I really, really enjoy the Tony Hawk mechanics. They're simply the best when it comes to fluid, addictive, chaining of tricks, and they've influenced other games that in turn have become the best in their respective category simply by copying large chunks of proven-to-be successful gameplay.

The thing that ultimately puts me off Tony Hawk is the authencity with which the whole skateboarding culture is represented and depicted. It excludes people like me who can barely stand on one leg, let alone a tiny piece of wood with wheels. I'm not into the music, the clothing, the brands or the attitude. I don't really dislike any of those things, but I just find it difficult to relate.

That's a problem for me with many games that I essentially enjoy. I mean, when I play a football game I don't know first thing about who's who, what team is better or worse than the other. Leagues and stuff just pass way over my head, I really just want two teams and get to pass people and score. For me it's become a problem that games like this don't often create their own atmosphere and "private club" anymore - they're set in others.

I think that's why Sega's racing games are so legendary now. You didn't have to be a complete car fanatic, getting into the "street racing culture" of spraying your car and buying parts.. You didn't have to know anything about racing at all, because once you powered up your Saturn or popped a coin in the arcade machine, Sega Rally painted its very own frame of reference. Outrun is still more about Magical Sound Shower than actual Ferraris.

I often hear people say "I'm not a sports fan" when they justify not buying a footie or hockey game, but the truth is that the game mechanics have very little in common with the actual sport. Enjoying chaining together moves in Tony Hawk appeals to the same basic instinct in you as stringing together Tate combos in Shinobi or getting a huge belt in Mutant Storm.

So it's unfortunate then that it's become a statement, buying into a culture you don't really identify with.

"I didn't know you're into skateboarding...?"

Well I bleeding aren't, but I like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. :(