Mana Games

[manutoo]

@Everybody :
Hey people, you're supposed to tell me when you find something like this strange service, don't wait for someone else to report it 1st !
Anyway, I guess I corrected that, so now if you notice it again, don't forget to let me know !

I also updated the 1-handed backhand animation, hopefully, it'll be on the correct stance now.
And I added the new visual helper for S.Williamz, but everybody is very welcome to comment it..!

managames.com/download.php?TennisElbow2008_ft1b.exe (same than link on 1st post, but avoid to have go back to look for it)

[JenerationJ]

Woo hoo can't wait to try....oh wait...I'm on a mac :'(

[Brad1981]

The game seems to get better with each modified update. Thanks mostly for S.Williamz input, it is gradually getting better.
However, the game seems to be more "choppy" than TE 2006. Movement doesn't seem as smooth. That's a great part about TE 2006, the fluidity. I used the cheat code to make my player run faster, and that was a little better, but too fast
Maybe if movement could be a tad faster to overcome the seemingly slower movement (I guess due to the 3D players)?

[manutoo]

Brad1981, I'm not sure to understand what you mean...
Is it a problem with the framerate ? Maybe your PC isn't powerful enough to run the game smoothly ?
Look the FPS counter on top left, it should show 60 ; if it's below, something like 30, then it's the cause of your problem.

If you just mean about the player run speed, try to raise his Speed & Tonicity to 100, it should help.
Actually, I slightly raised the maximum speed in TE2008 compared to TE2006. The acceleration is almost some, though.

[Brad1981]

My framerate is about 60. Yes, framerate is fine.
I raised both of those things to 100, and it's still the same.
I guess to be more specific, the player seems to "bounce" when he's running, and that is perhaps what is making it seem slower getting around the court.
If that bounce was taken away, I'm sure it would be very fluid/smooth...

[S.Williamz]

Omg that is a great new visual helper you added manutoo! It made the game so much more fun too.
I think that it should be a bit harder to hit right on or near the lines, now it's pretty easy, maybe you could adjust it, if possible?


I have another suggestion:(lol)

One thing I feel is lacking a bit is the feeling of intensity in a rally...I think there should be a way to hit even harder than the acceleration sometimes, if you take a risk.
Could you think about it? It would be fun I think if there was even more varying speeds in rallies...mainly more faster speeds.
Maybe something like this: if your opponent has to run a long distance to get to a ball, he/she will lose some power from his/her shot, the longer the distance he/she has to run the more power he/she will lose, and instead you will get more power to your shots, the weaker the opponents return is. So if you manage to get control of a rally and move your opponent, you sort of get a reward(more power to your shots) and that way can try to finish the point off. (an extreme example: your opponent is on the far left side of the court, and you hit to the open right side, your opponent has to run the whole leght of the court to get the ball, and therefore can only hit a very weak loopy shot back, and you get a power bonus, and are able to hit a very hard shot that is almost a sure winner. The way the game is now, you can run a whole court and still be able to hit a normal shot, and all very hard "finishing" shots cease to exist)
You have that great sideways run animation...I think maybe if the player has to start running that way, he/she will start losing power from his/her shots...if the player does the split steps, he/she wouldn't lose power. Also I think the player needs to start running sideways a little earlier, now he/she can still move half a court in split steps easily. lol
Btw, I noticed in the concepts that you get a little power bonus if you hit the ball while running, with the normal shot...shouldn't this be the exact opposite? You are rewarded for running? So I should first run away from the ball, then back to it, just to get the power bonus? That sounds silly. In real life players are trying to move their opponents, not to run around themselves too much. So I think you should lose power if you run.

[ahmedcoolio]

Tell me if im wrong manutoo, after the latest updates i feel that the b1 strike has gotten a bit slower...earlier i would use that shot sometimes as a offensive shot also but now its just a mere rally shot.....i just felt it so commenting here lol....but im enjoying the b1+b2 strike it has improved immensely and feels great not to make errors every other shot...and having a tad bit problem with volleys ...but when i do execute it most of the time they look quite exquisite just wanted the b1 strike to more be powerful or faster .

[JenerationJ]

Is the power distribution like this:

b1<b2<b1+b2

if so the b1 shot should be somewhat of a rally shot or safe shot, weakest in power but high in precision and consistency.

[Algo]

i've got a really strange top spin, it was almost at the center but inmediately it bounced it went to the right like it was a slice or something
/
bounce
|
|
\
- \
me
something like that
how can i record a replay to show things like this?

-am i getting worse or the level 2 bot is harder now?

[TTennisfan]

Same here : yes an amazing top spin on my serve i serve in the T and it goes completly on the left... and even when i'm trying to make a ds just above the net it has a real strange top spin

[Santiago92]

That new helper is great, good job Manu

[manutoo]

@Everybody :
Updated Test version with :
- new sidestep animation, less bouncing
- a lil bit harder to aim

@Brad1981 :
I removed a big part of the bounce, but I guess the anim is still not perfect... Let me know what u think...


@S.Williamz :
>> it should be a bit harder to hit right on or near the lines

Actually, once you know how to play, u're supposed to remove the visual aiming helper, and thus it'll be hard again to aim for the lines..!
Anyway, I did a little tuning, and it should be slightly harder now.

[intensity in a rally]
Don't forget the CPU is basic now, and it doesn't follow the rules u have to follow.
Mainly, if your opponent hits an acceleration, you'll have trouble to position yourself in time, so it'll be hard for u to hit an acceleration back, without a big loss of precision at least, thus you'll be incline to play the normal strike, or even the safe strike.
Moreover, even if you hit an acceleration, there's a good chance you'll be taken into the danger zone, thus playing a difficult ball will reduce your acceleration speed (as well as your precision).
I think all in all, it's a pretty good & well balanced system that give very skilled player a chance to counter acceleration more easily than less skilled players (ie: real skill in brain => reflexes or tactics).

[run => speed bonus for strikes]
the bonus is only for the normal & topspin strikes, and it's very small, about 5kmh, and it's given in exchange of the loss of precision... And again, if you're taken in the danger zone, as well as if you don't hit in the cords, you'll have also a little speed loss, so once all in all, I think it's a fair trade...
This bonus has been done in reference to the famous cross court powerful forehand of Pete Sampras, done in full run...


@ahmedcoolio :
yup, u're right.
Coz the normal strike was a bit too overpowered compared to the acceleration when in a difficult situation, I decided to add this little speed handicap.
It's quite small, about 5% from when you take a quite difficult ball + not hit with the cords.

So if the ball isn't difficult, and u hit it with the cords, u'll have same speed than before.

@JenerationJ :
Actually :
b1 = normal speed strikes
b1+b2 = accelerations
b2 = slower strikes
And you should find a friend with a Windows PC..!
(or install Windows on ur Mac, if u dare )

@R.Valenzuela :
This is the Nadal strike !! (firstly, introduced in TE2006 a few months ago)
It's done by doing this combo :
b1 + up, then b1 + down

But I have a lil problem with it, now... It's kinda too easy to do it, and using a gamepad, I do it sometimes without wanting...
So I might change the sensibility, like it'll need a bit more time doing b1+up to activate it.

@TTennisfan :
Yup, same than Nadal strike, but on serve => kick serve. It's a very popular effect for the 2nd serve in professional tennis.
The aiming is harder to do when you do this serve, though.

@Santiago92 :
Thanks !

[S.Williamz]

Ok manutoo, that sounds good I guess, but it would be nice to test all this stuff against a tougher CPU because now it doesn't feel like top tennis, but rather some club level...lol. That is why I complain about ball speeds etc. because there is no feeling of pro tennis, at all. I hope playing against a better opponent changes that.

Hopefully for example when playing online, you cannot use the visual helper, because it's obviously a clear advantage and those who don't want to use it would have to basically.

[manutoo]

S.Williamz, as you noticed the game isn't finished...
Hopefully, I'll start to work on the new AI this week, and the Test Version #2 will be ready in 1 month.
Tough the current CPU is clearly not a pro, he already has a national level : no fault, and a lot of different effects & can send ball everywhere..!

About the online mode, sure the visual helpers will be turned off for Tourney & Fair modes, but will be still available in Free mode.
I'm hesitating to allow the aiming helper in Fair mode (it'd be fair for both players, coz it'd also show at your opponent where you're going to play your strike), but I'm afraid that the usual stupid people will use it to annoy their opponent by doing several left/right aiming on each shot...

[sphanlon]

I've been away for a while since I didn't think this would be out yet. So what's this test version? Does it just have an exhibition match? Or is there more to it? Any projections on the final release? Do TE 06 owners still get that discount you used to talk about?