Top Spin 4: Exclusive ITST Interview with 2K Sports

[djarvik]

The ITST was recently granted an exclusive interview with the Executive Producer of Top Spin 4. Our questions were graciously answered. Following is the posted interview, complete with an introduction to the ITST.

Click here to read

Enjoy guys!

[o Sinna o]

Haha I love you Djarvik. But *no h-o-m-o* Ofcourse.

Now I will read it relaxed with a Zigarette.

[o Sinna o]

Oh Boy! I think I get gay and kiss his Ass for that Comment. I have to love these Guys now. OMG my Dreams come true.

[FG]: One of the key goals of this new Character Development system in TS4 was to guarantee a strong balance of play styles once on the court. We did a lot of play tests to make sure that any player build you can create can be competitive when used in the proper way. There is NOT ONE player build/template that is better than the others. What makes a strong player of Top Spin is his/her ability to use the new gameplay in accordance with the play style developed for his/her player. The visual appearance of your player has minimal impact on his gameplay abilities. We want to let users free in the way their player look. However that’s true that in this version the range of modification is for believable pro tennis players.

[VillaJ100]

Great work djarvik, as always.

[o Sinna o]

Just linked it in two german Forums. ITST Links are good for the ITST and what's good for the ITST is good for us!

[Nardy2010]

You guys go to easy on these interviews!! You should have grilled them,okay okay "asked" them real issues like what happened with the alleged "signature shots for every pro",the watered down stats for the pros and you know the other one lol.

[Zeriurs]

Nice work djarvik

[djarvik]

You guys go to easy on these interviews!! You should have grilled them,okay okay "asked" them real issues like what happened with the alleged "signature shots for every pro",the watered down stats for the pros and you know the other one lol.

The interview was done with ITST in mind. Most of us here plan to create our own players for ITST tour - hence no questions about the pros and their animations. I think majority simply doesn't care enough about this stuff. (you are right, some of them do look wrong)

As for stats, look up a few threads here in TS4 section, I have talked more then once about the "balance" and the Coaches that offset the stats you see. Also about the style of play and the new addition in controls, the "run around your weak side" button. When looking at all things combined - stats make sense.


Thanks guys!!!

[o Sinna o]

You guys go to easy on these interviews!! You should have grilled them,okay okay "asked" them real issues like what happened with the alleged "signature shots for every pro",the watered down stats for the pros and you know the other one lol.

The interview was done with ITST in mind. Most of us here plan to create our own players for ITST tour - hence no questions about the pros and their animations. I think majority simply doesn't care enough about this stuff. (you are right, some of them do look wrong)

As for stats, look up a few threads here in TS4 section, I have talked more then once about the "balance" and the Coaches that offset the stats you see. Also about the style of play and the new addition in controls, the "run around your weak side" button. When looking at all things combined - stats make sense.


Thanks guys!!!

I am pleased with your Interview. You made a good Job and thanks for that. The most important Point with the Characterbalance is anwered now. And other Points were interesting too.

After all I saw and have read now I got a very good Feeling with this upcoming TS Part.

My Expectations over the last Year were low but now I am getting more and more surprised by the Informations we get.

[venom400]

Hi Djorvik

Nice interview .

I noticed he avoided a couple of questions , the elimination of risk shot is welcome I guess , as long as the game is still fluid and fast , but I think real tennis (as you know ) is changing ball pace , strategy , etc.. and timing , I think risk should had stayed but it should had been truly risky instead of the only way to play .

One thing that made me think was that he said that a slow ball can be easily bashed away for a winner , I hope this is the case with high floaters and not nicely placed low slices that in real life are usually safer to place than to smash for a winner , usually the hard high ball that you can get on time are the ones you can smash away by relaxing your wrist a bit .



Back to the game , it sounds to be like the full customization of the characters is gone , and it will be dumbed down to style , also he avoided the question all together if a player is going to have a weak side like forehand or backhand , only time will tell I guess.

Another thing that has always pissed me off about the TS series is that you cannot run around your backhand , it almost feels like the players have horrible footwork and are content with just hitting on whatever side gets hit to them .

Anyhow , I pre-ordered this game and I'm looking forward to it

[Vieira151]

Hi Djorvik

Nice interview .

I noticed he avoided a couple of questions , the elimination of risk shot is welcome I guess , as long as the game is still fluid and fast , but I think real tennis (as you know ) is changing ball pace , strategy , etc.. and timing , I think risk should had stayed but it should had been truly risky instead of the only way to play .

One thing that made me think was that he said that a slow ball can be easily bashed away for a winner , I hope this is the case with high floaters and not nicely placed low slices that in real life are usually safer to place than to smash for a winner , usually the hard high ball that you can get on time are the ones you can smash away by relaxing your wrist a bit .



Back to the game , it sounds to be like the full customization of the characters is gone , and it will be dumbed down to style , also he avoided the question all together if a player is going to have a weak side like forehand or backhand , only time will tell I guess.

Another thing that has always pissed me off about the TS series is that you cannot run around your backhand , it almost feels like the players have horrible footwork and are content with just hitting on whatever side gets hit to them .

Anyhow , I pre-ordered this game and I'm looking forward to it

I quite like the way you upgrade your player. Will stop us from seeing 100/100/100/100 online all the time

[djarvik]

Another thing that has always pissed me off about the TS series is that you cannot run around your backhand , it almost feels like the players have horrible footwork and are content with just hitting on whatever side gets hit to them .

Just want to point out that you will now be able to do it. We now have a button that will do just that function - run around the weaker side.

Yes, they dodged a few questions, but honestly - it is expected.

As for risk, well, I think they finally got it. Risk is everywhere. It's the safe shots that are gone now. It will all now depend on your shot of choice during a game situation to determine how risky the shot will be. Combined with player stats (weaknesses/strengths) should make for an exact replica of real time tennis. Risk should not come from a trigger/button, as in on-demand - but from a choice of shot. So I think they are on the right track here. It just remains to be seen how well it is being integrated.

As for character, well, I think the system is fantastic. At least for us. Yes, we give up the freedom of controlling each stat separate, but that makes it even more realistic. This single change is biggest addition in my mind. Plus we have the 100 coaches system, to really set us all apart and make us play and feel unique. Needless to say coaches are another layer of strategy without which you will be at a major disadvantage. I wouldn't say they "dumbed" it out, I would say they made it "smarter" now. But I understand where you coming from, unfortunately, freedom equals stacked players, and if you want to keep up - you make a stacked player too....so essentially, freedom becomes skewed towards one setup and it becomes not freedom at all.

In any case, if anyone can push the limits of a tennis game it is ITST, so we will see what the game is all about in 2 weeks!

Really Glad you will be joining the tour once again man! As a tennis player - I know you will be fun to play with!

[o Sinna o]

Another thing that has always pissed me off about the TS series is that you cannot run around your backhand , it almost feels like the players have horrible footwork and are content with just hitting on whatever side gets hit to them .

Just want to point out that you will now be able to do it. We now have a button that will do just that function - run around the weaker side.

Yes, they dodged a few questions, but honestly - it is expected.

As for risk, well, I think they finally got it. Risk is everywhere. It's the safe shots that are gone now. It will all now depend on your shot of choice during a game situation to determine how risky the shot will be. Combined with player stats (weaknesses/strengths) should make for an exact replica of real time tennis. Risk should not come from a trigger/button, as in on-demand - but from a choice of shot. So I think they are on the right track here. It just remains to be seen how well it is being integrated.

As for character, well, I think the system is fantastic. At least for us. Yes, we give up the freedom of controlling each stat separate, but that makes it even more realistic. This single change is biggest addition in my mind. Plus we have the 100 coaches system, to really set us all apart and make us play and feel unique. Needless to say coaches are another layer of strategy without which you will be at a major disadvantage. I wouldn't say they "dumbed" it out, I would say they made it "smarter" now. But I understand where you coming from, unfortunately, freedom equals stacked players, and if you want to keep up - you make a stacked player too....so essentially, freedom becomes skewed towards one setup and it becomes not freedom at all.

In any case, if anyone can push the limits of a tennis game it is ITST, so we will see what the game is all about in 2 weeks!

Really Glad you will be joining the tour once again man! As a tennis player - I know you will be fun to play with!

Really Djarvik? So we are able to run around the backhand with a special Button and hit such a Ball with the Forehand if we don't want to take it with the backhand? From where do you have such a Information?

Man greater and greater Informationen coming through.

I'll pre-order it at Tuesday, even if I have to drive in my City to Gamestop and make a pre-payment. I'll do it and I want this Vintage Agassi.

[Ayumi Oka]

OMG This is awesome!!! the game looks so realistic now finally!!! can't wait

[ANILTJE]

Great Al. Nice to read.

The serving sounds pretty good. I mean they didn't change the first and second serve. But if it's harder to place the serve . As you get more errors. You'll have to take care on your second serve. THAT makes sense.
I hope it's implemented well. 2 more long weeks to go.