My family played this game more than any other Nintendo title, as a family. The ball can be controlled. Its direction is controlled by how far into a swing the player is before making contact and what direction the player's facing. A game like this, you'd pretty much have to program it to work that way. it'd actually be a lot more difficult, and not worth it, to program it in such a way that the ball's direction was chaotic. We did believe that there were occasional "wild card" directional alterations added randomly, but for the most part, ball direction worked as described and could be used in a strategy. Learning how and when to hit the ball to influence direction and speed eventually makes the computer impossible to lose to.
These videos are spectacular, thank you so much for sharing them. I really love this series, but I do have one tiny nit to pick - when you say that Nintendo's Tennis took so much of its visual presentation from Super Doubles Tennis, I think it's probably worth mentioning the fact that that was basically how professional tennis was portrayed on TV: the camera behind one end of the court, elevated to foreshorten the playing space, and with the umpire's chair off to one side. Nintendo's tennis might have stolen their presentation from an earlier game, but that game was basically stealing it from the way the game was broadcast on television at the time.
I've learned the rules of many, many real life sports and games by playing video games, and this is how I learned the rules of tennis. (NES Baseball was how I learned the rules of baseball, too.)
Been watching these videos for ages now and have to say it's one of the best ideas you've had. Please keep them coming! It's wonderful stuff having someone dig so deep into NES and GB games.
What I really like about this series is that it's never just a review. The historical aspect practically makes the video, and gives you a new perspective on what otherwise may be a forgettable (at least by today's standards) game. Great work.
Actually the one thing you forgot to talk about (or maybe I missed it) is how the NES gives a shadow on the ball to help the player get a better understanding of where the ball is and going to.
I was just about to day that. Man that shadow does a lot towards making the game more playable. I wasn't aware of the data east game, though. Good stuff...
A series after my own heart... I'm loving this so far. Although other people have done broad surveys of the catalog, no one has gone into it with this kind of detail. Thanks for filling the void. You're even attacking it in the same order that I have my games arranged on the shelf, because I'm weird like that. re: aiming your shots -- Speaking as someone who can beat level 4 and give level 5 a run for his money, you absolutely can, but it's a matter of timing. Using the forehand as an example, swinging early sends the ball to the left while swinging late sends it to the right. It's the same sort of effect you get in real life when a baseball player swings early/late on a pitch. Although strangely, I'm not sure that was programmed into episode 1's Baseball.
+Matt D Thanks! I'm actually happier to have a small subscriber base, though. I don't make money off these videos, and once a YT audience gets too big, the comments can get pretty nasty....
Bro you should have someone program you a NES ROM image of this title sequence, play it on a NES with an RF box on a CRT, and record that with a camcorder.
+justplainruk It's looping a few measures from Schubert's Marche Militaire. Since classical music's a conveniently copyright-free source of inspiration, you tend to run into some of the more popular pieces a lot in old games. Off the top of my head, I remember the Marche Militaire showing up in some Parodius games, and the train levels from Hudson's Challenger, though I'm sure there are plenty more places it's been used.
I'm really kinda of surprised you never mentioned Midnight Magic for the Atari 2600. That was a much more accurate pinball game than Atari's Video Pinball.
This is a criminally underrated game that is still an absolute blast to play today. I highly recommend that people try this out for themselves.
My family played this game more than any other Nintendo title, as a family.
The ball can be controlled. Its direction is controlled by how far into a swing the player is before making contact and what direction the player's facing. A game like this, you'd pretty much have to program it to work that way. it'd actually be a lot more difficult, and not worth it, to program it in such a way that the ball's direction was chaotic. We did believe that there were occasional "wild card" directional alterations added randomly, but for the most part, ball direction worked as described and could be used in a strategy.
Learning how and when to hit the ball to influence direction and speed eventually makes the computer impossible to lose to.
These videos are spectacular, thank you so much for sharing them. I really love this series, but I do have one tiny nit to pick - when you say that Nintendo's Tennis took so much of its visual presentation from Super Doubles Tennis, I think it's probably worth mentioning the fact that that was basically how professional tennis was portrayed on TV: the camera behind one end of the court, elevated to foreshorten the playing space, and with the umpire's chair off to one side. Nintendo's tennis might have stolen their presentation from an earlier game, but that game was basically stealing it from the way the game was broadcast on television at the time.
I've learned the rules of many, many real life sports and games by playing video games, and this is how I learned the rules of tennis. (NES Baseball was how I learned the rules of baseball, too.)
Makes sense I've played a few golf video games and know those rules
Been watching these videos for ages now and have to say it's one of the best ideas you've had. Please keep them coming! It's wonderful stuff having someone dig so deep into NES and GB games.
I love the depth a clarity of your videos. Thanks!
What I really like about this series is that it's never just a review. The historical aspect practically makes the video, and gives you a new perspective on what otherwise may be a forgettable (at least by today's standards) game. Great work.
Watched all your GB videos. Now gonna bingewatch all the NES stuff. Great!
I love these videos you put out, Jeremy. They have this PBS-style and essence in them that I try to emulate in my videos too. Very engaging!
Actually the one thing you forgot to talk about (or maybe I missed it) is how the NES gives a shadow on the ball to help the player get a better understanding of where the ball is and going to.
I was just about to day that. Man that shadow does a lot towards making the game more playable.
I wasn't aware of the data east game, though. Good stuff...
I still sometimes bring the Game Boy port along with me on trips to this day as it's an excellent time killer.
A series after my own heart... I'm loving this so far. Although other people have done broad surveys of the catalog, no one has gone into it with this kind of detail. Thanks for filling the void. You're even attacking it in the same order that I have my games arranged on the shelf, because I'm weird like that.
re: aiming your shots -- Speaking as someone who can beat level 4 and give level 5 a run for his money, you absolutely can, but it's a matter of timing. Using the forehand as an example, swinging early sends the ball to the left while swinging late sends it to the right. It's the same sort of effect you get in real life when a baseball player swings early/late on a pitch. Although strangely, I'm not sure that was programmed into episode 1's Baseball.
I've been on a Jeremy Parish kick this week. I've watched hours of material, thank you sir!
Love your videos man, very detailed and informative, you deserve way more subscribers!
+Matt D Thanks! I'm actually happier to have a small subscriber base, though. I don't make money off these videos, and once a YT audience gets too big, the comments can get pretty nasty....
It’s funny how the sports games on NES also became Game Boy titles for its launch/launch year
This was excellent. Subbed
Great episode Jeremy! Great info in this for me,as the NES wasn't really on my radar back then.
i love this series thank you
Bro you should have someone program you a NES ROM image of this title sequence, play it on a NES with an RF box on a CRT, and record that with a camcorder.
10:36 It's weird watching this after Mario Tennis Aces is out. They added so much additional strategy to the foundations of tennis.
Even as a kid, I always hated that Super Mario 3 commercial, That level of obsession is frightening.
Good informative episode! I've never seen one of those VS consoles before, I'm very intrigued by them.
i had this game as a kid
The music during the footage of Super Doubles Tennis seems so familiar, like I've heard it in another game before. Can't quite place it.
+justplainruk It's looping a few measures from Schubert's Marche Militaire. Since classical music's a conveniently copyright-free source of inspiration, you tend to run into some of the more popular pieces a lot in old games. Off the top of my head, I remember the Marche Militaire showing up in some Parodius games, and the train levels from Hudson's Challenger, though I'm sure there are plenty more places it's been used.
+justplainruk Challenger for Famicom.
4:38 that was a boring game of Pong...
+Gabriele Riva Right? I was going to say. That's probably the most boring footage of Pong in existence.
@@rowtow13 Which is one heck of an achievement to hold. Say what you like about Pong, but it can get quite intense if you play it right.
Great episode. Hope you get to Ice Hockey soon.
I never really linked the Neo Geo arcade system to just taking what Nintendo started and running with it.
7:11 "It also attempted to add some rudimentary perspective to the rest of the visuals" *tiny ball retriever runs across court* uh
"Attempted" being the key word, yeah
I'm really kinda of surprised you never mentioned Midnight Magic for the Atari 2600. That was a much more accurate pinball game than Atari's Video Pinball.
Fantastic series. You should have more subscribers. +1 from me. I look forward to watching each of these videos.
Great episode. More meat than I would have assumed for this title. Nice research and clearly stated.
Nintendo had nothing but the best Nintentions when they made Tennis
best tennis game got me mald at the com at 10 years old
Tennis is still pretty fun, on faster levels 4 & 5, though Super Tennis is vastly superior.
Tennis on the 2600 is the best