STATICA
146 THRASHER
...PROGRESS REPORT ON THE GREATEST VIDEO GAME OF ALL TIME...
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HEN APPROACHED LAST YEAR BY NEW YORK-BASED
Rockstar Games about a Thrasher video game, we were, to
say the least, hesitant. We figured they were just another
bunch of suits trying to get in on the corporate skateboard
craze. But as we further perused their proposal, we realized
they were interested in making a game that was realistic
and accurate to the skater, not just trying to crash in and
cash out. So we agreed to work with them, on our terms.
The programming and development crew that is doing
the grunt work is a company called Z-Axis, based in San
DIGITAL FLIP
Mateo, CA. After numerous late
nights poring over Thrasher back
issues and, days of high-intensity
skate video viewing, the Z-Axis
team had completed their crash
course and was ready to take on
the task of creating the video
game: "Thrasher: Skate and
Destroy"-under the loving guid-
ance of the Thrasher staff, of
course ("That's a fakie ollie, not a
switch nollie, you idiot!").
"Skate and Destroy" has
sophisticated trick system that
gives you more board control than
Cairo Foster on his best day.
Speaking of Cairo, he, along with
Diego Bucchieri, Colt Cannon, and
DROGEN oil
other NorCal rippers got suited
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up in space-age motion-capture
gear to give the game realistic movement. The computer
translated the electronic impulses recorded by the motion-
capture sensors into wire-frame models of the characters.
The wire-frame models are then given color, shading, and
texture-mapping to make them look like a skater you might
see ripping at your local spot. There are also, of course,
bunch of brutal slams that were made possible through a
process of skeletal dynamics to make you feel it in your gut,
not just your dual-shock analog controller.
The levels are digital representations of some of the
best skate spots in the world with a few added obsta-
cles to maximize your gameplay. They look about as
close as you can get to the real thing when you can.
only build using flat polygons. We've also enlisted all of
your favorite skate companies so that you can finally.
get hooked up without having to make a sponsor-me
video. If you can step up, your character will get spon-
sored by DC, Real, Alien Workshop, Independent,
Volcom, and almost any other company you would
want to flow you/product.
As we begin to put the finishing touches on "Skate and
Destroy," we think that you, the skater/gamer, will be
amped to be able to bomb backside 9th Avenue, frontside.
flip the walk-at Brooklyn Banks, and terrorize the ultimate
indoor park in Germany-all in the same day.
-Tony V and Nico B
PLAYING GAMES
IS NOT A CRIME
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