Tennis World Tour Gameplay Video & Interview, Release Date Scheduled For May 2018

I'm not impressed. Ultra-realistic? Hardly.

This says PSX gameplay? Don't they really mean PS4 or PC? Last I checked PSX stood for Playstation 1 right? :confused: Anyhow, no farther details on anything like release date or where they are at in the development of this game.

Tony, I think PSX is the name of the Playstation convention at which this video was shown.

Yes it was shown at an event called Playstation Experience.

So May 2018 is the tentative release date. IMO looks like it will be released around French Open & Wimbledon time.

Man this looks rough, graphics wise it's not even as good as gst2 which was for last gen.

gameplay looks awful

Something about the animation doesn't look right especially the swings of the bottom player
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Could be the level they are showing but the ball coming across the net is very slow...I assume it is easiest level...
C

Hard to believe they got Roger Federer for this.

Yup the speed of the ball is on the slowish side as the player is able to get to shots which should be winners.

I am hoping that this is a very early build. The last Top Spin released on the PS3 looks and moves better than this does.

Looks really good. I can't wait! Been a while since we had a tennis game come out. 

I agree. Top Spin 4  looks and plays better. Waiting to see AO Tennis gameplay

The animations of this game severely lack intensity and athleticism. Watching the serves, I see a total lack of punch and power as the player swings through the ball. The forehands look the players are warming up, rather than looking for winners. Hopefully, they add some extra energy to this game before release.

There is a new youtube developer diary up for Tennis World Tour (in French) - some in game images and motion capture.
As I have less than 5 posts on this site I can't add urls, but if you search youtube with "Tennis World Tour - Developer Diary - Capturing Tennis" you will see it - maybe someone can post the proper link...

Here you go

Wonder if this tennis game will have a replay & challenge system? I think if they added that it would add to the actual realism of the tennis that's played these days.

Hahahaha I was thinking the same. I have no idea who would ever buy this kind of game and even spend time playing it

I think the biggest reason for PS4 gamers to buy this tennis game would be because we all have been waiting on a decent tennis game since Grand Slam Tennis & before that Top Spin 4 which has been the best Tennis game to date on consoles. At least this tennis game has most of the top stars which make it more appealing to true tennis gamers.
I also read on a forum that someone with knowledge of this game said there can be unlocking of tennis players/legends by certain accomplishments on the World Tour mode challenge. Some of the players mentioned that can be unlocked are Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic, Ivan Lendl, & Michael Chang to name a few.
I think the initial roster is 25-30 tennis players including some of them being women. I can't confirm or deny this feature though. Just read it on IGN forums from someone with supposed insider information. Also be looking for a late May release & it could even be into early June. Thanks.

There is a video preview on youtube (it's in french though), where some new gameplay snippets are shown. I can't link it myself because I have less than 5 posts though. He also released the full rooster:
Roger Federer
Grigor Dimitrov
Alexander Zverev
Dominic Thiem
David Goffin
Stan Wawrinka
Nick Kyrgios
Lucas Pouille
John Isner
Fabio Foginini
Roberto Batista Agut
Kyle Edmund
Hyeon Chung
Milos Raonic
Richard Gasquet
Gaël Monfils
Karen Kachanov
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Taylor Fritz
Frances Tiafoe
Jeremy Chardy
Elias Ymer
Michael Mmoh
Thanasi Kokkinakis
Caroline Wozniacki
Garbine Muguruza
Angelique Kerber
Madison Keys
Eugenie Bouchard

Game Informer impressions.

Thanks for sharing the video. The shots seem a bit slow and loopy with players easily able to chase shots which should be winners. I'm hoping devs tweak the gameplay a bit to have a proper balance between players and ball speeds.

Here are some more videos with gameplay impressions and gameplay footage. Would love it if someone could interpret the key points in the first video and post them here...
1. Gameplay impressions in french along with gameplay footage

2. Gameplay footage

One more video... with details in English

This video provides lot of info about the game and the good news that the video is from pre-beta state of the game. The game and the gameplay should only improve from this point.

Couple of good articles detailing the hands-on impressions from the preview. The strategic element of the gameplay sounds interesting along with the in-depth career mode. Looking forward to the game once it's fine tuned and polished...
http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2018/02/28/can-tennis-world-tour-serve-up-an-ace/
https://www.gamereactor.eu/previews/637713/Tennis+World+Tour+Handson+Impressions/?page=1

I'm seeing too many instances where it looks like all you need to do is get to the ball and it'll be returned and be in. I'm all for rallies, but hopefully the final build will have gameplay that has the ball hit the net or go out of bounds, especially when a player is constantly reaching to hit the ball.

Yes...pro tennis has very few extended rallies. Maybe it is difficulty level they are displaying but the rallies seem to go on forever.
C

This game looks AWFUL. Top Spin 2 looks better than this. It doesn't look like it can ever go outside the lines and the players are off-balance on almost every shot. I don't understand how they are going to release the game looking this awful. Obviously it's pre-beta, but they should be a LOT further along at that point in the dev cycle.

i just wish that tennis elbow game could make its way over to ps4.
This game looks like is blows so bad.

"All of this is built on a much more comprehensive use of motion capture than was available five years ago." Saw this in one of the articles... That is ridiculous. Top Spin 4 was released 7 years ago and the motion looked 1000 times better than this. A remake of that game in 4k would be better than this.

Just saw the clay court video. The guys never slide at all. That is insane. This is such a weak effort at a game. And the devs are already talking about DLC that they're going to have. So they have enough time to work on DLC before the game releases and they don't have time to make it so players slide on clay? Cmon. Top Spin 2 had this over a decade ago.

They need to tone down players' reach. Currently they can lunge, get to and return almost every shot no matter how far the ball is from them. Also, more errors need to be added as you don't see too many balls hit the net or go out. Almost every shot the players are lunging for the ball which you don't see too often and the result of being off balance and lunging is that you end up losing the point most of the times. It doesn't happen in the game and that aspect needs to be tweaked. Hopefully the devs read the feedback and address it as part of gameplay tuning before the release.

Details regarding career mode...
https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/4/17078898/tennis-world-tour-preview-ps4-xbox-one-pc

More details about the career, gameplay, online etc. looks like the career mode is quite comprehensive. Here's the link. You will need to scroll down past the TGC 2019 piece to get to Tennis World Tour...
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/03/05/the-sports-desk-the-golf-club-2019-tennis-world-tour-and-mlb-the-show-18-s-diamond-dynasty.aspx

PRESENTATION, DLC & MORE!

• Tennis legend John McEnroe is the game's English-language announcer. Retired pro Guy Forget handles the French track.
  
• Other classic players will be announced at a later time, and there are players which are being added after release.
  
• There are no official tournaments or stadiums, but the studio is in talks with some licensors.
  
• Doubles play – including mixed doubles – will be free DLC after launch. The developer isn't sure yet if doubles will be available during your career or just in exhibition mode.
  
• There are stat overlays during matches for things like fast serves and long rallies.
  
• The game will have 4K support for Xbox One X and PlayStation Pro.
  
• There is a Tennis Academy tutorial section with different levels of training.
  

I mentioned a few posts back about which players will be made available after release plus a few more are unlockable players that you can get after accomplishing certain feats during career mode.
I believe the unlockable players are up to 10 players so counting the 30 available in the game upon release plus the ones they make available after release it could be up to 50 players we will be able to use if we can unlock them all.
I personally think this game is getting too much down talk before it's even released. I personally think it will be a good tennis game but possibly not a great one like we had with the Top Spin series. Grand Slam Tennis wasn't a bad game but it had its issues so it never made it.
Maybe this game will be better in the final build than most are expecting. We certainly are in need of a solid tennis game on current gen consoles. Thanks.

So...a LEGEND EDITION of Tennis World Tour is coming too, and they got John McEnroe and Andre Agassi! Cant wait!

My fear is that the game may be leaning too much on management & strategy side, even for the gameplay. In most of the interviews I've heard developers talk about incorporating strategy into winning the points and that's why they are making it easier for players to be able to return the ball.
And that's the point which worries me. At the end of the day skill counts for a lot and just because a player's strategy is great doesn't count for much if the said player can't execute or has a poor skill set. The videos so far show that as long as players make good "decisions" they can reach the ball and carry on playing the never ending rallies. This shouldn't be the case. I would prefer a gameplay focused game similar to Top Spin 4 with a rich career mode. This mish-mashing of management/strategic elements with the core gameplay is what's a red flag at the moment IMO and I'm hopeful the final game would be much better based on the feedback the developers must've heard.

Isn't this from the Top Spin team?
Maybe it's lower levels they are showing us. I can't believe the TS team would allow long rallies or remove unforced errors.

I really hope this game sells well enough for it to merit a sequel. We all know how initial attempts at a sports game during any console generation is more bare-bones than we'd like for it to be, it's just a shame that a tennis attempt came this late in the cycle. If anything, I'm just hoping for a more consistent tennis release even if it's every two years or so

Unforced errors are in the game. If you read one of the posted article links from a couple pages back the main developer mentions that unforced errors are a part of the game.
What I would like to know ahead of time here about a couple months before release is will there be a challenge system in the game just like the Pro Tours of the men & women now have in real life?
Like is there any such thing at all been implemented in the game for this & if so will it be like real life & players are allowed so many challenges per set? It would be neat if they had this because this hasn't been in any tennis game yet either.

Official release date has now been set for May 22nd, 2018.

Since the official initial 30 person roster has been released I had been wondering why the likes of players like Djokovic, Murray, & Nadal wasn't available. Now, a lot of the expected players to be in the game has to do with licensing. However, the developers have said that more players would be available to download for the game upon release.
I was told by someone from IGN Forums with more knowledge & details of the game that an estimated 5 additional players will be made available the day of release. Then, another month later the final 5 additional players will be made available. Of course, the only way to add these additional players is downloading them from online.
There will also be unlockable players by using career mode & accomplishing certain feats/points. I was told there was 10 unlockable players including a few Legends in those. The names can't be given at this time by the member with knowledge or he could get into trouble with the devs.
So, it looks like up to 20 players total can be added for this game along with the original 30 players in the game upon release which would total 50.
Now, I did ask if Djokovic, Murray, and/or Nadal was any of the additional players that can be added but he is not allowed to reveal that information. I also asked about which Legends but the same answer was given.
One other thing. 2 months after release the game will add doubles matches & free DLC in the 1st game patch released for the game.

There's a recent article saying they are still hoping to get Nadal. I'm not that bothered who is in it - when you are playing a tennis game you're watching the ball and hardly anything else registers - you might as well be controlling a tennis-playing crab as something that looks like one of the pros. Also don't understand why people want a challenge system. Surely the point of playing on a console is that it can get the line calls right. I suppose though if the sun gets in the eyes of my PS4 I might let it off a few bad line calls.
What I really want is for the points to feel like real tennis, in that most points are over before a rally gets going. I haven't seen that in many tennis games. I'd also like to see a tennis game, or any sports game really, where it's just as enjoyable to play a journeyman career, as to play someone who gets to number one and wins everything.

LOL at the bold above. My point about the challenge system is why not make it like real life tennis? There's a challenge system so why not have it in the game? Might see some very specific & different animations from those challenge calls as well from the players.
I care what players are in the game. If you don't care what player that you are playing with might as well go back to playing on NES/SNES then. LOL!
Now, career mode play will have your own created player but otherwise I personally want a nice selection of a roster & the more players with their own quality & characteristic playstyle is important to me. Of course, we all want a game that plays well. That's a given for any sports game period. Thanks.

I agree with you about challenges, it´s a complete waste of resources to put it on a video game that can be always 100% sure if the ball goes in or out. I also think that a proper player editor that gave us the capability to create anyone would be a much better spent money than sign Nadal for millions of dollars.

I'd also like to see some attempt at ambient sound design in a tennis game. What makes Roland Garros feel like Roland Garros is the clinking of the flagploes when the wind gets up. I've been to a few tournaments and they all have their own sounds. I've been to one on the coast which gets increasingly pestered by seagulls as the day draws on - that would add a lot of atmosphere!

Hi folks,
I'll have the chance to interview the developers for a press interview. Is there anything in particular you'd like to know about the game?

Are the graphics going to get substantially better, or are the current visuals close to what we can expect when the game is released?

One clarification/question for the devs...
Q. Looking at the gameplay videos, the ball speed seems to be on the lower side with players reaching shots which should be winners. Will this be addressed in the final build as players able to lunge and reach nearly every shot leads to unrealistically long rallies.

Questions:
Do we have the opportunity to generate a player like del potro or nadal to start our career mode? Are there official nike/lacoste/...-stuff to add in player creation?
Is there an animated trophy celebration in career mode / tournament mode?
Is there a tournamet creator like in AO tennis?
Do the players from official roster have different outfits?
Do the game have hawk-eye/challenges?

Is it possible to use a real player (like Federer) for career mode or we must use a created player?
Exhibition Tournament mode is included in the game or not?
I hate that we cannot use a real player to do a career...lets say...i want to dominate the Tour with Fed...i cant...its really stupid in my opinion. Never understand why we must use a created player.
In Top Spin 4 there was no exhib Tournament even...and it was really ridicolous. So all those guys like Agassi or Nadal and we can use them only in exhibition games...not even a tournament...cmon...

Agree 100%.

I'm looking forward to the game as I loved TopSpin4 but quite frankly this looks sh/t in comparison. Maybe my memory about the game abandons me but I'm expecting a lot better than that trailer.

The gameplay videos are awful. I've never seen such an ugly game. A Top Spin 2 remaster would look and play better than this junk.

I think that I have decided to just go with AO International Tennis because that game releases around the same time as this one anyhow. Looks like a much much better game to me.

Yeah, I've recently returned to Top Spin 4 and it plays so much better than this currently looks.

New gameplay video was posted yesterday..... LINK
The game looks much more refined. I think it's going to be good.
Note: Don't judge the gameplay solely by this video as the guys manning the controls aren't very good. In the hands of better gamers, the game will play much better -- and I'm basing that on early gameplay videos of TS1, TS2, TS3 and TS4 - they all looked like crap.

If this is the final build of this game then it certainly looks & plays better than what I have seen earlier on this year. What platform is the video link from? Is this a PC video of play or console video of play? Thanks.

Platform = PS4

Looks pretty good. Not sure what level they were playing on...ball looked a little "floaty" and the pace on the shots was a little slow or draggy...probably due to playing on an easier level.
Also, on one replay, the ball was definitely beyond/out of reach of the racquet when he was hitting a backhand, but he made a nice shot cross court...probably an animation glitch or level related again.
C

I also seen one ball that was clearly on the back baseline hit by Federer but called out. That's why I was saying or asking earlier if there was a challenge/replay system built into the game. Appears there is not though.

Saw that too (at 4:51) - I think that was a glitch as Gasquet received the point (despite the out call).
Some more gameplay, 40 second clay court rally between Dominic Thiem and Lucas Pouille....
https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/988452666035654656
Also, TWT website is now online. :P
https://tennisworldtourgame.com/

Pretty disappointing roster. Novak, Rafa, Andy, Serena, and Venus all missing. I really hope they have a create a player in this or add more players down the road.

I think both options you mentioned are available. I know for a fact that more players become available upon release plus there are unlockable players in game as well. Not 100% sure on the create-a-player but I think that I read an article in which this option is mentioned but not confirmed. Thanks.

Nadal won't be there officially, as AO International Tennis have him.

Five hours of gameplay:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=64&v=ucnE1aNb3_M

Does this game have Doubles?

Just pre-ordered the Legends Edition. On sale for $67. BOOM.
I am really psyched for this.

I assume the Legends Edition just has Legend players from the past compared to the regular edition? Is that the only difference in the copies or do you know? Where did you pre-order from? Thanks.

It comes with 2 legends(listed below) and the items below. I got it on the PSN store. For $7 extra I could justify.
André Agassi is playable, as well as his 1995 outfit
John McEnroe is playable, as well as his 1990 outfit
Roger Federer’s Wilson Pro Staff 97RF racket is available in Career mode
The Wilson Pro Staff 97 racket is available in Career mode
An exclusive trainer providing an experience bonus
The “legend” title in multiplayer mode
5 aptitude cards
Roger Federer’s Nike “Spring 2018” outfit is available in Career mode

So, 2 Legends featured in the Legends Edition with Agassi & McEnroe. Federer is still playing but I see why he is already considered a Legend player for the game to get his content but not considered a Legend until he officially retires. I know that they are going to add more downloadable players for this game not only upon release but as time goes on as well.
Wonder how many more Legends will become available? I'm curious also to how many official players will in the end become available? I know certain players are only going to become available when certain feats or accomplishments are made in the game(unlockables). Thanks.

Already per-ordered. Looking forward to this game! Looks like a deep career mode as well. Been waiting for a good tennis game to come out. Hopefully this won't disappoint!

Any in depth previews out?
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I think that we will be satisfied. Top Spin 4 was so very long ago. Been jonesing for this forever.
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Here is the full details to the Legends Edition: http://www.bigben-interactive.co.uk/bigben-products/video-games/tennis-world-tour-legends-edition-ps4/

Going to echo those who said that the game play has improved since earlier builds. I also prefer this over the other and, as others have said, a deep career mode which looks good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=70&v=-cIATbsnQtM

1 week to go peeps.
Pretty pumped for this.

I can’t wait for this game. I haven’t been overly impressed with the gameplay but it has seemed to have improved every time a new video comes out. I’ve got high hopes for this game and can’t wait till next Tuesday!

There are a couple of European previews out, one on the Italian Eurogamer site. Sounds like the gameplay is better than AO Tennis but very little customisation. So the ideal release may well be Tennis World Tour gameplay with AO Tennis creation features.. hmm!

I am curious if there will be a distinct difference between players.
Different serving styles, top spin amount, etc
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From what we’ve seen I doubt it.
Ea sports doesn’t have player individuality in any of its games..nhl/fifa/madden but nobody cares.

No. All the motion capture was done at an actual tennis court.
What I hope to hear more (starts around the 2:05 mark) talks about how the AI adapts towards your tendencies and uses different skill cards to make things more challenging. Hope to hear more about it when the reviews come out. They can explain better than I can.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVLRXNF_NVI

At around the 4:10 mark of the above video I seen something kind of really lame or you could say funny I guess but certainly wouldn't fit something Federer would do on the court period.
He won a point vs Monfils & starting playing his tennis racket like a guitar. Now, some players do have some interesting reactions to points in real life but Federer certainly isn't one of those players that would do that.
It was kind of funny to see really but not an actual realization in tennis of how Roger would react to any point he has won regardless of how he won that point. LOL! :grin:

I wish stuff like that wouldn't even be in the game. Not sure the appeal or why anyone cares to see it.
Created player? Sure. A real player, what's the point? It removes realism.

Steam amended the release date of TWT to June 12.

First of all, how do you know that animation of Federer playing his racket like a guitar won't be in the final build? We just don't know buddy. Who or what are you referring to in who cares to see it? You talking about the actual part of the video or for that part to actually be in the game?
Secondly, you say it removes realism. Uh, Federer playing his racket like a guitar is not real nor even something that he would do or have ever done in a tennis match in real life. I'm not sure that I'm understanding your objections or point about my reply.
I was mainly just pointing out that part at the 4:10 mark & thinking to myself that's funny because Federer would never do that. Some certain other players might but not him. Thanks.

I think he was agreeing with you and emphasizing your point.
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Maybe he was but I guess how he worded it made me think he didn't see what I was trying to get across. Thanks. No big deal anyhow. ;)

I agreed with you. All good.
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Is it true too spin 4 also didn’t have signature serves and movement?

Yeah...just like Tennis World Tour, Top Spin 4 didnt have sig serves and movement. Top Spin 3 had sig serves for the players instead, including for legends like Bjorn Borg and Boris Becker.

Really don't understand why there aren't signature strokes. It's not that hard to do, you don't need to motion capture the actual player, but imitate the stroke with a 5.0+ player. I am not expecting much authentic player characteristics, since even the gameplay clip that features McEnroe has him playing as a righty. I mean, that is just an amateur mistake and nobody notices before releasing a gameplay clip as a promo? Weak. Will still check out the game though, but could've been a whole lot better. This is feeling like a PS3 or prior gen game.

Agreed on signature. Any college to pro tennis player could easily mimic the greats.

Career mode looks awesome. However, was hoping the price tag would be $30 or $40 to begin with so I'll prob wait for a sale. Be sure to post your impressions for those who do get it.

At this point considering there were no tennis games for current gen consoles I am thrilled with how this is looking. I will be picking it up tomorrow.

My early impressions are not very favorable. This game doesn't look or feel like a current gen title in my opinion. I have this game on PS4 Pro and the graphics don't look great at all. I couldn't really tell from the pre release videos, but all of the real players have a very cartoonish type of look. The create a player is absolutely terrible. As far as I can tell you can only pick a preset face and there is no other way to change their facial appearance, hairstyles, etc. As for the on court gameplay it just feels kind of blah to me. I'm hoping it'll grow on me but I'm doubtful. Big Ben will need to provide a lot of post release updates or else I believe this game will be a colossal failure. I wish I hadn't pre-ordered this game and just waited for the inevitable price drop.

Preordered this and wish I wouldn’t have after a very short time with it. I’ll give it more of a go and hope something changes, but the gameplay itself isn’t very fluid at all and the graphics are just ok. Also, is there pretty much zero crowd for anyone else?
I’ll keep playing AO since I like the gameplay better and the creation options to download other players and start a career with a known player as well.
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I am liking the game so far. The create a player is pretty bare bones. My only gripe right now and this needs to get addressed ASAP is the computer had two Aces against me and both shots were called out but they counted. The text on the screen even said "Ace". Additionally there were a couple of other ground strokes that I hit which were clearly in but the announcer called out, but the point was awarded to me. I checked BigBen's Website but I did not see an official forum or somewhere I can report this to. I have not gotten into the Career mode as I just messed around with the tutorial and am currently playing an exhibition match.