Related Sections: Game Diaries
Skate 2: starting off on the right foot
A little tiny square of live action video appears on a black screen. A face peeks in and says, "Hey. Get up. It's time to go."
Oh, lord, not another live action intro. In their last game, Need for Speed: Undercover, the developers at Electronic Arts' Black Box studio demonstrated how live action video can sometimes be bad enough to actually make a game worse. And now I'm starting up Skate 2 only to discover they're going to use live action video again.
But then ELO's "Showdown" started playing (you'd probably know it if you heard it). And then the camera started moving around without losing focus of the characters. There are clever cuts between short vignettes. They're actually funny. The actors -- skating luminaries, all, but I had no idea at the time -- are comfortable and having fun. There are even blink-and-you'll-miss-it riffs on Stanley Kubrick (pictured) and Midnight Express. Three and a half minutes after that little square appeared on screen, my interest in Skate 2 had skyrocketed. Now this is how you do an intro movie!
Dig it:
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there's any more live action video in the game. The actors are used for voicework and their likenesses, but Skate 2 isn't a story game. It's a skateboarding sim -- and a somewhat demanding one -- set in an open environment. How will a casual Tony Hawk fan who didn't play the last Skate take to it? I'll let you know over the course of these game diaries.
Up next: Skate 2 is the anti-Prince of Persia.
By Chijts at 11:53 AM ON 01/12/09
Yea that was an awesome introduction! If the game is the same standard as the video then it looks to be quite promising...
Near the end where the guy is waiting for the skater and the door slowly opens it reminds me of that bit in the Blues Brothers film at the beginning... unless THAT was a parody of something you already mentioned.
By Anonymous at 5:41 PM ON 01/12/09
It's very similar to the intros of current-generation skate videos. I think skaters are natural actors - they mess up on camera all the time, sometimes in embarrassing fall-on-your-ass ways. That must help build confidence and screen presence.
By malcolm at 5:43 PM ON 01/12/09
It's very similar to the intros of current-generation skate videos. I think skaters are natural actors - they mess up on camera all the time, sometimes in embarrassing fall-on-your-ass ways. That must help build confidence and screen presence.
By dingus at 7:58 PM ON 01/12/09
That is not a picture of Stanley Kubrick.
By Tom Chick at 8:39 PM ON 01/12/09
Dingus, do you have X-ray vision? Because otherwise, you have no idea who's in that bear suit.
By Tom Chick at 8:42 PM ON 01/12/09
Aww, I can't believe I didn't get the Blues Brother riff, Chijts! Excellent call!
By dingus at 3:09 AM ON 01/13/09
How do you know that's not a real bear?
By Tom Chick at 5:55 PM ON 01/13/09
Well played, sir.
Tom Chick:
Well played, sir....More »