No online in Virtua Tennis PS3 Comments by Games Industry.biz

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

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

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

Online gaming doesn't start until Sony says it does

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?

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

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

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?

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

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.

"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?

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.

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.

@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

Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty?

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

Sega didn't confirm the loss of online play

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.

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.

...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

""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.

@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.

Is inane brand loyalty an anagram for consumer idiocity?

No but A BALLAD YE INN NO TRYis

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

For me, a sports game without online play is somewhat pointless, to be honest. Any gimp can beat the computer - where's the fun in that?

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?

@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.

Plus, it's frustrating that if you're sat next to your mates, in many games someone always gets a crap view anyway, (well, tennis games at least...)

Also, I find binge drinking and Xbox Live makes for a hilarious combination... :-)

@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.

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

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.

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

They had 5 vs 5 on Warhawk.

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!

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".

Atleast it's hack free....

@Tonka

:)

@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 ;)

@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"

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.

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!!!