Activision’s Doug Heder talks about the PSP version of THUG 2 Remix
By Michael Lafferty 

“We wanted to give the player, the consumer, something new – something that the PS2, or the Xbox or the GameCube versions didn’t have” 

There is a certain experience associated with playing Tony Hawk’s Underground titles, with the wide-open levels, the upscale trick combos and the pulsating rhythms that underscore the pace of the game.  

But suppose you could take all the elements of Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 and take it with you wherever you went, and you were able to play it. And what’s more, you don’t miss that deep console experience. 

Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix is the Shaba Games conversion of the Neversoft/Activision title for the Sony PSP handheld system. The game has all the elements of the THUG 2 console release plus some that are exclusive to the new handheld system. (Please see our hands-on PSP preview of THUG 2 Remix )

Doug Heder, production coordinator on Activision’s Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix for the PSP talked to GameZone during an Activision event in Santa Monica to show off the PSP title.

One of the first things he was asked is if the power of the PSP proved a surprise when revamping THUG 2 for that platform?

“We had been told by Sony we would have all this ability from get-go,” Heder said, “so it was just a matter of time before getting our hands on the equipment, and testing it out and seeing what it was capable of doing. And Shaba has done an incredible job. They brought over the entire PS2 game, plus additional content that is not even in the PS2 game, that is PSP exclusive. So it is actually a bigger game. There is more to do in the PSP game than in the PS2.”

Of course the port of THUG 2 to another platform would not be complete without the strong multiplayer aspects the title has. Using the PSP’s wi fi connectivity, players can experience just that with THUG 2 Remix. 

“In Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix, we basically bring the online experience into the handheld system by using the wi fi in multiplayer games, so it recreates that experience,” Heder said. “But now you can connect wireless with anybody anywhere at any time.” 

And while Heder stated there may be more possibilities to explore in future incarnations of the THUG series, it is apparent that what the current iteration of the game offers is a huge step forward to bringing the full Tony Hawk experience to the handheld market.  

In some cases, when a game is ported to another platform rather than give players more, it is more likely that something may be omitted in the conversion. Not so the case with THUG 2 Remix. In fact, the game sports four new levels in addition to all of the content that was available in the versions released for the consoles. 

“We wanted to give the player, the consumer, something new – something that the PS2, or the Xbox or the GameCube versions didn’t have,” said Heder. “We wanted to give people who played those versions something that would be new, exclusive and unique to this handheld system. We also wanted something that would show off what this handheld system was capable of doing.

“Not only do we wrap up what the console versions offer, but we provide a whole new experience that you can’t get anywhere else. Four more levels, eight more unlockable skaters that you can find, discover and skate as, all of their special tricks, all of their special moves – it’s huge.” 

“Shaba Games, the developer that did the PSP version of this game just did an amazing job,” Heder reiterated. “They are a really talented group of developer who remained totally faithful and true to the Neversoft version on the console version in addition to bringing all this new content to it.” 

But what about the THUG soundtrack? 

“The sound is awesome, you can stick on your stereo headphones and you’ve got 53 tracks of contemporary, alternative, punk, it’s all there without compromise.” 

That must make the developers and publishers on a whole relatively excited about this direction for the franchise. 

“Very much,” agreed Heder. “I think it is an exciting chapter in the series, I think it gives newcomers a whole unique experience – people who are new to the game, you can never have played a Tony Hawk game before and pick this up and it’s got everything in there that you need to know to get familiar with this incredible series, and if you are a longtime player and a fan of the series, it's got new content that you can never get anywhere else.  

“The fact that it is a portable version of the game that you can take anywhere is exciting in itself, and that it literally recreates that living room experience on a handheld system is just so cool.”

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