Not many video game franchises reach iconic status like Activision’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise, so it shouldn’t come as a shock that there is so much excitement around the return of THPS 3+4 and with it, one of its most beloved skaters, Bam Margera.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is a remake from Iron Galaxy Studios that successfully combines two entries in the THPS franchise: the beloved third game and the fourth game, which effectively marked the end of the Pro Skater series.
It’s not one of your typical remakes, either. Iron Galaxy Studios threw a fresh set of wheels on this deck, adding some new stages along with fan favorites, plus skaters we all loved to pick for our virtual runs, as well as some new faces.
However, when it was first revealed that Activision was dropping Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4, fans were excited, but also worried that a fan favorite, Bam Margera of MTV’s Jackass fame, would not be included in the game.
Thankfully, that was not the case, and Margera was included in the game’s final roster. Ahead of the game’s release, HHW Gaming’s Bernard “Beanz” Smalls spoke with Margera, and he got very candid about being a part of THPS 3+4.
Bam Margera Understands Why Iron Galaxy Wouldn’t Have Wanted Him To Be A Part of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4
We asked Bam about almost missing out on being in the game. He revealed that fans would approach him at comic book conventions with copies of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, asking him to sign them, telling him they “only picked you in this game and I really hope you’re in the next one because I’m going to boycott it.”
Margera went on to say that he would understand if they didn’t want him in the game due to his battles with alcoholism during his 10-year hiatus, which kept him off a skateboard.
“I went on a 10-year hiatus and did not skate one bit, and pretty much became an alcoholic, and I didn’t even know it at the time. It was so bad, something had to change, ” Margera said.
But he would find his skating fire again thanks to his stretching coach and now wife, Dannii Marie.
“So I married a stretch coach who hates drugs and alcohol, and completely forbid me to do it. And going to three years of treatment also, that was a real nightmare, but also a real reality check,” Margera said.
“When I got out of treatment and married my stretch coach, she got my legs back in order, and I’ve been skating every single day.”
Getting back on the board also led to an encounter with the Bird Man himself, Tony Hawk, which would lead to him being back in the skating video game after the inventor of the 900 was impressed with Margera’s skills, well after his hiatus, and happy to see Bam in a good place mentally.
“I kind of blew Tony Hawk away when I showed up at his vert ramp and we hollied over each other. I don’t even skate vert, and he knows that. So he kind of thought that I was going to show up and just say, “What up?” Margera said.
“I feel like the last time I saw him, I probably wasn’t in a good way. He just saw me really happy and skating again, that it was enough for him to make a phone call to Activision and see what we could do, because I know that the deadline was really tight.”
THPS Is Not Your Typical Sports Game
Activision is home to many video game franchises, including Call of Duty and Crash Bandicoot, among others. However, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is considered one of the crown jewels, which was unfortunately dormant until the release of its remakes.
We spoke with Margera about the importance of THPS and why it resonates with so many gamers, even those who are not immersed in skater culture.
“I think because most games are… A sport is usually kicking a goal that way, and the other one kicked that way, and you try to get the more points by making a goal, but skateboarding has endless options, ” Margera explained. “You can grind that handrail, you could skate the house, you could kick flip off the roof, you could skate a car, so it’s constantly complete fun that’s unpredictable. And you always have a new thing to get enough points to skate a new thing and unlock a new character. It’s many, many hours of entertainment.”
Being A Part of THPS Is An Indication You’re A Pretty Big Deal As A Skateboarder
Bam Margera has always been a household name thanks to his antics in the MTV series Jackass, but according to Margera, being a part of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game is an even bigger deal.
“I think the main thing is that with this Tony Hawk game, it really puts skateboarders on the map of people that aren’t die-hard skateboard fans themselves,” says Margera. “The fact that I’m in the Tony Hawk video game, now that opens the door of my grandma knowing that I’m a good skateboarder or just any kind of hanging out at an event. You meet other celebrities, “Who are you?” “I’m a pro skateboarder.” But as soon as you say that you’re in the Tony Hawk game, it’s like, “Damn, you must be a really good pro skateboarder.” It puts you on the map.”
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is available now on PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Game Pass.
You can watch the entire interview above.
