Seven days of bad skateboarding video games
Day one: Cheap Skate

In honor of EA’s Skate and Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground, which the Interweb™! can’t seem to shut up about. I’m going to bring you seven days of bad skateboarding video games.

Day One: Cheap Skate for the Commodore 64, from 1988.

Look out! That guy has to dodge meteors! Talk about skate harassment. Giant skateboard with Speed Racer mountain climbing wheels? Check! Button down shirt with smart sweater over the top? Check! (Sorry, this is a U.K. game, so I think “sweater” should read “jumper”)

Day One: Cheap Skate for the Commodore 64

Copyright/Publisher: Future Designs
Program By: Daryl Bowers
Graphic Design By: Pixel Perfect
Concept By: Andrew Morriss, Ian Bastone & Daryl Bowers
Music By: David Whittaker
Release Year: 1988
Number Of Players: 1

Ok let’s get started here. Looks like I’m trying out for a skateboard team affiliated with the U.S. Post Office, even though this game was made in the U.K..

Alright. I’m skating down the sidewalk…

There’s a pole I have to duck under, because you certainly can’t expect me to highjump that. I’m getting a very strong Zaxxon vibe here.

Well I’m going to become a novice? I didn’t realize I had entered into a skateboarding apprenticeship.

Color changes are cutting edge technology. Neon paint is very popular in this town.

Nowadays I would be expected to backside 180 heelflip over this detritus, but in 1988 you had to avoid it at all costs.

Oh oh. Possible confrontation. The streets are void of pedestrians who are expecting a possible race riot.

Thanks god we all got a long. I passed five tests but I’m still a novice! What was I before?

At last, the meteors promised on the packaging. Wait a minute. These don’t look very menacing. I’m counting myself lucky that I didn’t run into these Meteors.

Oh man, it’s getting heavy. Those look like mortars!

Finally, we get to the real reason this game is called “Cheap Skate.” If you beat the game, the programmer wants to treat you to a beer at the local pub, as long as you are buying.

Check me out, you know I’m a major world power. Video game splash screen awesomeness.

Screen captures courtesy of Stadium 64.