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Today's comparingest game video: Virtua Tennis 3 360/PS3
The PS3 versus 360 side-by-side showdowns keep rolling out, with GameTrailers mixing those versions of Virtua Tennis 3 together. This comparison may be even more interesting because those versions were developed by two studios (Sumo for 360 and AM2 for PS3). Or maybe that difference makes the comparison about each developer instead of a straight 1080p hardware shootout. Either way, taste both flavors after the break, or hit the HD version on the GameTrailers site.
Virtua Tennis 3: turn down that racket!
We really wanted to like Virtua Tennis 3. On the surface, the Virtua Tennis 3 demo presents a polished, professional veneer. Dig deeper, however, and something ugly begins to rear its head. Of course, it's possible that we just really suck (or that we've been spoiled by Top Spin). We can accept that. Still, in an hour of play time, we managed to win one (one!) game against the CPU. Not one match mind you, but one game. Put simply, the CPU is pretty ruthless. Combine that with some questionable game mechanics and Virtua Tennis 3 becomes very frustrating very fast.
Virtua Tennis 3 Demo serves Marketplace
Major Nelson gave us word that Virtua Tennis 3 had a demo hit Xbox Live Marketplace this morning. It weighs in just shy of 850 MB and unfortunately is not available in Asia. Still, the game looks promising and will have a native resolution of 1080p, although we don't know if the same can be said for the demo. So, did you play Top Spin 2 last year, which was alright and had reasonably challenging Achievements (we were also partial to The Future's "Change your Ways" which played in the career menu and progressively added instruments and eventually lyrics as each year passed)? If so, how does this demo compare to that experience for you? We'll have impressions for you shortly.
Virtua Tennis 3 Trailer
SEGA released a couple trailers for Virtua Tennis 3, the first is in 720p, even though the game itself is 1080p native, and shows some cool doubles and singles action as well as the solid animation. The other video available gives you a taste of some of the minigames that are a staple to the Virtua Tennis series, although only being available in 640x480. Still, definitely worth a look as this game is one of the most promising tennis titles to date. So, click the "Read" link and watch the videos, they're only a couple minutes each. Are you interested in this or is Top Spin 2 all you need to get your fill?
New Virtua Tennis 3 screens
Everything I know about tennis I learned from The Prince of Tennis so I'm not the most knowledgeable about the sport. But I do know that Virtua Tennis 3 looks amazing. If you're looking forward to getting your top spin on, than these screens will either hurt or help the wait until the game's March 20th release. Screens after the jump ...
IGN: PSP Virtua Tennis indistinguishable from PS3? [Update 1]
"SEGA's Virtua Tennis 3 could be the most accurate console-to-PSP port that we've seen so far. In fact, if you were to play it alongside the PS3 version (which we have in-house and previewed last week), it would be difficult to tell the difference between the two. Impossible as that may sound, it's because of the PlayStation Portable's small LCD screen -- it keeps the resolution and detail discrepancies from being immediately noticeable (they are there; they're just hard to spot." IGN, you certainly got my attention. How can the PSP match the baby-exploding power of the mighty PS3? Well, it appears that feature for feature, the PSP version matches the PS3. With "pick up and play" gameplay and controls that simply work, it's clear that maybe Sony Sega really does love the PSP. [Update 1: Well duh Sony loves the PSP. But surprising that Sega does too.]
Virtua Tennis 3 1080p, new spectator mode
SEGA announced today that Virtua Tennis 3 will be playable in the coveted 1080p resolution. While this means nothing to the majority of gamers out there, it should provide an extra feather for the caps of game industry executives and owners of dumpster sized televisions. Perhaps more interesting than the announcement of 1080p support is the announcement of Virtua Tennis 3's Live features. While the game offers typical ranked and friends matches, it also offers tournament and exhibition play. Best of all, these modes include doubles play. The most interesting feature addition is VT:TV, which will allow players to watch matches in progress. As the press release notes, this makes for a good way to size up your competition (or learn from the top ranked players). Virtua Tennis 3 is expected to release in March. [Via Joystiq]
Sega: Virtua Tennis 3 brings its 1080p game to the Xbox 360
We're sure Microsoft exec Scott Henson -- who last March said 1080p graphics were "basically impossible" -- is probably going to help himself to an extra generous portion of humble pie as Sega announces that Virtua Tennis 3, already running proudly in 1080p on the PlayStation 3, will be arriving in full true HD glory on the Xbox 360 as well. Sega's press release can barely handle the full resolution of the news, gushing, "For the first time, Xbox 360 gamers can experience high-definition 1080p graphics on their console with Virtua Tennis 3." Of course, it's no coincidence that the first Xbox 360 game to hit that magic resolution was one of the few PS3 launch games to make it there as well. The tennis court remains relatively static while the players (choose from up to 20 tennis pros!) move around, unencumbered by dozens of creepy monsters from an alternate history intent on killing them. Now that Sega's paved the way (with clay we imagine), how long before future titles sign-up for 1080p doubles?
Smashing new video of Virtua Tennis 3
Our buddies at Gamertag Radio got their eager mitts on this new gameplay video from Virtua Tennis 3. Having watched the video, we can safely say that it's definitely tennis. Given the series' history, VT3 will likely be a pretty good tennis game, too. We're glad the 360 allows for custom soundtracks though, because the music sounds like it was ripped directly from the Sonic Adventure series. Of course, the big question is whether or not Virtua Tennis 3 can compete with the likes of Top Spin. We'll find out soon enough when the game releases in March. In the meantime, watch the video and tell us what you think.
Video: Virtua Tennis 3 smashes the 360
We sat on this Virtua Tennis 3 video yesterday, ultimately running with something different. We have come to realize that was a mistake. You see, this video is hot. In fact, it was apparently yesterdays hottest game video. As such, it journalistic (bloggerlistic?) duty to provide it to you now. Watch it after the break. And remember, this thing is hot, so watch responsibly.
Today's hottest game video: Virtua Tennis trailer
Today's most-watched GameTrailers video is a Virtua Tennis 3 trailer. This 2007 game hopes to live up to its legendary lineage, recreating the gameplay that made Virtua Tennis an all-time favorite. We're looking forward to this title on the PSP and HD consoles, but we also hope that Sega can put some of the Virtua magic into a Wii tennis game. Until then, we'll fire off passing shots and smashes on the PS3 and Xbox 360. See the trailer after the break.
Virtua Tennis 3 to use SIXAXIS tilt -- it's Love-Love!
Ha, ha, ha... get it? Love-Love? It's like win-win, but in complete tennis lingo... which means zero-zero... but love is always good, right? It almost worked. Ahem, anyway. SEGA and their PS3 version of Virtua Tennis 3 have been confirmed to take advantage of the tilt function to "move around the court and play shots." Here's the kicker (and a personal thumb-up for this... hopefully the Wii will do this too on some games): this is an option, not a mandatory gameplay feature. Moving around the court isn't the only thing you can do with the tilt magic. Seems you'll also be able to serve the ball and use the controller like a tennis racket to make specific shots -- upwards swing for a lob, quickly down to slice, horizontally for some top spin. It's almost like the Wii, but... not quite. Watch for this title to roll around in Spring '07.
IGN says PS3 aces 360 in Virtua Tennis
As IGN was checking out the new Virtua Tennis 3 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 at Leipzig, they made note of the "slight" differences between the two versions saying that the PS3 edged out the 360 when it came to graphical dominance. Plainly put, the PS3 looked a little better with sharper textures and incredibly detailed player models. It was almost eerie when we noticed the veins sticking out in our character's forehead. To be fair, however, IGN does say that the different versions are being worked on by two different companies -- which could account for the slight differences. But, we're sure this won't stop the many fanboys ready to defend their camp on this new info. [Thanks, HEYYOUTHERE]
Sega unveils Virtua Tennis 3
Arguably the greatest tennis franchise ever made is set to make its reappearance on the PSP as Sega announced it's developing Virtua Tennis 3, which will be released spring 2007. Here are some of the new additions Sega has announced for the sequel: An all-new World Tour Mode that has 10 new mini-games; Court Games enables you to play Virtua Tennis' great mini-games via multi-player against up to three other people; Five set matches are now available; A new roster of athletes: Women: Amelie Mauresmo, Maria Sharapova (Yes!!!), Venus Williams, Martina Hingas, Nicole Vaidisova, Lindsay Davenport and Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova. Men: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Tim Henman, Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake, Mario Ancic, Gael Monfils, Taylor Dent, David Nalbandian, Sebastien Grosjean, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Haas. Aside from Virtua Tennis on the N-Gage, every version I've played has been surprisingly fun and addictive. I don't think there was a lot to fix with the game's predecessor, Virtua Tennis World Tour, but it's nice to see Sega add in new features like Court Games. (Via UK IGN)
Virtua Tennis 3 trailer served up
EuroGamer has the first trailer for Virtua Tennis 3: SEGA Professional Tennis. As 8BitNinja notes, the music does sound a bit like sales training video. Has the lackluster reception for Top Spin 2 and over-exposure of Rockstar Presents Table Tennis dampened your enthusiasm for yet another glorified game of Pong?
Sega returns to the court with Virtua Tennis 3
Sega's making a return to the tennis court with Virtua Tennis 3, hitting the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 spring 2007. This is Sega's first tennis game since the Dreamcast's Tennis 2K2 four years ago. Apparently, the guys at Sega think it's pretty good. One of them says, "Virtua Tennis 3 provides a must have in-depth experience - though I'd say the graphics alone are reason to buy and the quality is so sharp and clear you can even see the veins on the players necks!" It'll have to beat Top Spin 2 and Rockstar's Table Tennis if it wants the next-gen tennis game crown. That is, unless Mario Tennis Revolution blows our collective minds away. [Thanks, Matt]
