Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD: Won’t Use Songs From Previous Titles

Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD will not be getting songs from the original title for its soundtrack. Why, you may ask? Well, Activision’s Dan Amrich says that “music licensing is a one-time deal.” If you get songs licensed for the original game, then that is all there is to the game. The songs are licensed for just that game. So, if Activision decides to get those songs from the original game and place them in the latest instalment’s soundtrack then it must make new deals.

This is also why not all the songs from earlier Guitar Hero titles can be imported into later games. There was only a signed permission for the songs to be used in just one title. “Any change means it’s a different deal,” says Dan Amrich. At this point then, it would be highly unlikely that Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD will have the soundtracks of the original Tony Hawk as well as its sequel. So, it is unlikely that you will be hearing music such as Jerry Was a Race Car Driver.

I guess the whole thing is pretty understandable. If there is a deal made on a certain song and the developer ends up using the song over and over again, the whole thing feels abused. It is almost as if the song comes directly from the developer.

Screenshot from Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD (Credit: Activision)

There must still be a certain amount of respect given the writer and producer of the songs. If the owner of the song’s rights agree to having his or her property used again then that is all well and good.

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