patch? sim tour? Just bring it!

[tenjintenkai]

It may sound like a rant so i can already confirm you it is. And before you say that someone can't take a beating, as a matter of fact i can and i did. Like in real life people say i have an outstanding tennis style and technique but i am a choker and still enjoy taking a beating by tennis hobos. So losing is not the source of the frustration.

The more i play the game on-line the more i dislike it as it is. Strangely i had more fun in TS3 while the game overall wasn't as good as this one (still some elements of it were better though).
For exemple I am just getting sick of MD/TI with very strong stats. Yeah i may not be that good at the game but i dont think i am any worse than in TS3 and still managed to add some great fun while lately getting rank 14 in sim tour.

My gf made me realise it not too long ago: "i never saw you getting that angry, especially while playing video games. What's the matter?"
...pause...
"i guess this game gets on my nerves"
Just add the bugs with floating split steps, no sim tour, slice addicts, ace machines, pingpong cross court battles, ugly faces, etc.
I guess im done with the game for now, for my own sanity.

Whats weird is that i can still have fun in 2K Open and... playing CPU! Now that's a first. I wont take part in ITST tournaments anymore until there's a sim tour or a good patch. Yeah i know nobody will miss me, but i just had to say it. The game is very good, could be great, but in the end is just a disapointment for me and not very fengshui with my nervous system.

[Baghdad Baghdatis]

It may sound like a rant so i can already confirm you it is. And before you say that someone can't take a beating, as a matter of fact i can and i did. Like in real life people say i have an outstanding tennis style and technique but i am a choker and still enjoy taking a beating by tennis hobos. So losing is not the source of the frustration.

The more i play the game on-line the more i dislike it as it is. Strangely i had more fun in TS3 while the game overall wasn't as good as this one (still some elements of it were better though).
For exemple I am just getting sick of MD/TI with very strong stats. Yeah i may not be that good at the game but i dont think i am any worse than in TS3 and still managed to add some great fun while lately getting rank 14 in sim tour.

My gf made me realise it not too long ago: "i never saw you getting that angry, especially while playing video games. What's the matter?"
...pause...
"i guess this game gets on my nerves"
Just add the bugs with floating split steps, no sim tour, slice addicts, ace machines, pingpong cross court battles, ugly faces, etc.
I guess im done with the game for now, for my own sanity.

Whats weird is that i can still have fun in 2K Open and... playing CPU! Now that's a first. I wont take part in ITST tournaments anymore until there's a sim tour or a good patch. Yeah i know nobody will miss me, but i just had to say it. The game is very good, could be great, but in the end is just a disapointment for me and not very fengshui with my nervous system.

Man I hear you LOUD & CLEAR. Me and thee are very aligned in what we want out of this game and tour. When you mentioned about your girlfriend saying what she said it is so uncanny its true - my fiancee said exactly the same thing, and it was all because of TI/MD experiences, win or loose.

I don't play World Tour at all, well I have played like 5 quick matches and 2 tournament first rounders but that was enough for me. The 2k is fun I agree and is the only online play I would entertain.

Anyway back to ITST - if I am honest I am disappointed that a ruling has not been made or no mention of a SIM tour. Yes its early days but as it was in TS3 a SIM tour was created with 89 max on one stat and no less than 50 and then that was scrapped and the awesome custom specific player options was created. I am just a bit baffled to say the least thats no "first draft" has even been put in place as a trial, down to ITST's discretion of course.

From being at the heart of TS3 SIM my expectations are high and you also are not in the minority. Lots of well respected guns are shouting out about it like Zizou, Puttu, Hawkeye yourself, myself etc.

Puttu has therefore left awaiting the patch or outlaw TI/MD which is sad and now you Let me assure you when you say "you will not be missed" - bollocks, players like you are what ITST is all about. If in theory I created a site (which I wouldn't obviously) you would be one of a select few I would want to take with me. Your game and belief in SIM and conduct is what makes you a valued member in my book, and I don't say that lightly.

If you do decide to go, I understand, I might not be that far behind you but take comfort in the fact that you will always have nice online matches with myself and others to keep you entertained in the interim.

Baggy

[tenjintenkai]

Thanks Baggy for everything you said. Of course i would never refuse a match with you or any other cool guys at ITST!

But I see another thing bothering me: since the game is out, there are lots more people here applying for tournaments, which is great! ...But! Most of them are very good world tour players if you know what i mean. They are not "aware" of the "code of chivalry" that most ITST sim tour members are living by. I do not say they cheat, but most of the new guys are just clearly playing only to win whatever it takes.

I know its the already debated topic that we should not be "elitist" and that tennis' goal in its fundamentals is to win no matter what and that "beautiful" play is a stupid utopia not suited for competition. I can agree with some of that, but to hell with it just call me an utopist and get over with it. If i could master the drop shots in the way i could hit it with perfect accuracy every single time and win points like this i wouldnt do it. Not because i am an elitist but just because i think it's pathetic and because i play mostly... for the fun of it. It reminds me when i was playing tournament of NeoGeo fighting games like Fatal Fury or Samurai Shodown and despite making very enjoyable and spectacular matches i could sometimes lose against someone only using one button and exploiting a flaw in the game shamelessly. I felt angry but moreover i felt perplex about the human nature.

Anyway... i cant really say i enjoyed much the tournaments i played. I had some fun in a couple but its really much more frustrating than i thought it would be. I remember beeing very excited while playing TS3 sim tour and enjoying it alot even when punished by stronger opponent.

Also i remember one of my very first impressions when i played TS4 the first time was that the matches were fun in th begining of the set but then it seems like the story keeps repeating itself like an old 12" until the end of the match and get boring.

Some kind of sim tour would definately be a great addition to the tour. I know a patch is in the works but it won't hurt to start a sim tour even if the rules change until the pacth is out. Especially when we can say that even in the best case scenario, the game will be better balanced but won't hold anyone to make exagerated stats for customs.

[djarvik]

But I see another thing bothering me: since the game is out, there are lots more people here applying for tournaments, which is great! ...But! Most of them are very good world tour players if you know what i mean. They are not "aware" of the "code of chivalry" that most ITST sim tour members are living by. I do not say they cheat, but most of the new guys are just clearly playing only to win whatever it takes.

Above is especially true. Just remember, with each new tennis game there is a new wave of tennis players with different agendas. The ones that are true tennis fans usually stick with us while others slowly disappear.

We are getting TONS of new players here. Some are friendlier then others, but overall this is GREAT times for us. At the end of the day, once the the wave will finally recede, what will be left on shores of ITST will be your Baghdads, tenjintenkais, Puttus, Macks and so on....

As for rules and SIM tour. We are listening and we are looking into all possible scenarios, with or without 2K patch, with or without 2K balancing updates. But once again, we have only completed the first tournaments. It is way too early. All the data, opinions, results, forum rants, pm rants etc. are being carefully watched, analyzed and discussed.

Bottom line, we will do whatever is in best interest of ITST, and right now it's handling the wave of new players to the best of our abilities, providing them with a well organized tour, timely responses to questions and any other help they require to get acclimated to ITST environment.

Have faith fella SIMmers

[Hawkeye Miihawk]

I understand what you mean djarvik, but could ITST atleast make 1 rule right now. I understand 2k might/might not patch things. I also understand that you guys are listening to us, and want a couple tournies to be over, etc, but for right now, could you guys put 1 rule in place:

Ban Pei Jing Quah.

That's all I'm asking for right now. Whether 2k patches it, and all that other stuff you guys have to worry about...I understand, but for right now, why not just ban her?

[Rocketsfall]

I understand what you mean djarvik, but could ITST atleast make 1 rule right now. I understand 2k might/might not patch things. I also understand that you guys are listening to us, and want a couple tournies to be over, etc, but for right now, could you guys put 1 rule in place:

Ban Pei Jing Quah.

That's all I'm asking for right now. Whether 2k patches it, and all that other stuff you guys have to worry about...I understand, but for right now, why not just ban her?

100% agreed.

[tenjintenkai]

i agree as well. Especially when you see that this coach gives you a 50 points boost and some of us are going for diversity and chose a coach with "less effective" skills and only 35 points boost. I am still wondering why 2k did that. I think that the more effective skills you have the less points you should get. What would be best is the same points boost for all coaches and extra skills that are all effective on their own... as it was supposed to be in the first place.

[MysteryPlayer]

I agree with tenji. The game was made to be played realistic. I have not played a itst match neither because pelted are playing with monsters. I would not play unless their its a sim tour. If you look the only people who are playing are people I have never heard of from either game. They are not tried players because when their re rules.they will slowly.fade away beside they will not be.able to win. When I see players they make them rhe max weight when you have a like person and then blow you of f the court and say good match. That was not a good match, that was a waste of my time. Therm you have people. Then you have people that are six foot sharing around the court not real come on. People having slot on this particular skill. I think for regular tour their should be certain skills and for sim maybe no skill s just an idea but the skills are fun if used in the right reason. I think their should be a rule made now that ifc your are six feet and above that your play styler should be offense. If you are 5'9-5'10 the style should be between offense and defense. And 5'8 and under can be any decision of dedense or offense and between. This will still give variety until official rules come out. Until then I will play one person and a few friendly matches until rules.

[djarvik]

My problem with Banning a specific coach is that there are plenty to take his/her place. The forums will lid up with "now ban this coach!" and so on.

This will never end. I already see a few coaches lined up for this. Things are not as simple as banning one coach. That wont solve the problem, but rather push the problem on another coach.

The best way is for 2K to fix it. How? ....well, I have yet to see a thread from you guys, dedicated specifically to ideas of fixing the coach, not removing him. What needs to be done for the coach to remain balanced and in the game? ...what other coach might take his place if the balancing will nerf the coach too much? Are there any other coaches giving such large bonuses and skills? ...are there any other coaches that may need a slight boost to help compete with TSi/MD setup? ...are there any6 combination of skills missing? And so on. All you guys do is scream "burn the witch!". You not helping yourself if you ask me

If any of you would like to create such thread - please do so. It would help 2K greatly. I would make sure 2K sees the thread as well.

[tenjintenkai]

You are right Djarvik. So if they want solutions they could hire us on their team If i were a different person i would build a company and let people give me ideas for free so i can exploit them without effort and make money with it. Welcome to earth and 21st century human civilisation. Thanks for coming by.

Anyway as it is in our own interest to dig our brains, let's try to find solutions. I personnally wouldnt want to take the coaches away because i think it is a great idea and it adds to variety in our customs players, so the coaches MUST be kept.

- I think that bonus points should be equal for all coaches. Everyone should add 50 points, or all 35. I think 50 is still better so we can be closer to the real pros stats already in the game.

- As you mentioned a while ago some skills shoulnt be tied together. Again the famous TI/MD.

-Maybe they could sort the skills in the 4 aspects of real tennis: physical, technical, tactical and mental. Each of the skills should fall in one of those categories and you could not have 2 skills of the same category. I know that some real tennis pros in ATP have precise skills in only one category but this way it would be easier to keep a balance. This idea could be expanded in TS5.

-I didnt experimented with lots of coaches yet. Because it takes time to acquire the extra skills and then to experiment. But from my experience some skills are very "vague", so that means they are not as efficient as they sound like. My David Ferrer has "fatality" and "return sere counter". Fatality is nowhere near as good as wrong foot expert. Return server counter is just a joke and even if i suck at returning i just have the exact same percentage of good returns with or without this skill. I know it is difficult to have it well balanced (to avoid hitting return winners half the time) but maybe make it so we hit a good return and we are ok to hit the next shot. Passing shot sniper is another one that left me wondering, i see no difference.

-Why do i make a custom character with almost the same stats as Djokovic and i cant use him correctly while i play "god-like" with Djokovic?? I hit clean returns, precise strokes, etc. I like playing with him, but making a custom like him was a pure failure... what is the matter on that?

-I think some of the stats should have more effects. Some people say stamina, i would add reflexes. Stamina in a way is fine, you can feel the players are heavier but the problem is powerful strokes. If your player is tired then you should make ALOT more unforced errors while trying to launch missiles. It is as simple as that.
Having better number on these kind of stats make an effect of course but the "price" of the points put in those categories are nowhere near the same price than those invested in FH/BH or power or serve. So maybe they should either up the "small" stats effects or down the "big" stats effects.

Thats it for now but i have plenty more

[Hawkeye Miihawk]

Yes, if you take her out, another coach could take her place. Still, she remains at the top. That's the problem most of us have. I will go through the coach list and post my observations in the "balancing" thread, since you said 2k reads that one. Hopefully they try and fix things.
The next coach that could take her probably would most likely be Jon Samala, but we don't know until we try. We just want to see how things come out. At this point it can be hard to know what other coaches might be a bit too good/not good enough when everyone is using TI/MD. It's not that we don't know another coach could take her place, it's that we want to see what happens when she's not available for use anymore. Who takes her place? What coach/coaches start popping up more constantly? Are there counters to these new coaches that are king or do we have another TI/MD scenerio where no coach has the 2 skills needed to beat the current #1 coach(es). This would help us in helping 2k. There are other really good coaches, but they all lose to her.

I actually have an idea of how she can be balanced, and a few thoughts on some other coaches. I'll post that in the balancing thread, but I would still love to see her banned for the reasons stated above. This would make finding and balancing the other top coaches a lot easier.

[JJ_DUBZ_87]

I think if you don't ban her but make her less effective, there might be another coach that people switch too, but then 2K will have to work on balancing that out.

I like Djarvik's way of thinking (great job Al for real no joke)

[Crotatsuya]

I think the problem with Pei Jing Quah is, that she gives too much power in addition to very good fh/bh points + skills. If you could only use her while being skilled very defensively (0/2/18 something of that sort) and cut her power bonus and maybe fh/bh to 13 instead of 15 she will be no better than other baseline trainers. Take the power from her and Top Spin Invasion and Monster Defence will be nowhere near as lethal as it is right now.

[JJ_DUBZ_87]

I started a thread in the Characters, Coaches, n Tactics forum for suggestions on coach stat changes.

[Nardy2010]

It may sound like a rant so i can already confirm you it is. And before you say that someone can't take a beating, as a matter of fact i can and i did. Like in real life people say i have an outstanding tennis style and technique but i am a choker and still enjoy taking a beating by tennis hobos. So losing is not the source of the frustration.

The more i play the game on-line the more i dislike it as it is. Strangely i had more fun in TS3 while the game overall wasn't as good as this one (still some elements of it were better though).
For exemple I am just getting sick of MD/TI with very strong stats. Yeah i may not be that good at the game but i dont think i am any worse than in TS3 and still managed to add some great fun while lately getting rank 14 in sim tour.

My gf made me realise it not too long ago: "i never saw you getting that angry, especially while playing video games. What's the matter?"
...pause...
"i guess this game gets on my nerves"
Just add the bugs with floating split steps, no sim tour, slice addicts, ace machines, pingpong cross court battles, ugly faces, etc.
I guess im done with the game for now, for my own sanity.

Whats weird is that i can still have fun in 2K Open and... playing CPU! Now that's a first. I wont take part in ITST tournaments anymore until there's a sim tour or a good patch. Yeah i know nobody will miss me, but i just had to say it. The game is very good, could be great, but in the end is just a disapointment for me and not very fengshui with my nervous system.

Kinda funny because just the other day i swore i would only play this game offline, as online it just gets too annoying facing players with the same tactics time and time again....just not fun.