Tennis is a sport enjoyed by millions, so what would a sport be if it didn’t take advantage of its loyal fan base. Computer games have a global market value of over $90bn which means any slice of the cake will be sizeable. Tennis is no exception and it has been there from the very beginning of gaming history. The simplicity of the basic concept of the sport and the satisfaction of beating a someone man o man means it has adapted well to computer games. Here are the five most important games in history and if you fancy it, I will give you a game later!
Pong (1972)
Some consider this to be the daddy of computer games, but did you know it was not the first computer game. In fact, it wasn’t even the first tennis based game! That accolade goes to ‘Tennis for Two’ in 1958. It did not make the impact that pong did however. Pong was the brainchild of Atari and Alan Allcorn who created something basic to show his employers what he was capable of. The demo was so good however that it was released straight away. The simple mechanics means anybody can play, yet the angles of the ball and play speeding up as the game continues, means there is no lack of skill needed to master it. It has gone on to find a place in modern culture and has been referenced in film and memorably in an advert with Andy Roddick where he faces off against an intimidating block.
Mario Tennis (2000)
In the pioneering days of 3D gaming the N64 was the choice for those who wanted to play with all the iconic Nintendo characters. With Mario Tennis you could do just that! Every notable Nintendo character was available, including the first ever appearance of Waluigi. It was not just a game for children though. Despite its cartoony graphics Mario Tennis offered a deceptively detailed game with players able to lob, slice, drop and power the ball to beat their opponent. It also contained different court types which affected the game and suited certain types of players. Mario Tennis is a perfect example of the coming together of gaming culture and tennis.
Wii Sports Tennis (2006)
Mario Tennis was not Nintendo’s only success in games involving tennis. Wii sports was a game that became the 3rd best selling of all time. It was on the hugely popular Wii console and much like other games on the platform it was a monstrously simple affair which could bring together children, their parents and even lithe grandparents. The graphics were poor, the hitting mechanics simplistic and you couldn’t even move your own character. Nevertheless, the game was incredibly addictive and millions of people enjoyed it. It appeared on many of the adverts for the Wii and along with the other games on Wii Sports it became the standout game for the lauded console.
Virtua Tennis (2000)
For those looking for a realistic depiction of Tennis around the millennium there was only one choice, Sega’s Virtua Tennis. It started life as an arcade game initially before being ported across to consoles. It offered a chance for the player to use real life stars. This gives away it’s age with the top two players on the game being Jim Courier and Tommy Haas. Unfortunately, it was also accompanied by some bizarre Japanese styled mini games as well as some very dodgy attempts at facial resemblance. Despite its misgivings Virtua Tennis was a success for Sega (though it didn’t save the company) and spawned many sequels, but much like Sampras around the same time, no one knew Roger Federer was just around the corner.
Topspin (2003)
The Topspin series is now easily the king of the digital tennis. The game which started in 2003 took what Virtua Tennis had started and improved on it. Gone were those terrible attempts at players faces, meaning you could finally tell who you were supposed to be! It also added much more depth with an intense coaching section and the ability to have your own career. What has now become common was quite novel when the first Topspin was released. Character customization meant you could create whatever player you’d like which helped players engage with the game more. Combine this with fluid movement, balanced gameplay and responsive controls meant it not only crushed its opponents, but cemented itself as the archetypal tennis game of our age. Even a naff attempt to overthrow it by vultures EA with Grand Slam Tennis failed.
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Tennis games are able to give the player the ability to do things with a racquet they possibly never could. They can put virtual feet on famous courts and stand next to Grand Slam and Olympic legends. Chief Writer at Betting Tip Stars Gio Muratore says “Everyone knows Tennis can be a perfect alternative to the real thing if its raining outside. Computer games found the addictive nature of the sport with its very first try with pong. I just hope tennis games will finally reach to where they belong, alongside the FIFA’s of this world.” The latest games also play from a TV perspective allowing you to get lost in its gameplay and imagine you are watching the real thing. As long as tennis is around we will always be spoiled it seems by a myriad of excellent and never ending supply of games!
