[Q&A] Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
We plug Activision with a handful of (repetitive) questions about how the move from the Wii to the PS2 is going.
Published: April 12, 2007
TPS: Okay, we know it's a stupid question, but we've gotta ask: this isn't a game that will have any... enhancements when thrown into a PS3, right?
KL: Our focus has been to make playing Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam a great experience on the PS2.
TPS: Hmmm... Very diplomatic of you. Fine, maybe you can give us the skinny on some of the gameplay options that we'll get out of the box. Online play? Ultra-fancy unlockables? Are there nurses? Sexy nurses? If not, why were nurses not part of the original design doc?
KL: For the PS2 version of Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, you get 3 new playable characters, 3 new event types, 10 new events, 25 new unlockable costumes for the playable characters, new unlockable boards, new create-a-skater parts including downhill sliding gloves, 3 new multiplayer modes and new live action movies. Regrettably, there are no sexy nurses in the game, nor were they ever planned. It's rated E10+, remember?
TPS: Hey, we think 10 year-olds are ready to experience the joy of sexy nurses, but then we don't answer to parents... often.
Downhill Jam seems like a pretty logical offshoot of the franchise; Project 8 for the simulation aspects and something like DJ for a more arcadey, pick-up-and-play experience. Is this something that we might see going forward with the series, or was it just a one-off special?
KL: Creating a more arcade style, pick-up-and-play Tony Hawk title was definitely the goal with Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam and we had a great time making the game.
TPS: Hmm, so much for getting a scoop there. Did the move to the PS2 allow for an opportunity to fix some of the bigger gripes that folks had with the original Wii release (slightly confusing tracks, limited tricks, etc.)?
KL: Many of the complaints that people had with the original Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam Wii release had to do with the controls. Because of their previous experience with playing the Tony Hawk series, many people found the Wii controls difficult to adapt to and somewhat limiting because of the number of buttons (though the majority of the same tricks can be performed). The PS2 control scheme should alleviate many of these issues for those players.
TPS: Last question: Did we miss anything important? Something you feel PS2 gamers should know about the game beyond the fact that they'll soon be able to play something their Wii brethren could a while back? Fun stories of pillow fights and towel slapping that went on while overseeing development?
KL: Sorry, no pillow fights or towel slapping occurred during the development of Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam. Just some healthy arguments and exciting discussions on how to bring a great skateboard racing game to the PS2. I don't think you guys missed anything, but PS2 owners have been missing out on some serious skateboarding fun with Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam. Pick it up and enjoy!
KL: Our focus has been to make playing Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam a great experience on the PS2.
TPS: Hmmm... Very diplomatic of you. Fine, maybe you can give us the skinny on some of the gameplay options that we'll get out of the box. Online play? Ultra-fancy unlockables? Are there nurses? Sexy nurses? If not, why were nurses not part of the original design doc?
KL: For the PS2 version of Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, you get 3 new playable characters, 3 new event types, 10 new events, 25 new unlockable costumes for the playable characters, new unlockable boards, new create-a-skater parts including downhill sliding gloves, 3 new multiplayer modes and new live action movies. Regrettably, there are no sexy nurses in the game, nor were they ever planned. It's rated E10+, remember?
TPS: Hey, we think 10 year-olds are ready to experience the joy of sexy nurses, but then we don't answer to parents... often.
Downhill Jam seems like a pretty logical offshoot of the franchise; Project 8 for the simulation aspects and something like DJ for a more arcadey, pick-up-and-play experience. Is this something that we might see going forward with the series, or was it just a one-off special?
KL: Creating a more arcade style, pick-up-and-play Tony Hawk title was definitely the goal with Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam and we had a great time making the game.
TPS: Hmm, so much for getting a scoop there. Did the move to the PS2 allow for an opportunity to fix some of the bigger gripes that folks had with the original Wii release (slightly confusing tracks, limited tricks, etc.)?
KL: Many of the complaints that people had with the original Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam Wii release had to do with the controls. Because of their previous experience with playing the Tony Hawk series, many people found the Wii controls difficult to adapt to and somewhat limiting because of the number of buttons (though the majority of the same tricks can be performed). The PS2 control scheme should alleviate many of these issues for those players.
TPS: Last question: Did we miss anything important? Something you feel PS2 gamers should know about the game beyond the fact that they'll soon be able to play something their Wii brethren could a while back? Fun stories of pillow fights and towel slapping that went on while overseeing development?
KL: Sorry, no pillow fights or towel slapping occurred during the development of Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam. Just some healthy arguments and exciting discussions on how to bring a great skateboard racing game to the PS2. I don't think you guys missed anything, but PS2 owners have been missing out on some serious skateboarding fun with Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam. Pick it up and enjoy!