As one the most anticipated video games of fall 2020, the remastered Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is getting some buzz from fans excited to see the skating game make a return. Fans of the old games may remember the iconic "mute grab" trick, which is being renamed in honor of its creator.
The trick will be referred to as the Weddle Grab in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 in reference to its creator, Chris Weddle, who is not mute but deaf. Tony Hawk explained the reason behind the change on his official Instagram, where he went in-depth into the trick's history since its debut in 1981. Hawk took the feedback directly from Weddle himself, who asked for the move to be called the "deaf grab" or "Weddle grab" since Weddle isn't mute and the old title is just inaccurate. The Weddle Grab is possible to use in-game and in real life, unlike some of Pro Skater's impossible tricks.
Hawk's Instagram post tells the story of Chris Weddle and his origins as a "prominent amateur on the competition circuit" in Colton in the early 80s. The "Indy air" trick started getting used, and a variation that included grabbing the skateboard with the front hand needed a name as well. Several skaters proposed that the trick be named in honor of Weddle, who was reportedly the first person to use it. Because someone described Weddle as a "quiet, mute guy," the name "mute grab" stuck. This name kept circulating in real life and in popular skateboarding games.
Tony Hawk goes on to say that when people have reached out to Weddle in recent years about the trick, the skater has been "very gracious" but made it clear that he preferred a more accurate name. When Hawk discussed "trick origins" with Weddle, the deaf skater explicitly told Tony Hawk that Weddle is "deaf, not mute," and Hawk decided to update the Pro Skater demo to honor the trick creator's intentions.
It may be challenging for some people to break the habit of calling a trick by a name they're used to, Hawk acknowledges. However, he's clearly a fan of Weddle's work and says he thinks the person who created a trick "deserves the recognition." Weddle expressed excitement learning of the name change, which is a great step toward advocating for Deaf people in video games.
As video games become more inclusive by adding better accessibility options and more diverse stories, it's great to see prominent figures like Tony Hawk making an effort to speak up about Deaf culture and its impact on sports and gaming. It's a small change for people breaking a habit in a video game, but a huge change for people like Chris Weddle.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 releases September 4 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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