Saturday 24 September 1997 USA.

Tony Hawk was now quickly becoming one of the rising stars in the skateboarding world. At just 19 years old, he was already widely recognized and respected by fellow skaters and fans of the sport. His name had begun circulating in skateboarding magazines, local tournaments, and street culture conversations, making him a well-known figure within the skate scene. However, he hadn't crossed into full-blown celebrity status just yet—his fame was still mostly contained within the skateboarding community. Unlike movie stars or pop singers, Tony's recognition hadn't spread to the broader public. That's why he was completely caught off guard when his friends approached him with some unexpected news a couple of weeks back.

They told him there was a video game coming out with his name in the title—Tony Hawk - Pro Skater. At first, he laughed it off, thinking it must be some kind of coincidence. But the more he heard about it, the more he realized it wasn't just some small project. There were already teaser trailers and posters surfacing, and this wasn't just any random developer behind it. It was being made by ZAGE, a studio he already admired as one of the most cutting-edge and respected video game developers in the world. Known for high-quality, creative, and technically impressive titles,. The idea that they were developing a game not only about skateboarding but also with his name on it left him speechless. It felt surreal, like a dream coming to life before he'd even had time to imagine it.

Tony Hawk couldn't shake the feeling—there was no way this was just a coincidence. If it were just the name "Tony Hawk" slapped on something random, maybe he could write it off. But a skateboarding game? That was too specific. It felt personal. So a couple of weeks earlier, driven by curiosity and a bit of concern, Tony decided to reach out to the ZAGE team. He managed to get in touch through a contact who had ties to the industry and politely asked if they were using his name without permission.

To his surprise, the ZAGE representatives responded quickly, insisting it was purely a coincidence. But the real shock came shortly afterward—Zaboru Renkonan himself, the legendary founder , owner and CEO of ZAGE, showed up at Tony's house in person. The moment the front door opened and Tony's parents and siblings saw who it was, they were stunned. It wasn't every day that someone like Zaboru visited your home.

Zaboru, with his calm demeanor and a strange sense of mystique, sat down in the living room and explained everything. He said the name "Tony Hawk" had come to him in a dream —a dream where a skater with that name became the greatest skateboarder the world had ever seen. Inspired by that vision, he had used the name in the prototype of the game, before he even knew Tony Hawk was a real person. So when Zaboru found out that not only did Tony Hawk exist, but that he was also a talented young skater, it felt like fate.

Wanting to do things properly, Zaboru offered Tony a deal—not out of obligation, but as a recognition of the incredible alignment between fiction and reality. The contract was nothing short of amazing: 10 million dollars for 17 years of image rights, plus a 2.5% royalty on total game sales that used Tony's name. Tony could hardly believe what he was hearing. It was beyond generous. He sat stunned for a moment before quickly accepting the offer. Despite the long year deal , Tony Hawk will get instant money now and 3% of total sales which is quite a lot.

Just like that, Tony Hawk went from rising skater to a millionaire overnight. And more than that—he became part of gaming history, forever linked to a title that would redefine both sports and video games.

Now it was finally the release date of the game—the one Tony had been eagerly waiting for. As a casual gamer himself, Tony had always enjoyed video games in his downtime, especially fast-paced titles. His current favorites were Sonic and Rollerdance, both games that combined speed, style, and freedom—qualities that resonated with his love for skateboarding. But today was different. Today, he was about to play a game with his name on it. That thought alone made his heart race with excitement and disbelief.

Tony Hawk grinned wide as he held the copy of the newest lineup of ZAGE games in his hands. Now that he was financially well-off thanks to his recent deal, affording new games was no issue. In fact, he went all out—buying every ZAGE title that launched for the ZEPS 3 system that September. He had the full trio: Sonic Adventure, Persona, and of course, Tony Hawk - Pro Skater. It was surreal. Seeing his name printed boldly on the game cover, produced by the game studio he admired most, felt like a dream made real. He sat back for a moment, letting it sink in—he wasn't just playing a game today. He was playing a piece of his own legacy.

Tony Hawk eagerly inserted the disc into his ZEPS 3 console, his heart racing with anticipation. The screen lit up with a brilliant display of colors. First came the bold, iconic ZAGE logo, accompanied by a deep synth sound that sent chills of nostalgia through him. Then, swirling visuals resembling stars and galaxies signaled the entrance of the Team Enigma logo, shimmering with celestial detail as if inviting him into a whole new universe. The screen then faded to black, followed by a dramatic reveal of the Enigma logo centered on screen, glowing faintly with a soft pulse like a heartbeat.

Tony leaned forward in his chair, his fingers gripping the controller as the main menu loaded in. The screen displayed several options in sleek lettering: Campaign - Single Player, Multiplayer, Practice, and Customization. Without hesitation, Tony selected the campaign mode, eager to dive in.

As the game loaded, Tony was immediately dropped into the character select screen—and there he was. "Tony Hawk." The model didn't look exactly like him—the face was a bit off, the haircut was a little outdated and the guy is older—but the name was there, the posture felt familiar, and he couldn't help but grin.

He selected his character and jumped into the first match. The opponent was introduced with a flashy overlay: Jonah Dan, a fictional rival skater with a cool attitude and flashy gear. The game then launched into an interactive tutorial, showing Tony how to execute basic tricks, string together combos, and time landings for maximum points. He followed along, impressed by how intuitive the controls felt and how fluid the animations were.

Tony's competitive spirit kicked in. As the beat dropped in the game's soundtrack, a combination of Z&Z song and license song from Led Zeppelin , Ramones , and many more, he took off on his virtual board, executing flip tricks, grinds, and manuals, all while trying to outperform Jonah Dan's high score. The excitement in his chest built with every combo landed—this was more than a game. It was an experience crafted with precision, passion, and a surprising level of authenticity. He was already hooked.

Tony Hawk dove deeper into the game, his eyes wide with excitement as he explored every inch of the experience. Every motion flowed with crisp, smooth animation, giving the game a cinematic edge that impressed even Tony, who'd seen hundreds of skate videos in his lifetime.

As he pulled off a particularly long combo—grinding a rail, transitioning into a manual, and finishing with a trick off a half-pipe—the game rewarded him with slow-motion replays and score bonuses that felt like a highlight reel. The controls were tight, the physics responsive, and the way the board moved under his digital feet felt authentic. He laughed out loud more than once, unable to hide how much fun he was having.

Each level introduced more named tricks, many of which he recognized from the skating world and others that pushed the boundaries of what was physically possible. Still, he admired the creativity. The game was more than a simulation—it was an arcade-style tribute to skate culture, and seeing his name attached to it made it all the more thrilling. Tony leaned back in his seat for a moment, grinning. "Man, they really nailed it," he muttered to himself, already eager to see what the next challenge would bring.

Tony Hawk continued playing and was having an absolute blast, and the momentum didn't slow down after he beat his first opponent. As soon as the match ended, the game transitioned into a new feature called "Shops," and Tony's eyes lit up with curiosity. Here, players could purchase an incredible variety of merchandise to fully customize their character. The customization options were far more extensive than he'd expected—everything from shirts, jackets, and hoodies to pants, boots, hats, accessories, and even body piercings, tattoos, and different skateboards were available. There was even an in-game barbershop where you could change hairstyles, from slick cuts to wild punk spikes.

Tony couldn't help but admire the attention to detail. As he browsed through the customization, he unlocked more advanced tricks—some based on real-world moves and others wildly exaggerated for fantasy fun. Tricks like the "Sky Tornado" "Rocket Rising" and "Ghost Grind" looked like they belonged in a superhero movie. He laughed at how over-the-top some of them were but also noted a handful that gave him ideas. "You know," he muttered, "some of these I might actually try out... with the right setup."

After he continued to play he stopped a bit and rested. He shook his head in disbelief. "This is insane," he said aloud, grinning ear to ear. "This might seriously be the best game I've ever played. This is my new favorite, no question."

After resting for a while Tony dove back into the next level with renewed energy, fingers flying across the controller. As he played, his mind wandered—not just about beating scores, but about bringing some of these in-game stunts into the real world. He was already thinking about what ramps he'd need to build, which tricks were doable, and how to push himself to new heights. For him, the game wasn't just fun—it was inspiration.

To be continue

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