For gamers, not skaters

When it comes to skateboarding, my knowledge ends somewhere around kick-flips and the Flying Tomato. \nBut thanks to an adolescence that was dominated by video games and ESPN, I feel like I'm qualified enough to make this statement: "skate." was made for gamers, not skaters. \nThe controls are as smooth and enjoyable as freshly paved asphalt. You have full control of holds, spins, tricks and ollies. It is a complete makeover from the traditional "Tony Hawk" game controls that extreme sport gamers have grown accustomed to. Instead of being button-based, the controls revolve completely around the thumb sticks and triggers. \nThe skating areas in "Tony Hawk" look like cramped jail cells compared to the vast levels found in "skate." The layout and map somewhat resemble "Grand Theft Auto," and there are enough secret ramps, poles and tricks for you to live out your inner Bart Simpson until your little extreme heart is content. \nBut prepare to be let down when attempting to complete the obligatory challenges required throughout the Career Modem. It focuses too much on completing specific tasks and not pure skating. For a game that was most likely designed for a lazy demographic, shouldn't this game require more chilling? The actual story line has big-budget movie-like footage that features more skateboarding cameos than a medicinal marijuana clinic. But the challenges are forced and frequent, leaving you frustrated and far away from beating the game. \nEA Sports integrates a lot of features used in the company's other games into "skate." The replay controls are almost identical to "Madden," and there are hundreds of items to unlock, from clothing to different skaters -- another EA trademark. \nOverall, the game bails out when trying to appeal to skateboarding fans. The product placement is painful at times -- T-Mobile Sidekicks, anyone? -- and the annoying bystanders while you are skating are unnecessary and unavoidable. In an attempt to mimic reality, "skate." has security guards roaming certain areas that will clothesline you if you skate in a restricted area. Will EA Sports feature streakers in its next edition of "FIFA"? \n"skate." does a good job of distinguishing and separating itself from the "Tony Hawk" series but fails to appeal to skating enthusiasts. My advice for the sequel: Put Shaun White on the cover.