Grand Slam Tennis 2 coming to 360-PS3

[10spro]

Funny yesterday on the 'Kinect' thread, I was mentioning how I'd love to have this game debut on the 360 or PS3. Wish come true. While I still have the Wii version which minus a couple of control issues, plays a damn fun game, I was looking forward to this game coming to the other consoles.

http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/grand ... irmed.html

[pigpen81]

No Kinect support = No Dice for me

[Aristo]

No Kinect support = No Dice for me

How big of a living room would you need for a reasonable version of this game for the kinect?

I'm not a fan of an motion control tennis games. Table tennis makes sense, but the lack a good way to move your player around makes t nothing more than a shovelware game.

The only reason I am considering the game is that it is a sit on my couch with a controller game.

[pigpen81]

After playing Tiger Woods Wii, Grand Slam Tennis Wii and Kinect Sports, I would much rather move around my living room and play. Much more immersive.

[dbdynsty25]

After playing Tiger Woods Wii, Grand Slam Tennis Wii and Kinect Sports, I would muc rather move around my living room and play. Much more immersive.

Going outside would be even more immersive. Lol. I game on the couch. Too lazy to exercise game. The original grand slam was awesome though so I will definitely check it out even with the regular controller.

[JackB1]

Not sure this is going to be better than the latest Top Spin Tennis.

[toonarmy]

Grand Slam is one of the reasons I held onto my Wii as long as I did before getting rid of it. I very much look forward to trying it out on the PS3. I thought the motion controls were implemented well on the Wii, so I am expecting them to be even better with the Move. If they are not then I would still be cool using the DS3. EA did a great job the first time, so I have faith the second will be worthy as well.

[10spro]

Grand Slam is one of the reasons I held onto my Wii as long as I did before getting rid of it. I very much look forward to trying it out on the PS3. I thought the motion controls were implemented well on the Wii, so I am expecting them to be even better with the Move. If they are not then I would still be cool using the DS3. EA did a great job the first time, so I have faith the second will be worthy as well.

Agree. One of the few Wii titles that I didn't sell. A fun game of tennis which will include the four Grand Slams including Wimbledon. They just need to make the tennis ball the original size. I think I will go for the PS3 as well.

[10spro]

I don't think the dude playing this demo is any good as a lot of balls seem to be mishit of the frame but I look forward to this game for sure. Wonder how Kinect will come into play if at all.

Do like Mac's commentary.

[pk500]

The demo was released for a few hours yesterday on XBL and mysteriously pulled. I didn't download before it was removed. But initial reports were solid from those who snagged it.

One sonic impression from the above video: The sound of some of the ground strokes is very unrealistic. Almost like an empty PVC bucket being hit with a stick. Too hollow.

[JackB1]

The demo was released for a few hours yesterday on XBL and mysteriously pulled. I didn't download before it was removed. But initial reports were solid from those who snagged it.

One sonic impression from the above video: The sound of some of the ground strokes is very unrealistic. Almost like an empty PVC bucket being hit with a stick. Too hollow.

Macs commentary is great, but who the heck is that main announcer?
Also the serve motion looms weird. Who tosses the ball that far out to the right?


I also just missed the demo, but a bunch of people in this tennis forum snagged it:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=392420

[10spro]

I wish I could have my hands on a demo.

[Naples39]

It's interesting to see EA sports total control right stick philosophy be applied to every sport.

Seems like it could be cool, though I wonder if the first release of this game will be like the first NHL game with right stick control---cool mechanic dressing up a mediocre game elsewhere.

[toonarmy]

I applaud EA for trying to make a better control system in a tennis game. I'll probably wait for impressions on this one before purchasing. Hopefully the AI will be good. Beyond control, AI in a tennis game is essential to my enjoyment of the game. Some tennis games seem to have an AI that is colossally stupid and too easy to beat for the first half of a career mode, then becomes ridiculous in anticipating every user shot and showing super abilities and results in a game that seems more like hitting against a brick wall rather than an interesting chess match.

[JRod]

I applaud EA for trying to make a better control system in a tennis game. I'll probably wait for impressions on this one before purchasing. Hopefully the AI will be good. Beyond control, AI in a tennis game is essential to my enjoyment of the game. Some tennis games seem to have an AI that is colossally stupid and too easy to beat for the first half of a career mode, then becomes ridiculous in anticipating every user shot and showing super abilities and results in a game that seems more like hitting against a brick wall rather than an interesting chess match.

And there's usually no errors either. No hitting in the net or long unless you were chasing the ball. If the CPU is in position it never makes a mistake.

[10spro]

I remember that on the Wii on the harder difficulty, the CPU would send a ball long or double fault. Besides the new mechanics, if it has at least some of the AI in TS 4, I'll be happy.

[JackB1]

360 demo is supposed to drop tomorrow

[Teal]

I'm actually really looking forward to this. Never tried it on the Wii, but I don't buy games for the Wii anymore. Top Spin has never held me for very long, but I love playing these glorified Pong games, so I hope this one is good!

[vader29]

Link to 360 demo:
http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Produ ... 0245418892

[pk500]

Thanks for the tip on the demo, Jack!

[sportdan30]

Demo is up. Will try it out here very soon.

[sportdan30]

Real quick impressions:

I like what I see in my brief time playing. It's definitley a little more arcade than Top Spin, but I actually enjoy this game better. It's got some life to the game, and that's
partly because of the commentary, but also the new raquet control is great. That said, I'm had a heck of time being able to place the ball where I wanted. I didn't spend a lot of
time figuring out the controls, so I was really unsure how to hit cross court or down the line. The only thing I was decent at was hitting deep and short.

Nadal really attacked the net against me, which seemed a little odd. Almost every point he was at the net, but it was mostly because of my doing. He came in aggressively on slices or if he had
me running after a deep cross court shot. I played on amateur so there were a few long rallies at the net which were a bit unrealistic. There was two unforced errors, both on Nadal.

I see a lot of potential with this game, but I also perhaps see that maybe it won't live up to the expectations of the hardcore tennis gamers. Graphically, it looks great. The controls are very responsive, and the serving is a lot of fun. The commentary really adds to the game, something sorely missing from tennis games. All in all, it has me wanting to play more and figure out the placement of shot selection. I'm hopeful that different players will have different strategies, rather than all being net players.

[pk500]

Did the new job provide you with a 360 in the office, Dan? Just kidding! Seriously, I'm stoked you found a new gig. Congrats!

[10spro]

The demo definitely falls more in the arcade department than a tennis sim which is disappointing for me as I wanted another alternative to TS 4 but it does the job well at what it is. A fun, and simple game of tennis. Played just a game on Pro and while it took me a bit to adjust to the serve, the ground strokes were solid and easy to use. Cross court shots are easy to pull but my issue so far is with the down the line shots, whether it's from the backhand or forehand, it just doesn't seem to happen. So passing a player that's rushing to the net is almost impossible to pull.

The atmosphere is great compared to TS 4, so is the crowd and Mac, oh Johnny Mac just sounds as if he was Live. His insight and commentary are just top notch. Didn't see the CPU making any mistakes at all, but Nadal did work on his points very well, attacking the net only when he had dragged me like a doll from East to West and then coming forward. Again, I would have loved to use the passing shots more effectively, but it just wasn't there.

Will have to get a few more games later on.

[10spro]

After playing a few more games, I must say that the controls in this game are very solid but not perfect. Trying to hit a shot straight down the bowling alley is still impossible to accomplish and the opponent just seems fast enough to get at whatever moon ball you throw at him. I seem to have more success breaking the opponent's serve than holding my own. In one game I made Nadal commit 6 unforced errors. All in one game alone. So that was nice to see although I have yet to win a match on Pro. Getting there.