Software:Virtua Tennis 2

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Short description: 2001 sports video game
Virtua Tennis 2
European Dreamcast cover art
Developer(s)Hitmaker
Publisher(s)Sega
Acclaim Entertainment (Europe, PS2)
Director(s)Katsumoto Tatsukawa
Producer(s)Mie Kumagai
Designer(s)Kazuko Noguchi
Programmer(s)Mitsuharu Saikawa
Composer(s)Chiho Kobayashi
SeriesVirtua Tennis
Platform(s)Arcade
Dreamcast
PlayStation 2
ReleaseArcade
2001
Dreamcast
  • NA: October 23, 2001[1]
  • JP: November 15, 2001
  • EU: November 23, 2001
PlayStation 2
  • NA: July 30, 2002[2]
  • JP: November 7, 2002
  • EU: November 29, 2002
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemSega NAOMI

Virtua Tennis 2, known as Tennis 2K2 in North America and Power Smash 2 (パワースマッシュ2, Pawā Sumasshu Tsū) in Japan, is a sequel to Virtua Tennis that was released for the Sega Dreamcast, Sega NAOMI arcade unit and Sony's PlayStation 2 (known as Sega Sports Tennis in North America) in 2001–2002. New features included the ability to slice and play as female players such as Monica Seles, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport and the males such as Patrick Rafter, Magnus Norman, Thomas Enqvist and Carlos Moyá and mixed doubles matches. The game was created and produced by Hitmaker, with Acclaim Entertainment publishing it in Europe for the PS2. This was the last Virtua Tennis game to be released for the Dreamcast following its discontinuation.

Game modes

Tournament

The player must win 5 matches played on different surfaces and venues to win a tournament. If the player performs well enough, he is challenged by either King or Queen, the game's bosses, depending whether the selected player is male or female.

Exhibition

This is a single match in which the options are customizable.

World Tour

This is the main mode of the game. For the first time in the Virtua Tennis series, the World Tour mode features yearly based and calendarized seasons. Users have to play and win tournaments throughout the seasons, as well as to complete training exercises, in order to progress. Also, unlike any other game in the series, the World Tour mode on Virtua Tennis 2 requires the user to play and train both a male and a female players simultaneously, who can also team up to play in mixed doubles tournaments. The user enters with a rank of 300th for both male and female players, which improves as matches and tournaments are won. In addition, the players' abilities can be improved by completing different training exercises. The focus of the training exercises are to be fun, rather than realistic. Each exercise has four levels, with the difficulty increasing progressively. By completing the hardest difficulty with a certain amount of time left or points scored, an outfit is unlocked, which players can wear in all modes.

Game Content

Playable Characters

SPT World Championships Tour Competitions

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DreamcastPS2
AllGameStarStarStarStarHalf star[5]N/A
Edge8/10[6]N/A
EGM8.17/10[7][lower-alpha 1]8.17/10[8]
Eurogamer6/10[10]9/10[11]
Famitsu31/40[12]N/A
Game Informer9.5/10[13]9.25/10[14]
GameRevolutionN/AB+[15]
GameSpot8.5/10[16]8.5/10[17]
GameSpy8.5/10[18]84%[19]
GameZone8.5/10[20]8.8/10[21]
IGN9.6/10[22]8.5/10[23]
OPM (US)N/AStarStarStarStarHalf star[24]
Aggregate score
Metacritic90/100[3]83/100[4]

The Dreamcast version received "universal acclaim", while the PlayStation 2 version received "favorable" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3][4] In GamePro's January 2002 issue, Four-Eyed Dragon said of the Dreamcast version, "Don't throw out your Dreamcast yet! Tennis 2K2 simply rules by all standards, especially when played with a gang of four competitive friends."[25][lower-alpha 2] Nine issues later, however, Air Hendrix said of the PlayStation 2 version, "It's puzzling that this game could look better on the Dreamcast than on the PS2, but it does: Jagged edges, weird shimmering, and poor texture quality make this Tennis 2K2 uglier than its Dreamcast forefather. Even worse, the A.I.-controlled doubles partners make brutally bad mistakes on a regular basis, forcing you to continually scramble to cover their backside."[26][lower-alpha 3] In Japan, Famitsu gave the former console version a score of 31 out of 40.[12]

Also in Japan, Game Machine listed the arcade version in their December 1, 2001 issue as the seventh-most successful arcade game of the month.[27]

The Dreamcast version was nominated at The Electric Playground's 2001 Blister Awards for "Best Console Sports Game" and "Dreamcast Game of the Year", but lost to Madden NFL 2002, NBA 2K2, and NFL 2K2 (the latter two a tie), respectively.[28][29]

Notes

  1. ↑ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Dreamcast version each a score of 8/10, 9/10, and 7.5/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the Dreamcast version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and control, 3.5/5 for sound, and 5/5 for fun factor.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation 2 version 2.5/5 for graphics, 3.5/5 for sound, 5/5 for control, and 4/5 for fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ "SEGA SPORTS BUILDS UPON A WINNING FRANCHISE WITH TENNIS 2K2 FOR DREAMCAST". October 23, 2001. http://www.segasports.com/article.jsp?ArticleId=ART000000016. 
  2. ↑ Douglass C. Perry (July 22, 2002). "Hands-on Sega Sports Tennis". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/07/22/hands-on-sega-sports-tennis. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Virtua Tennis 2 critic reviews (DC)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/virtua-tennis-2/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Virtua Tennis 2 critic reviews (PS2)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/virtua-tennis-2/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. 
  5. ↑ Skyler Miller. "Tennis 2K2 – Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=35026&tab=review. 
  6. ↑ Edge staff (Christmas 2001). "Virtua Tennis 2 (DC)". Edge (Future Publishing) (105): 85. https://retrocdn.net/images/8/8e/Edge_UK_105.pdf. Retrieved February 16, 2025. 
  7. ↑ Dan Leahy; James "Milkman" Mielke; Jonathan Dudlak (January 2002). "Tennis 2K2". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (150): 232. https://retrocdn.net/images/3/31/EGM_US_150.pdf. Retrieved February 16, 2025. 
  8. ↑ EGM staff (September 2002). "Sega Sports Tennis". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (158): 152. 
  9. ↑ Sean Miller (January 22, 2002). "Tennis 2K2 (DC)". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=8119&full=1. 
  10. ↑ Tom Bramwell (December 28, 2001). "Virtua Tennis 2 (Dreamcast)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/r-virtuatennis2-dc. 
  11. ↑ Kristan Reed (November 19, 2002). "Virtua Tennis 2 (PlayStation 2)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/r-virtuatennis2-ps2. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "ドリームキャスト – POWER SMASH 2" (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain) 915: 54. June 30, 2006. https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12435&redirect=no. Retrieved February 16, 2025. 
  13. ↑ Matt Helgeson (January 2002). "Tennis 2K2 (DC)". Game Informer (GameStop) (105): 90. https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-105-january-2002/page/90/mode/2up. Retrieved February 17, 2025. 
  14. ↑ Matt Helgeson (September 2002). "Tennis 2K2 [sic (PS2)"]. Game Informer (GameStop) (113): 81. https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-113-september-2002/page/80/mode/2up. Retrieved August 12, 2020. 
  15. ↑ Ben Silverman (August 17, 2002). "Sega Sports Tennis Review (PS2)". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/35909-sega-sports-tennis-review. 
  16. ↑ Ryan Davis (October 24, 2001). "Sega Sports Tennis 2K2 Review (DC)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sega-sports-tennis-2k2-review/1900-2820011/. 
  17. ↑ Ryan Davis (July 29, 2002). "Sega Sports Tennis Review (PS2) [date mislabeled as "October 21, 2005""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sega-sports-tennis/1900-2875910/. 
  18. ↑ Tom Chick (November 7, 2001). "Sega Sports Tennis 2K2". IGN Entertainment. http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/tennis2k2/. 
  19. ↑ Gerald Villoria (August 7, 2002). "Sega Sports Tennis". IGN Entertainment. http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/august02/segasportstennisps2/. 
  20. ↑ Louis Bedigian (November 11, 2001). "Sega Sports(tm) Tennis 2K2 Review – Dreamcast". http://dreamcast.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r18716.htm. 
  21. ↑ Nick Valentino (August 19, 2002). "Sega Sports(tm) Tennis Review – PlayStation 2". http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r18716.htm. 
  22. ↑ Anthony Chau (October 29, 2001). "Tennis 2K2". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/10/30/tennis-2k2. 
  23. ↑ Douglass C. Perry (July 26, 2002). "Sega Sports Tennis". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/07/26/sega-sports-tennis. 
  24. ↑ Todd Zuniga (September 2002). "Sega Sports Tennis". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (60): 118. https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-60-september-2002/page/118/mode/2up. Retrieved May 16, 2023. 
  25. ↑ Four-Eyed Dragon (January 2002). "Tennis 2K2 (DC)". GamePro (IDG) (160): 128. https://retrocdn.net/images/9/9d/GamePro_US_160.pdf. Retrieved February 16, 2025. 
  26. ↑ Air Hendrix (October 2002). "Sega Sports Tennis". GamePro (IDG) (169). http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/25656.shtml. Retrieved August 13, 2020. 
  27. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 – TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)" (in ja). Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (647): 17. December 1, 2001. 
  28. ↑ EP staff (2002). "Blister Awards 2001 (Console Games 2)". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/feature.html?id=8152&page=5. 
  29. ↑ EP staff (2002). "Blister Awards 2001 (Console Games 3)". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/feature.html?id=8152&page=6. 

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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