Where Are the Tennis Games? - Operation Sports

Feature Article

Where Are the Tennis Games?

Submitted on: 03/04/2016 by Cicero

Top Spin 4

The sports gaming season is quickly approaching. We’ve got two hotly anticipated titles releasing this March in the form of EA Sports UFC 2 and MLB The Show 16. Golf and hockey have returned in very real ways. There are even sports that have multiple publishers vying for consumer dollars. What an exciting time to own a console.

But where's the love for tennis games?

The only place to play tennis on the current generation of consoles is in the parks, homes and country clubs of Los Santos in Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V. It’s a very passable representation of the sport, but I would rather my post-match decisions dealt with upgrading my attributes rather than deciding what car to steal.

The last tennis simulation to appear on consoles was 2K Sports’ Top Spin 4 way back in 2011. It was critically acclaimed and 2K Czech won many awards for their efforts. So why are we five years removed with still no tennis game on the horizon? It seems to me that the problem is twofold: Tennis games don’t sell well, and development costs are very high.

Virtua Tennis 4

Tennis Games Don’t Sell Well

Domestic popularity of tennis ebbs and flows. As a result of it being an individual sport, its popularity is dependent on the personalities participating in the sport at the time. The '80s had McEnroe and Lendl. The '90s had Sampras and Agassi. In the '00s and '10s we have had the Williams sisters and Nadal versus Federer. The way to generate casual interest in the game is to make a recognizable face your cover athlete. Perhaps take it one step further and brand the game like Madden.

Serena Williams is unquestionably the greatest female tennis player ever. Creating a game branded with her face and likeness can do for tennis games what the Tiger Woods brand did for golf. You were not playing golf, you were playing Tiger Woods. When the most dominant player in a sport is an American, launching a franchise to capitalize on their popularity only makes sense.

Grand Slam Tennis 2

Development Cost

While there has not been a full featured tennis game released this generation, I’ve already mentioned you can play a fairly decent version in GTA V. Rockstar is owned by Take-Two Interactive, as is 2K Sports. Perhaps there could be a little cross-company development for a new tennis game.

Another alternative is having Rockstar develop a tennis game themselves. Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis was the game that debuted the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE) -- and yes, it's still weird this happened. It was used as a proof of concept for Grand Theft Auto IV, Red Dead Redemption and GTA V. Quite frankly, it was a criminally underrated game. In theory, using this engine significantly reduces the cost of development. The engine has already been built, and a rudimentary version of the game has already been made using this engine.

A tennis game utilizing RAGE, made by Rockstar, and featuring Serena Williams sounds like the winningest of winning combinations.

What do you guys think? Would you buy this game? Let me know in the comments below.

Member Comments

# 1 snc237 @ 03/04/16 12:27 PM

The problem is the game will probably be 60 bucks. I would be willing to pay maybe 20. I just feel like tennis games can't be enjoyed for along period of time like other sports games are. It's to one dimensional.

# 2 Fraser G. @ 03/04/16 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snc237


	The problem is the game will probably be 60 bucks. I would be willing to pay maybe 20. I just feel like tennis games can't be enjoyed for along period of time like other sports games are. It's to one dimensional.

I'd gladly pay 60 bucks for a new Top Spin, it's pretty much the only reason I boot up my Xbox 360 anymore.

I want to see Big Ant Studios give it a try. They're making games based on cricket and lacrosse that don't need a great deal of licensing as they've got clever customization features to get around it.

To be honest, I could deal with a lack of tennis games if Top Spin 4 was made backwards compatible on Xbox One.

# 3 detroitlions12 @ 03/04/16 01:31 PM

I would definitely buy one. Tennis is one of my favorite sports to watch as I just love the cat and mouse game that happens throughout the match. I've been wondering if there would be a tennis game on this generation of console for awhile, I hope it happens.

# 4 KennyJ1976 @ 03/04/16 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snc237


	The problem is the game will probably be 60 bucks. I would be willing to pay maybe 20. I just feel like tennis games can't be enjoyed for along period of time like other sports games are. It's to one dimensional.

I'm guessing you never played Top Spin 4. I'm not the biggest tennis fan in the world but Top Spin 4 was a very exciting and challenging game. The career mode was pretty good but what I enjoyed most was playing real life competition in a gruelling 5 set match. All I felt was missing was commentary, a couple of more pros, and of course a licensed Wimbledon. I can't speak for Grand Slam Tennis, but Top Spin 5, if improved over 4, would definitely be worth a $60 purchase.

# 5 AuditMonkey @ 03/04/16 01:52 PM

I still love Top Spin 4! I would absolutely buy a new next gen good tennis game.

# 6 richgrisham @ 03/04/16 03:05 PM

You're leaving out the most important word:

Licensing

The costs to license any real players, tournaments, and stadiums/courts (like Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, for example) are extraordinarily high. You'd have to spend millions of dollars with all of those entities before you even begin building the game, and that's why we don't see - and never will see - another big-time tennis game again.

No one would buy an unlicensed tennis game, and no one can afford the costs for the license when you combine the costs of development to create something new on the new PS4/Xbox One console generation.

Heck, the last licensed tennis game was Grand Slam by EA, which had all the licensed big-time tournaments and a small, but powerful, group of real players. It sold terribly, and will never be heard from again.

So they're gone, and they're never coming back. Which is a shame, but the sport and the industry have done this to themselves.

# 7 rangerrick012 @ 03/04/16 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richgrisham


	You're leaving out the most important word: Licensing The costs to license any real players, tournaments, and stadiums/courts (like Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, for example) are extraordinarily high. You'd have to spend millions of dollars with all of those entities before you even begin building the game, and that's why we don't see - and never will see - another big-time tennis game again. No one would buy an unlicensed tennis game, and no one can afford the costs for the license when you combine the costs of development to create something new on the new PS4/Xbox One console generation. Heck, the last licensed tennis game was Grand Slam by EA, which had all the licensed big-time tournaments and a small, but powerful, group of real players. It sold terribly, and will never be heard from again. So they're gone, and they're never coming back. Which is a shame, but the sport and the industry have done this to themselves.

Gst sold badly because it was a bad game. Top Spin from what I recall sold decently globally and still has a community that plays it online to this day.

The best route would be an independent developer allowing user generated courts and content if licencing fees are too much of an issue, ala The Golf Club. Every argument you use for tennis can be used for golf tenfold, yet TGC has a loyal following because it's a GOOD GAME. Bottom line is if there was a developer willing to make a great tennis game for real tennis fans and not just a money grab for casuals, it would sell and have a following.

# 8 Monsieur Aymeric @ 03/04/16 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richgrisham


	You're leaving out the most important word: Licensing The costs to license any real players, tournaments, and stadiums/courts (like Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, for example) are extraordinarily high. You'd have to spend millions of dollars with all of those entities before you even begin building the game, and that's why we don't see - and never will see - another big-time tennis game again. No one would buy an unlicensed tennis game, and no one can afford the costs for the license when you combine the costs of development to create something new on the new PS4/Xbox One console generation. Heck, the last licensed tennis game was Grand Slam by EA, which had all the licensed big-time tournaments and a small, but powerful, group of real players. It sold terribly, and will never be heard from again. So they're gone, and they're never coming back. Which is a shame, but the sport and the industry have done this to themselves.

How come there never was an ATP licensed game just like say the PGA ? Wouldn't it reduce the cost of licensing instead of negotiating individually with each top player ?

# 9 richgrisham @ 03/04/16 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangerrick012


	Gst sold badly because it was a bad game. Top Spin from what I recall sold decently globally and still has a community that plays it online to this day. The best route would be an independent developer allowing user generated courts and content if licencing fees are too much of an issue, ala The Golf Club. Every argument you use for tennis can be used for golf tenfold, yet TGC has a loyal following because it's a GOOD GAME. Bottom line is if there was a developer willing to make a great tennis game for real tennis fans and not just a money grab for casuals, it would sell and have a following.

I love The Golf Club and agree that it's a viable model - however, the developer had a HUGE advantage there - they already had a lot of the tools to create golf courses and the mechanics of golf itself because of years of doing outsourcing work for EA's "lesser" versions of Tiger Woods (i.e. porting a version to the Wii so EA's main dev time is dedicated to Xbox 360/PS3 version).

Plus, the TGC dev team self-published, did early access on Steam, and went very wide. And while TGC appears to have been successful, I don't think it's been a massive runaway success in terms of revenue. I sure hope it's been profitable, because I'd love another update or new version in the future.

Anyone starting today with tennis basically has to start from scratch. That's such a huge risk in an unproven market that I don't see anyone doing it.

But I hope I am wrong!

# 10 thehip41 @ 03/04/16 04:45 PM

Tennis Elbow on Steam. Get the Sams MegaMod.

Its the best tennis game ever.

# 11 bxphenom7 @ 03/04/16 06:20 PM

Man, I miss Virtua Tennis. A tennis game is long overdue. I never tried Top Spin but I'd like to see 2k make another effort at a tennis game.

# 12 StubbyStan @ 03/04/16 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richgrisham


	You're leaving out the most important word: Licensing The costs to license any real players, tournaments, and stadiums/courts (like Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, for example) are extraordinarily high. You'd have to spend millions of dollars with all of those entities before you even begin building the game, and that's why we don't see - and never will see - another big-time tennis game again. No one would buy an unlicensed tennis game, and no one can afford the costs for the license when you combine the costs of development to create something new on the new PS4/Xbox One console generation. Heck, the last licensed tennis game was Grand Slam by EA, which had all the licensed big-time tournaments and a small, but powerful, group of real players. It sold terribly, and will never be heard from again. So they're gone, and they're never coming back. Which is a shame, but the sport and the industry have done this to themselves.

I did so intentionally. Perhaps it's naivety on my part but part of the belief is that the developer starts small, with a marquee star or license. If they achieve some success, then branch out to getting the ATP, the WTA, or Grand Slam license.

It would be great to use The Golf Club's UGC model but the game doesn't really lend itself to doing that in a very real way. Outside of choosing one of three different styles of courts the only thing other thing to create is a the stadium which I think can get deep into the weeds.

Thanks for reading, commenting, and challenging the piece! I'm so happy that it's sparking conversation & renewed vigor in a sport that more than deserves the interest!

# 13 bmwninja @ 03/04/16 07:00 PM

who should make it

# 14 StubbyStan @ 03/04/16 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richgrisham


	I love The Golf Club and agree that it's a viable model - however, the developer had a HUGE advantage there - they already had a lot of the tools to create golf courses and the mechanics of golf itself because of years of doing outsourcing work for EA's "lesser" versions of Tiger Woods (i.e. porting a version to the Wii so EA's main dev time is dedicated to Xbox 360/PS3 version). Plus, the TGC dev team self-published, did early access on Steam, and went very wide. And while TGC appears to have been successful, I don't think it's been a massive runaway success in terms of revenue. I sure hope it's been profitable, because I'd love another update or new version in the future. Anyone starting today with tennis basically has to start from scratch. That's such a huge risk in an unproven market that I don't see anyone doing it. But I hope I am wrong!

What about a Rockstar game utilizing RAGE? They've already made the game. It's pretty okay in GTA 5 and a little bit more time in the oven could turn those systems into something that it fully realized.

Maybe a tennis game is a little too low profile for the Rockstar folks but people would have said the same thing before Table Tennis debuted.

# 15 StubbyStan @ 03/04/16 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwninja


	who should make it

Rockstar...they're already 75% of the way there in GTA V.

# 16 ajs41072 @ 03/04/16 08:34 PM

I've always liked tennis games, and would really enjoy a new one. I'll throw some thoughts out there. Top Spin 4 was ok, but I never liked the ball movement. If you aimed at the sideline, time your shot right, and the ball lands about in an area (we'll say 1 foot) inside the sideline. Time it wrong, it'd land about 1 foot outside the sideline. The problem I had was that it never landed in between the area of 1 foot inside and 1 outside of the the sideline. I'd hope a game made now would have much better ball physics, and would land closer to the lines, which would allow for the use of challenges. I'd also like to see serving be more important in a tennis video game. Except maybe in a tennis game a long time ago called V-Tennis and against the last boss player in that game, I would never get the idea that I better hold serve because I may not be able to break my opponent's serve, or if I broke, I'd have an edge. For one, I think we don't see enough aces as in real tennis or at least some serves that yield a return that's off the frame of the receiver's racket. Which leads to another thing in that more unforced errors would be good. It'd be nice to see the ball hit the net more during a rally. In games like Virtua Tennis, if you could reach a ball, it was going over to the other side 99% of the time. I remember a PS2 game called WTA Tour Tennis, that had about 20 or so WTA players. I'm not in tune of how much that would take now, but a new game could be a game like The Golf Club, where you could create a tennis facility with multiple courts and create characters and have tournaments with matches all going on at once. Even if that's too tough to get everyone playing at the same time, there could be the usual online play with rankings. I really hope a new tennis game comes out soon.

# 17 JBulls @ 03/04/16 11:51 PM

There will be a couple of updated tennis games for the PC in 2017/18

# 18 AceFan84 @ 03/05/16 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thehip41


	Tennis Elbow on Steam. Get the Sams MegaMod. Its the best tennis game ever.

Is this mod good enough to get Tennis Elbow just for it? It sounds great on paper....

# 19 Malcolmpordes @ 03/05/16 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBulls


	There will be a couple of updated tennis games for the PC in 2017/18

JBulls, That sounds exciting. Tell us more! What do you know?

I think Full Ace Tennis on the PC is really good.

# 20 the_2000s_kid @ 03/05/16 05:00 PM

I'm the definition of a casual tennis fan. I only keep up with the Grand Slams and only know the biggest names; that said, I REALLY want Top Spin 5. The Top Spin games were/are really good. I wouldn't get a tennis game unless it had the slams and a decent (30-40?) roster. It would have to be good too though i think that much is obvious. I'll just cross my fingers for Top Spin 5

« Previous12 3 4 Next »

More Links