AUTHOR'S NOTE: I did not play this on original hardware, but instead on a recreated browser port at: https://www.retrogamedeconstructionzone.com/2021/08/the-tennis-for-two-simulator-tets.html
I've also played a program of the game downloadable at: https://oldgamesdownload.com/tennis-for-two/. You may need to put to put this dll file in with the contents of the game: https://www.dll-files.com/msvcr71.dll.html.
Tennis for Two is one of the first-ever computer games and does a pretty good job of being original. Other computer games such as Draughts or XOX are one-to-one with their non-digital counterparts and are simply a new medium for enjoying the game. William Higinbotham instead decided to create a new game from scratch inspired by tennis. The controls are relatively simple--a controller with a dial and a button. Turning the dial will change the angle at which the ball is launched, and the button will hit the ball, given that it is on your side of the court. The game is relatively simple but can get repetitive quickly. Scoring a point relies on your opponent being unable to react to serving back the ball at an appropriate height with the dial. I have not played with the original hardware myself, and the two recreations I have played were not equitable. The first used the mouse to adjust the dial by clicking it, adjusting the angle, and clicking it again. A button to the side is used to serve. I may just be inexperienced at browser Tennis for Two, but these controls are just awful. The second uses just the cursor to click anywhere on the screen, and the ball will be launched in that general direction. Indeed it is much easier, but cannot entirely replicate the dial used.
Graphically, the game doesn't look half bad--it has everything you need shown to you. A flat court that counts for what shots are in-bounds, a net, and a ball accompanied by a trail. The trail of light really does define this game aesthetically. A simple circle or square could've been used on its own, but the trail does an amazing job at conveying the motion, and the smooth graphics of the Donner Model 30 allow this game to truly express itself as an original game.
While very basic-looking and lacking in controls, Higinbotham's Tennis for Two manages to establish its own identity as an original tennis-inspired video game. I hope that more original titles are soon to follow.
I've also played a program of the game downloadable at: https://oldgamesdownload.com/tennis-for-two/. You may need to put to put this dll file in with the contents of the game: https://www.dll-files.com/msvcr71.dll.html.
Tennis for Two is one of the first-ever computer games and does a pretty good job of being original. Other computer games such as Draughts or XOX are one-to-one with their non-digital counterparts and are simply a new medium for enjoying the game. William Higinbotham instead decided to create a new game from scratch inspired by tennis. The controls are relatively simple--a controller with a dial and a button. Turning the dial will change the angle at which the ball is launched, and the button will hit the ball, given that it is on your side of the court. The game is relatively simple but can get repetitive quickly. Scoring a point relies on your opponent being unable to react to serving back the ball at an appropriate height with the dial. I have not played with the original hardware myself, and the two recreations I have played were not equitable. The first used the mouse to adjust the dial by clicking it, adjusting the angle, and clicking it again. A button to the side is used to serve. I may just be inexperienced at browser Tennis for Two, but these controls are just awful. The second uses just the cursor to click anywhere on the screen, and the ball will be launched in that general direction. Indeed it is much easier, but cannot entirely replicate the dial used.
Graphically, the game doesn't look half bad--it has everything you need shown to you. A flat court that counts for what shots are in-bounds, a net, and a ball accompanied by a trail. The trail of light really does define this game aesthetically. A simple circle or square could've been used on its own, but the trail does an amazing job at conveying the motion, and the smooth graphics of the Donner Model 30 allow this game to truly express itself as an original game.
While very basic-looking and lacking in controls, Higinbotham's Tennis for Two manages to establish its own identity as an original tennis-inspired video game. I hope that more original titles are soon to follow.