Developer Diary #3

[KluddKalle]

I do hope that the character creation will be that you will actually have to choose a style.

From what I've read I believe that you won't be forced to choose. In the last dev diary they say:

Of course, it’s rather unusual to have players that only specialize in one of these play styles. It is possible, but it’s rare. Most of the players are all very different and have different levels of mastery in each play style. This creates an always-renewed experience when playing with or against them. If you want, you can even create the perfect all-round player who will be good, though not the best, in each specific play style in the game.

[ANILTJE]

Not sure how to take it . But you might be right I Hope you are.

[djarvik]

We put in a lot of work in our SIM tour and it shows. I am so proud, I am going to cry now.

Thank god you're still saying WE lol

I do hope that the character creation will be that you will actually have to choose a style.

If TS3 would have been like that from the get go ( like in in game pro players ) and OUR SIM roster. It would have been amazing really.

But you know . Without trying to being a total pessimist . THEY promised so many stuff for TS3. With the most realistic this , that, grunts??? ( I mean the grunts were a joke, not a good beginning ) . But not much actually was there in the game.
I staying very skeptical for the moment. But mayyyyybe they actually gonna do it right this time. It does sound very good till now.

Till now all the TS games were fun yet glitchy and highly cheesy Unless tweaked by ITST. Hope they get it right out of the box this time.

When did I ever say "I" ??? It was always "WE". We are a team man (even thou you ditched me half way thru)


I am actually very optimistic. I know there will be problems to deal with, but looking at the whole picture, I think TS4 will be a "progression" rather then a step back.

Perfect tennis games will never exist.

[ANILTJE]

I am happy I am able to make stupid jokes on the forum again Good signs .

Yeah, I know it won't be perfect. But a progression sounds good. But that sounding good was what TS3 did too.

[djarvik]

Well, after a giant step back from TS1 to TS2, TS3 was a giant step forward. My opinion. I just hope this wont be a step back to TS2. It looks unlikely.

(count down to TS2 players jumping all over me ....3....2....1...)


Glad to have you back Anil

[ANILTJE]

Taking small steps.

But yeah I think ts4 will be a step forward 100 %.

[KluddKalle]

I'm curious as to what the cheeze-moves will be in TS4. Hopefully none, but thats not being realistic, there is always glitches and cheeze-moves/tactics.

Question: Is the short, soft slice considered to be cheezy in TS3? It's quite easy to counter but not fun to play against.

TS4 will definately be a step forward.

[JJ_DUBZ_87]

no cheese please!!

[KluddKalle]

I just realized that it may have sounded like I want to use cheez. I hate cheeze in TS-games, love to eat it.

[JJ_DUBZ_87]

lol I understood you amigo... I was agreeing with your dislike of top-spin cheese... but give me some real mozzarella and provolone and I'll go to WORK!!! I <3 Cheese... but TS cheez sucks balls!!!

[Sherlock 117]

Well, after a giant step back from TS1 to TS2, TS3 was a giant step forward. My opinion. I just hope this wont be a step back to TS2. It looks unlikely.

(count down to TS2 players jumping all over me ....3....2....1...)


Glad to have you back Anil

*Jumps on Al*. Yeah, don't really agree with you there. The gameplay was more realistic, but not very much fun. Ultimately, if a game is less fun than its predecessor, it's not as good.

[ANILTJE]

Guess that's a matter of taste. TS2 was a fun game yet was it a tennis game lol ? No.

[Sherlock 117]

Guess that's a matter of taste. TS2 was a fun game yet was it a tennis game lol ? No.

It was a fun game which had some tennis-like qualities. No, it most certainly did not play exactly like tennis especially with the NML cheesers. But the matches were certainly intense.

I'm all for a sim tennis game, but not at the expense of fun. I'm with Cro here, making a fun competitive game is much more important than getting everything right. Of course, balanced gameplay styles are also very important.

[djarvik]

Well, after a giant step back from TS1 to TS2, TS3 was a giant step forward. My opinion. I just hope this wont be a step back to TS2. It looks unlikely.

(count down to TS2 players jumping all over me ....3....2....1...)


Glad to have you back Anil

*Jumps on Al*. Yeah, don't really agree with you there. The gameplay was more realistic, but not very much fun. Ultimately, if a game is less fun than its predecessor, it's not as good.

I dont disagree with you. I will just try and rephrase (?). I assume you talking about TS3.

The biggest downfall of TS3 are controls. Once you have mastered controls - it is the most fun I had in Tennis game since TS1.

Second problem with TS3 that came to play AFTER you mastered control, is the power-oriented game play. Very much indicative of today's tennis - but not a lot of fun for players trying to grasp controls and how things work.

I don't buy all this Risk comments that most are throwing at TS3, if anything, risk what made it fun, risk is what "breaks" that vicious cycle of who can pre-press first and who has the higher attribute and can hold the button longer to unload a shot. People who complaining about the risk, when their pre-pressing slows them down and preventing them from reacting to fast incoming or deep balls, are simply playing a "different" game and complaining for no reason. They chose to pre-presses, the game clearly says "press after you see whats coming". Riskers break that "pattern" for them - so they get mad about risking - an essential part of tennis as a game.

So, with all that in mind, I agree with you 100%. When it comes to Games - first, they have to be fun, second, resemble tennis as much as possible without taking the fun away.

With everything we know about TS3 and the upcoming TS4 - we will get what we want.

All the bitching that is going on on 2K facebook, regarding how they messed up with Roger stats, messed up with Murray stats....etc.... is useless to me. They tried to create a balanced Pros.

The notion that Federer has to be 5 point overall better then Murray because Fed has 16 GS is so stupid, it's brrrr.... The skill level between the first 10 players in ATP is extremely close, it is the psychic, the small little details that set them apart.....not the 5 points overall. It is the "user" that should set apart Fed from Murray! .... not the game. The game has to be balanced. Giving Federer 5 more overall points will make him too strong. Will make him "out-of-his-style" and allow for weaker "users" win games they are not supposed to win, i.e. stacked players anyone?

The Pros have to be strong in certain areas and weak in others, in such a way, that it will make it impossible for "user" to win unless a certain play-style is used with certain Pro. You should not be able to win matches by using Fed and running 20 feet behind the baseline retrieving balls, you should not win matches by over powering from the baseline using Murray, and so on.

2K did a GOOD job of making sure ALL styles have a chance in the game, concentrate on this guys (to whomever does bitch), rather then bitch about "wrong stats".

[Cro Morgan]

The notion that Federer has to be 5 point over all better then Murray because Fed has 16 GS is so stupid, brrrr.... The skill level between the first 10 players in ATP is extremely close, it is the psychic, the small little details that set them apart.....not the 5 points overall. It is the "user" that should set apart Fed from Murray!

Excellent, excellent point.