AN INTERVIEW WITH SUMO DIGITAL ABOUT VIRTUA TENNIS 3
This is an interview we did with Sumo Digital, the developer of the Xbox 360 and PSP versions of Virtua Tennis 3.
It’s not a particularly good interview, as we were trying too hard to be funny in our questions and they were trying too hard to be funny in their answers. As a result, it contains no useful information at all.
Still, it’s an interview with Sumo Digital about Virtua Tennis 3 and has lots of great screenshots we took, so as long as it gets at least 10 Diggs and a link from Kotaku it will have been worth the effort.
AN INTERVIEW WITH STEVE LYCETT AND TOBY ALLEN, FROM SUMO DIGITAL, ABOUT VT3:
For idiot newcomers who’ve just discovered gaming thanks to Nintendo’s new toy, please say why Virtua Tennis is the best sports game in the world.
It’s more like playing real tennis, you actually have to move your player around the court. It’s nice and easy to play, you don’t have to worry about loads of buttons and controls, so pretty much anyone can just pick it up! Plus you can play sitting down, which’ll be a new experience to Wii owners, that and the players having a full complement of limbs.
We noted with GREAT JOY that VT3 plays the same as VT always has. This is more of a statement than a question, so you don’t have to say anything after this one.
If it ain’t broke…
VT3’s new mini games – are these designed by Sumo or AM3?
Whilst we did suggest various mini-games – most to do with selecting inappropriate camera angles! – these were dropped in favour of the AM3 ones :o)
For our European readers who like statistics, can you say how many mini games there are?
I believe we have at least more than one mini-game, and possibly less than 13.
What about other stuff? Is there other stuff?
You are expecting more? You can hear tennis players moaning and groaning at your every movement and you want more…?
Is there a ‘super racquet’?
Yes. But we’re not saying what special abilities it will endow you with.
From a technical point of view, how do you make graphics go on a TV screen?
Inside each console is a sausage mincer that takes the raw graphics, then minces them up to go down the cable to the screen. This is why some cables are better than others. Take composite, it’s only got the one video tube, about as thick as a chipolata. This is why the picture on composite is all greasy and smeared. We recommend using a good quality component cable, which allows us to deliver a nice red Cumberland, green Lincolnshire and blue traditional Banger, giving overall a much meatier picture.
Is Richard Jacques doing any of the sound? You could get him to do grunting noises.
We prefer the girls grunting noises to be honest.
Can we help in any way? We could make grunting noises, or help ‘do’ the manual. For free, obviously.
We’d love to say yes, but usually we expect people to pay us for the privilege of working with us.
Who would you rather work closely with in a hot motion capture studio – Maria Sharapova or Daniela Hantuchova?
Wait a minute, we didn’t have to choose last time.
Can you adjust chest sizes in the character creation menu?
Of course we can, we’ll probably lock it out of the final game though.
You’re implementing the online play for Xbox 360 VT3 – how’s that going?
It’s going at 1080p at 60fps mostly. Plus with it being on Live, you can add your own grunts to the game! Or heavy breathing, whichever you prefer really.
Why is it that some games are glitchy and rubbish on Xbox Live, but others are really smooth? Surely developers should all enable ‘Really Smooth Mode’ by default?
Sending online data is similar to sending video, just you need to make sure there is no gristle in there. We use Tyne Brand data, unlike some other developers who use meat they’ve got cheap in the pub.
Do you have any involvement with the PS3 version of VT3?
We’ve played it. That and stole all AM3’s source code, which saved us doing a load of work.
Wouldn’t it be great if Sony closed and SEGA made a new console? Say, for Christmas 2007? It would be about five times as powerful as Xbox 360 and would launch with just Space Channel 5 Part 3!
But if Sony shut, there’d be no PS3 to play Sudoku on! We would of course welcome a new Sega console like a brother we never knew we had. So long as they weren’t ginger.
Isn’t it sad what’s happened to Sonic The Hedgehog recently?
Don’t tell me that was Sonic I hit on the way home from the pub. I just thought it was a blue haired punk juggling some rings. Sorry mate.
We might launch a campaign soon saying SEGA should make a new 2D Sonic game to release on Xbox Live/Virtual Console. Would you support this move? And more importantly, would you buy a t-shirt supporting it if we got some made up and charged about £17 for it?
We’d fully endorse a new 2D Sonic title. In fact we’re available for work as soon as VT3 goes. We only charge two thirds of our normal fee for a 2D game, since it has one less dimensions worth of graphics. T-Shirt wise, so long as it is better than the rival gangs ones, we didn’t get that.
Do you have any quotes you’d like us to get in the VT3 review? Usually we charge money for this service, but seeing as it’s Virtua Tennis we’ll do it for free.
VT3 is the only game to buy in March. Period.
Finally, can you say something controversial, so we can make it the headline and get loads of traffic from Digg? Say something like “PS3 isn’t as good as Xbox 360” or “Wii is just a Gamecube with a rubbish controller”.
Jack Thompson agrees that Virtual Tennis 3 is wholesome family fun. It is the only game he officially likes. Allegedly.
Thanks!
HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL SCREENSHOTS WE TOOK OF XBOX 360 VIRTUA TENNIS 3, SHOWN IN THEIR FULL 1080p GLORY:
We’re very proud of this screenshot. Great composition.
We’ve reviewed Xbox 360 Virtua Tennis 3 about four times so far for various media outlets, giving it two 9/10s and two 5/5s. We’ll give it 10/10 here as you understand a bit better. 10/10. It’s the first game this year we’ve been genuinely enthusiastic about, instead of just pretending to be enthusiastic about.
filed in ENTHUSIASM on Apr.24, 2007
April 24th, 2007 on 2:42 pm
Hooray, another ballgame you play by twitching your thumbs whilst seated in your living room! No wonder all the kids are fat and stupid.
April 24th, 2007 on 5:29 pm
Sumo are lovely people, Thats 3 Sega ports they’ve done now which have all been full of blue skies and shiny things.
Sega must make them port After Burner Climax to the 360 now.
That would be nice.
April 24th, 2007 on 7:00 pm
Menski: Sumo are lovely people, Thats 3 Sega ports they’ve done now which have all been full of blue skies and shiny things.
Erm… Me: Yep well said mate, Sumo are ace, they are better at making SEGA games than SEGA are at the moment. They should do the next Nights game, instead of it being made by a bunch of Yanks with no passion.
That was a great interview Zorg, proper down to earth with no false bull shit. You should work for a games mag or something. ;)
April 24th, 2007 on 10:18 pm
I’d buy the t-shirt…
Also, why aren’t hi-def graphics advertised in megapixels? Then people would understand 1920×1080 is 1.98 megapixels. 720p is only 0.88 megapixels, rubbish huh?
Word Verification: mfiezl – “down wit’ the kids”
April 25th, 2007 on 8:24 am
In the screenshot you’re very proud of because of the great composition the official behind the diving player’s racquet has his arse on backwards. There are very clearly buttocks behind the front of his trousers.
Or perhaps he just has enormous balls?
April 25th, 2007 on 12:12 pm
Ace interview. It was better than the one I did for the police recently.
Sumo are great. Although, Unfortunately, they did develop the wank Rub a Dub duck thing on PS3
April 25th, 2007 on 1:18 pm
Great interview but “agrees that Virtual Tennis 3 is wholesome family fun.”
VirtuaL????
April 25th, 2007 on 1:41 pm
Can you get back onto Sumo Digital and ask them which muppet there developed the code in Outrun 2006:Coast To Coast for the PSP? Because it detects an almost empty 4GB card as having not enough free space for saves. Well done Sumo.
April 25th, 2007 on 2:24 pm
Come on guys – please get back to the slagging off the PS3.
April 25th, 2007 on 2:56 pm
No bored of that now, we all know PS2 was the console that should have failed. The damage has been done and the games industry will never be the same again, with or without the PS3.
April 25th, 2007 on 3:20 pm
Virtua Tennis on the Wii, please!
And Phorenzik can fuck right off – Rub-A-Dub looks great, if only for the fact it’ll keep my other half quiet for a few hours and I can get some fucking peace.
April 25th, 2007 on 4:02 pm
Johnny:
If Sony actually had a 4GB card out when we did OutRun, and if their libraries had supported it, then I’m sure the game would work with a 4GB card now :)
You can work around it, create a save on a smaller card, then copy it onto the bigger card. This bypasses the space check (since the save exists) and should let you play the game on your swanky big memory stick.
No doubt we’ll get a second wave of complaints when the 8GB one shows up too.
By the way, we did reply to the email you sent us here too…
Nice to see plenty of positive comments here, and some defence for Rub a Dub!
April 25th, 2007 on 4:18 pm
Is it even possible to give Virtua Tennis negative comments?
C’mon, it’s Virtua Tennis!
April 25th, 2007 on 4:37 pm
Oi, Sumo bloke, Rub a Dub was an excellent concept. I really liked the idea, and thought you did a good job. I only really slagged it off because it’s on the PS3. Also, the controls were a bit twitchy, and I was shit at it.
We need more british developers like you. Especially now that Rare are wank, and all the others have gone bankrupt.
Now that I’ve apologised, can I have a job? I’ll start by making the tea and work my way up from there. I’ve got quite low self esteem so everyone could bully me and I wouldn’t mind. I’d kind of expect it actually.
April 25th, 2007 on 5:41 pm
I dunno if we need someone quite so bipolar, though I was amused with your blog, having worked in a gameshop many years ago. We gave all the customers names too.
You could do worse than drop a CV in to us. The address to mail it to is cunningly hidden on our website.
April 25th, 2007 on 7:49 pm
“Inside each console is a sausage mincer that takes the raw graphics, then minces them up to go down the cable to the screen.”
This is why the 360 is better than the PS3. The 360’s 3 dual-threaded mincers can do cumberland, while PS3’s 7 single-threaded synergistic mincing units only manage chippolatas.
What’s more, the 360’s mincers are general purpose and can mince anything, while the PS3’s mincers have to be given separate tasks, such as 1 does pork, 1 fat, 1 rusk, 1 lips, 1 bollocks, 1 eyelids etc…
April 25th, 2007 on 8:02 pm
Well, thanks for the reply S0l. I find it astonishing that neither Sumo Digital or Sony ever countenanced the possibility that 4GB cards would one day exist. Anyway, thanks for the workaround, the rest of the thing is a damn fine piece of game.
April 25th, 2007 on 8:37 pm
Darth Sol! He’s like the Candyman, mention Sumo in any web based forum, or blog and he appears in a big puff of smoke.
Then kills you.
April 25th, 2007 on 10:05 pm
I applied to Sumo for a programming position last year but I didn’t hear anything back. Bah! I’m a super duper coder man too.
Nevermind, I got a job at another Sheffield game studio and have an interview for ANOTHER Sheffield game studio next week. They shall remain nameless, lest my employers read this ;)
I shall try again next year, Sumo *sniff*
April 25th, 2007 on 11:33 pm
Here’s two NEGATIVE Virtua Tennis comments, then:
1. Why is it all my buttons seem set to ‘hurl yourself with bone-crunching force onto your shoulder and completely fail to return the ball, you fat idiot’. This bug was present in both the previous VT games!
2. Why is the 360 demo version set to ‘Bastard rape hard’ difficulty?
April 25th, 2007 on 11:36 pm
phorenzik said…
Oi, Sumo bloke, Rub a Dub was an excellent concept. I really liked the idea, and thought you did a good job. I only really slagged it off because it’s on the PS3. Also, the controls were a bit twitchy, and I was shit at it.
We need more british developers like you. Especially now that Rare are wank, and all the others have gone bankrupt.
Now that I’ve apologised, can I have a job? I’ll start by making the tea and work my way up from there. I’ve got quite low self esteem so everyone could bully me and I wouldn’t mind. I’d kind of expect it actually.
This message is brought to you by the fine people at “British Sterotypes Inc.”
April 26th, 2007 on 12:46 am
No worries Johnny, thats what we’re here for.
Mentski, do you follow me round or something?
Cowbrain, what can I say? If I was in charge of hiring, you’d have a position based on your CJD quotient if nothing else.
Branch-me-do, try being in the right place to RETURN THE BALL. Doing so will result in you nimbly hitting the ball over the net against your mighty rival, instead of falling over like someone who is really fay. If the demo is too hard, you should give up games as a pastime.
Finally Colin, up the apples and stairs before popping the kettle on for a brew. Son.
Next!
April 26th, 2007 on 2:41 am
Finally, the funny returns! I welcome the humor. Keep it up, even if it’s at the expense of the PS3. Just keep it funny!
April 26th, 2007 on 3:05 am
“Mentski, do you follow me round or something?”
Nonono, nothing like that, but there are a fair few forums that I lurk on where you’ve cropped up when people have been talking about one of the games that you did done (usually Outrun)
Quite brave of you really. everyone knows games players are psychotic lunatics, that’s why other developers hide away in their cupboards and dont talk to the average punter, for fear of being stalked, or begged to make a port of After Burner Climax for the 360. Or something.
April 26th, 2007 on 6:26 am
It’s a shame that VT3 has dodgy visuals. I wish Sega had learnt how to model characters.
Why do tennis games look so dodgy? … I hope someone can make one that looks amazing.
April 26th, 2007 on 6:59 am
4 and 8 GB Duo-owning PSP owners might be relieved to know that Burnout Dominator PSP will save on their ridiculously oversized memory cards just fine when it ships in the UK this week…
April 26th, 2007 on 8:04 am
It seems some commenters on kotaku are calling ukresistance “stupid” or “not a real gaming site” but what do they know eh? Those fucking americans with their shit identical news sites full of political correctness and pretentious shite.
HATE THEM! FUCKING HATE THEM! HATE THEM! WANKERS!
April 26th, 2007 on 10:18 am
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Word Verification: zhrbx – The sound of 1 million volts streaming through your bowels
April 26th, 2007 on 10:34 am
dw2k6 said…
It seems some commenters on kotaku are calling ukresistance “stupid” or “not a real gaming site” but what do they know eh? Those fucking americans with their shit identical news sites full of political correctness and pretentious shite.
HATE THEM! FUCKING HATE THEM! HATE THEM! WANKERS!
—————–
This will please you then:
http://kotaku.com/gaming/legal/jack-sues-kotaku-255321.php
April 26th, 2007 on 4:44 pm
Wow, some of you have your noses a little too far up Sumo’s buttox.
My turn: great job on 360 VT3 gameplay SUMO. It’s the best tennis video game I’ve ever played, and I’ve played a lot of them.
Now the rub: who came up with the brilliant idea of allowing Duke (and to a lesser extent King) in ranked matches? King vs Pros is like Federer versus Bobby Riggs, in the hands of two similarly skilled players. Luckilly we can cancel out of Duke matches when we play ranked, and that’s the only thing that saved this game online. Any chance we’ll see a patch to remove Duke/King from ranked play? Customs are fine, since they’re actually weaker than the pros!
Other than that, great job Sumo!
April 26th, 2007 on 8:27 pm
dw2k6 said…
It seems some commenters on kotaku are calling ukresistance “stupid” or “not a real gaming site” but what do they know eh? Those fucking americans with their shit identical news sites full of political correctness and pretentious shite.
HATE THEM! FUCKING HATE THEM! HATE THEM! WANKERS!
Man, you should try living with them as neighbors. I mean, they’re basically living in our basement.
May 16th, 2007 on 8:44 pm
Sega fanboys dreaming about a new Dreamcast, and cuddle with 360. Hating on PS3 because “Sony vanished SEGA”. Boo-hoo, poor losers.
By the way, I have a 360, and a PS3, and both are great, but you fanboys are retards.