Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis
Encyclopedia
Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis (or Rockstar Table Tennis) is a table tennis
simulation
video game. The game was initially released on May 26, 2006 for the Xbox 360
with the Wii
version being released on October 16, 2007.
Rockstar Table Tennis was the first game to use the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (R.A.G.E), the game engine Rockstar used in Grand Theft Auto IV
and Red Dead Redemption.
This is one of the very few games from Rockstar
to get an E rating from ESRB and a 3+ rating from PEGI, as most of their games have been aimed at mature audiences.
. Two players hit a ball back and forth from one another, with the goal of trying to make the opposing player 'miss' the return through the use of various 'spinning' maneuvers. For example, if one's opponent were at the far left of the table, he would 'spin' the ball to the right of the table. The game also features a drop shot, as well as a 'focus shot' where the game goes into slow motion to allow the player return hard-hit balls more accurately.
The multiplayer mode (available through Xbox Live
only) allows for exhibition and tournament play with up to 12 other players.
Some reviewers have criticized its lack of features, such as a career mode, the ability to create your own player, and other elements available in many other modern sports games. Table Tennis features only exhibition and tournament play (for both single and multiplayer). Most reviewers, however, were able to overlook the omission of these features owing to the game's budget price (Table Tennis was priced new at $40/£30, $20/£10 cheaper than most Xbox 360 games).
. The Wii version offers 3 different control schemes:
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
simulation
Simulation
Simulation is the imitation of some real thing available, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system....
video game. The game was initially released on May 26, 2006 for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
with the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
version being released on October 16, 2007.
Rockstar Table Tennis was the first game to use the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (R.A.G.E), the game engine Rockstar used in Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
and Red Dead Redemption.
This is one of the very few games from Rockstar
Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games is a major video game developer and publisher based in New York City, owned by Take-Two Interactive following its purchase of UK video game publisher BMG Interactive. The brand is mostly known for Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, L.A...
to get an E rating from ESRB and a 3+ rating from PEGI, as most of their games have been aimed at mature audiences.
Gameplay
Rockstar Table Tennis is a realistic simulation of the sport of table tennisTable tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
. Two players hit a ball back and forth from one another, with the goal of trying to make the opposing player 'miss' the return through the use of various 'spinning' maneuvers. For example, if one's opponent were at the far left of the table, he would 'spin' the ball to the right of the table. The game also features a drop shot, as well as a 'focus shot' where the game goes into slow motion to allow the player return hard-hit balls more accurately.
Reception
The game has been praised for its simplicity, its "pick-up-and-play" style and its detailed visuals. The average rating of the game is 83% from the review aggregator gamerankings.com. The game also includes numerous unlockable achievements that increase the longevity of the single player game. However, the difficulty of obtaining some of the multiplayer achievements (such as one requiring the maximum TrueSkill rating possible - only achievable by the top few players on the world leaderboard) - was one of the criticisms of the game. Another problem exclusive to the Wii version is the lack of a left-handed player amongst the characters lessening the controllability for left-handed users.The multiplayer mode (available through Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
only) allows for exhibition and tournament play with up to 12 other players.
Some reviewers have criticized its lack of features, such as a career mode, the ability to create your own player, and other elements available in many other modern sports games. Table Tennis features only exhibition and tournament play (for both single and multiplayer). Most reviewers, however, were able to overlook the omission of these features owing to the game's budget price (Table Tennis was priced new at $40/£30, $20/£10 cheaper than most Xbox 360 games).
Wii version
A Wii port of Table Tennis was released by Rockstar Games on October 16, 2007. The game fully utilizes the Wii RemoteWii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
. The Wii version offers 3 different control schemes:
- Standard - uses the Wii RemoteWii RemoteThe , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
by itself. - Sharp Shooter - uses the Nunchuk attachment's analog control to place the ball.
- Control Freak - uses the Nunchuk's analog stick to control the player's position.