Australian Open

[Elias]

Well, it's pretty simple, after WTF, and before AO, we had to decrease speeds. We couldn't decently let AO play with previous character speeds, and also this Nadal had to be reworked (and it's still far from perfect at this time), so we had to update.

Defenders can still be an issue, or not , we'll see. A style may be unbalanced so we have to find how to compensate this using stats, but we may not succeed to achieve it perfectly. We can't modify the game engine. For now if i could, i would tweak directly the defender spin/depth bonus for a start, and/or it's charge time. But our options are limited to the stats.

That was two priorities, but then when we aim for a new version, we also take the benefit of this new release to introduce other changes, courts, anims when there is new ones availables, and other stats changes (like the precision with 1.12 for instance) wich we talked about/planned to be introduced. Mostly because we simply can't imagine releasing new versions every 2 weeks for slight changes, wich would be like a full time job, and even more annoying for everyone. I wouldn't mind updating only every 3-4 months if possible

[ELTXETXU]

As a newbie in TE, i could say that the main problem for me is that, since i bought the game (no farther than 1 and half month ago) i have played with 3 different mods (1.10, 1.11 and 1.12) and with 2 different builds (TE 2011 and TE 2013), and that's very annoying for someone who, like me, is trying to get used to the game. I think i have spent more time installing, reinstalling and copying and pasting, than playing the game....

I'm sure that the changes are necesary for balancing the game, and improve it, but perhaps there have been too many changes followed.

Anyway, there is no doubt that all the staff, Elias, testers etc... do an amazing job!!

[C4iLL]

What I'm sure of is that ELTX's opinion is representative of a silent part of the community. That being said, it's in the interest of the community to have a mod that gives the best experience possible and there are no solutions to make the update process easier I think.

About the AO and the patch, we should not forget that there was a problem of schedule and time. The AO was still delayed a lot, people were excited about this tournament, it was awaited by a lot of guys... It had to begin, even if the conditions were not good at all.

So Djarvik was right to launch it, but I think it was a bit abusive to let only 15 hours to change the character (without any email I think ?). Especially because the patch was released in the night, and the day after, people were just working or studyiing... The draw was released at 6PM before people could have discovered the patch.
Personally I would have let people practice a bit during at least 1 full evening-night. Maybe some people would have avoided Fed, Robbin would have not picked Ferrer etc. And the whole tournament would have been different, with just one night more

[eliomelma]

Right!

[eliomelma]

Ok,we are in R16... my predictions are :
Kyuuji vs Cerji......Cerji wins in 4 sets
MichaelD vs The Bombarder... The bombarder wins in 3 sets
Elias vs Vlad ......... Elias wins in 4 sets
Felipe vs Eliomelma (felipe is better than me, djoko vs Fed..) Felipe wins in 3 sets
Ugadalou vs Algo or Dimitrov...... Ugadalou will pass in quarter finals ..he has Murray
Woowhat vs Vmoe86 .....interesting match... without new te 2013 will be 5 set match but now..Moe in 4 sets
Vramvrim vs Fox ..... Fox wins in 5 sets

That's all...

[VMoe86]

ITST 1.11 was released more than two weeks before AO, it included all animation changes. At that time it was also said there would be a ITST 1.12 before AO focusing more on stats. For 1.12 only the animations of Llodra's volleys have been changed back to those of 1.10 and I think Raonic got a new serve animation. Besides, animations are overrated, it's not that one is ELO 2000 with animation x and ELO 500 with animation y.

Now, others have already stated that balancing everything out is actually impossible, but one can aim for the best result. One problem for us is also how the tour members are playing the game. What appears to be balanced between two players looking to attack and playing not far from the baseline can be unbalanced with other ways of playing the game. This is where it is important to have feedback from the community, posting .dmo files of their matches (I'm taking a look at interesting match-ups and if necessary also demanding .dmo files of players). An example is returning from several steps behind standard return position: It is like cheating against the big servers/hitters like del Potro, Berdych, Raonic, Isner, to name a few.

Another problem is trying to recreate ATP Players with their styles and TE's limited categories. Hybrid characters, which all top players in reality are, lead to imbalances: Giving too much power to a Defender like Nadal leads to very good attacking potential (one has to defend three things when facing Nadal: pace of the FH, depth and spin), but when used defensively he is a wall putting you on defence. Therefore, Nadal won't have that "boom" on his regular acceleration anymore in ITST 1.13 (we were two or three days too late on this one to have it for 1.12). I'm not sure if this is enough to make certain ways of playing as Nadal bearable, it definitely is a step in the right direction.

While we have these problems, manutoo has similar ones: The game has to be balanced with its initial online Modes (Free, but more so Fair and Realistic Mode), he focuses on balancing with Previews On etc. He is not working for ITST, but is looking to help us where he can. Some feautures we would like to see are time-consuming regarding implementation and only our (relatively small) community would profit from it; that's time he rather invests working on another game.

Mostly because we simply can't imagine releasing new versions every 2 weeks for slight changes, wich would be like a full time job, and even more annoying for everyone. I wouldn't mind updating only every 3-4 months if possible

Currently it feels like having a sidejob for me (and more so for you): Coming up with ideas, discussions, playing sets with different characters, being somehow prepared for AO to avoid a slaughter, following these discussions and replying, watching some .dmo files concerning balance issues.

[djarvik]

I don't think I have much to add to what was said, maybe "in order to invigorate, one needs to agitate."

As Vmoe pointed out, the Patch before AO was not much different than the 2 week earlier patch, so that argument goes out of the window as far as I am concerned. Now, Manutoo did make changes, but we have no control over it. I am with all of you in thinking that changes should be less frequent, but I am a big believer in changes, I like them, I welcome them. It shows commitment, it shows responsibility, it shows Manutoo and ITST are behind their product and are willing to "try" new things to make it better. Not all new things are well received and one needs to remember that the displeased crowd is always more vocal, we all like to complain, but there are plenty of members who understand very well what is happening and who are in agreement with it.

The decision to start AO on a short notice AFTER it was delayed till Wednesday, when the draw should have been out Friday was mine. I heard a few valid points on "why" I had to do it. In my position I have to make these difficult decisions and bare the brunt of the consequences. Was it a right one? I stand by it 100%. I would have started it the day it starts in real life and released the Patch mid way AO too, but the rest of the guys convinced me to wait. The biggest thing about ITST was and will be a constant strive to blend the reality with virtual reality. This is what sets us apart from the rest, this is why we are the only standing online tournament host for now 9th year. We should not have and will not in the future "accommodate" games in such a way and will adhere to the real ATP schedule as much as possible. This is what its all about.

It is paramount to understand, that whatever changes happen - they affect ALL members, and not just the ones who will lose their matches. Ability to adapt is another skill that is required in TE to succeed. We will continue with the balancing as the need arise, we don't make change for the sake of change. If you chose to play with one player only, then you taking a risk that if/when this player is adjusted - you will have to adapt quickly. The changes usually are really small, they wont affect many matches, they may only affect the very marginal matches. If you feel that a 1-2% power or speed completely throws your game off - then I am afraid your game is too shaky to be a champion, it lacks adaptation skills oh so unnecessary in Tennis today. I have been proven time and again by Vmoe, Elias, inseedious, Robbin and others that characters don't make players. All these guys are able to pick up any player out there and give it a serious GO with no practice with that character what so ever.

The main reason for switching to the latest TE is the Growth of the tour. I simply cannot hinder it right now, at AO time, when tons on matches will be played with ITST tag in online lobby, prompting many new members to take interest and join. We want it for them to be very easy to join, log-on to chat (which is linked through the game) and immediately start playing friendly matches and appreciate them. The last thing I want is to make it in any way complicated. I have big aspiration for the tour, I want a full 128 draw come RG, and that requires me, sometimes, to make unpopular decisions. But try to remember the popular ones as well

TWM-Fox - I commend you for your approach. This is the way all issues should be presented.
But I have to "poke" you a bit, sorry. I completely disagree about what you say in regards to "new members" and "if they have issues they can come to the forum". Coming from a marketing background, I find this to be a profound mistake. Wont get into details why. But that is not the "poke". The "poke" - how many times did you respond with help to someone posting on the forum? ...so you basically saying, that we should be busy with all the things we are busy with, make it complicated for new players to join-in AND make sure to explain them when they have difficulties? ...all because you don't want to "adapt" to a Small change that was instituted to ALL members equally? I don't think its right man.

[eliomelma]

I don't think I have much to add to what was said, maybe "in order to invigorate, one needs to agitate."
The main reason for switching to the latest TE is the Growth of the tour. I simply cannot hinder it right now, at AO time, when tons on matches will be played with ITST tag in online lobby, prompting many new members to take interest and join. We want it for them to be very easy to join, log-on to chat (which is linked through the game) and immediately start playing friendly matches and appreciate them. The last thing I want is to make it in any way complicated. I have big aspiration for the tour, I want a full 128 draw come RG, and that requires me, sometimes, to make unpopular decisions. But try to remember the popular ones as well

Yes it is the good choice i think, players that playing their own matches of australian Open with ITST signature on online te lobby will be the best spot and marketing for our tour and will be really bad if we play our match in private lobby system. Right choice Not popolar but for tour growth is the best choice

[TWM-Fox]

TWM-Fox - I commend you for your approach. This is the way all issues should be presented.
But I have to "poke" you a bit, sorry. I completely disagree about what you say in regards to "new members" and "if they have issues they can come to the forum". Coming from a marketing background, I find this to be a profound mistake. Wont get into details why. But that is not the "poke". The "poke" - how many times did you respond with help to someone posting on the forum? ...so you basically saying, that we should be busy with all the things we are busy with, make it complicated for new players to join-in AND make sure to explain them when they have difficulties? ...all because you don't want to "adapt" to a Small change that was instituted to ALL members equally? I don't think its right man.

First of all thx to Elias Vmoe & djarvik for their answer. I'm pretty ok with all the things which have been said. And since begining, i wasn't against any changes. We surely need it.

Concerning changes i do not think considering the update of patches should be ignored. The patch before AO was not much different than 2 week earlier ? But still people send feedback with things which have alter the game. So it has affected the game somehow.

Concerning new comers, i'm sorry but i've to disagree. New comers have potentially to come on the forum, read thread to read the rules and how to install the patch. I think it doesn't disturb if you give a link to the TE previous build... If they can spend time to drop files, they can surely install the previous build. Especially this would be only for a certain period, in that case during the AO Open.
By the way as i've told to members and as i've said in the my first post. A thought twice before posting my message cause i was pretty sure people would have point out the fact that i'm not really present on the forum. Which i admit, but i cannot do better i think most of former member knows my situation and the difficulties i have to organize match. But i still try to come often, and play which i've done since a couple months now, so i think i can have my opinion even if i'm not an examplar member due to my lack of activity on threads.
Indeed, its not because i do not answer often on threads that nobody does...

Like you said and like i've said it, winner or looser we are all in the same case and we should adapt our game. But i still don't understand how we can imagine making changes just before a big event, or in the middle of it, whether they are major changes or not. I think this should be part of the staff job. Anticipation. It is impossible to make the perfect patch, i do understand but i think they real question in not do we need change, but when do we need to change it.

Anyway i think staff have their way of thinking, and well cannot say more. I haven't participate to the construction of the patch, i've not given my time to improve it. I simply use the little time i have to play an enjoy and as a typical fan of tennis and player of TE since the first version, i think i'm in right to give my opinion. People accept it or not i just wanted to point out that major fact.

I would conclude by the fact that i've taken this initiative not to make it personally. I've actually not much complain on that plan as you could have see. I've read some feebacks where they talk about it, and i've talk also about it with some players on the tour. So i think it is important to give the spotlight to that matter in order to discuss about it.

Thanks for reading and lets get back to competition then

[eliomelma]

R16- Felipe (Djokovic) def Eliomelma (Federer) 6-1 6-2 6-1
And in R16 as i my prediction my tournament ends Nothing to say, my opponent is a great player, but the match was strange...due to low stamina in the second set at 1-0 1-1 2-1 2-2 we had ridicolus rallies...about 30 shots with 0 stamina with only top spins and slice...This new update make the matches not realistic. Now i had Federer vs Djokovic he was a better player, but during this long rallies i thought :"if play 2 strong players with Djoko vs Djoko, how ridicolus will the match be?!". I post not the dmo file or the stats, but only one picture on second set and 3-2, to demonstrate how the stamina was low...my Fed will have an hear attack For now..Bye Bye Federer!
P.s. we had many lags and desyncs
P.p.s. ahahah look my predictions... Fox wins in 5 sets!!!I am a wizard!!!

[spencercarlos]

I don't think I have much to add to what was said, maybe "in order to invigorate, one needs to agitate."
The main reason for switching to the latest TE is the Growth of the tour. I simply cannot hinder it right now, at AO time, when tons on matches will be played with ITST tag in online lobby, prompting many new members to take interest and join. We want it for them to be very easy to join, log-on to chat (which is linked through the game) and immediately start playing friendly matches and appreciate them. The last thing I want is to make it in any way complicated. I have big aspiration for the tour, I want a full 128 draw come RG, and that requires me, sometimes, to make unpopular decisions. But try to remember the popular ones as well

Yes it is the good choice i think, players that playing their own matches of australian Open with ITST signature on online te lobby will be the best spot and marketing for our tour and will be really bad if we play our match in private lobby system. Right choice Not popolar but for tour growth is the best choice

Well its not a good actually, you (mods), and creators of the patch test and make the roaster as balanced as possible, so with this updates you are just putting everything that makes the ITST game fair into the trash can, this time i was heavily affected (as a Federer), but still i dont think popularity that should be the goal, for what? for having the remaining of the players playing the Australian Open and be seen in the lobby? I dont agree. Fairness comes first always.

This could have very well being avoided by advertising and encouraging people to upgrade to TE2013 and the changes but explaining that 1.12 TE2011 would be ON ONLY for the remaining matches at the Australian Open, because again as i said that will be the rule, Manutoo ALWAYS does update the game when an important event is being played.

Ok now i am off this topic again i hope this is just learning for everybody.

PS. C4ill, not everybody has the time to play with the game on a daily basis. So having an extra evening to test?? the new changes would not have solve anything. And yet again i tested the game for like 3,4 days before playing my match with Felipe, but what for? i already found out that i was completly toasted with no chance of anything in my match but to win just a couple of games on each set.

[Elias]

Well, Carlos; i understand your concerns about timings. Though, Federer wasn't gimped in between 1.11 and 1.12. Djoker has been gimped (consistency wise). Most of the chars have been put in precision "categories" in 1.12, meaning, Federer and Djokovic saw their precisions decreased, both. Besides this Federer hasn't be touched, but Djokovic consistencies have been lowered. Stamina's were lowered in 1.11 not 1.12.

That's just said, you were probably more a victim of Federer being weaker than Djoker in this match-up, but this wasn't due to the late 1.12 release. It's due to some imbalance that was already there, and also due to stamina management puncher vs. power baseliner, and a recent change in TE2013, making accels more tiring when power > stamina. Also some lack of power, coupled with high latency matches makes defense overhelming, especially on a slow surface, probably.

[TWM-Fox]

R16- Fox (Murray) def Vramvrim (Raonic) 1-6 4-6 7-6 7-6 6-3



Well i think i've thought about all the scenarios possible except that one.
Don't really know what to think about it, pressure, luck, skills, well i think those words sum up the match.

To sum up, i've been totally smashed in the first set. Big serves, big hits, defending was simply impossible for me. We are on a slow sufrace but Vramvrim gave immediately a quick tempo. Net wasn't on my side and unfortunately i could not count on my serve as i've had big lags on my engagement.

Lags were less present in the second set, but still it somehow made me loose important points. Vramvrim in confidence he simply stick to his wonderful serve which is not only power but also precision and good placements.

At this moment, i really don't remember of key moments. I was really focused on the game and i simply forgot what happen between the loose of the second set and my win in the last set.
Some images come to me like being led in the third set, having 3 match points to defend in the third set.
Struggling in the fourth set, taking the lead to at last have 3 more match points to save...
And finally the tie, i felt Raonic less stable, and i simply focused his forehand encouraging him to attack and get counter and making him more tired. I played great defense counter game and my first serve simply came back right on time to kill the game.

6 matchs points, 33 aces, this is the only think i remember. I can leave at this stage the AO, producing a good performance where i've been down for a while since the US Open. I'm still standing.

By the way sorry i've forgot to switch on the dmo on after installing the game and the patch. Maybe Vramvrim had record it and could give it. I can also answer to any question if needed

PS: 100 bucks for Elio who has done a good prediction. Next time could you predict me that i'll save that much of match points. That would help me to avoid hypertension XD

[VMoe86]

Woowhat vs Vmoe86 .....interesting match... without new te 2013 will be 5 set match but now..Moe in 4 sets

And Elio fails here.

VMoe86 (Davydenko) defeats Woowhat (Federer) 6-2, 6-1, 6-0

A very solid performance from me, so my minimal goal is achieved, reaching QF. At the start I was a bit nervous, because I've never played against woowhat and a good serving and aggressive Federer can always be very problematic.

Fortunately for me, he was having a very bad day regarding the serve: Only 51% First Serves in and then only 103mph Average Speed on 1st Serve. I had break point in every of his service games and he only held serve once, this would not have been enough against most players. At the beginning he was a bit more patient in the rallies, but I also needed to find my range a bit, so there we had some more longer rallies. He started going more at the net, which I liked, because I could hit some good passing shots.

I got a break for 3-1, he made a rebreak, but I wasn't worried since his serve was not working (for whatever reason). Thus I got away with the first set quickly and started serving in 2nd set, where he immediately broke me a 2nd time. Then I won the remaining games a bit too easily, but he didn't try much anymore.

Better luck next time, Woowhat! You were the last ballerina standing at AO!

[spencercarlos]

Woowhat vs Vmoe86 .....interesting match... without new te 2013 will be 5 set match but now..Moe in 4 sets

And Elio fails here.

VMoe86 (Davydenko) defeats Woowhat (Federer) 6-2, 6-1, 6-0

A very solid performance from me, so my minimal goal is achieved, reaching QF. At the start I was a bit nervous, because I've never played against woowhat and a good serving and aggressive Federer can always be very problematic.

Fortunately for me, he was having a very bad day regarding the serve: Only 51% First Serves in and then only 103mph Average Speed on 1st Serve. I had break point in every of his service games and he only held serve once, this would not have been enough against most players. At the beginning he was a bit more patient in the rallies, but I also needed to find my range a bit, so there we had some more longer rallies. He started going more at the net, which I liked, because I could hit some good passing shots.

I got a break for 3-1, he made a rebreak, but I wasn't worried since his serve was not working (for whatever reason). Thus I got away with the first set quickly and started serving in 2nd set, where he immediately broke me a 2nd time. Then I won the remaining games a bit too easily, but he didn't try much anymore.

Better luck next time, Woowhat! You were the last ballerina standing at AO!

Honestly i am not surprised by the scoreline or the fact that Federer is finished in this tournament

The tournament goes to the latter stages, great matches coming up.