Tennis
Racket sports seem to have disappeared under the surface in the past couple of years with Top Spin 4 being the last main release in 2011. The sport has fluctuated sporadically within the video game world with Mario Tennis and Virtua Tennis being commercial successes during their respective times. There hasn’t really been a definitive tennis game despite EA’s attempt with their Grand Slam Tennis series that is now discontinued.
Tennis is growing as one of the worlds most popular international sports, especially for women, behind the likes of soccer and cricket. Grand Slam events, such as the U.S Open and Wimbledon, attract millions of views across the world with the prize money increasing annually for players. The winner of the Australian Open would win $2.4 million, and with more top-class tennis players joining the ranks, the competitions get fiercer and more entertaining.
Tennis video games have always had short-lived success, and fall into the same trap as many other sporting games in how they become monotonous and repetitive. The games lacked distinction away from graphical updates and the game modes ranged from simplistic tournaments to exhibition modes. Despite EA attempting a ‘Be A Pro’ style of career mode in Grand Slam Tennis 2, it lacked the depth and progression other main releases had, such as FIFA and NBA Live.
There have been numerous releases for tennis games in the past, but it’s difficult to pick one that defines the sport. Questions still have to be asked as to whether to follow the pathway of alternate sporting games, like FIFA and their yearly (yet uneventful) releases, or to try something different as per NBA 2K. Tennis video games have always had short-lived success, and fall into the same trap as many other sporting games in how they become monotonous and repetitive. The games lacked distinction away from graphical updates and the game modes ranged from simplistic tournament to exhibition modes. Despite EA attempting a ‘Be A Pro’ style of career mode in Grand Slam Tennis 2, it lacked the depth and progression other main releases had, such as FIFA and NBA Live.
As many players, who enjoy sport video games, there is always a dream to emulate their heroes and the most successful sporting games have achieved that. Tennis deserves a great video game, but fans may still have to wait longer before a developer decides to really go for it.
