Skate 2
Encyclopedia
Skate 2 is a sandbox skateboarding
video game developed by EA Black Box
and distributed by Electronic Arts
as a sequel to the 2007 game, Skate
. Skate 2 was released in January 2009 on PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360
.
, many mysterious disasters (identified as earthquakes in Skate 2) devastated the city, leaving it in ruins and a mass evacuation of the city. The city has been changed to a noticeable standard, but if gamers have played the previous games, they may recognize familiar spots. The new city has been named New San Vanelona, or New San Van for short. However, instead of a skaters paradise the city used to be, security has been stepped up by Mongo Corp in order to protect the best parts of the city. Most of the good skating spots have caps on them to prevent skaters from skating on them, and security guards almost everywhere else. The player progresses through the story by completing challenges for magazines like The Skateboard Mag and Thrasher all before shooting a cover photo as a final mission for each magazine. The player also participates in Vert and Street Contests, as well as races. Throughout the game the player can choose board, truck, wheel, and shoe sponsorships from well-known skateboarding brands.
and Xbox 360
than rival Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
. Because of these surprising numbers the company had decided to begin work on a sequel. Then in May 2008 the sequel was officially announced, however no details were released except the platforms it would be released for, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
EA Black Box
, the developers of the game based in Vancouver
, have noted that areas of New San Vanelona have more distinct architectural connections with the three cities: Barcelona, Spain; San Francisco, California
; and Vancouver, British Columbia; than in the previous title of the series.
A demo for Skate 2 was released for the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Marketplace
on January 8, 2009 and for the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Store
on January 15, 2009. The demo introduces players to a small section of New San Vanelona, Slappy's Skatepark, where they can play around with the unique controls and customization options. Gamers also got a first glimpse of the deep single-player story and challenges. Two offline Party Play modes were also included: Thrasher's Hall of Meat and Spot Battle.
and the PlayStation Store
.
Time is Money Pack: Unlocks all the parks and additional content normally obtained through completing the main story mode.
Filmer Pack: Gives the player more options for control of the camera during video clip editing. Also, new gestures and gear are also packed into this package.
Fantasy Factory: Opens the factory, as well as an area outside the plaza. It is based on the MTV
Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory
TV show
San Van Classic Pack: Includes the Community Center, Elementary School and Parkade locations from the original Skate.
Throwback Pack: A free downloadable pack that unlocks retro gear and classic gestures.
Maloof Money Cup: This pack (which is based on the actual Maloof Money Cup) includes new Vert and Street challenges for Career Mode, along with new online Freeskate activities. It was released on July 9, 2009, a day before the 2009 Maloof Cup began.
Gamespot rated it a 7.5 saying that the new content was welcomed but the walking and moving objects were clumsy at best. IGN scored Skate 2 an 8.3/10, praising Black Box for building upon their winning formula and keeping the gameplay fun. They explained that while the presentation is good, the story seems weak at times and the graphics are not as sharp as they could be.
was released in September 2009. It was released in May 2010. The third game in the series has a stronger focus on online team-based gameplay and content creation than the previous games.
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
video game developed by EA Black Box
EA Canada
EA Canada is a video game developer located in Burnaby, British Columbia. The development studio opened in January 1983 and is EA's largest and oldest studio...
and distributed by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
as a sequel to the 2007 game, Skate
Skate (video game)
Skate is a skateboarding video game developed by EA Black Box for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It was released in North America on September 17, 2007 for the Xbox 360 and September 24, 2007 for the PlayStation 3 and in Europe on September 28, 2007 for the Xbox 360 and October 5, 2007 for the...
. Skate 2 was released in January 2009 on PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
.
Plot
Skate 2 is set five years after the events in skate. During Skate ItSkate It
Skate It is a skateboarding video game developed by EA Montreal, Exient Entertainment and EA Black Box for the Nintendo DS, Wii, and iOS. The game is a spin-off of 2007's Skate, and the developers have stated that it is not a port or sequel but rather an original game. It was released on November...
, many mysterious disasters (identified as earthquakes in Skate 2) devastated the city, leaving it in ruins and a mass evacuation of the city. The city has been changed to a noticeable standard, but if gamers have played the previous games, they may recognize familiar spots. The new city has been named New San Vanelona, or New San Van for short. However, instead of a skaters paradise the city used to be, security has been stepped up by Mongo Corp in order to protect the best parts of the city. Most of the good skating spots have caps on them to prevent skaters from skating on them, and security guards almost everywhere else. The player progresses through the story by completing challenges for magazines like The Skateboard Mag and Thrasher all before shooting a cover photo as a final mission for each magazine. The player also participates in Vert and Street Contests, as well as races. Throughout the game the player can choose board, truck, wheel, and shoe sponsorships from well-known skateboarding brands.
Soundtrack
- "Uptown Top Ranking" Althea & DonnaAlthea & DonnaAlthea & Donna were a Jamaican reggae singing duo, best known for their 1977 single "Uptown Top Ranking" which was a number one hit in the United Kingdom in 1978.-Career:...
- "Anubis" Anubis
- "The Dull Blade" ASGASG (band)ASG is an American rock band signed to Volcom Entertainment, originating from Wilmington, North Carolina. It is a four-piece band, with Jason Shi on vocals and guitar, Andy Ellis on bass, Scott Key on drums and Jonah Citty on guitar...
- "I Want A Snake" Awesome Snakes
- "Symptom Of The Universe" Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
- "Shockwave" Black TideBlack TideBlack Tide is an American heavy metal band from Miami, Florida. Formed in 2004, the group is currently signed to Interscope Records and is composed of Gabriel Garcia , Austin Diaz , Zachary Sandler , and Steven Spence...
- "Stay On Or Die" China Creeps
- "Addictive" Cut ChemistCut ChemistLucas MacFadden , better known as Cut Chemist, is an American DJ and record producer. He is a former member of the funk Latin band Ozomatli, and of hip hop group Jurassic 5...
- "Beneath The Wheel" D.R.I.Dirty Rotten ImbecilesDirty Rotten Imbeciles is a thrash metal/crossover thrash band from the United States that formed in Houston, in 1982. The band currently comprises founding members, vocalist Kurt Brecht and guitarist Spike Cassidy, as well as drummer Rob Rampy and bassist Harald Oimoen.D.R.I...
- "Go Ahead On" Dayton Sidewinders
- "Heroes Of Our Time" DragonforceDragonForceDragonForce are an English power metal band from London. Formed in 1999, the group is known for its long and fast guitar solos, fantasy-based lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game-influenced sound. Guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman are the only two...
- "Show Down" ELOELO- Music :* Electric Light Orchestra, a British rock music group** The Electric Light Orchestra , the group's debut album** ELO 2, the group's second album* ELO Part II, an offshoot band of Electric Light Orchestra- Sports and games :...
- "Collarbone" Fujiya & MiyagiFujiya & MiyagiFujiya & Miyagi are an English band formed in Brighton in 2000. They are currently signed to Full Time Hobby Records in the United Kingdom.-Career:...
- "Step In The Arena" Gang StarrGang StarrGang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
- "I’da Called You Woody, Joe" Gaslight Anthem
- "She Wore Rat Skin Boots" Goons Of DoomGoons of DoomGoons of Doom is a band often described as surf rock, rock, and horror punk. Formed in 2004 in Narrabeen, New South Wales, the group consists of members Ozzy Wrong , "Cutthroat Cowboy" , "Killa Whale" , "Ray of Sunshine" and "Vaughn Dead"...
- "Piglets" Guilty SimpsonGuilty SimpsonByron Simpson, better known by his stage name Guilty Simpson is a rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He was previously known as Guilt. Over time, he saw that there were more emcees using the alias. In order to set himself apart from the others, he added his last name to become Guilty Simpson. He is...
- "They Fall Apart" High Tension Wires
- "Freewheel Burning" Judas PriestJudas PriestJudas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
- "S.K.A.T.E." Korrupted Hoodlums
- "Cold Beats" KoushikKoushikKoushik Ghosh is a Canadian electronic musician from Dundas, Ontario. Koushik is signed to Stones Throw Records and has released a collection of singles and EPs from 2001–2005 on that label, Be With , and the debut full length, Out my Window...
feat. Percee PPercee PPercee P is a hip hop artist from the Patterson Projects in The Bronx, New York City, United States. Percee P has been writing and performing since 1979, yet his debut album Perseverance was not released until September 18, 2007, produced entirely by Madlib.He was known in the underground for... - "Rock The Bells" LL Cool JLL Cool JJames Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
- "Guilt By Association" Louis XIVLouis XIV (band)Louis XIV was an American rock band from San Diego, California.-Beginnings: :Lead singer/guitarist Jason Hill, guitarist Brian Karscig, and drummer Mark Maigaard formed the group in April 2003 while living in Paris, France. Bassist James Armbrust soon joined after.Louis XIV, the band's first album,...
- "Weakness" McRad
- "For Kristoffer" Money Your Love
- "Eat The Rich" Motorhead
- "Made You Look" NasNasNasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
- "Heavy" Oh No
- "It’s Empty" One Man Army
- "Gator Jaws" Ponce De LeonPonce de León-People:* Juan Ponce de León, a Spanish explorer of the Americas and first Governor of Puerto Rico* Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the son of Juan Ponce de León II, and early settler of Ponce, Puerto Rico...
- "Harder Than You Think" Public Enemy
- "Hold Your Hand" Queen Sea Big SharkQueen Sea Big SharkQueen Sea Big Shark are a Beijing based Chinese indie rock band. The group consists of lead singer and keyboardist Fu Han , guitarist Cao Pu , bassist Wang Jinghan , and drummer Xiao Wu . The group formed in 2005...
- "Runnin’ Out" Radio Reelers
- "Sleep Now In The Fire" Rage Against The MachineRage Against the MachineRage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
- "Uh Oh!" Riverboat Gamblers
- "Hold On, I’m Comin’" Sam & DaveSam & DaveSam & Dave were an American soul and rhythm and blues duo who performed together from 1961 through 1981. The tenor voice was Samuel David Moore , and the baritone/tenor voice was Dave Prater .Sam & Dave are members of...
- "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" Sly & The Family StoneSly & the Family StoneSly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...
- "Alternative Ulster" Stiff Little FingersStiff Little FingersStiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977, at the height of the Troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star , doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they...
- "Possessed 2 Skate" Suicidal TendenciesSuicidal TendenciesSuicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
- "Superficial Love" T.S.O.L.
- "Crashing" Teenage BottlerocketTeenage BottlerocketTeenage Bottlerocket is a punk rock band formed in Laramie, Wyoming in 2001.The band was formed by twin brothers Ray and Brandon Carlisle, following the dissolution of their previous band, Homeless Wonders, in 2000...
- "Los Pool Riders" Texas Thieves
- "Death Or Glory" The ClashThe ClashThe Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
- "Return To Blood Beach" The Riptides
- "Ghost Town" The SpecialsThe SpecialsThe Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
- "Reach Out And Give Me Your Hand" Tickled PinkTickled PinkTickled Pink was an hour-long television special which aired multiple times during July, 2006, chronicled television shows that homosexuals have identified with over the years...
- "Square Ball" Underground Railroad To Candyland
- "Low Rider" WARWar (band)War is an American funk band from California, known for the hit songs "Low Rider", "Spill the Wine", "The Cisco Kid" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?". Formed in 1969, War was a musical crossover band which fused elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, and reggae...
- "Protect Ya Neck" Wu-Tang ClanWu-Tang ClanThe Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
- "Leda Atomica" Year Long DisasterYear Long DisasterYear Long Disaster is a Stoner rock band from Los Angeles, California.-History:The band had its beginnings in 2003 when guitarist and singer Daniel Davies met bassist Rich Mullins of Karma to Burn in a Hollywood grocery store; at the time Mullins was having drug problems and was homeless...
- "I Hate My Life" Youth BrigadeYouth Brigade (band)Youth Brigade is a Southern California punk music trio formed in 1980 by brothers Mark Stern, Adam Stern, and Shawn Stern. The band subsequently founded BYO , which served both as their record label and as a statement of their attitude toward the young people involved in the punk subculture, which...
Development
In February 2008 EA games president Frank Gibeau spoke in a presentation for industry analysts stating that the original game posted bigger numbers on the PlayStation 3PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
than rival Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground is a video game developed by Neversoft for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles; by Page 44 Studios for the PlayStation 2 and Wii; and by Vicarious Visions for the Nintendo DS...
. Because of these surprising numbers the company had decided to begin work on a sequel. Then in May 2008 the sequel was officially announced, however no details were released except the platforms it would be released for, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
EA Black Box
EA Canada
EA Canada is a video game developer located in Burnaby, British Columbia. The development studio opened in January 1983 and is EA's largest and oldest studio...
, the developers of the game based in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, have noted that areas of New San Vanelona have more distinct architectural connections with the three cities: Barcelona, Spain; San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
; and Vancouver, British Columbia; than in the previous title of the series.
A demo for Skate 2 was released for the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Marketplace
Xbox Live Marketplace
The Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download purchased or promotional content...
on January 8, 2009 and for the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
on January 15, 2009. The demo introduces players to a small section of New San Vanelona, Slappy's Skatepark, where they can play around with the unique controls and customization options. Gamers also got a first glimpse of the deep single-player story and challenges. Two offline Party Play modes were also included: Thrasher's Hall of Meat and Spot Battle.
Downloadable content
Downloadable content has been made available for the game for purchase through Xbox Live MarketplaceXbox Live Marketplace
The Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download purchased or promotional content...
and the PlayStation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
.
Time is Money Pack: Unlocks all the parks and additional content normally obtained through completing the main story mode.
Filmer Pack: Gives the player more options for control of the camera during video clip editing. Also, new gestures and gear are also packed into this package.
Fantasy Factory: Opens the factory, as well as an area outside the plaza. It is based on the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory
Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory
Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory is an American reality television series starring Rob Dyrdek. The first season premiered on February 8, 2009 on MTV.-Summary:...
TV show
San Van Classic Pack: Includes the Community Center, Elementary School and Parkade locations from the original Skate.
Throwback Pack: A free downloadable pack that unlocks retro gear and classic gestures.
Maloof Money Cup: This pack (which is based on the actual Maloof Money Cup) includes new Vert and Street challenges for Career Mode, along with new online Freeskate activities. It was released on July 9, 2009, a day before the 2009 Maloof Cup began.
Reception
Skate 2 was well received by many publications and websites. OXM scored Skate 2 as an 8/10, saying it had good control but will be too hard for casual gamers. Game Informer gave the game 9 out of 10 in their February issue, stating that Skate 2 accomplishes the impossible task of making old gameplay feel fresh. They said that while some new tricks were added, the game built upon the original and improved its formula.Gamespot rated it a 7.5 saying that the new content was welcomed but the walking and moving objects were clumsy at best. IGN scored Skate 2 an 8.3/10, praising Black Box for building upon their winning formula and keeping the gameplay fun. They explained that while the presentation is good, the story seems weak at times and the graphics are not as sharp as they could be.
Sequel
A trailer for Skate 3Skate 3
Skate 3 is the third installment in the Skate series of video games, developed by EA Black Box, published by Electronic Arts and was released on May 11, 2010. It is a sequel to the 2009 game Skate 2. The player moves to Port Carverton for Skate 3...
was released in September 2009. It was released in May 2010. The third game in the series has a stronger focus on online team-based gameplay and content creation than the previous games.