The World Welcomes the Phenomenal Game ‘Tony Hawk's Pro Skater’ in Today’s Memory, September 29, 1999

Tony Hawk spins 900, a two-and-a-half rotation skateboard trick in the air that made him so famous in the world in the 1990s. (Newsweek)

JAKARTA – Today's memory, 24 years ago, September 29, 1999, the world's famous game company, Activision released a game entitled Tony Hawk's Pro Skater on the Playstation console. A game called skateboarding immediately won the hearts of the whole world. There's Tony Hawk's name behind it.

Previously, there was no doubt about Tony Hawk's popularity as a skateboarding legend. Skateboarding has been a way of life since childhood. Its popularity then made the skateboarding game even more global and famous.

Bumped, bumped, bumped, formed. This typical quote from Tan Malaka seems fitting when directed at the figure of skateboarding legend, Anthony Frank Hawk. Dedication in the world of skateboarding is second to none.

It's like being friends with pain. Sometimes he can glide perfectly. Sometimes he loses direction in creating new tricks. The Impact is inevitable, and so is the pain.

Minor or major injuries are common. Going in and out of the hospital was nothing new for him. Hawk only understands the narrative of getting up and trying again. People also called him a prodigy.

Skateboarding legend, Tony Hawk. (Wikimedia Commons)

That dedication is what made Hawk's name emerge. Hawk started his professional career when he was a teenager. The results are amazing. Victory is like a routine for him. Hawk was able to dominate many competitions in the 1990s. In fact, he is able to create many tricks in skateboarding games.

These included ollie-to-Indy, madonna, gymnast plant, frontside 540-rodeo flip, Saran wrap, and the most phenomenal 900. The 900 trick then brought Hawk to the peak of popularity in 1999. A peak that was difficult for other skateboarders to match or surpass.

“Tony Hawk landed the first 900 trick in the fifth game of the X Games in San Francisco on June 27, 1999. He originally placed third in the Vert Contest (Vert skating). He was behind the other skateboarders, Lasek and Macdonald.”

“Then, Hawk was able to go far the next day and won another contest, the Best Trick Contest with 900 tricks. That phenomenal trick saw Hawk perpetuate two and a half air loops and succeeded. Hawk's success was then heralded throughout the country," explained Cole Louison in the book Impossible (2011).

Tony Hawk's dominance in the world of skateboarding has been noticed by many parties. Several parties invited Hawk to appear in films. Several others invited Hawk to star in many advertisements. Hawk is considered to have high commercial value.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater game cover for PlayStation consoles. (Wikimedia Commons)

Hawk is also considered a figure who contributed to making skateboarding a popular sport among young people. This success made the world game company, Activision, interested. A game manufacturer that was initially developing a skateboarding game tried to hire Tony Hawk as a consultant and star in the game.

An agreement was made. A game entitled a skateboarding game was released for the PlayStation console on September 29, 1999. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, the title. The game allows one to learn all kinds of tricks in the world of skateboarding.

The game then became popular all over the world and became one of the most-played games of its era. This success is because the game provides a different experience compared to other games.

Instead of just relying on competitive play, the game also features an exciting soundtrack from world-famous punk bands. From Goldfinger to Dead Kennedys.

“In 1998, Activision contacted, a game developer called Neversoft to help develop a skateboard. Activision considers developing a skateboarding game to be like gambling. However, Neversoft showed its expertise by hiring skateboarders as consultants.”

“Tony Hawk, who is actually a skateboarding legend, emerged as the main choice. As a result, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was released and became one of the best-selling games produced by Activision. The game achieved the third highest sales of 1999, and sales remained strong into the following year. "Tony Hawk is already a legend in the X Games and skateboarding world," wrote Steve L. Kent in the book The Ultimate History of Video Games Volume 2 (2021).