Plans for future updates

[kschoice]

Several caveats

• This information is obviously subject to change without notice, although I will try to keep it up-to-date.
  
  
• If you think something is missing or don't agree with the priorities, please don't take it too bad and share your opinion below. 🤔
  
  
• This is only a summary. My own to-do list including all recorded user suggestions is over 200 entries.
  
  
• Please don't ask for dates or delays. The reason I'm not providing any is not because I want to keep that information to myself, but because I can't honestly give any that would be in any way reliable or even meaningful. Development as an indie is hectic, things like personal issues, debugging, user suggestions get in the way and any date I would provide would always end up in unhealthy pressure on my side, and disappointments on the users' side.

Recent previous milestones

• The first step of reworking volleys was released in v2.0.0. (March 31st 2023)
  
• A redesign of the interface was released in v3.0.0. (March 29th 2024)
  
• Character movement and significant gameplay changes were released in v3.2.0. (April 21st 2024)

You may already have noticed with the last slew of updates that I have been focusing on debugging and optimisation. I am currently continuing that trend as well as an effort to make the code much more multi-platform friendly, before making it even more complex. Redesigning the interface, including making the editor usable by controller, was part of that.
I am currently doing more preparatory with the purpose of releasing the game to other platforms.

When this is finished I intend to follow with reaching animations gameplay, and custom training options in career mode, not necessarily in that order.

Actual list

Here is a list of the major things that should come up in future updates, not necessarily in chronological order.

• Gameplay changes with the addition of reaching animations.
  
• Custom training options in Career mode.

Long-term features and their own caveats

• More modding options such as scoreboards (requires script-like customisation).
  
• Reworking online play to make extensive use of client-side prediction (big task as it will need to rewrite online almost from scratch).
  
• Management options in Career mode.
  
• Doubles (needs net gameplay to be finalised in all aspects).
  
• Female characters (needs big money investment for assets).
  
• New court assets and animated crowd (same as above).
  
• Training mode with actual player instead of ball machine (quite tricky for the value added).

[Varaosa]

That info/theard was what im looking for long time & "Female characters" -was my most wanted feature what i still waiting for before i can thinking playing this a game again. x3

[Jay]

I believe simulating some form of night time stadium lighting should be a priority as it has always been difficult to see after a period of time when the shadow is completely cast over the court.

Another problem I would like to see addressed is the jerkiness of the camera. It's sometimes hard to follow unlike a real tv broadcast.

[kschoice]

Originally posted by Jay:

I believe simulating some form of night time stadium lighting should be a priority as it has always been difficult to see after a period of time when the shadow is completely cast over the court.

Another problem I would like to see addressed is the jerkiness of the camera. It's sometimes hard to follow unlike a real tv broadcast.

I don't really experience either of those two things. Can you provide some video examples ?

[Jay]

Here is an example of lighting: https://youtu.be/4SAWGlRjjiM?t=203

The above video can also be used as an example for camera panning

Here is the real camera: https://youtu.be/4EVOO_wuUkM?t=28

You can see the real example has a different focal length which has more of the scene so the camera already doesn't need to move too much. Besides that it moves in an "exponential" fashion (or smooth) whereas the camera in game moves in a "linear" fashion, or "jerky".

[kschoice]

Thanks for the examples, will see what I can do !

[Jay]

Thank you for such a comprehensive and customizable implementation of the camera system, WOW. Did you really write the code for it in only 10 days???

[kschoice]

Originally posted by Jay:

Thank you for such a comprehensive and customizable implementation of the camera system, WOW. Did you really write the code for it in only 10 days???

It wasn't that hard to be honest. I actually did other things as well in the meanwhile.
Glad you're happy with it

[PaleRider]

Originally posted by kschoice:

• Career mode improvements.

Thank you, cant wait for the Career mode improvements. If you find the time to give more infos about it, it would be very welcome.

[Jay]

@Kschoice Do you have any user data on this game?

e.g.
% of players that use mods
most popular game modes
etc

[kschoice]

Originally posted by Jay:

@Kschoice Do you have any user data on this game?

e.g.
% of players that use mods
most popular game modes
etc

Can't say I have, no.

[Siegbert Schnösel von Thadeé]

Since I want to work on my slices, strong shots and drop shots, a warm-up mode would be appreciated, where you play against cpu, but with the difference that it isn't an actual match. It's quite tiresome to always start a new match with coin toss for training purposes. The practice mode is good, but I would like to train with actual rallies. PS.: Keep up the good work! I have never played a tennis game, where such skill is required. It's fun getting better and better.

[asticot]

yep i totally agree ! I would love that too !

[kschoice]

Originally posted by Siegbert Schnösel von Thadeé:

Since I want to work on my slices, strong shots and drop shots, a warm-up mode would be appreciated, where you play against cpu, but with the difference that it isn't an actual match. It's quite tiresome to always start a new match with coin toss for training purposes. The practice mode is good, but I would like to train with actual rallies. PS.: Keep up the good work! I have never played a tennis game, where such skill is required. It's fun getting better and better.

This has been asked for several times, I'm adding it to the first message in no particular order.

[JagHond]

Good morning to all.
This is my first post here.
I was seeking for a challenging tennis sim, seems that I founf it out at last.
Are you perhaps thing to add different kind of rackets, more or less rigid I mean?
And different kind of shoes, even more apted to the kind of playing surfaces?
I hope these mine aren't unappropriate.
Thanks for your attention and reply, with best regards.

[kschoice]

Originally posted by JagHond:

Good morning to all.
This is my first post here.
I was seeking for a challenging tennis sim, seems that I founf it out at last.
Are you perhaps thing to add different kind of rackets, more or less rigid I mean?
And different kind of shoes, even more apted to the kind of playing surfaces?
I hope these mine aren't unappropriate.
Thanks for your attention and reply, with best regards.

For now, we haven't considered adding gear that would have an impact on gameplay. I'm not sure how that could be tuned to be really interesting, but we'll think about it.