Skate or Die!

Skate or Die! was a skateboarding game released for the Apple II in 1988 by Electronic Arts. The game let players compete in five different skateboarding events and quickly became popular among computer gamers who wanted to experience the growing skateboard culture of the 1980s.

In Skate or Die!, players could choose between five events: freestyle ramp, high jump, race, jam, and joust. Each event tested different skills. The freestyle ramp let players perform tricks by pressing keys at the right time to score points. In the high jump, players built up speed on a halfpipe before launching upward to reach maximum height. The race event had players skateboarding through a downhill course while avoiding obstacles. The jam event was similar but focused on performing tricks for points. The joust event was unique - two players faced off on skateboards, trying to knock each other down with foam bats.

The Apple II version used simple graphics with basic colors, but the animations were smooth for the time. Characters moved realistically when skating, and the game captured the feeling of momentum and balance. Sound effects were limited to beeps and simple tunes due to the Apple II's basic sound chip. Players controlled their skater using the keyboard or joystick, with different button combinations for tricks and movements.

What made Skate or Die! special was its variety. Instead of focusing on just one type of gameplay, it offered five different experiences in one package. This gave players more value and kept the game interesting longer. The game also included a practice mode where players could improve their skills without competing.

The Apple II port faced technical challenges because the computer had less memory and slower processing than other systems. Programmers had to simplify graphics and reduce the number of on-screen objects. Despite these limitations, they kept all five events and maintained smooth gameplay.

Skate or Die! succeeded because it arrived when skateboarding was becoming mainstream. The game let computer users experience skateboard culture without needing actual skateboarding skills. It also supported two players in some events, making it fun for friends to compete against each other.

The game's success led to ports on many other computers and consoles. A sequel, Ski or Die, followed in 1990 using similar gameplay but with winter sports. While later skateboarding games offered more realistic graphics and physics, Skate or Die! remained memorable for bringing skateboarding to computer screens when the sport was just beginning to explode in popularity. Its simple but fun gameplay made it accessible to players of all skill levels, helping establish skateboarding as a viable video game genre.