Virtua Tennis...Am I alone in my love for this game?

[allroy1975]

I was thinking about how Great it would be if MAME did Virtua Tennis, it's a game I enjoyed endlessly on my Dreamcast and playing it @ Dave & Busters was just as enjoyable.  I started looking into DreamCast Emulators (and found little to nothing) and looked for info on mame.dk and it didn't look like it was ever even a real arcade game.  I found some info on the Arcade game, and it looked like that was just some version of the DC one.  It also used a GDRom.  ANYWAY....I finally figured out that they made a PC version, and there was a downloadable demo.  So I installed it and was very excited to see that it was totally configurable.  It would only let me set up player 1's controls though.  I figured this was a limitation of the demo, but when I bought the CD ($10 I was glad to spend) and installed it, it does the same thing!  When I plug in a Joystick it gives me the 2nd player option, but it's set so only 1 person can use the keyboard.  That's no good for an IPAC!  
Is there anyone here who's smarter than I am and loved this game enough to help me figure out how to hack the hex file that the game creates as the config file?  vtennis.cfg
I've figured out where it stores certain things, and figured out how to represent them with keyboard keys..but I don't even know if it's possible.....so I could be wasting my time...
holy cow, it's 3 am and that's why I'm rambling like this.
alright, I'm done.
Thanks.
Matt

[Stormdemon]

If you think Vtennis is good, try Vtennis 2k2. I have never played the first part again since I have Vtennis 2k2. It's much better, with so many more possibilities in gameplay! I hope they release a PC version because non-dreamcast users should also have a chance of playing this game. It's one of the DC games I have played most, specially against my friends.

[allroy1975]

Okay, but since they haven't made 2k2 for PC, you should settle for VT, because it really was a GREAT game.  I played 2k2 also, with the girls, but....1 was the original and it was GREAT.  

[IG-88]

No help, but I would love to hear how this comes out. Where did you get the demo anyways? My bro and I love 1on1 sports games. Maybe I can help figure it out....

[allroy1975]

http://karin.mobil.cz:8080//dema/virtuatennisdemo.zip

It's awesome, I played the Demo over and over again!
just as good as the Dreamcast, and if you have a decent PC it looks GREAT in the mame Cab.  

[AlanS17]

Virtua Tennis was released for arcade in 1999. It's probably just a matter of emulating it. (Easier said than done, of course.) Don't know what hardware it uses, though. KLOV says Naomi.

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=V&game_id=10339

There's what it looks like. Seems to be a game for primarily Japanese release.

[allroy1975]

well, unfortunatly, it doesn't look like what I'm trying will work.  
so that means only 1 player can use the Control Panel.  So, what needs to happen in order for the game to get emulated by MAME?  Not that I can do it, or anything like that, but like..what are the steps when they decide to emu a game?

[Distortion]

There's a PC version out.  I saw it at the store for like 20 bucks or something.  I almost bought it.

edit--oops, pardon my stupidity.  I didn't read the whole thread.--edit

[SNAAAKE]

ohhhh
No you are not the only one.
try tennis 2k2.
Better gameplay and graphics.
only hack I did with the game is I changed the music.thats about it.
other stuff shouln't be that easy(with hex editor).
Hack dc pads if you wanna play with a stick.
otherwise its still fun with a pad...REALLY fun.
I used to play like almost everyday(with a friend) .

[paigeoliver]

My old roommate used to have a dreamcast, and this was what we played most (besides Crazy Taxi 1/2), they have one at my local arcade too. I play it sometimes. I am certainly going to add that demo to my cabinet. I guess I'll just have to plug in a pad for player 2.

[allroy1975]

well, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who realized how FANTASTIC that game was.  I'm SO disappointed that they didn't do a better job making the controls configurable.  

So, let me get this straight, I'd have to Put my DC in the MAME machine, hack some DC controllers to my regular MAME controllers and then get the SVGA adapter to output to my Monitor?
that seems like a lot of work to play VT.....  
I may just go with extra Game Pads...just kinds hurts the MAME of it I think.  

[SNAAAKE]

well, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who realized how FANTASTIC that game was.  I'm SO disappointed that they didn't do a better job making the controls configurable.  

So, let me get this straight, I'd have to Put my DC in the MAME machine, hack some DC controllers to my regular MAME controllers and then get the SVGA adapter to output to my Monitor?
that seems like a lot of work to play VT.....  
I may just go with extra Game Pads...just kinds hurts the MAME of it I think.  

This is when the PC version comes in handy dawd !

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1&product_id=473553&affid=4965&source=buy

I would just hack 2 dc pad then use molex connectors to switch the interface and get a vga switch box(thats how I do it).
there are MORE amazing dc games.
try virtua striker 2 with a friend.
We played like almost 5 hours the other day.

[jakejake28]

dreamcast is soo cool. anyone played ikaruga or guilty gear x (both imports), or tokyo xtreme racer(s)? also, the whole sega sports series: pretty sweet. the best game for dreamcast tho: NHL 2K2

[Molloy]

I just adore Virtua Tennis 2. The first game was already really good but they tweaked the balance so well in the sequel. It's the most faithful sport to game transition I think I've played.

The Dreamcast is a magnificent system for arcade gamers. There's no excuse not to have one in your cabinet when they're so cheap. You should really get a modded one though. Not all the Naomi ports made it out of Japan.

They're even talking of releasing Psyvariar 2 on it this year. If you haven't played the original on the PS2 you are missing one of the best shmups ever made. I can't wait for the sequel.

[Dave_K.]

well, unfortunatly, it doesn't look like what I'm trying will work.  
so that means only 1 player can use the Control Panel.  So, what needs to happen in order for the game to get emulated by MAME?  Not that I can do it, or anything like that, but like..what are the steps when they decide to emu a game?

Mame was created to "preserve" games from becoming extinct due to the original hardware not being available anymore.  Given this, I doubt it will be anytime soon they will emulate more modern Naomi games like Virtual Tennis (or VT2K2).  Your best bet (as everyone else has been saying) is to incorporate a Dreamcast into your cab (which is basically the same hardware as Naomi).  It really isn't as hard as you might think (see the Game Consoles section for more info).  By doing this you open up many more modern naomi based games you can now play on your cab.

[allroy1975]

alright, I've done a little research into the DC controller hack, It doesn't look too hard.  
I just want to run this by you guys real quick, just to make sure it's possible.  
I obviously don't want to undo all the stuff I've done with MAME on my PC.  I can just add a DC right?  and make the joystick hack go right to my joysticks?  I should be able to set up all 4 controllers on the mame to be all 4 on the DC, right?
so 4 Player Doubles would be totally awesome?  
alright...
Thanks again to everyone who's posted
Matt

[ItzMR2u]

This is one of the reasons my Dreamcast still sits proudly next to the XBox and GameCube.  There was a system I would have like seen given more support.  Luckly though, we were able to see some fantastic games, in addition to the ones already listed I'd like to add some of my favs.  All the cartoon racers are a blast, Space, Wacky, and the Disney version are fun.  Also liked the off beat Ooga Booga, Seaman, and the fishing games with the rod controller.  

[AceTKK]

don't forget about Soul Calibur; the best 1v1 fighting game ever released for a home console.

-Ace-

[simcab]

Is there anyone here who's smarter than I am and loved this game enough to help me figure out how to hack the hex file that the game creates as the config file?  vtennis.cfg

Hello, I am new here. I looked at the file vtennis.cfg and here is what I figured out at a  glance:

0x0      DWORD       Resolution
               0:   640x480
               1:   800x600
               2:   1024x768
               3:   1152x864
               4:   1280x960
               
0x4      DWORD      ?? (0x3F000000)
0x8      DWORD      Details level Lo/Hi (0/1)
0xC      DWORD      16/32 Bit  (0/1)
0x10      DWORD      Texture Filter (0 Point, 1 Linear)
0x14      DWORD      Alpha Effects On/Off (0/1)
0x18      DWORD      ?? (0)

Players Input (56 Bytes):
0x1C      16 Bytes    P1 DInput device GUID (Keyboard = {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7-444553540000})
0x2C      36 Bytes   P1 Controls
      DWORD      Up
      DWORD      Down
      DWORD      Left
      DWORD      Right
      DWORD      Start
      DWORD      A
      DWORD      B
      DWORD      Com Strategy
      DWORD      Camera

0x50      DWORD      P1 End. 0xFFFFFFFF (-1)

0x54      56 Bytes   P2 Data
0x8C      56 Bytes   P3 Data
0xC4      56 Bytes   P4 Data



I haven't tested to see if the game Validates the data (i.e prevents 2 players from having the same DirectInput device, but you should try having two players having the same device GUID and setting your scan key code and hope for the best)

Anyway I am building a cabinet and I will probably look into it deeper as I reach the final goal, because I like that game very much, it is a classic.

SC.

[allroy1975]

I think I figured out some of that, and what charachters are represented as in the file, but you definatly got more.  I know it doesn't care if you use the same button twice, for example, I know you can set every button in the game to be S.
I don't know how it'd react once that's done, but....

[Molloy]

don't forget about Soul Calibur; the best 1v1 fighting game ever released for a home console.

-Ace-

Until Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution was released.

[reighty]

don't forget about Soul Calibur; the best 1v1 fighting game ever released for a home console.

-Ace-

Until Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution was released.

But IMO Soul Calibur 2 is better than VF4.  Also, the dreamcast is the only system to have Street fighter 3, the best of all the street fighter games in my opinion

[Molloy]

I love SF3 alright. The Alpha and Vs series always felt too hectic for me and the return to the considered, technical approach was brilliant. The graphics and the music are also magnificent.

SC2 isn't half as good as the first one. Parrying is way too easy now, the partial walled arena's are annoying and most of the new moves are redundant.

VF4 is just such a class game. It's easy to pick up, isn't dependant on you learning off reams of combo's and is wonderfully balanced. It's just become the most profitable arcade game ever in Japan. Even more successful than Street Fighter 2.