Virtua Tennis 4 Message Board

#psvita Now, we should be the last people on Earth to get on a high horse over typos and associated spelling errors. But the fact this screenshot comes from the Japanese version of Virtua Tennis 4 on the Vita makes it too good to ignore. More »

A port of an already-released entry in a long-running Sega sports series might not seem like the most interesting thing in the launch line-up of a new console. Frankly, it isn't. But Virtua Tennis 4 is still really competent, which shouldn't be surprising to anyone familiar with the series. Virtua T...

Virtua Tennis 4 for PlayStation Vita first stepped onto the court at E3. Even at that early stage in its development, the game showed signs of ambition. It seems that Sega is taking great care to adapt the tried-and-true gameplay for PS Vita by extensively leveraging the handheld’s hardware strengths, all without dumbing down the series’s winning formula.

Now, at gamescom, I finally got to see some of these game modes in action.

Virtua Tennis 4’s core experience is nearly identical to its recently-released PS3 counterpart; you can create a character, start a career, and participate in tournaments while enhancing your skills through all kinds of bizarre tennis-related skill tests. Likewise, you can jump into the shoes of Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, or other real-world tennis stars.

What PS Vita brings to the court is a new, yet optional way to control the main serve-and-volley action, plus a series of “VT Apps.”

The core gameplay opens up considerably thanks to the PS Vita touch screen. Tap on the screen and your player will run to that spot. Once in place, you swipe in the direction you want to hit the ball, utilizing different gestures for topspin shots, lobs, backhands and more. Multitouch is employed to launch a lethal power shot – just swipe using two fingers to add an exclamation mark to a long volley.

Of course, you can still use the traditional stick-and-button controls, but here’s where it gets interesting: since both types of controls are always enabled, you can use a combination of the two. After a couple of games, I was navigating around the court with the left analog stick, and directing my shots with my right index finger on the screen. You can leverage any mix of touch and traditional controls, even in the middle of a point.

You might not always have enough time to power through a five-set marathon match, and so Virtua Tennis 4 for PS Vita includes a number of “VT apps” which are exclusive to the platform. My fave is called Touch Vs – a top-down mode for two players to compete on a single PS Vita. By turning the PS Vita on its side — air-hockey style — each player gets an analog stick and some screen real estate to shoot. It should prove to be a fun way squeeze in some two-player competition (and start a few conversations, too).

Additionally, Virtua Tennis 4 takes advantage of the Vita’s gyroscopes with the first person VR match (see the video above), and skill-building Rock the Boat, where you’re controlling your player as well as a ship you can lean back and forth. Virtua Tennis 4 also plans to take advantage of the system’s cameras through use of augmented reality, though Sega wasn’t yet ready to show that off.

Virtua Tennis 4 will be ready for launch when the PS Vita goes on sale. Tennis game aficionados should probably plan on taking it home with them the day they pick up a PlayStation Vita.

The premiere tennis game franchise from SEGA returns with Virtua Tennis 4 featuring worlds top star players, joined by some of the most exciting up-and-coming contenders. An all-star line-up of 19 players includes Nadal, Federer, Murray, Sharapova, Wozniacki and Williams.

To commemorate today's launch and the ongoing Wimbledon tournament, Virtua Tennis 4 will be available at a 10% discount now through July 1st 2011, 10am PDT. (see availability below)

Designed to encourage replay value and with an element of off-court fame, each decision affects a players career path meaning no two careers will ever be the same.

The new online centre will offer the worlds first engaging online tennis experience. Designed using the popular Virtua Fighter 5 technology, the matchmaking system promises more competitive games, and online tournaments will seek to find the ultimate Virtua Tennis champion.

A brand new on-court feature making for more dramatic matches. Build up your Match Momentum gauge over the course of a match and revel in your form as your player grows in confidence, allowing them to play shots mere mortals can only dream about.

Breaking the mini-game mould to include new weather conditions and put a real focus on multiplayer action, the VT mini-games will give players a real alternative mode to compete in both multiplayer and online.















Virtua Tennis 4 is available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States.

The premiere tennis game franchise from SEGA returns with Virtua Tennis 4 featuring worlds top star players, joined by some of the most exciting up-and-coming contenders. An all-star line-up of 19 players includes Nadal, Federer, Murray, Sharapova, Wozniacki and Williams.

To commemorate today's launch and the ongoing Wimbledon tournament, Virtua Tennis 4 will be available at a 10% discount now through July 1st 2011, 10am PDT. (see availability below)

Designed to encourage replay value and with an element of off-court fame, each decision affects a players career path meaning no two careers will ever be the same.

The new online centre will offer the worlds first engaging online tennis experience. Designed using the popular Virtua Fighter 5 technology, the matchmaking system promises more competitive games, and online tournaments will seek to find the ultimate Virtua Tennis champion.

A brand new on-court feature making for more dramatic matches. Build up your Match Momentum gauge over the course of a match and revel in your form as your player grows in confidence, allowing them to play shots mere mortals can only dream about.

Breaking the mini-game mould to include new weather conditions and put a real focus on multiplayer action, the VT mini-games will give players a real alternative mode to compete in both multiplayer and online.















Virtua Tennis 4 is available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States.

#thirdtimesacharm The fourth installment of Sega's Virtua Tennis is coming to the PS Vita as a launch title. This is the third time a Virtua Tennis title has been a launch title for new Sony hardware; previously, the PSP and PS3 saw the games as launch titles. More »

I didn't think I'd enjoy the touch screen controls in the PlayStation Vita version Virtua Tennis 4 when I walked up to try it at Sony's E3 2011 Press Conference. I was ready to write them off as nothing more than a gimmick, but they're not. Well, at least not totally...

Does SEGA's arcade tennis franchise serve up a smash hit?

Two pairs of Tennis stars face off in Singles action in Virtua Tennis 4.

Grab a partner and get out on the court for some Mixed Doubles action in Virtua Tennis 4.

Face off against tennis legends in Virtua Tennis 4!

A portion of an Aeropause review… I want to recommend the game badly, but right now, there are too many variables that leave you out in the dust, or worse, sticking to quick matches so you can actually play tennis.

It's probably a good thing that tennis video games aren't an annual endeavor. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Top Spin and Virtua Tennis, but looking at SEGA's Virtua Tennis 4 and how little has changed in the tennis world in the last four years I'm more than fine with not reviewing one of these games every year...

Jump into all-round arcade mode in this tactical trainer.

A montage of gameplay from several minigames within Virtua Tennis 4.

Sega's sent out a new Virtua Tennis 4 trailer, giving us a sample of the game's Kinect functionality. Sure, it doesn't have the same "moves" seen in other tennis game promo spots, but what it lacks in scantily-clad tennis stars, it makes up for with ... uh, wide-eyed youths and an English announcer?

Drop the controller and try playing Virtua Tennis 4 with Kinect for Xbox 360.

Sega is planning two demos for its upcoming Virtua Tennis 4. As Sega's Mie Kumagai notes on PlayStation Blog Europe, both demos will be exclusive to the PlayStation 3. The first demo will be released on April 13 in Europe -- April 19 in the US, Sega tells Joystiq -- and will show off the game's new World Tour mode. The newly revised globetrotting mode uses a board game layout, which you can glimpse in a trailer after the break. The demo will allow players to try out a small portion of the mode's first season.

Another demo is also planned for later this year. The second demo will include PlayStation Move support and will also let players test out the game's 3D functionality.

Showcasing the World Tour gameplay mode in Virtua Tennis 4.

Virtua Tennis serves up new gameplay modes coming to the PlayStation 3's tennis sim!

This summer, Sega will bring Virtua Tennis 4 to the PC, giving sun-fearing gamers a chance to partake in their favorite sport, safe from the dangers of UV rays and, uh, bees? Yeah, let's go with bees. They sting you!

The plan is to launch across digital distribution and retail, in both Europe and North America, although the boxed retail version will only be available in Europe. Apart from supporting the Xbox 360 controller, the PC version should be identical to its console counterparts, Sega says.

Sega is sending Virtua Tennis 4 for PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii over the net May 10. Now if don't know the release date, it's your own fault. (And with that, we're out of tennis jokes.)

This time, SEGA wants you off the couch and on your feet.

Be the pro player you want to be.

- player camera similar to last game - go towards the net by pressing B button - in motion mode, you don’t use the Nunchuk to move because “you don’t hold a stick on your left hand when you play real tennis” - no Classic Controller support, but does support NES-style play - on no Classic Controller support: “didn’t [...]

SEGA releases their first trailer for North America announcing the stars of Virtua Tennis 4!