In a recent interview with Game Brain, former Neversoft Entertainment Designer Chris Rausch talked a bit about the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series and his thoughts on its ultimate demise. During the interview, Rausch said that he got to play the fifth game and it was originally supposed to retail for $20, but was later priced at $50. Rausch also went on to state that “all the suits” decided that people don’t want to play skateboarding games any more. Saying…
“I think that the Tony Hawk 5 game really sealed the deal for a while, which is a bummer because you know there’s an audience out there. It sold enough, it certainly sold better than Shred, but when I first heard about that game and I saw what it was and got a chance to check it out! At the time it was supposed to be a $20 download, and somewhere along the line later they decided we’re going to put it in a box and charge $50.
And that was another thing that really hurt the outlook for it and the reputation for it. People would have been more forgiving if it was a little cheaper, but I think it was one of those things where you know you have the audience, you know they want more and you just don’t give them something that’s worthy; and then all the suits decide, well people don’t want skateboarding games any more. Well, yes they do, they want a better one, one that’s a lot cooler.”
