Wikipedia:Main Page history/2015 January 15

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From today's featured article

Tony Hawk's Underground is a skateboarding-adventure video game published by Activision in 2003 and 2004 as part of the Tony Hawk's series. Neversoft developed the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox versions, while the Game Boy Advance adaptation was developed by Vicarious Visions and the mobile phone version by Jamdat. Typically for the series, the player explores levels and completes goals while performing tricks; atypically, the player creates a custom character instead of selecting a professional skater, and can explore on foot. The plot follows the player and their friend Eric Sparrow as the two become professionals and grow apart. The game was developed with a theme of individuality, and real-world skateboarders contributed their experiences to the plot during development. Reviewers praised its wide appeal, soundtrack, customization, multiplayer features, and plot. The graphics and the controls for driving vehicles and walking were less well received. Underground's PlayStation 2 version had sold 2.11 million copies in the United States by December 2007. A sequel, Tony Hawk's Underground 2, was released in 2004. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that the George Rymph House (pictured) is the oldest stone house, and second-oldest house, in Hyde Park, New York?
... that the English missionary James Sibree helped design and build approximately 50 churches in Madagascar in addition to writing books about the island's flora and fauna?
... that AT&T once warned customers that using a privacy device called the Hush-A-Phone could result in termination of their telephone service?
... that the mouths of Rough Run and Peterman Run are only 0.06 miles (0.1 km) from each other?
... that the Belgrade printing house, established in 1552, was the first in Belgrade?
... that Lou Tepe made the 1955 Pittsburgh Steelers, while future superstar quarterback Johnny Unitas was cut from the team?
... that the right eye of the eyed flounder migrates during the development of the fish?

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In the news

Sixty-nine people die after drinking contaminated beer at a funeral in Mozambique.
More than three million people, including dozens of world leaders, march for unity in France following the Charlie Hebdo shooting.
Maithripala Sirisena is elected President of Sri Lanka.
A new antibiotic for drug-resistant infections, teixobactin, is extracted from soil bacteria using a novel technique.
Attacks by Boko Haram on the Nigerian town of Baga leave hundreds of people dead and more than 35,000 displaced.
Archaeologists announce the discovery of the tomb of Khentakawess III, a previously unknown ancient Egyptian queen.

Ongoing: Ebola outbreak – Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Recent deaths: Anita Ekberg – Francesco Rosi – Edward Brooke

On this day...

January 15: John Chilembwe Day in Malawi; Korean Alphabet Day in North Korea

1815 – War of 1812: American frigate USS President (pictured), commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur, was captured by a squadron of four British frigates.
1865 – American Civil War: The Union Army captured Fort Fisher, the last seaport of the Confederacy.
1937 – Spanish Civil War: Nationalists and Republican forces both withdrew after suffering heavy losses, ending the Second Battle of the Corunna Road.
1975 – Portugal signed the Alvor Agreement with UNITA, the MPLA, and the FNLA, ending the Angolan War of Independence.
1991 – Elizabeth II, as Queen of Australia, signed letters patent allowing Australia to become the first Commonwealth realm to institute its own separate Victoria Cross award in its own honours system.

More anniversaries: January 14 – January 15 – January 16

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It is now January 15, 2015 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

The black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) is a large tree kingfisher found throughout tropical Asia. First described by Pieter Boddaert in 1783, this species frequents coastal waters, particularly those with mangroves. It feeds primarily on insects.

This individual was found in Phra Non, Nakhon Sawan, Thailand.

Photograph: JJ Harrison

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