No online in Virtua Tennis PS3

By Games Industry.biz Published 27 September, 2006

SEGA Europe confirms.

SEGA Europe has confirmed that the PlayStation 3 version of its popular sports title Virtua Tennis 3 does not have any online features.

The news follows developer Neversoft's recent clarification that the PS3 version of upcoming extreme sports game Tony Hawk's Project 8 for Activision will not feature online play.

"Virtua Tennis 3 PS3 does not have an online mode confirmed at this time," said a statement from SEGA.

The lack of online play raises questions regarding Sony's online service for its new home console. The company last week revealed a range of online features for the PS3, including downloadable content and the ability to play emulated PSone and PS2 titles over the internet.

Sony also discussed the Global Mapping System, which allows users to upload photographs and data about their location and create a detailed view of the world around them - in the hope that consumers can help developers gather information for future game developments.

But with titles from key publishers such as SEGA and Activision dropping online features for the PS3, Sony is handing a distinct advantage to Microsoft, in a next-generation battle where online play is becoming an essential - and standard - offering.

Virtua Tennis 3 is due for release in spring 2007 for the Xbox 360, PS3, PSP and PC.

Picture of Games.

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Comments (37) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • lambtron #1 5 years ago

    Well that's one way to have free online i guess...

  • Mr_Whacker #2 5 years ago

    So they reckon they'll make better games if they see inside my bedroom? Dirty old Sony!

  • Talha #3 5 years ago

    Wow - what a way to launch PS3 as an online friendly platform!

  • InfiniteFury #4 5 years ago

    Online gaming doesn't start until Sony says it does

  • jiveguy #5 5 years ago

    What's the deal with sonys online service with regards to games? Is it a unified Live like service or is it a giant free for all mess?

  • Rambaldi #6 5 years ago

    To all those 'It'll be alright cause it's Sony' fanboys who defend Sony's poor design decisions time and time again instead of being a smart, objective, savvy consumer:

    The thin end of the wedge my friends, the thin end of the wedge

  • Jo0j #7 5 years ago

    read just the paragraph about the ''global mapping system''......huh?...what for?..why? (sorry, but I'm not from the ''fourth dimension'')

  • Eighthours #8 5 years ago

    EG, can you clear something up for me?

    Some people (predictably the Sony-leaning contingent) on other forums have taken the "confirmed at this time" line from Sega an indication that GI.biz (who ran the story yesterday) have gone off the deep end prematurely, and that there isn't a problem.

    I personally think that the story wouldn't have been run at all if it wasn't 99.9% sure that an online mode won't emerge before the game's release.

    Can you enlighten us on how "sure" you are that this won't happen?
    Edited by 1 at 27/09/06 @ 09:18

  • RMXtreme #9 5 years ago

    I'm guessing the other versions will have online play?

  • Darren #10 5 years ago

    Online gaming is overrated anyway... the reason I buy games is for the single player and if I want to play multiplayer games then I'd rather play against someone I know in the same room rather than some total stranger 5,000 miles away who keeps reminding me that "I suck".

    I don't think Virtua Tennis 3 or Tony Hawk's Project 8 are losing anything much on the PS3 by not having online modes; both games would undoubtedly be far more fun and far less laggy played offline against REAL friends in my opinion.

  • chupachups #11 5 years ago

    "read just the paragraph about the ''global mapping system''......huh?...what for?..why? (sorry, but I'm not from the ''fourth dimension'')"

    Yeah, that does sound a bit strange. A bit strange, or a complete load of rubbish made up by Sony to try and make their console look somehow different from the (far less expensive) competition.

    Why would people taking pictures of "the world around them" help make games? What do they want pictures of anyway? My local bus stop? The supermarket? What do they have in mind?

  • Blanchy #12 5 years ago

    Tony Hawks on the 360 has online play, I'd assume VT3 on the 360 does as well based on the fact that this article only mentions the PS3.

  • Thorbar #13 5 years ago

    Who's the global mapping system going to work? Do they expect a pile of ground level phone cam pictures are actually going to be of any use to professional developers? Also I look forward to submitted naked pictures of my cat to these system.

  • Rambaldi #14 5 years ago

    @Darren

    "Online gaming is overrated anyway"

    Ahhh..so because key devs are droppping it for the PS3 it "doesn't matter anymore"? Millions clealry disagree and are speaking with their wallets. Next you'll be telling me that because you have to actually buy cars and tracks for GTHD that "a disc that you buy that actually has some content on it is overrated anyway"!

    Is inane brand loyalty an anagram for consumer idiocity?

    EDIT: that last comment is not really directed at you Daz
    Edited by 1 at 27/09/06 @ 09:27

  • drumbaby #15 5 years ago

    Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty?

  • Stormflood #16 5 years ago

    Oh dear. Come one Sony, pull your finger out.

    @jiveguy - 'one login' says Phil Harrison.

    This mess of devs dropping online does indicate one thing however, a positive thing at that surprisngly: if these devs have to drop online because they don't have the libraries/tools/t-shirts from Sony, it means the service will indeed be unified and have pretty much all the same features as Live. If it was a 'free for all', they wouldn't need to wait for anything.

    @Darren - my best friend lives in Detroit, online is teh best

    @rambaldi - you're right, but the fat end was back at E3'05 ;p
    Edited by 1 at 27/09/06 @ 09:31

  • Steroyd #17 5 years ago

    <a href=http ://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/735/735569p1.html>Sega didn't confirm the loss of online play</a>

    Can't say i care about online gaming that much but people who have an Xbox are more likely to care about this feature.

    I'm starting to think it's going to be like Nintendo's online service where 3rd party online won't happen until 2007.

  • Max_Powers #18 5 years ago

    For me online gaming does matter a lot for these types of games, so its a shame this feature gets dropped from the PS3. Real opponents > then AI opponents.

    Sony online is looking to become a shambles.

  • Rambaldi #19 5 years ago

    ...and besides: playing against people in the same room is preferable on some levels unless:

    a) you and your mates actually work for a living, have families and find it difficult just to drop in whenever you want to
    b) you fancy challenging yourself against more than the same old crowd

    If either of the above apply to you then online is a bloody godsend.

    In my experience people who say online is overrated either:

    a) can't afford broadband and their mum won't pay for it
    b) have never, ever tried it
    c) are pants at games and can't handle being beaten online

  • Les #20 5 years ago

    ""Virtua Tennis 3 PS3 does not have an online mode confirmed at this time," said a statement from SEGA."

    Normally this would mean that online might still be possible, but in video game PR guy speak it almost always means that it's out. It certainly would be a blow to Sony, as the PS3 version will lack a feature that the 360 version does have. Might not be a terrible blow, but it's still a blow.

  • Talha #21 5 years ago

    @Rambaldi: For many people, like myself, online play does not matter that much regardless of the platform. By linking this opinion to PS3, couldn't you be accused of championing it because 360 has it in loads as a USP? Next you will be accusing anyone not buying an HD-DVD player as anti-XBox, right?

    Darren's comment, to my eyes, was a fair expression of his disdain (right or wrong) for online play - it had nothing to do with PS3. Please think before jumping off the deep end every time.

    And how about adding 'Because they don't find enough sane people playing enough of their favorite games online' to your no doubt well researched list of attributes of online play haters. Or is that too remote a possiblity?

    But yes I agree, GTHD pricing sucks - in fact it is ridiculous beyond belief. It rivals the Windows Vista pricing, where it is all there on the DVD and you only get to unlock portions of it.
    Edited by 1 at 27/09/06 @ 09:43

  • Tonka #22 5 years ago

    Is inane brand loyalty an anagram for consumer idiocity?

    No but A BALLAD YE INN NO TRYis

  • Stormflood #23 5 years ago

    A sports game without online play is somewhat pointless, to be honest.

    From when? I think I've only played a sport title online once.

    /adds 'not defending Sony' disclaimer
    Edited by 1 at 27/09/06 @ 09:43

  • Mr_Whacker #24 5 years ago

    I don't think its as simple as managed or unmanaged online system. One login doesn't automatically mean a unified system. I understood that it would still be up to the dev or publisher to provide and manage the servers and thats where the reliability happens (or doesn't). I can't see Live servers being strained with MS cash behind it. There's also nothing to stop them pulling online support in a few years which won't happen on Live. I'll still be playing Gauntlet in 2010. Possibly the same game....

    Of course I could be wrong - anyone know better?

  • Talha #25 5 years ago

    @greggywocky: The fun is in getting to the exalted and revered status of 'gimp' from the bottomless depths of 'hand-eye coordination impaired freak who can't tell his arse from his elbow'. ;-)

    I speak from experience.

  • Talha #26 5 years ago

    @greggy: Couldn't agree more. I still play Smash Court with my best friend, and the guy on the 'other side' of the screen always loses the game. In the end it all becomes a lottery on the tiebreak.



  • Wash #27 5 years ago

    Xbox Live is a godsend for gaming with real friends who cant be in the same post code as yourself at any given time of a evening.

    Wouldnt want it any other way, although the ps3 has to face some criticism for this, following vt3, thp8 somethins suspicious.

    If it were the xbox version, i'm sure ppl would say things too.

  • Xerx3s #28 5 years ago

    Come to think of it, did sony show off anything close to a working online system on the TGS?

  • Steroyd #29 5 years ago

    They had 5 vs 5 on Warhawk.

  • ChromeMud #30 5 years ago

    Let's face it,Sony having a LIVE-killer is like Sony releasing on time....
    it's never going to happen!
    As for 'Virtua Tennis' compared to 'Top Spin',in terms of looks it's
    like Plastic Vs Plasticine.
    You do the math...

    p.s. Toy Story graphics ARE here....erm....that's quite enough!
    Edited by 2 at 27/09/06 @ 12:19

  • spongebob #31 5 years ago

    I don't think a tennis game is the best online game anyway. It's definitely something you want to play with your buddies in the same room. Just like I never understood the fun in online skateboarding games or snowboarding games..

    But it's indeed a bit fishy that no third party publishers are saying "we got online for PS3".

  • The-Bodybuilder #32 5 years ago

    Atleast it's hack free....

  • Rambaldi #33 5 years ago

    @Tonka

    :)

  • Rambaldi #34 5 years ago

    @Talha

    "@greggywocky: The fun is in getting to the exalted and revered status of 'gimp' from the bottomless depths of 'hand-eye coordination impaired freak who can't tell his arse from his elbow'. ;-)

    AHA! So you WERE a category c) I knew there was no need for a d) as you sugested ;)

  • Rambaldi #35 5 years ago

    @greggwocky

    "Abusing Americans whilst drunk as a lord between 2 and 6am on a Friday night is one of the highlights of my week. :-) "

    Amen to that brother :)

    \thinks fondly of sarcasticaly screaming "no-scoped yer ass duuuuude"

  • moggsy #36 5 years ago

    The Xbox online service isn't just about playing other people online, it's also about comparing your performance in single player games with your friends/the rest of the world.

    I remember spending an entire Saturday afternoon trying to get my lap time down on one circuit in the same car just to try and get a decent placing in one of the PGR3 tournaments. Without the online element I would never have been compelled to do this.

    The online elements can breathe new life into games you've long since put back on your shelf.

  • ronuds #37 5 years ago

    Sony not delivering on their promises is starting to become a tiring theme. So, they charge you a lot more and then give a lot less than promised. Sign me up!!!