Board Online Exclusively on Xbox Live

The first true next-gen Tony Hawk game is here, and on Xbox 360™ that game extends to online multiplayer, exclusively on Xbox Live®. Tony Hawk's Project 8 is storming online with competitive gaming that offers a uniquely social and competitive experience.

Skate the whole city online.

Free Form Competition
The spirit of Project 8 online is the same that you will find running through your local skate park, the spirit of friendly one-upmanship, free of structure, embracing a free-form, creative experience.

When you log into a Project 8 game online, you will be dropped into a skate park and allowed to free skate as the other players log in. This is an opportunity for you to check out the skate park and to get to know the other skaters before the game begins.

When the competition does begin, it does so seamlessly and without moving you to a designated starting point. Instead, the match begins and the game reminds you that whoever has the largest combo at the end of the time limit will win the round. After that, it's simply up to you to use your skills and the environment to build up the biggest score you can.

Created skater not skilled up? Try Burnquist online.

Creative Goals
Because of this laid back, open approach to online competition, Tony Hawk's Project 8 creates a more social competitive environment. When playing online—even among strangers—it's not uncommon for the host to pipe up with a tweak to the basic rule-set.

For example, someone might suggest that everyone only use the pool area during their run to see whose aerial assault reigns supreme, while another might want to focus on just grinding. It's up to you and the other players to agree of course, but when you do, the camaraderie built is unlike any other game on Xbox Live.

The iron grip you may employ during grueling matches of Gears of War® will loosen and chatter will flow freely as you enjoy each other's feats, instead of cursing each other's superior skill.

On and On

Though not entirely unique to Tony Hawk's Project 8, it is fitting that online matches don't boot you to a lobby or a menu after a competition. Instead, the skating and competition rolls on until the host chooses to end the session. It may seem like a small thing, but it reinforces the culture and competition that is unique to skating and other alternative sports.

Who can get the most air?

Created Players or Real Pros
Some games require you to use your own created player online, forcing those that haven't leveled their character up to suffer an immediate disadvantage. With Project 8, however, the decision is yours. You can certainly choose to play with your created character, or you can use any of the unlocked pro skaters, including Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, and Bam Margera.

Slow Motion Online
Many games have included slow-motion options in their single-player experiences only to remove it online because of synchronization issues. In Project 8, however, because you're not directly interacting with your competition, the Nail the Trick feature is fully intact online. You'll find the same slo-mo effects, allowing your free-form kick flips to live and breath on Xbox Live.

Map Choices
When creating an online match, you can choose which Area you want to compete in. Your choices are as diverse as they are in the single-player game, with every environment available. Most impressive though, is the availability of Beaver Valley, the city the entire game takes place in. Every other option is just a slice of the city, such as the School or the Skate Park, but the ability to play in the entire city is truly amazing.

Tony Hawk's Project 8 is an online experience all its own, as it combines multiplayer competition with a more relaxed and creative atmosphere that's appropriate to the skateboarding world.

Article by Ryan Treit