Game Design Workshop is a new feature where we work through the fictional design of an overlooked genre of game. This is not an actual game in development, but more a pitch for a game we can’t believe no one has made yet.
The pitch
Where are the cheerleading games? Other than one scheduled for the Wii and a few others that have appeared as shovelware, where are these titles? It may sound like a silly premise for a game, but consider it for a moment more.
Electronic Arts’ Skate was one of the big surprises of 2007. Many had challenged Tony Hawk’s dominance of the extreme sports genre, but Skate was the first to really deliver a knockdown punch with its innovative controls. Now, in the face of being outsold two to one, Activision has plans to innovate with the Tony Hawk franchise.
Speaking with USA Today, Activision Senior Vice President Will Kassoy referenced the “Tony Hawk Innovation Plan,” but refused to elaborate. What could this plan be? The easy speculation is a move toward a new control scheme akin to Skate’s. However, with Activision’s success with the Guitar Hero franchise and now Call of Duty 4 online, one should not rule out the move to a more multiplayer friendly setup. And yes, Tony Hawk Wii featuring the Balance Board seems inevitable. (more…)
As April Fool’s Day looms ever closer, things seem to be popping up everywhere that one would assume are clever pranks. For example, on THQ’s website recently it was announced that they would be venturing into the unexplored realm of cheerleading games. This, however, is no joke and THQ is hoping that it will take advantage of, as they put it, “the explosive growth of the girls gaming market in recent years due to the continued success of Wii and DS.”
All Star Cheer Squad for the Wii will follow a year in the life of a cheerleader from learning cheers to creating new routines and eventually become captain of the squad. You’ll use the Wiimote and the nunchuck to perform real cheer and dance moves and to ensure real cheerleading authenticity THQ has even signed on Tony G, who is best known for his work in the Bring It On movies. (more…)
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