Grand Slam Tennis

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Grand Slam Tennis
Developer(s)EA Canada
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts
Platform(s)Wii
Release
  • NA: June 8, 2009[1]
  • AU: June 9, 2009
  • UK: June 12, 2009
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single Player, Multiplayer

Grand Slam Tennis (known as Grand Chelem Tennis in France) is a tennis video game, developed by EA Canada,[2] and released for the Wii in 2009. Versions for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 were planned to be released Autumn 2009, but they have been "delayed indefinitely". Instead, a sequel, Grand Slam Tennis 2, was released exclusively for those consoles in February 2012.[3]

Some features for the Wii version include online play, Wii MotionPlus functionality, pick up and play, a Grand Slam career mode, and all four Grand Slam locations, including Wimbledon. The Wii version was also the first title in Europe to be bundled with the Wii MotionPlus.[4]

The in-game music was created by Paul van Dyk, who wrote and produced all the tracks in the game.

Gameplay

Grand Slam Tennis features 23 total players, including 10 retired legends and 13 of today's top players at the time of the game's release.[citation needed] It also includes a "Create-A-Player" mode. In the "Create-A-Player" mode, players can create their own unique player for use in all modes of the game. The player can customize their created player with branded clothing, racquet styles, accessories and physical appearance. Up to nine players can be created at any one time. Pat Cash serves as the commentator even when he is playing in a match. Grand Slam Tennis offers 12 different authentic stadiums from all four Grand Slam venues to play in, and is the first video game since Top Spin 2 to feature a licensed Wimbledon.

Play Now is a mode allows players to enter either a singles or doubles match. This mode is available for both single and multiplayer forms of play. The player is able to select their venue, and to choose settings such as set length, number of sets, difficulty and the option of a tie-break.

Grand Slam mode allows players to embark on a career with their created player. The career involves travelling to each of the four Grand Slam tournaments and attempt to achieve the Grand Slam by winning every tournament. Each tournament begins with a warm-up match against a fellow fictional rookie of average ability. The player can then challenge a legend or current player to a match in an attempt to learn the players special ability, e.g. Rafael Nadal's forehand topspin, or Björn Borg's fitness. If the player is successful with their challenge, they may equip that special ability for use in future matches. The player can equip only one ability to start with, however as the player increases in skill, they will be able to equip multiple abilities at one time. Then the player will take part in a party style mini-game form of tennis along with fictional players, before starting the tournament. Every tournament starts at the round of 32 stage (round 3).

Party Mode is a collection of mini-games that are each a slightly altered form of tennis, with slight rule changes:

  • Tag Team: 2 on 2 with players rotating and taking turns hitting the ball.
  • Aussie Doubles: 2 on 1 and the players rotate after each set.
  • Drop and Lob: use the drop shot and lob winners for double points.
  • Champs: time based game, take turns swinging, win the rally to become a champ.
  • King of the Court: beat the king to become king, only the king earns points.
  • Net-masters: Net shots are worth double points.
  • Triplets: Similar to Aussie doubles where (2 on 1) but the players do not rotate around.

Online multiplayer consists of ranked or unranked matches where you can play anyone around the world. Ranked earns the player points when they beat someone and these points decide what overall ranking you are in the world. Unranked matches are friendly and do not earn any points for the player's online profile. It is good for people who are preparing to hit the leaderboards. When players win ranked matches they do not only win points for themselves but also for their country. There is a national leaderboard which shows which country has the best players.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic78/100[5]
Review scores
PublicationScore
1Up.comB−[6]
Eurogamer8/10[7]
Famitsu27/40[8]
Game Informer7/10[9]
GameProStarStarStarStarHalf star[10]
GameSpot6/10[11]
GameTrailers8.5/10[12]
GameZone8.2/10[13]
IGN8.5/10[14]
Nintendo Power7.5/10[15]
The Daily Telegraph8/10[16]
Teletext GameCentral8/10[17]

Grand Slam Tennis received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5] In Japan, where the game was ported for release on July 2, 2009,[18] Famitsu gave it a score of one eight, two sixes, and one seven for a total of 27 out of 40.[8]

411Mania gave it a score of eight out of ten and said, "If you are a big fan of the sport, and even engage in the sport in your free time, you will no-doubt enjoy this game. Grand Slam is a fun way to prepare you for the game's real online draw. If you've just been settling for Wii Tennis over the past few years, then now is the time to act, because Grand Slam Tennis is likely as good as it is ever going to get for the sport on the Wii."[19] The Daily Telegraph similarly gave it eight out of ten, saying, "Though ultimately lacking the precision a truly great tennis game needs, EA should be commended for a superb Wii effort which amply demonstrates the publisher's commitment to the format. If not quite the revolution it promised to be, Grand Slam Tennis shows enough promise that next year's iteration should be a classic."[16] Teletext GameCentral also gave it eight out of ten, saying, "EA's tennis and Wii MotionPlus debut is a success after all and an encouraging sign for the future."[17]

References

  1. "EA's Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 and Grand Slam Tennis to Hit Retail One Week Early". Business Wire (Berkshire Hathaway). May 4, 2009. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090504005761/en. Retrieved May 4, 2009. 
  2. "Anyone for Tennis? EA Announces Tennis Franchise in Development". August 20, 2008. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110710163357/http://investor.ea.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=328927. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  3. Molina, Brett (August 11, 2011). "EA Sports bringing 'Grand Slam Tennis' to PS3, Xbox". USA Today (Gannett Company). http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2011/08/ea-sports-bringing-grand-slam-tennis-to-ps3-xbox/1. 
  4. "EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 available with Wii MotionPlus at Launch". April 21, 2009. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090424210131/http://tennis.easports.com/blognews.action?itemID=WiiMotionPlus-Release. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Grand Slam Tennis for Wii Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/grand-slam-tennis/critic-reviews/?platform=wii. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  6. Haywald, Justin (June 12, 2009). "Grand Slam Tennis". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100105163437/http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3174756&p=44. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  7. Reed, Kristan (June 22, 2009). "Grand Slam Tennis". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/grand-slam-tennis-review. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 rawmeatcowboy (June 23, 2009). "Famitsu - review scores". https://www.gonintendo.com/stories/94820-famitsu-review-scores. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  9. Bertz, Matt (July 2009). "Grand Slam Tennis: Big Hopes And Broken Rackets". Game Informer (GameStop) (195): 85. Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090619072840/http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/85B6A339-FC90-4301-BBDE-D0FDC56CD5A8.htm. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  10. Cabral, Matt (June 29, 2009). "Grand Slam Tennis". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on July 4, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090704071024/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/211051/grand-slam-tennis/. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  11. Anderson, Luke (June 17, 2009). "Grand Slam Tennis Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/grand-slam-tennis-review/1900-6212084/. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  12. "Grand Slam Tennis Review". Viacom. June 23, 2009. Archived from the original on July 15, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090715175420/http://www.gametrailers.com/gamereview.php?id=10976. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  13. Myers, Dallas (June 12, 2009). "EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis - WII - Review". Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090615080130/http://wii.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r37568.htm. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  14. Bozon, Mark (June 8, 2009). "Grand Slam Tennis Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/08/grand-slam-tennis-review. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  15. "Grand Slam Tennis". Nintendo Power (Future US) 243: 88. July 2009. 
  16. 16.0 16.1 Schilling, Chris (June 18, 2009). "EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis video game review". The Daily Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/5570285/EA-Sports-Grand-Slam-Tennis-video-game-review.html. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  17. 17.0 17.1 Mr. Pinkerton (June 2009). "Grand Slam Tennis (Wii)". Teletext Ltd.. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090627182024/http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/da445ae53f79f8a522616ac8011ee46d/Grand+Slam+Tennis+(Wii).aspx. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  18. "EA SPORTS グランドスラム テニス [Wii"] (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=5432&redirect=no. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 
  19. Robbins, Drew (July 5, 2009). "Grand Slam Tennis (Wii) Review". Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090708070708/http://www.411mania.com/games/reviews/109108/Grand-Slam-Tennis-(Wii)-Review.htm. Retrieved August 21, 2020. 

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 lengthy 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]

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. 
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