Skate or Die

by Electronic Arts · Skate or Die series

1987 · DOS, C64, ACPC, ZXS, Apple IIGS

"Skate or Die!" is a skateboarding game that was first released by Electronic Arts in 1987 for the Commodore 64. As EA's first internally developed title, it was created to capitalize on the success of the Epyx sports games, with inspiration for the game's concept coming from the Atari arcade game "720°". The game allows up to eight players to compete in a series of five different skateboarding events: freestyle ramp, high jump, a downhill race, a downhill jam, and a pool joust. Each event has its own unique challenges and objectives. The game was a commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies, and was ported to a variety of other systems including the Apple IIGS, MS-DOS, and the NES. The game's success led to a winter-themed sequel called "Ski or Die,".