
Online Play was introduced in Tony Hawk's series in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3. Host player can setup a game for 8 players. Observer slots appeared later on. The first time player enters the multiplayer mode, he ends up in global lobby showing the list of all players and rooms. After hosts launches the game everyone enter the free skate mode. The host can start any available game mode. A client can join the room any time, but if there is game running, he will join as an observer.
As of 2018, online play prior to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 can only be achieved through workarounds.
Game Types
There are lot of multiplayer game types available for online play throughout different Tony Hawk's titles:
- Free Skate
- Trick Attack
- Graffiti
- Slap!
- Combo Mambo
- Capture The Flag
- Control Zone
- Keep Away
- King of the Hill
- Goal Attack
- FireFight
- Scavenger Hunt
Current state
Online play out the box is not available anymore. THPS game servers and lobbies were hosted by GameSpy and it was closed in 2014. MOTD files are currently hosted by OpenSpy. All THPS games for PC require modded files to play online, while most of the PS2 games do not require modification whatsoever.
History
Online play was first introduced in THPS3, along with LAN Play. It became the first PlayStation 2 game ever to have online. The online mode for THPS3 was actually exclusive for the PS2 version at first until the PC version was released a half year later which also had online. The Xbox versions didn't have online until American Wasteland which came out in 2005. It had online on both Xbox and Xbox 360. The GameCube versions never had online because there wasn't a single way to get the GameCube online at the release date of THPS3. The PC versions has had online since THPS3.
The THP8 online mode was exclusive for the Xbox 360 version but THPG which came out a year later had online for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Both of the games are still avaible online for both consoles. The THPS3 servers were closed in 2005, while the servers for THPS4 closed on January 1, 2006.
On July 26, 2007, a player by the name of bi0hacker hacked Neversoft's FTP server, reportedly as an attempt to better the online experience. Neversoft decided to remove the MOTD files for THUG1, THUG2 and THAW, effectively shutting the official servers down, though several fan-run private servers for the PC and PS2 quickly followed
In 2012 GameSpy dropped support of Activision games. At that point, online play was now only available via OpenSpy, with the Xbox 360 version of American Wasteland being the sole exception.
In 2014 GameSpy was closed, shutting down the Xbox 360 version of American Wasteland, which was the last official server still active.
THPSHD Online
A special case, while console version support 4 player online mode, PC version completely lacks it. One of the major elements of THPS gaming was cut out. However, even console multiplayer wasn't met great since it is different, missing lot of features that became a "must have", slapping toggle for example.
External links
- THMODS.COM - some of the mods here will allow to play online.
- THPS-MODS.COM - another modding site.
- THPS.INFO - Shows online players on THPS servers.
- CHAPTER-3.NET - THPS3PC Community.
- THPSX.COM - THPS (THUG Pro) Community.