Yeah, you guys had a lot to say about that Virtua Tennis 3 PS3-Xbox 360 graphics comparison, but with the release of the game in North America, the folks at Xboxic were able to interview SUMO Digital's Toby Allen and AM3's Mie Kumagai. When asked how difficult it is to create one of the first two games with 1080p resolution for the Xbox 360 and PS3, Kumagai replied that:

To tell the truth, there it was not such a great trouble. In the sense of a multi-platform title, we started the development of VT3 by building the arcade system board. We adopted pixel shader technologies we can set up flexibly at the early stage of the development, assuming the hardware specs of PS3 and Xbox 360 to the best of our knowledge. As a result, we could secure 1080p resolution within a load range of a certain degree.

When asked about the absence of an online mode on the PS3, Mie mentioned that the Virtua Tennis 3 PS3 development team wanted to maximize the known strengths of the console. They also wanted to ensure that PS3 players experience "the quality they have come to expect from a Virtua Tennis title".

When Toby Allen was asked if the Xbox 360 Virtua Tennis 3 players would be able to download some new mini-game or other content (new rackets, shoes, clothes, courts, among many others), he surprisingly divulged that they do not have plans for Downloadable Content">downloadable content for now.

But he shares that the online side of VT3 "will be powered by 4 different features; tournaments, friendly, VT.TV and game highlights - you will be able to play doubles".

The word-per-word account of the interview could be found via the link below.

Buy: [Virtua Tennis 3 (PS3)]
Buy: [Virtua Tennis 3 (Xbox 360)]

Now that people have had more time to test and collect games for all the different platforms, GameTrailers has also been able to spend more time watching people play on both. That's why there's yet another graphical comparison test here, and this time, it's for Sega's Virtua Tennis 3 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Like our previous coverage of the Elder Scrolls IV graphical comparison, this quick video also takes a look at the similarities and differences between the two consoles using similar moments of play. In this case, you'll be watching two players taking their rackets to the court in a friendly game of tennis, complete with comparisons of the character models as they wipe the sweat off their foreheads.

Who do you think edges out the other graphics-wise? We're still undecided ourselves. Take a look and let us know if you think the PS3 or XBox 360 wins out this time.

Buy: [Virtua Tennis (PS3)]
Buy: [Virtua Tennis (360)]

Well, ready to play with the big boys? Sega of America had just announced the release of Virtua Tennis 3 on the PS3 and Xbox360 to North America retailers.

We'll give you a quick overview of Virtua Tennis 3 - just in case you've been living under a rock the past few months. Players can play as or against their favorite tennis players like Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, Venus Williams, Roger Federer, and 16 others to be hailed number one. It boasts of better graphics, player animations that mimic real life mannerisms of the pros, and an improved AI.

Of course, what's a Virtua Tennis title without the mini-games? Two favorites stay with an addition of 10 new mini-games plus it also features four player head-to-head battles. The World Tour mode (sporting new features) and the new addition of the Tennis Academy will immerse players in the world of tennis and going up the ladder.

Anyway, PSP owners need not fret since the PSP version of Virtua Tennis 3 will be available on March 26.

Major Nelson's let the word out that the Virtua Tennis 3 demo is now available for downloading via Xbox Live. The whole thing's free, so check it out. The Virtua Tennis 3 demo is not available for download in Asia.

The demo features four different players: Federer, Nadal, Sharapova, and Williams. Players can play either Federer v Nadal or Sharapova v Williams in a best of three exhibition match on randomly selected courts. If you're wondering about rumble, reports around the Interwebs say that it's supported, but it's disabled by default. You have to enable it on the start menu first.

Go download the 849-odd MB demo and let us know what you think of it by leaving a comment below. The full retail version of Sega's Virtua Tennis 3 will drop in the U.S. on March 20.

Sega announced today that the launch of the official website for their highly anticipated (and visually stunning) Virtua Tennis 3.

To say that the site is loaded with goodies would be an understatement, so we'll just say this: the site scores tons of aces with downloadable screenshots for both the Xbox360 and PS3 versions, as well as a bunch of Time Lapse screens which gives you a blow by blow preview of player movement.

Not only that, you can also read up on the game's history, get hints and tips, know more about the World Tour mode, read the players' profiles, hell, you can even pre-order your own copy there on the site. So what are you still doing reading this? Head on to the official Virtua Tennis 3 website and see for yourself.

Virtua Tennis 3 for the PS3, Xbox360, PSP, and PC is set come smashing your way on March 20.

Buy: [Virtua Tennis (PS3)]
Buy: [Virtua Tennis (360)]
Buy: [Virtua Tennis (PSP)]

What would Sega's Virtua Tennis be without the mini games? We couldn't say for sure but this writer here just can't get enough of them.

As the latest installment of the tennis franchise, Virtua Tennis 3's mini games were beefed up to 12. The familiar ones were given a major makeover like the Bullseye, Alien Attack and the Pin Crusher. Other mini games like the Drum Attack and the Balloon Sniper would be great to improve your game.

Enough prattle from us, we'll leave you to check out the gameplay trailers and judge for yourself. Enjoy!

Buy: [Virtua Tennis 3 (PS3)]
Buy: [Virtua Tennis 3 (Xbox 360)]
Buy: [Virtua Tennis 3 (PSP)]

Aside from the stunning visuals and famous tennis players set to appear in the game, the fun mini-games are among the features that users are looking forward to seeing in Sega's Virtua Tennis 3 (PSP, PC, Xbox360, PS3). Well of course the mini-games are just bonus treats as opposed to your serious ball-whacking, ace-hitting gameplay. But don't get too caught up in flaunting those tennis skills of yours just yet. Instead, take a break and get a fill of all the fun you'll be having with the Avalanche and Drum Topple mini-games!

In Avalanche, all you'll have to do is try and get all the fruits (yes, fruits) that roll your way whilst avoiding the big-ass tennis balls. As for Drum Topple, it'll test your precision skills to see whether you can accurately target the piled up drums and make them topple by hitting them at the right spots. Oh, just check out the videos and you'll see. *winks*

Avalanche

The Drum Topple trailer awaits after the jump!

IGN got to have a little chat with Virtua Tennis 3 producer Christopher Kaminski, and the details for the game are in no way little at all. Covering all grounds for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PSP versions, Kaminski served out the aces on the features, the downloadable content, and the controls, among many more other tidbits.

On the Xbox 360 version, he explains that it "will absolutely feature natively rendered graphics in 1080p." But of course, after all, they did develop this game, from the characters to the environments, specifically with the next-gen platforms in mind. And having VT3 on Microsoft's next-gen means that it's also gonna be up on Xbox Live. Exciting is how Kaminski describes the experience of playing it on Xbox Live.

You can enter into tournaments or casually challenge people to a single match. I think what really makes the Virtua Tennis 3 online offering so interesting is the VT:TV feature. It's an enhanced version of spectator mode, which serves a couple of great purposes... Secondly, you have the ability to watch the matches of the top one hundred players world wide, or keep an eye on how any of your friends are doing in their matches.

Moving on to Sony's Blu ray of sunshine, he says that it most certainly will feature motion sensing controls. In fact, they are very excited to use the console's SIXAXIS feature for this version. "It's quite cool to play an entire match of tennis without ever pressing a single button on the controller!"

And what of the PSP? Will it essentially be just a lower-resolution version of the console title, or a completely different game, IGN wanted to know.

And we're sure you do, too. So go ahead. The answer, along with the rest of the interview and screenshots, await after the jump.

Coaches will do anything and everything just to make you a better player. They'll let you hit cans of coke, weed out a grassy lawn, and play barefoot if you have to. So it's no wonder that Virtua Tennis 3 comes up with another insane idea to make sure we make that smashing ace when we play the game.

Yes, here comes brainless fun in the most focused sport one could ever play. Witness the Pin Crusher on Virtua Tennis 3! It's much like bowling for tennis. You've got an enormous ball, which I don't know where you'll get a racket for, and some giant pins that you've got to knock down with some strong aces.

The concept is quite simple and hilarious. Thank god the Williams sisters never suffer the humiliation of playing this in real life, but for sure it's all fun and games when it comes to Virtua Tennis 3. This bowling of sorts is just one of many hilarious side games that come with Virtua Tennis 3. So, are you ready to waste some time for this? In the spirit of fun, let's knock 'em down!

As if having model/player Sharapova in the line-up wasn't enough, Sega's made another announcement to up the ante for their Virtua Tennis 3 title, slated for release on the Xbox 360 and PS3.

The Xbox Live scene will include Ranked and Friendly modes, with players (both single and double) able to enter either Tournaments or Exhibition matches. And to make things even more interesting, Sega also makes mention of the game's VT:TV Live spectator mode, which allows players on XBL to view high-ranking matches taking place - imagine ESPN gone 360.

Sega will be carrying native 1080p graphics - a first for the Virtua Tennis franchise. The company further announced (to Gamasutra) that the 1080p resolution can also be expected of the PS3 launch, though this port would not be featuring online play in lieu of its SIXAXIS tilt-motion support. According to a Sega spokesman, the move was done in order to ensure both versions of the game carried their own unique features. And speaking of the 360 version's 1080p res, we offer up a volley of screenshots for you to see if it truly makes a difference. Enjoy.

More screenshots at the full article.

Buy: [Virtua Tennis 3 (Xbox 360)]

Buy: [Virtua Tennis 3 (PS3)]