Top Spin 2 Interview

Top Spin 2 from 2K Sports will arrive on the Xbox 360 in April. We spoke to Thorsten Moeckel of 2K Sports to get more information on the upcoming next-gen tennis game.

Pro-G: Firstly, could you explain your role in the development of Top Spin 2 and your history in the videogame industry?

Thorsten Moeckel: I am the senior producer for the publisher where I have been overseeing development for the past two years. I have been working in the videogame industry for close to a decade now. During that time, I’ve had the opportunity to work in various capacities on the Links golf and Amped snowboarding franchises.

Pro-G: The original game proved to be quite a hit amongst Xbox owners. Did you take fans’ criticisms on board before you set out to develop the sequel?

TM: Absolutely! We pay very close attention to the fans. Through message boards, e-mails, and fan sites, we compile and evaluate as much feedback as we can. This resulted in the re-design of the career mode for the game. Instead of the sequences featured in the original Top Spin; players now go through a calendar-oriented season that lists their training sessions, tournaments, and special events in a more organized fashion. The career mode now spans five seasons, greatly extending playtime and re-playability.

Pro-G: We’ve already seen the Amped series take a radical new direction on the Xbox 360. Is Top Spin 2 going to stick to its roots?

TM: Yes, the goal for the sequel was to build on the Top Spin foundation and take advantage of the new hardware to deliver an even more realistic, compelling, and deeper experience.

Pro-G: Some people would argue that the tennis videogame has already been perfected with Virtua Tennis. What is Top Spin 2 doing with regard to gameplay to move the genre on?

TM: The basic idea behind the new gameplay was to maintain the proven ease of pick-up and play while adding more variety and depth. We’ve also generated additional risk elements and all new advanced shots. With these additions, players will now have more freedom in the use of shots. For instance, in the original Top Spin a risk shot was taken by simply pulling the left or right trigger. In Top Spin 2, players can exercise different types of risk shots by combining the normal shots with the right trigger or the left trigger. The extended use of such shots will add more skill and technical ability to matches.

Pro-G: Many of the early 360 sports titles suffered because they lacked features found in their current-gen counterparts. What will the game offer to the solo player?

TM: Top Spin 2 will feature five game modes: Xbox Live play, Party Games, and three single-player modes that run thus:

Exhibition

Exhibition is the quickest way to get in on the action. You’ll take on, play as, or team up with 24 of the world’s top ranked professionals, featuring tennis stars such as Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Lindsay Davenport

Career

Kick off your career by creating your own unique player. The peerless player creator is reborn with the powerful Digital Identity that truly puts you in the game. After sculpting your avatar, you get to experience tennis like the pros, on and off the court. Play in a multi-season career as you juggle a full schedule of training, tournament competition and sponsor obligations in your quest to become number one in the world. Career is a single-player game that captures the professional tennis player experience over the course of five seasons. Just as in real life, nothing comes easy. You will have to start at the bottom – ranked 200 – and work your way up.

Tournament

This mode lets you set up your own customised tournament with up to 16 users. Hone your tournament abilities and put them to the test.

Pro-G: Mini-games are often used as training tools to build up a player’s stats. Will these still play a big part in Top Spin 2?

TM: Top Spin 2 uses mini-games to build up a player’s stats and improve their abilities. With 35 different training schemes, we offer plenty of diverse challenges for your character. In addition, the new upgrading system makes sure your player keeps improving throughout the career. Successfully completing mini-games will earn you bronze stars for your attributes, yet that is only the first step. These stars drastically improve your performances, but they only represent your ‘potential’. To continue building up your player you have to transform them into silver and gold stars by applying the new skills and winning tournaments, earning money, and reaching higher rankings.

Pro-G: Xbox Live was a key component of the original game and XSN support gave fans a great way to set up matches and track results. Now you’re with 2K Games and XSN is no more, will Top Spin 2 offer the same (if not better) online experience?

TM: The online, Xbox Live, experience is obviously still key to the Top Spin franchise. It is important to note that the improvements made to the gameplay – especially its added depth – will make the online experience more thrilling than ever. We are utilising Microsoft’s matchmaking system to more accurately match-up opponents in order to provide a more balanced and enjoyable game experience. Top Spin 2 will feature seamless online play in entertaining Player Matches and competitive Ranked Matches.

Pro-G: Do you have plans to make use of the Xbox Live Marketplace? Perhaps new mini-game packs or a pre-release demo?

TM: We are planning to have a playable demo released on marketplace just before launch, as well as new trailers for the game featuring some really great and intense action sequences.

Pro-G: Early builds of the game (from around X05) left a few people disappointed with the improvements made over the original Xbox game. What’s changed in the months since then?

TM: Since it is now almost six months past that point it’s hard to try and sum up all of the changes that have happened since then. It feels almost like day and night in how much we have improved the game since then.

Pro-G: With a new console comes a desire for visuals that are leaps and bounds ahead of what previous consoles could offer. Will Top Spin 2 deliver the next-gen look that people are after?

TM: The first thing people will notice and expect to be different from a next-gen title are the graphics. Just like Top Spin, you can expect breathtaking visuals with silky smooth animations, vibrant colors, and hi-definition technology delivering brilliant depictions of the players, stadiums, and crowds that bring tennis to life.

Pro-G: EA’s NBA Live 06 on the 360 really captures what it’s like to be on the court better than any sports game before it, no doubt due to its great visuals and sound. How are you immersing players into the game?

TM: The power of the Xbox 360 allows us to create extremely realistic visuals, while enhancing the audio features and the more dynamic elements on and around the court. All in all we’re out to deliver a truly immersive experience.

Pro-G: With the end of development in sight, what are the final few hurdles that are left to be crossed?

TM:This close to the end it’s a constant battle over balancing the schedule, game stability, and polish.

Pro-G: Finally, what one thing will get gamers most excited for Top Spin 2 on the Xbox 360?

TM: The greatest improvement and ‘hopefully’ most appreciated feature is the gameplay. With the additional risk and all new advanced plays, players will now have more freedom in the use of shots. The diversity of possible actions and tactics on the court insures that no two matches will be alike.

Pro-G: Thanks for your time.

Top Spin 2 is set to be released for the Xbox 360 on April 7, and will be joined by Nintendo DS and GBA versions.