When it comes to sports and games, they usually go hand in hand. The popularity of sport means that they have a wide audience and many players who would play their favorite sports as games. Think FIFA 17, NBA, F1, the list goes on. However, one sport that doesn’t get the levels of gaming recognition it deserves is tennis.
Despite huge crowds, there is relatively little for tennis fans to get stuck into with gaming, and even more reason to do it, is the golden era that the sport is in the middle of. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have strong claims to be considered the best ever, with Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray not far behind. There’s even the odd controversial characters that you don’t find in the sport, with Nick Kyrgios regularly attracting headlines. That’s without covering the women’s game, and can you get better than the Williams sisters?
So, we think there should be some games that are brought out. The first that springs to mind is Top Spin 5. The previous, Top Spin 4, was released in 2011, and a follow up should be a necessity. The issue was that the licensing wasn’t sorted for all of the players, nor Wimbledon, and so the gaming can lose credibility. Despite that, the control and gameplay was impressive and ensured that’s why the game was well received by critics.
Yet it’s not all bad news, and there is something to look forward too. VR Tennis Online is fairly new on the market and of course, is a virtual reality game, the first sports title from Oculus Rift. It doesn’t have the recognised players, but at least gets tennis games out there. Incorporating VR, which could be a major player in the future, will give players the chance to test it out in what should be a fun game.
As well as that, you’ll be hearing more about Lucky Nugget Casino who offer Centre Court Slot amongst many entertaining games. It’s a tennis themed slot and the beauty of it is you can play anywhere as it’s on their app. Open it up from your sofa, your bed, or even the tennis court, and you’re ready to go!
Overall, the lack of games in the industry for tennis fans is concerning. Fans don’t have the same options to play as mot other sports do, but there are signs that it’s changing. The VR game could be a gamechanger, if it picks up, because it’s an alternative option. Likewise, the mobile casino option – hopefully it’s the start of change.
