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Sega Superstars Tennis piles on the Jet Set Radio references
If, like us, Sega Superstars Tennis has driven you into a tennis frenzy (a "tenzy"), you will be very happy to gawk at these new screenshots. If you're not into tennis, but all about Sega (which we were until Sega convinced us fully) you can enjoy picking out characters in the background of the Jet Set Radio stage.In this screenshot, there's an obvious police contingent surrounding the stage, leading us to wonder if they're there to spectate or if Captain Onishima will be arresting us for playing tennis. And on the right side: Jet Set Radio one-punch knockout broadcaster Professor K! In another screenshot, you can see the jumpsuited GG, Tab. We love you, Sega Superstars Tennis, for looking like Jet Set Radio sometimes. You can also check out a bit of character art here.
Sega Superstars Tennis continues to be awesome despite apparent lack of Alex Kidd
The latest batch of screenshots from Sega Superstars Tennis doesn't reveal any new characters at all, and that unfortunately includes the rumored Alex Kidd. We can't imagine that Sega would be withholding Alex from these screens for some kind of big reveal, unless ... oh, no. They're relaunching the character! It's more likely that they just forgot about Alex Kidd and neglected to include him in the screens. Luckily, we can distract ourselves from the paucity of Kidds with new screens and character art of the other players. Look, Beat looks kind of cel-shaded as a result of his low-polygon model!
Mizuguchi: 'Nintendo games are too strong'
Know who we'd like to see developing on the Wii? Tetsuya Mizuguchi, that's who. Some of his games would work beautifully on Nintendo's console. We can totally picture ourselves playing through a motion-based Space Channel 5, or using the Wii Remote to point and shoot in Rez.Wii owners who also happen to be Mizuguchi fans shouldn't get their hopes up, though. Mizuguchi seems keen enough on the Wii itself, but confessed in an interview with Wired that he was a "little bit worried" about the strength of Nintendo games. We presume this is a reference to an increasingly common complaint from publishers and other industry folk that Nintendo's first-party titles are hogging sales.Looks like an Ulala appearance in Sega Superstars Tennis could be the closest we get to grooving with Space Michael. Cry.
Sega Superstars Tennis boxart misses a Beat
Come on, Sega. We're doing our very best to love your new mascot tennis game, and for the most part it's been quite easy. Putting wonderful Sega characters into a wonderful Sega tennis game (Virtua Tennis) is exactly what we'd ask for if we were asked, and if we were clever enough to think of it. Virtua Tennis is excellent enough when it's all boring humans, and can only be made better with space reporters and two different varieties of cartoon monkey.But the European boxart for Sega Superstars Tennis dampens even our enthusiasm somewhat. We understand the reasoning (he's very popular) but we still would have chosen not to put that hedgehog front and center. But in their zeal to sell this to Everybody, Sega has failed to emphasize the most amazing thing about the game: the wide variety of Seganess found within. And in so doing, they've given a bland box to what looks like an extraordinarily jubilant game.Some other characters are indeed on the box (in the area not taken up by Sonic), but where's Beat? Where's NiGHTS? Where's Alex Kidd (who we have yet to see)? Where are the wacky Sega backdrops? With the Sonic-themed stage (which looks the most like a normal, boring tennis court of any of them) and the centered Sonic, somebody could walk by and mistake this for a Sonic Tennis, which nobody wants.[Via GamesPress]
Video: Sega Superstars Tennis makes its debut!
SEGA just released a Sega Superstars Tennis debut trailer today and we'll admit it. This happy, fun trailer instantly "made" our Sunday.The debut trailer doesn't show one lick of actual gameplay, but does give us other informative niblets all while being an entertaining tennis spectacle. The trailer does confirm that SEGA characters Aiai (Super Monkey Ball), Beat (Jet Set Radio), Ulala (Space Channel 5), Amigo (Samba de Amigo), Nights (Nights), Dr. Eggman (Sonic the Hedgehog) and our blue Sonic the Hedgehog to be included in Superstars Tennis. We also suspect other "mystery" characters to be included or unlockable, because that's usually how these games go. So, enjoy the Sega Superstars Tennis debut trailer and be sure to watch for Amigo's introduction. His stone, expressionless face creeped us out, but the sound of his maracas made us smile for some reason.
Friday Video: What's better than Sega Superstars Tennis?
The trailer for Sega Superstars Tennis. This thing is brutally insane. Beat's all skating up a tree and flying 50 feet into the air to return a shot, Dr. Eggman's got multiple bionic rackets, and Sonic does a loop at super-speed to build up momentum for his return, after rescuing Amigo from a potentially fatal fall. We want to play the trailer. There's no way any of this awesome stuff is going to happen in the game. It's all going to be Sega characters playing tennis, with, like, a few special moves. Not that that isn't great, it's just not ... brutally insane.
Yessss! Sega Superstars Tennis has an OutRun stage
Oh. Em. Gee. Okay, that Start sign looks awfully familiar. And those "left turn" signs? The palm trees? Yep, a closer look confirms it: Sega Superstars Tennis will have an OutRun stage, hopefully with majestic red Ferraris roaring past as you play.For veteran Sega fans such as ourselves, this kind of fan service is irresistible. First the Shibuya bus terminal, and now this. The only possible downer? Due to its high resolution, we suspect this screenshot is from the Xbox 360 or PS3 versions of the game. That's not to say we won't get an OutRun stage in the Wii version, but please understand, Sega: we need this.Hit the break for a couple more shots of the court.
Sega Superstars Tennis seems to use buttons
You know buttons, right? Those clicky things on either side of the touchscreen? New screenshots of Sega Superstars Tennis show the view on the bottom screen, which contains nothing more than a scoreboard. There are no icons to tap, no moves to select, and definitely no predefined areas to rub. Just character portraits (of what we assume are the player-controlled characters in each team, in the case of doubles) and scores. You're certainly not controlling the players directly via dragging them around, because they're up on the top screen.Of course, stylus controls could still turn up. This display could be temporary, to be replaced when developer Sumo Digital figures out the user interface for the touch controls. Or it could be what displays if you choose a traditional control scheme. Check our new gallery featuring screens of the most exciting multiplatform handheld mascot tennis game ever to have a version made for the DS. Ever.%Gallery-13434%[Via press release]
Sega Superstars Tennis is a love note from Sega to itself
We freaked out when we saw the first Wii screenshots of Sega Superstars Tennis, because of a large amount of Jet Set Radio-related content. Well, it turns out that the DS version also features Beat as a playable character, along with a Shibuya Bus Terminal-located tennis court. Jet Set Radio is one of the most wonderful things in the world, and so is anything that reminds us of it. Even in an extremely graphically impaired DS version, it is beautiful and joyous and fills us with love for video games.This is the first time we've seen a Space Channel 5 stage in any iteration of Sega Superstars Tennis, and while it's not as visually exciting in screens as Shibuya-cho, we assume it'll be vibrant and colorful in motion, pulsing in time to the game's signature music. We're so glad to see Sega bringing back some of their Dreamcast-era classics. It was an excellent time for Sega (creatively).If Sega wants to continue trading on our memories of when they were great, they are welcome to do so. We are willing to be exploited in this manner.
We just bought Sega Superstars Tennis with our minds
IGN posted an interview with Sumo Digital's Omar Woodley which finally reveals some details about the Wii-specific version of Sega Superstars Tennis. If you want to hear about the different control options and the screen resolution and stuff, we suggest you click over to the link and check that out, because we can't focus on that right now in the post.Because we saw a Jet Set Radio stage. And we also saw Beat as one of the playable characters. Look at that, it's the Shibuya bus terminal and it looks just like in the game and oh man we're hyperventilating and this is awesome SEGA IS AWESOME AND SO IS LIFE. As of right now, we're kicking off a Matt C.-Zack-and-Wiki-style campaign to promote this game -- except it's not enough for you to buy just one copy. Buy one copy for every system, even if you don't have that system. Buy it for your friends, buy it for your mom, and buy it for your dog. It is very important that Sega knows that they need to be spending their time filling our lives with more Jet Set Radio.
Sega Superstars Tennis served up in 2008
While competing together at this year's Olympics, it seems some excellent business advice passed from Mario to Sonic, the end result manifesting in the newly announced Sega Superstars Tennis. It's-a Mario Tennis, but with-a Sonic! Mario's sales pitch serve must have left quite the impression, as Sega is quite confident of its huge stable of "cherished" characters ready to wield racquets in an anthropomorphic Wimbledon. Set for release in early 2008 on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii and DS, Sega Superstars Tennis promises over 15 playable Sega idols (it says here) with the famous hedgehog joined by two monkeys (one rockin' and one rollin') and roving space reporter, Ulala. The remainder of the roster has yet to be announced, a clever move that is sure to guarantee at least 15 minutes of fervent internet speculation. Just don't count on Ecco the Dolphin's appearance -- having him flop about on a tennis court as he suffers the most excruciating death in the blistering sun would probably be frowned upon by the ESRB. And PETA.Curiously, the press release hints at "new and innovative ways of enjoying some of SEGA's classic titles" and, less curiously, confirms online support for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. Expect to learn more once developer Sumo Digital figures out how to lure Shenmue's Ryo Hazuki onto the court. (Obvious answer: Putting Vyse from Skies of Arcadia on the other side of the net. He is a sailor, after all.)%Gallery-8783%
No fault, SEGA Superstars Tennis announced
In news that can be filed under the "where the heck did this come from?" category is a new tennis game from SEGA aimed at competing with Nintendo's cartoony fun Mario Tennis franchise. SEGA Superstars Tennis is set to release on all major platforms and will feature a mix of SEGA characters including Sonic the Hedgehog and Ulala all with their own special power-ups and abilities playing on SEGA themed courts like Green Hill Zone and Samba de Amigo's Carnival Park. Seeing the Mario Tennis similarities yet? Superstars Tennis will also feature the standard assortment of gameplay options including exhibition, tournament and online play modes. Be sure to watch for Sonic's crazy good acing skills to land on the Xbox 360 early next year.
Ace Channel 5: Sega announces Superstars Tennis
Hey, Sonic's already appearing in another sports game! Sega announced today that they're making a new tennis game for just about every system, called Sega Superstars Tennis. The concept is simple enough, and is pretty much contained in the title: Sega characters playing tennis. Already confirmed as part of the cast of "over 15" characters are Sonic, Super Monkey Ball's AiAi, Space Channel 5's Ulala, and Amigo from Samba De Amigo. They'll be playing on courts inspired by Sega games, like the Samba court found above.Obviously that's not a DS screenshot, but it gives you an idea of what the game's about. We may balk at Sonic games, but we are ravenous for Sega mascot games like this one. The game became an insta-buy for us as soon as we saw Ulala; unfortunately, there are way more than 15 characters we'd like to see in this game, and at least one more slot will probably be taken up by Tails or Shadow or some other Sonic friend. We're hoping for Ryo Hazuki, ourselves. Or Gilius Thunderhead. Or Joe Musashi, or Alex Kidd, or Michael Jackson.
Sega serves Superstars Tennis to the Wii
Out of nowhere, Sega announced today that it will be working with developer Sumo Digital on a new sports title, Sega Superstars Tennis, for a wide range of platforms, including the DS and Wii. As you've probably surmised from the game's title, Sega Superstars Tennis will feature a celeb-filled cast picked from Sega's stable of classics. Already, Sonic, AiAi (Super Monkey Ball), Ulala (Space Channel 5), and Amigo (Samba de Amigo) have been confirmed as four of the fifteen playable characters.Before you break out the party hats to celebrate this Sega-themed adaptation of Mario Tennis, it's worth noting that while online modes are planned for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 releases, nothing of the sort has been indicated for the Wii version. Some might feel it's a negligible issue, but being the pessimists we are, we take it as pointing to a lack of dedication towards the Wii variant. Though we can't say for certain whether the screenshots released so far are representative of what Sega Superstars Tennis' graphics will look like on the Wii (they could be grabbed from the 360/PS3 versions), you can still get a pretty good idea of what to expect from the game with the images posted after the break. Expect to see Sega Superstars Tennis early 2008.
