.[16] The game is expected to launch in early access in 2025.[17] As of September 2024, it is in the playtesting stage via EA's playtesting service.[18]

## Skaters

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The below table includes all playable professional skateboarders from the main series of games.[19][20] It does not include playable fictional characters, playable characters based on real people who are not professional skateboarders, such as Big Black, or former professional skateboarder Jason Lee who portrays Coach Frank, a playable character appearing only in Skate 3.

Pro skater  | Skate | Skate 2 | Skate 3

|
|
|

Ali Boulala |  |  |
Dennis Busenitz |  |  |
Mike Carroll |  |  |
Alex Chalmers |  |  |
Chris Cole |  |  |
Jason Dill |  |  |
Pat Duffy |  |  |
Rob Dyrdek |  |  |
Ryan Gallant |  |  |
Mark Gonzales |  |  |
Chris Haslam |  |  |
Jerry Hsu |  |  |
Terry Kennedy |  |  |
P. J. Ladd |  |  |
Colin McKay |  |  |
John Rattray |  |  |
Paul Rodriguez |  |  |
Ryan Smith |  |  |
Danny Way |  |  |
Mark Appleyard |  |  |
Ray Barbee |  |  |
Jake Brown |  |  |
John Cardiel |  |  |
Marc Johnson |  |  |
Eric Koston |  |  |
Darren Navarrette |  |  |
Lucas Puig |  |  |
Braydon Szafranski |  |  |
Joey Brezinski |  |  |
Dan Drehobl |  |  |
Benny Fairfax |  |  |
Josh Kalis |  |  |
Lizard King  |  |  |
Andrew Reynolds |  |  |
Total  | 19 | 25 | 27

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Kelly, K. (6 May 2007). "EA's Skate video shows off "Flickit" controls". engadget. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
2. ^ EA Black Box. Skate 2 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360). Electronic Arts. Level/area: Slappy's. "Giovanni Reda: You want to check the replay? I'm always filming."
3. ^ "The one feature Skate 4 can't launch without". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
4. ^ "Skate Game Intro". YouTube. Electronic Arts. 19 September 2007. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
5. ^ Suttner, Nick (May 13, 2008). "Skate It (Preview)". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
6. ^ Hatfield, Daemon (November 19, 2008). "Skate It Review (Wii)". IGN. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
7. ^ Crecente, Brian (May 13, 2008). "Skate It Wii Hands-On Impressions". Kotaku. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
8. ^ Skate 2 Xbox 360 Instruction Manual (PDF). Electronic Arts. 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
9. ^ Cooper, Jonathan (March 5, 2010). "Skate 3 Preview". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
10. ^ Grubb, Jeff (June 18, 2020). "#Skate4: Electronic Arts announces the next game in the beloved series". Venture Beat. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
11. ^ Kerr, Chris (January 27, 2021). "EA forms new studio Full Circle to revive Skate franchise". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
12. ^ Stewart, Marcus (January 27, 2021). "Meet Full Circle, The New Studio Making The Next Skate". Game Informer. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
13. ^ Good, Owen S (26 August 2021). "Skate 4 will launch on PC". Polygon. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
14. ^ Applefold, Danny (14 July 2022). "Will Skate (4) be cross-platform?". DotEsports. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
15. ^ Peters, Jay (2022-07-14). "Skate's developers say going free to play is a 'natural evolution of the franchise'". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
16. ^ "skate. - Pre-Pre-Pre Alpha Trailer". YouTube. skate. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022. "San Vansterdam wasn't built in a day."
17. ^ "Skate is officially launching into early access next year". VGC. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
18. ^ "Skate. Insider Program Frequently Asked Question – Electronic Arts". 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
19. ^ Haas, Pete (17 March 2010). "Skate 3 Release Date, Roster Announced". CinemaBlend. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
20. ^ Litzenberger, Kelly (June 2010). "Quest for a Million: Behind the Scenes of EA's Skate 3". Concrete. No. 107\. pp. 38–45. Retrieved 4 January 2025.

## External links

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* Official website

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Skate series

* Skate (2007)
* Skate It
* Skate 2
* Skate 3
* Skate (2025)

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