ESPN Skateboarding

EA's skate drops September 14, and now you, too, can be a pro video skater, shredding the streets of San Vanelona. With its impending release, we called on one of our favorite Canucks—O.G. Plan B and DC Shoes pro Colin McKay—to find out just what it takes to be a video star. Turns out, it takes more than just Funyuns to get the job done.

EXPN.com: Is being a gamer a normal part of your m.o., or have you taken it up now that you're an Xbox star?
Colin McKay: I game.

EXPN: What's involved in your ultimate game day? Doritos? Bros? Blunts? Wagers?
C.M.: The first thing is a good game. Not just a game that you are kinda into, but a game that will consume your life—a game that you will let your responsibilities slide for, and a game that will have a negative affect on your job, your relationship and your finances. A good game and ... and ... Funyuns, man! Yeah!

EXPN: What's your favorite video game of all-time, or do Canadians even do that kind of thing?
C.M.: It's tough to say. It's all relative to the time when the game came out. How can you compare, say, a Call of Duty Two to, say, a Burger Time or a Tempest?

EXPN: Is there any sport or hobby that you prefer to game to over actually playing?
C.M.: Why waste your time with the real thing when you can just do it in the comfort of your house? Sounds like a good way to get hurt!

EXPN: Have you found that there are benefits to skating with your hands (on tv) versus your feet (in real life)? Have you sprained any wrists using the flickit controls?
C.M.: I have had three surgeries on my left wrist and one on my right. After my second surgery, they said I would never game again.

EXPN: I saw screen shots with tiles and coping, but is there a vert level in skate? Do you think there should be?
C.M.: No, vert is played out.

EXPN: The hypothetical Vancouver has a big part in this game. Is that just for EA glory (whose HQ is in Burnaby, BC), or did they take skater's advice when scouting for locations?
C.M.: EA glory, I think.

EXPN: You can session with online bros, too, right? Does somebody get to play the rent-a-cop or angry pedestrian?
C.M.: The online sessions are awesome. I don't even feel like I need to skate anymore!

EXPN: Do you have to wear a helmet and full pads to play?
C.M.: Just my character. Safety first.
EXPN: What was your favorite thing about becoming digitized?
C.M.: The nitrous.

EXPN: What's your most flattering feature, digitally?
C.M.: My bearings.

EXPN: How did you get involved with the project?
C.M.: Danny Way pulled rank.

EXPN: Was it at all like filming for a video part?
C.M.: Exactly like filming for a video part—minus the filming bit.

EXPN: Choose one for a rainy afternoon: reality-based skateboard gaming, Tony Hawk fake skateboard gaming or real-life skateboarding?
C.M.: No question. Real-life fake skating game, but for real, though.