A million dollars in debt and racing against time, a small team of developers pitched “fake” screenshots to prove a handheld Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater could handle 3D on the Game Boy Advance. Against all odds, that risky move paid off, rescuing their company from ruin.
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$1 million in debt, devs on handheld Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater saved the company by pitching “fake” screenshots that forced them to turn the GBA into a 3D gaming machine: “Nobody could believe it”
Photo by Gamesradar+
Key Takeaways:
- Developers faced $1 million in debt while working on a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater title.
- They pitched “fake” screenshots to secure faith in a GBA 3D engine.
- Converting the Game Boy Advance into a 3D gaming system was a bold innovation.
- Their success turned near-certain financial disaster into triumph.
- The project’s completion changed fortunes and set a new benchmark for handheld gaming.
The High-Stakes Gamble
One million dollars in debt is enough to put any developer on high alert. For a team looking to bring Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater to handheld devices, this dire financial situation demanded something drastic. Each passing day heightened the pressure, leaving little room for a solution that didn’t push boundaries.
The Pitch That Shocked Everyone
Desperate for a breakthrough, the developers presented “fake” screenshots to stakeholders. These images illustrated a visually stunning 3D version of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, even though the Game Boy Advance was never intended for such advanced graphics. The audacity of the pitch caught everyone by surprise. Yet it also sparked the belief that the unthinkable—3D gaming on the GBA—might be achievable.
Breathing 3D Life into the GBA
Converting a 2D-focused console into a 3D powerhouse was no simple task. Critics dismissed the idea as impossible. However, once the developers secured buy-in from their partners, they poured their limited resources into coding an engine that would bring 3D elements to life on the small handheld. Against the odds, their passion and innovation made the GBA do what “nobody could believe” it could.
A Surprising Triumph
That sense of disbelief was overshadowed by success when the finished product finally debuted. Speaking about the ordeal, one developer famously said, “We knew that if we didn’t pull this off, we would pretty much be in debt for the rest of our lives.” Yet their risky gamble redeemed the team from overwhelming financial burden and delivered a milestone for handheld gamers—one that few, if any, saw coming.
