Tony Hawk Video Game

Growing up, skateboarding was looked down upon. The board was risky, bulky, dirty, and heavy. There weren't any parks in my neighborhood, and the few that existed outside of town were populated by people who enjoyed getting hurt. Tony Hawk single-handedly raised the sport to a new class of fame and appreciation. After completing the impossible 900-degree spin at a competition, there's been a growing buzz around for skating. Kids in urban areas have dropped their basketballs and footballs for the chance to speed through town on their boards. Even rappers now openly admit to skateboarding - it's the new "cool" thing.

In class we discussed how celebrities are often used to promote a product; and if this is done effectively, both the product and celebrity become synonymous in so that a brand is created. Tony Hawk and his team used this tactic when they launched the Tony Hawk Proskater Series. With each new release, the game sells out and becomes an instant bestseller. Yet, the graphics and gameplay (except for the new version where a board is attached to the system) are not substantially better than the first game. Tony has such a powerful brand in the world of skating that gamers will continue to purchase his games.