Virtua Tennis Series
Encyclopedia
Virtua Tennis is a series of tennis
simulation video games started in 1999 by Sega-AM3. The player competes through tennis tournaments and various arcade modes. For the home console market the game was expanded with the introduction of the campaign mode. The latest games in the series are available on all major consoles, starting with Virtua Tennis 3
.
Once Sega sold the 2k2 name to Take 2, the triquel was released under the original branding as Virtua Tennis 3 all updates and sequels have been under the Virtua label to date.
, to fall in the same brand as other Sega Sports games such as Virtua Striker
, with the sequel the name was changed to Tennis 2K2 as at the time all Sega Sports games were being released as 2k2 such as NHL 2k2, NBA 2k2
, NFL 2k2 etc.
and ported to the Sega Dreamcast
Sega's home console based on the Naomi Hardware, the sequel Virtua Tennis 2
was built over original home console build, there were several upgrades made to the game most notably Enhanced Graphics, More Courts, and a female roster (composed of 9 players) were introduced to the series featuring the likeness of Serena Williams
, Lindsay Davenport
and even lesser known players such as Jelena Dokić
(although Dokic was replaced with Ai Sugiyama
a Japanese player in the PS2 port). The sequel was ported to the Playstation 2.
purchased majority shares of Sega from parent company CSK and merged the company with Sega Sammy Holdings
and all 2nd party studios were absorbed back into Sega. Series helmer Hiaso Oguchi was promoted to President of all internal teams therefore he passed the torch of future development to Mie Kumagi, however Oguchi remains involved as an executive producer for all games produced by the company.
Finally, after the studios had resettled into their new division, a new game entered development. In 2006, a new game in the series was released in the arcades for SEGA Lindbergh Arcade system. The game was ported to Playstation 3
with SIXAXIS
controls incorporated into the gameplay, but since the AM teams now have a diminished role in the home consumer department, the Xbox 360
port was handled by Sumo Digital
, a studio that previously ported an upgraded version of Virtua Tennis 2.
2010, Virtua Tennis 4 was revealed for the PlayStation 3
with PlayStation Move controls incorporated, the series also introduced a new first person perspective to help players control the game more effectively with the MOVE controller, as of yet an Arcade release has not been announced a first for the main series.
that allowed them to make original games based on Sega IPs for the Game Boy Advance
, one of the many games included a Virtua Tennis
GBA version.
While the internal Sega teams were being shuffled due to Sega's financial problems, Sumo Digital
was tasked with porting Virtua Tennis 2
to the Playstation Portable and they released Virtua Tennis: World Tour
in fall 2005, the game was an update to Power Smash 2 expanding the World Tour mode, however the character roaster was the smallest the series, has featured to date.
In 2008, while Sumo Digital was porting Virtua Tennis 3 for the Wii, they were instructed by Sega to feature Sonic as an Unlockable character, which gave Sumo Digital an idea to make a Tennis game composed of Sega characters Past and Present, the game was released under the Sega Superstars
label, although it was running on the Virtua Tennis 3 engine, Sumo Digital developed for the Xbox 360 port.
In 2009 Sumo Digital released an update to Virtua Tennis 3 called Virtua Tennis 2009
.
Original Release Dates Only (ports and region dates not included)
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
simulation video games started in 1999 by Sega-AM3. The player competes through tennis tournaments and various arcade modes. For the home console market the game was expanded with the introduction of the campaign mode. The latest games in the series are available on all major consoles, starting with Virtua Tennis 3
Virtua Tennis 3
Virtua Tennis 3 is the second arcade game sequel to Sega's tennis game franchise, Virtua Tennis. The arcade version of Virtua Tennis 3 is powered by the PC-based Sega Lindbergh arcade system board...
.
Domestic changes
Domestically in Japan the series have always been released as Power Smash although with the third entry in the series the name was expanded to Sega Professional Tennis: Power Smash, although Sega Professional Tennis logo and name have been prominently featured in all the games, it was only in the title of the third game.Once Sega sold the 2k2 name to Take 2, the triquel was released under the original branding as Virtua Tennis 3 all updates and sequels have been under the Virtua label to date.
Worldwide changes
Internationally it was released as Virtua TennisVirtua Tennis
Virtua Tennis is a 1999 tennis arcade game created by Sega-AM3. The player competes through tennis tournaments and various arcade modes. For the home console market the game was expanded with the introduction of the campaign mode. It was later ported to Dreamcast in 2000, and for Microsoft Windows...
, to fall in the same brand as other Sega Sports games such as Virtua Striker
Virtua Striker
The Virtua Striker video games are arcade-style soccer games by Sega. Originally developed by Sega AM2, the series moved to Amusement Vision with Virtua Striker 3...
, with the sequel the name was changed to Tennis 2K2 as at the time all Sega Sports games were being released as 2k2 such as NHL 2k2, NBA 2k2
NBA 2K2
NBA 2K2 is the third installment of the 2K series, it was still developed by Visual Concepts and published by Sega Sports. It was released for the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and the Xbox. It was released on October 24, 2001 on the Dreamcast and later ported with PlayStation 2,...
, NFL 2k2 etc.
Inception and response
The original game were developed for the Sega Naomi Arcade Hardware by Sega-AM3 as a 2nd party studio under the label of HitmakerHitmaker
Sega AM3 is a division of Japanese video game developer Sega Corporation. The development team has produced some popular arcade game and video games, including Virtual On, NASCAR Arcade, Crazy Taxi, Astro Boy: Omega Factor , Virtua Tennis, and the Initial D Arcade Stage series.-History:In 2000, as...
and ported to the Sega Dreamcast
Sega Dreamcast
The is a 128-bit video game console which was released by Sega in late 1998 in Japan and from September 1999 in other territories. It was the first entry in the sixth generation of video game consoles, preceding Sony's PlayStation 2, Microsoft's Xbox and the Nintendo GameCube.Dreamcast sales were...
Sega's home console based on the Naomi Hardware, the sequel Virtua Tennis 2
Virtua Tennis 2
Virtua Tennis 2 is a sequel to Virtua Tennis that was released for the Sega Dreamcast, Sega NAOMI arcade unit and Sony's PlayStation 2 in 2001...
was built over original home console build, there were several upgrades made to the game most notably Enhanced Graphics, More Courts, and a female roster (composed of 9 players) were introduced to the series featuring the likeness of Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
, Lindsay Davenport
Lindsay Davenport
Lindsay Ann Davenport is a former World No. 1 American professional tennis player. She has won three Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. In 2005, TENNIS Magazine ranked her as the 29th-best player of the preceding forty years...
and even lesser known players such as Jelena Dokić
Jelena Dokic
Jelena Dokić is an Australian female professional tennis player.During the height of her career, she played for Serbia and Montenegro and reached a career-high ranking of World No. 4 on 19 August 2002. After several family-related difficulties , she slowly slipped down the rankings in 2006...
(although Dokic was replaced with Ai Sugiyama
Ai Sugiyama
is a retired Japanese professional tennis player. She reached No. 1 in women's doubles on the WTA Tour. Her career-high singles ranking was No. 8, achieved on February 9, 2004. She turned professional in 1992...
a Japanese player in the PS2 port). The sequel was ported to the Playstation 2.
The return
The series disappeared for several years because of financial problems at Sega, in 2005 Sammy CorporationSammy Corporation
was established on November 1, 1975 and is a leading developer and retailer of pachinko and pachislot systems in Japan.In 2001, Sammy Corporation created a subsidiary Sammy Entertainment, Inc. It would later change its name to Sammy Studios in 2002. Sammy Studios is responsible for developing and...
purchased majority shares of Sega from parent company CSK and merged the company with Sega Sammy Holdings
Sega Sammy Holdings
is a Japanese holding company formed from a merger of Sega and Sammy. They were both very involved in the arcade business , and Sega's main fame comes from their console systems.-Background:...
and all 2nd party studios were absorbed back into Sega. Series helmer Hiaso Oguchi was promoted to President of all internal teams therefore he passed the torch of future development to Mie Kumagi, however Oguchi remains involved as an executive producer for all games produced by the company.
Finally, after the studios had resettled into their new division, a new game entered development. In 2006, a new game in the series was released in the arcades for SEGA Lindbergh Arcade system. The game was ported to Playstation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
with SIXAXIS
Sixaxis
The Sixaxis Wireless Controller was the official gamepad for the Sony PlayStation 3 from launch until 2008 when it was succeeded by the DualShock 3....
controls incorporated into the gameplay, but since the AM teams now have a diminished role in the home consumer department, the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
port was handled by Sumo Digital
Sumo Digital
Sumo Digital Ltd. is an independent game development studio based in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Set up in 2003 following the closure of Infogrames Studios Sheffield/Gremlin Interactive...
, a studio that previously ported an upgraded version of Virtua Tennis 2.
Continuation of the series
At GamesComGamescom
gamescom is a trade fair for video games held annually at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is organised by the Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware...
2010, Virtua Tennis 4 was revealed for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
with PlayStation Move controls incorporated, the series also introduced a new first person perspective to help players control the game more effectively with the MOVE controller, as of yet an Arcade release has not been announced a first for the main series.
Updates & spinoffs
In 2001, Sega announced they will be making games for all platforms and made a deal with THQTHQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
that allowed them to make original games based on Sega IPs for the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
, one of the many games included a Virtua Tennis
Virtua Tennis
Virtua Tennis is a 1999 tennis arcade game created by Sega-AM3. The player competes through tennis tournaments and various arcade modes. For the home console market the game was expanded with the introduction of the campaign mode. It was later ported to Dreamcast in 2000, and for Microsoft Windows...
GBA version.
While the internal Sega teams were being shuffled due to Sega's financial problems, Sumo Digital
Sumo Digital
Sumo Digital Ltd. is an independent game development studio based in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Set up in 2003 following the closure of Infogrames Studios Sheffield/Gremlin Interactive...
was tasked with porting Virtua Tennis 2
Virtua Tennis 2
Virtua Tennis 2 is a sequel to Virtua Tennis that was released for the Sega Dreamcast, Sega NAOMI arcade unit and Sony's PlayStation 2 in 2001...
to the Playstation Portable and they released Virtua Tennis: World Tour
Virtua Tennis: World Tour
Virtua Tennis: World Tour is a tennis video game which was released for the Sony PlayStation Portable.-Overview:...
in fall 2005, the game was an update to Power Smash 2 expanding the World Tour mode, however the character roaster was the smallest the series, has featured to date.
In 2008, while Sumo Digital was porting Virtua Tennis 3 for the Wii, they were instructed by Sega to feature Sonic as an Unlockable character, which gave Sumo Digital an idea to make a Tennis game composed of Sega characters Past and Present, the game was released under the Sega Superstars
Sega SuperStars
Sega Superstars is a game developed by Sonic Team in 2004 for the PlayStation 2 EyeToy. It features a series of games based on previous Sega titles. It also contains Chao, the virtual pets from the Sonic series....
label, although it was running on the Virtua Tennis 3 engine, Sumo Digital developed for the Xbox 360 port.
In 2009 Sumo Digital released an update to Virtua Tennis 3 called Virtua Tennis 2009
Virtua Tennis 2009
Virtua Tennis 2009 is a 2009 video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. It is part of the Virtua Tennis series, following Virtua Tennis 3.-Overview:...
.
List of games
- Virtua TennisVirtua TennisVirtua Tennis is a 1999 tennis arcade game created by Sega-AM3. The player competes through tennis tournaments and various arcade modes. For the home console market the game was expanded with the introduction of the campaign mode. It was later ported to Dreamcast in 2000, and for Microsoft Windows...
1999 - Virtua Tennis 2Virtua Tennis 2Virtua Tennis 2 is a sequel to Virtua Tennis that was released for the Sega Dreamcast, Sega NAOMI arcade unit and Sony's PlayStation 2 in 2001...
2001 - Virtua Tennis: World TourVirtua Tennis: World TourVirtua Tennis: World Tour is a tennis video game which was released for the Sony PlayStation Portable.-Overview:...
2005 (PSP Only) - Virtua Tennis 3Virtua Tennis 3Virtua Tennis 3 is the second arcade game sequel to Sega's tennis game franchise, Virtua Tennis. The arcade version of Virtua Tennis 3 is powered by the PC-based Sega Lindbergh arcade system board...
2007 - Virtua Tennis 2009Virtua Tennis 2009Virtua Tennis 2009 is a 2009 video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. It is part of the Virtua Tennis series, following Virtua Tennis 3.-Overview:...
2009 - Virtua Tennis 4Virtua Tennis 4Virtua Tennis 4 is the third sequel to Sega's tennis game franchise, Virtua Tennis. It was released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC and Wii. A Playstation Vita version is under development...
2011
Original Release Dates Only (ports and region dates not included)