A video game controller with a position sensor and a proximity sensor provides user input signals for use in determining game states. The video game controller can have a board or deck like surface similar to that of a skateboard, and the proximity sensor can be used to determine if a grab of the board has been attempted. A video game associated with the video game controller can provide a skateboard or other game in which a skateboard and skateboarding character are responsive to a game player's manipulation of the video game controller.