Secret THPS3 skater found after 20 years

Like the Korean version of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, the Japanese version of Pro Skater 3 added some exclusive skaters of it's own, only one wasn't discovered for 20 years.
This was the first video I ever wrote a script for..
Gamecube save file (J):
mega.nz/file/ARdgjaZQ#ovFV7Hq...
Note:
If you're some of the few using the raw script instead, make sure to extract the game files with dolphin itself / run the DOL binary instead of using GCRebuilder, as it doesn't seem to build the game properly. mainmenu.qb belongs in scripts/qb.pre, that's where you need to inject it.
The auto-load sequence cancels out the flag setting, so you'll need to enter a level and them back out to reload the main menu properly, for the flag to actually get set.

[@VilifiedOne]

Thanks everyone for the kind words and support, I honestly wasn't expecting to even reach 500 views. Update #1: I uploaded a related where I ported over the Japanese skaters to the XBOX version of the game. Cheers! Update #2: I uploaded a follow up video, we now have all the cheat codes for both Japanese variants!

[@Tsumugi_Kotobuki]

The name "Sukehachi" is probably a pun for "Skate". Skateboard = スケートボード Suke(to) = スケー(ト) = Skate Hachi = 八 = 8 Sukehachi = Sk8 = Skate Just my theory

[@glorbojibbins2485]

Lol rad

[@jj-cz3rq]

Definitely correct!

[@Laekith]

That's absolutely what it is

[@VilifiedOne]

I'm including this comment in my next video; I've added a small bit of info to the theory that makes it even more likely. Thanks for sharing!!

[@Ktjnn]

The Japanese do love combining words and puns in general, makes sense.

[@RONALDEPAUL]

youtube algo actually recommended solid content here, great job on the video. Well spoken, well written, well read. 10/10

[@VilifiedOne]

I really appreciate it, thank you very much! :)

[@Jokervision744]

​@@VilifiedOne I agree, and just to point out the number of 👍.

[@rogercruz1547]

"Always hard neversoft" is the best motto I've heard so far

[@VilifiedOne]

Realest motto of them all.

[@nilessebek4255]

"The skater lost to time" is a subtitle that goes so damn hard

[@georgealvarez1195]

A good anime name 😂

[@RitzLazyArtist]

The Japan-exclusive skaters need to be ported to the PC version as a mod

[@VilifiedOne]

They have been, but without their videos. I've been porting them to XBOX, as that's my preferred way to play. (video coming soon)

[@Mateus_Carvalho]

Wonder if they'll somehow end up on THUG Pro at some point.

[@RitzLazyArtist]

@@Mateus_Carvalho And reTHAWed if someone requested 10K Rising to be put in the update 4.1 or 4.2.

[@foally8485]

@@VilifiedOneis a modded og xbox needed? i only have a base console

[@VilifiedOne]

@@foally8485 You can also use XEMU. Tony Hawk 3 runs flawless at 60fps under XBOX emulation, if your PC is decent enough.

[@lifespanofafry1534]

I’m making beef brisket tonight. Probably.

[@honestjohn3865]

Did you?

[@JMFSpike]

@@honestjohn3865 LOL

[@coconuthead8484]

You sound boring 😊

[@dylanherron3963]

Brother, this is your "first video you ever wrote a script for?" Fuck me, you're gonna enjoy your time here if this is how you come out the gate, swinging.

[@VilifiedOne]

Thank you so much!! I tried my best, as I pretty much never commentate anything -- most of my channel up until this point was just throwaway videos.

[@dylanherron3963]

@@AntiJewluminatiDwarf Imagine taking you the slightest bit seriously, Captain Dogwhistle. Nice name, you f*cking block of concrete. You're a Flat Earther for Christ's sake. What would you know about being the actual first in history to explore ANYTHING? My man has less than 1k subs, got blessed by the algorithm, knows how to mod game files, and compiled a working version of the game's missing skater, and is the first person (that we know) to do it in the 23 years the game came out. You post conspiracy shorts. I'd say have a seat, but just eat the fucking whole chair dude.

[@faceheadman]

Those shmup themed boards are pretty rad

[@gamerguy425]

if they ported Cotton-related boards I would have lost my shit that a franchise I learned about in obscure sega import collecting made a cameo in my favorite games as an American child. I think a pin up of Silk might have actually been pretty fitting deck lol.

[@DiddlyDoink]

man, that's cool as hell. We're kind of a lucky community that, firstly we know about this, but also so much talent is in here that lets everyone experience it. I'm just a fairly casual THPS fan, but it seems every few months someone invites me to put on a new pair of socks so they can blow them off once again. The story behind this one is cool, I had no idea save discs were a thing

[@kanrakucheese]

Neat. Since there’s an actual flag to be triggered for the unlock instead of hacking together unfinished data, a simple AR code should be able to flip the flag on the JPS2 version without needing a full mod. The challenge is, of course, *finding* that flag in memory. Reminds me of another THPS thing that’s known to exist but has no clean footage and little documentation: Disney’s Extreme Skate Adventure (essentially a level pack for THPS4 with licensed characters, same engine and all) has some implemented but unused costume part options for the CAS. One otherwise unused part is loaded as a placeholder on the title screen, but texture files indicate a few others.

[@VilifiedOne]

I'm aware of this game and played it in my youth, TH4 isn't too different from 3 so I may be able to script for it; Even easier since there's an XBOX version.. I'll consider checking it out. As for PS2, I hadn't thought of a memory patch which is kind of funny considering I grew up with an Action Replay disc.. oh well. I'm pretty inexperience in this area, so I'm of no help here but it would be really great if someone made the effort to do this. On the PS2 side of things, I've been comparing the dengeki save to "new" and "slightly uses" saves in gameplay, trying to see if I can piece together a few addresses, as I've experience with writing save editing tools. Never done it for a console game before but maybe it'll happen..

[@Icebears4ever]

Wow! Amazing! After 20+ years with the THPS franchise and a highly dedicated modding community I thought there was nothing else to find. Guess I was proven wrong, good job man!

[@jagtaggart936]

Really happy this popped up in my recommended. No clickbait, thoroughly researched and explained well, and I learned something today about one of my fav games series - THPS

[@winterbeat13]

Keep making A class videos like this and you'll grow in no time flat. That was very well edited and extremely informative. Also, congrats on making a video on something I've never seen before. Just absolutely amazing all the way around. Great job! 😁

[@Hqbwheicjebw]

So glad this dropped in my recommended. Keep making content!

[@DMMDestroyer]

A new reveal for THPS3 in 2024? Thank you!

[@Top5DefinedTech]

Cool video, i love nostalgic video games. Happy your video got recommended to me. You sir earned another subscriber. Great content!

[@quinnman89]

Respect for adding the save file too. I have a emulated disc drive and mem card pro for my gamecube. The fact i could just pop this in is awesome.

[@VilifiedOne]

Have a GCLoader and a X16 madcatz card, myself. You're very welcome, I hope I can get a non-Dengeki PS2 going save eventually.

[@PCFROMVCS]

Theres a lot of unique DLC esque content released through gaming magazine CDs that nobody knows about. I have one that adds a small island to Morrowind on Xbox

[@dathotbox]

Ayyyy that's pretty sick. I only ever remember the game saves

[@kwizzeh]

This was a thing with Japanese mags. Dreamcast magazine had new moves for Fire Pro Wrestling D for example.

[@PCFROMVCS]

Its a game save on a CD like all the others, from an America magazine. Not sure how they pulled off adding a whole island (it is pretty small) but I've seen people theorize they probably used a hex editor, or some kind of deeper save editor, to edit the save file so that there's extra content on the file thats not in the original game

[@fgfhjfhjfbhfghf5771]

Is there a name for this island? I love Morrowind and would like to learn more about this

[@PCFROMVCS]

@fgfhjfhjfbhfghf5771 I sold my old Xbox, so I can't check out the old save file right now, but I'll give you some info on the CD. It's from Xbox Magazine November 2003, labeled disc #24. On the back of the box it's just named Morrowind "treasure hunt" in the download center column. From what I remember, the island was super tiny off one of the coasts, in the corner of the map. It had a tomb with some unique enchanted items inside. I don't think the island had a name, but the tomb was probably named something. I also found some more unique enchanted items in the one of the guilds in either Aldruhn or Viviec. The enchantments weren't unique or anything, they were just standard enchanted weapons/armor with unique names. In all honesty, the additions were a little underwhelming, so after seeing the island, I mostly forgot about it and went about the normal game. There could be more stuff added that I didn't bump into though.

[@goof14]

Definitely seems like a obscure easter egg. Similar to the cheat codes for the pre-made custom skaters

[@VilifiedOne]

That's definitely the feeling I got as well, those pre-made skaters take up the created skater slot however, where as sukahachi has a unique slot in the master skater list.

[@clapdouglas]

I was recommended this video on the home page. I subscribed eh! Good work

[@deal_4_real]

This is so cool, thank you for sharing! I'm noticing from your video that THPS3 apparently uses different trick string fonts between the JP PS2 and JP GCN versions. Wonder why that is!

[@VilifiedOne]

Actually didn't notice until you pointed it out, rather strange. Both of the fonts are bitmap fonts to my knowledge, but perhaps the Gamecube version was the least of their concern considering no videos for the new skaters. Even though I mentioned the disk space, compression was really good back then; Overall lazy.

[@polarnasu]

Very well made, I look forward to more of your vids

[@ShamankingZuty]

Great work on the video. Keep up the good work.

[@hiddentape2911]

Thanks for making this video! Very cool 😎

[@shinzo_phonk]

This video was amazing to watch, such an interesting discovery! These games were my childhood and seeing hidden content from it being discovered now is an incredible thing.

[@Randomninja47]

Short, to the point and really rad information. Great stuff.

[@foally8485]

bro this is so cool, good content !

[@NothingOsaka]

Interesting. I lived here in Osaka half my life and my Jaoan ps2 collection is everything i can dream about i bave this but never knew this. Now it makes me wonder if there is something like this on the Japanese Def Jam Fight for New York because there were exclusive Japanese only characters on there too.

[@VilifiedOne]

It would be really great to see another character like this, especially if the game was published by success. An interesting time to be alive.

[@OmegaVideoGameGod]

Thank you for this, I heard about this for a long time I’m glad someone figured it out

[@elloofficer]

Whoa pretty neat stuff. Great video lad!

[@maripostal]

This is incredibly cool and super interesting. I have never heard about this before, thought I knew everything about these games. Super awesome.

[@OkinawaGabs]

Brought back my childhood, u earned a sub!

[@thaineofiver2069]

Very epic poggers content dude! Would love to see more from ya :D

[@andrearovenski]

this is so cool, thanks for the video and discovery!

[@VilifiedOne]

I'm glad you enjoyed, I appreciate the support!

[@firstletterg]

Psyvariar is one of my favorite games from Japan and so is Tony Hawk thanks so much for sharing this !

[@blacksunshine7485]

Never even knew that Japanese versions had exclusive skaters

[@resident19guy]

I love the way you're explaining this like we just got a few den geki disks laying around in a draw or whatever 🤣 very cool stuff tho!

[@VilifiedOne]

To be fair, all of them have been backed up online :)

[@resident19guy]

@@VilifiedOne well that shows me, then!

[@morbid.curiosity]

Great job! Subbed

[@RawLmax]

So sick! Algo did me justice here lol

[@user-ln6fj6in3j]

Actually doing the stuff here in this video. I'll sub. This era of youtube has this suff few and far between.

[@Hyperchicken]

Hot damn! This video is about to blow up

[@antonioHollywoodLA]

Anthony Trujillo is a skater I barely played as in Tony Hawks American Wasteland

[@pacman9635]

Awesome video' bruh 😊

[@SK1LAH]

Quality content 🔥

[@ribz4lunch]

I had no idea different regions of THPS had different skaters, let alone one hidden. Great vid!

[@VilifiedOne]

For sure! The original game has some songs replaced in Europe, one of them is "No Time to Waste" by Aim ft. YZ... the other one was something sky by Aqua I think? It's very cool to see, but I would have loved the Japanese pros regardless, and that's why I published the XBOX mod.

[@shincaion]

Great video man, a background music would be good, besides that, all fine!

[@slicked9778]

I always find stuff like this neat and my mind wanders to when this was put in the game and the people responsible could have thought it would never be a big deal, just a throw-a-way gag or something and here it is many many years later popping back up. It also gives me thoughts that there's potentially a lot more things in older games that have not been discovered since the method of unlocking this is a bit quirky for lack of a better word and that some of those methods might be lost to time because preservation wasn't at the forefront of video games and is still sorely lacking these days, sadly. ALSO, the save file thing is pretty neat. I grew up in the 90's and never heard of such a thing, there were demo disks, cheat websites (like cheat cc and cheat planet. who can forget printing out pages and writing down codes.) and such but this would have blown my little mind back then.

[@MadDogSolo]

That’s pretty interesting, didn’t even know about a lot of this, sucks the online got cut though from that version.

[@JMFSpike]

0:39 No doubt one of only a small handful of non-rpg games where the smaller data storage of the GameCube was actually a problem. Most games were not large enough to require anything more then 1.46GB. However, I have to wonder if perhaps some developers chose to limit their multi-platform games to 1.46GB to avoid the issue of having to choose to either not release a GameCube version, cut a bunch of content to make it fit onto a GameCube disc (which would obviously make for a rather butchered release, although you could try to make up for it somewhat with exclusive content), or split the game up into 2 or more discs. If I'm not mistaken, the PS3 version of Final Fantasy XIII was released on a single blu-ray disc, but since the 360 was still using the outdated DVD's it's version of the game required 3 discs. Thankfully, this sort of thing isn't really an issue anymore. X-Box and Playstation both use the same format, and although the Switch uses a very different format, it's game cards go up to 60GB which is a little more then the 50GB a dual layered blu-ray can hold. Not sure if they're making games big enough to need 4K blu-rays yet, but I guess if they are Nintendo would need to make bigger game cards. Switch is on it's last legs anyway though, and I'm sure Switch's successor will have bigger cards.

[@brandonandujar2289]

Cool vid, subscribed

[@otose4206]

Wow, never thought the same company that made my favorite yuri VNs also had their own THPS skater.

[@CameronWasmund]

Behind every cool video game discovery is 5 discord mods all saying it doesn't exist.

[@superbullet516]

this was a crazy algo recommendation

[@PhillyCYOSports]

We found him boys. We did it.

[@Scootakip]

Rad video :]

[@thepirateflash]

Awesome video buddy! I highly reccomend taking the music out of your video or they will clip you if you can get monitized eventually

[@VilifiedOne]

I appreciate the concern, but I've no interested in being monetized on KZbin, nor any kind of partnership with them for the record.

[@TiZmSpectrum]

#Legend moment

[@alfsavel4621]

Someone needs to send this to Nick Robinson so he can start digging into who the character is based on.

[@VilifiedOne]

I don't think it's anyone specific, someone below had a decent theory as to what the name could mean; It's a detail I wish I had picked up / included in my video, solid theory.

[@rastas_4221]

I thought Nick Robinson was funny at first, but that dude has some problems...

[@actionfiguremayne]

sub earned brotherbear 🤜

[@Polymathically]

The algorithm is rarely right. But in this case, it was _perfect._ Excellent video, hope to see more in the future!

[@paradisealivegames2403]

Would really really love to see a Gamecube Action Replay code for this, I still play everything in my stock 'cube, and would love to have this one in my collection!

[@VilifiedOne]

You could use something like a Memory Card Pro to transfer the save to a stock cube, Wii is also incredibly quick to softmod. You can use GCMM to copy the save to your card. You're right though, would be very cool.

[@user-qm6vr5os1n]

Next Gen subscriber

[@Degnique]

fuckin awesome work! i love these videogame lost medias

[@penngwinn]

Hell yeah!

[@BMilitant]

Good video

[@Eightbog]

Let's goooo, banger of a video my friend.

[@HighWoody]

This game needs to be on the PlayStation cloud.

[@algeone]

Good stuff

[@InotziaCityArt]

Great, if we can get this guy, then that slightly gives hope to Jamie Thomas and Bucky Lasek in thug 2, as i heard they have models on the disc but there's no way to get them in the game

[@VilifiedOne]

There's a couple of models from THUG1 in the files of THUG2 that were left over in development. You can do some filename swapping so that they show up over another model, but the bone structure is not the same, so the models are deformed. -- When they were ported to THUGPro and reTHAWED, the bones has to be adjusted to each of those engines.

[@bogartwilley]

Dude... Square Eyed Jack gonna HATE you for this video... He's gotta make a whole new review now LMAO

[@NewGabeOrder]

0:35 I guess that works. I thought these ending movies were cut from the Japanese GameCube version due to one of the song's lyrics explicitly mentioning the PlayStation 2. It wouldn't sound right if the latter console gets mentioned on non-PS2 ports of the game.

[@VilifiedOne]

I imagine they could have just mixed in another track, there's little to no sound effects.

[@Dizzula]

Great video. SO quiet though!

[@VilifiedOne]

Is it? Sounded pretty loud on my end, sorry about that if so.

[@agudgorl]

Can someone elaborate on the Library button in the PS2 BIOS?

[@VilifiedOne]

FreeHDBoot configured to look stock

[@agudgorl]

oh nice!

[@Victor1139]

Does the JPN version have Kriptonite by 3 Doors Down in its soundtrack or did you edit that in? I don't remember that song being in the American version

[@VilifiedOne]

Edited in, 5:45 I put a note in the corner. :) Footage didn't have music, all I had on hand lol.

[@marhawkman303]

@@VilifiedOne hunh, thought something felt wrong. the song just felt.... out of place. Like it wasn't being rendered by the same hardware as the game audio.

[@VilifiedOne]

@@marhawkman303 It was the only song I had on hand that fit the gameplay, but for sure, it doesn't sound compressed at all.

[@olympian3]

@@VilifiedOneI used to have a custom soundtrack with that song on my Xbox back in the day so it fits for me 😂

[@VilifiedOne]

I have it on my XBOX as well lol, that's the only reason I had it on hand.

[@mariotaz]

Awesome

[@theps2guy561]

Wow very interesting... couldn't you use a trainer like cheat device or action replay or game shark for the ps2 to get him? You can create / add your own codes. Pretty outdated but i wouldn't be surprised if its either possible or has already been done in Japan.

[@VilifiedOne]

Somebody already mentioned this, and it's a good idea, however I personally have zero experience with memory editing. Someone else will need to take on this challenge, by comparing a new save vs a dengeki save in memory and see exactly what changes. Given nearly everything is complete on the dengeki, it will take much more time.

[@1ghzxbox]

what dashboard is this, I've never seen a LIBRARY option in any PS2 console.

[@VilifiedOne]

FreeHDBoot configured to look stock.

[@calebcrowell9210]

Fuckin dope ass video first time I've been schooled on thps in along time

[@ultraslang]

At 5:30 is that supposed to be Claude from gta3? How random.

[@VilifiedOne]

That's my create-a-skater at the moment.

[@ultraslang]

@@VilifiedOne aaaaye, big fire bro!

[@LVL58Designs]

I've been getting heavy into Tony Hawk Mods, is there a way to tip those deck graphics? I'd love to have them for Thug Pro or ReTHAWed.

[@VilifiedOne]

I believe reTHAWed has the decks for the main 3, not sure about the Success decks. I asked Zedek and he didn't know off the cuff.

[@LVL58Designs]

​@@VilifiedOnesweet! I will check later. Thank you!

[@victorvonjacoby9349]

You played the music, you got balls.

[@VilifiedOne]

You're going to love my Pro Skater 1 playthrough then :)

[@victorvonjacoby9349]

@@VilifiedOne Ill be waiting brother man

[@Triumph._.]

@2:21 i forgot evolution snowboarding was a thing, i remember evolution skateboarding as a kid. I wonder what the save is for that, or really what kinds of save stuff in general is available. Shame that America never got something like it

[@panther189_]

What THPS1,3,4 & THUG 1/2 secrets are there? On the JPN release

[@VilifiedOne]

Only 3 has additional content in Japan. Two has additional content in South Korea, however. THUG2 and THAW were not released in Japan, but we're released in Singapore; Other than the cover, it's just the American versions of the game but NTSC-J disc pressing.

[@BGNADS]

How do I spell the name of these disks? I’m going to need to find out what that initial d special stage file is. Interesting video!

[@BGNADS]

Never-mind saw it in another comment. Now I need to find out!

[@VilifiedOne]

@@BGNADSI'd love to know what you find, there's some others saves in there as well that I'm planning on checking out too.

[@TheViolator91]

Subbed

[@VilifiedOne]

I appreciate it, glad you enjoyed the video. :)

[@Andrzej_Szpadel]

Hey whats that Library Option after System Configuration? Modded PS2? Browser 2.0? what functionality does it have just out of curiosity

[@VilifiedOne]

FreeHDBoot configured to look stock; Shortcut to OPL.

[@Andrzej_Szpadel]

@@VilifiedOne oh ok thanks for info 😁 just got confused as browser 2.0 have library In browser itself, I have similar stock fhdb setup just more options Nice and sneaky 😁

[@VilifiedOne]

For the rest, I have button combos, otherwise I prefer the cleaner look :)

[@AdrianDX]

Cool stuff! Just an idea; Can’t we make Action Replay codes to unlock the character?

[@VilifiedOne]

If you have experience with memory editing, definitely. Someone else mentioned it, thought it didn't cross my mind at the time. If someone does make one, especially for the PS2, that would be great.

[@DarthCrust66]

I just thought of something. You thing there are Japanese KZbinrs who go over the same type of stuff but for the American versions of games? 🤔

[@VilifiedOne]

In the 90s to mid 2000s, Japanese made games would always get released in Japan first, later publishing North American versions with bug fixes, or sometimes newer content. A good example is Jet Grind Radio, which had a new story and two new levels in the US/PAL territory. A lot of these cases also have re-released in Japan based on our versions, like De La Jet Set Radio.. Sonic Adventure international to name a few. I'm sure there are people and forums that discuss these changes, maybe videos too on sites like Nico Nico. It's kind of funny how the last decade has been the total opposite.

[@ThePerro]

Sukihachi looks kind of like Eric Koston 😂

[@Caspicum]

🙏

[@maxmouse3]

gg!

[@Crazypanda369]

unfathomably based

[@gamerguy425]

IDK if I'm racis-t or what but I thought they literally used the exact same face for all 3 of the pro Japanese skaters for a second. I have to put my face to the screen to tell them apart. Hearing the makers of a franchise as strange as Cotton series was connected to Tony Hawk is also wild!

[@VilifiedOne]

The textures are different, but all of them have the same head mesh that the face texture is mapped to.

[@gamerguy425]

​@@VilifiedOne probably that combined with the textures not being scanned as well as the Americans perhaps. I looked for IRL photos and they're way more distinct looking then the game

[@WIImotionmasher]

Why... did you capture gameplay without licensed music, only to add licensed music back in lol. I mean it's fine I'm just confused. Also imagine Kyroptonite in THPS that actually goes hard lol I didn't expect it to work

[@VilifiedOne]

Because I am sick of the soundtrack right now, I've heard it too much this week. I usually use custom soundtracks, but that's an XBOX feature, no Gamecube.

[@dingothps]

Ive played the Korean THPS2 version but never heard about a Japanese THPS3 before. Are there any other Japanese releases?

[@VilifiedOne]

There are, but none of them are any interesting, in terms of extra content.

[@schmeatball2382]

5:30 I'm sorry, is this Claude from GTA III???

[@VilifiedOne]

Yes :) That's my create-a-skater setup, at the moment.

[@marsug]

I wish we could get 3+4 🥺

[@NewportBox100s]

This is so rare 🥶

[@CrazySquidward]

Finally the algorithm recommends me something juicy