Supports Color & Gray & BW devices.Any Palm OS.

3D Tennis ver. 3.06 (TrialWare) This application was reviewed  5 stars by ZDNet editors!  Included in Preston's Palm Picks for August there.

Try 3D Blockout - the only three-dimensional tetris-clone for Palm! Supports Color & Gray devices. min. OS 3.0 + High resolution for Handera 330!

Credits to Joe Stadolnik for PToolboxLib color&grayscale graphics library.
the official PToolboxLib site:  http://www.geocities.com/retro_01775/PToolboxLib.htm

Thanks to Michael Ding for  the complete beta-testing.

This is the 3-rd successful model of a real game from the same developer.
Please, try the others:
3DBingo – the only bingo for PalmOS ever. For 1-20 Palm devices. 60+ levels (bingo shapes).
                    Rated 5 stars at ZDNet !!!
3DLotto game&checker&filler

 More coming soon at www.pda3dware.com!

Need a high qualified PalmOS & Windows developer? contact me
 

• 1. Description. Updates.
• 2.How&Why do I register a licensed copy?
• 3. Installation. System requirements
•     3.1. Uninstall
• 4. How do I play?
• 5. Preferences. The Menu.
• 6. New AI model - 1000000s combinations!
•     Control over the game speed.
• 7. Update of the Top20 Rank List:
•     - from the product’s website
•     - from Yahoo web resources of ATP and WTA Tours
• 8. In Palm Memoriam.
• 9. Troubleshooting

Top20 Database Updates & Upgrade instructions:update.txt

Program Updates:
ver. 3.06:

• fixed rare crashes on color devices. They seemed to appear only if you try to change the court type during the game.

• the AI has become smarter, featuring new attack strategy. The result is a dynamic gameplay near to the side-lines and the corners of the court.
• minor interface improvements
• 55% faster initial redraw of the different court types

ver. 3.0:(be sure to read the upgrade instructions update.txt if you use older version!)

• rebuilt as a standalone PalmOS© prc file. Simple installation.
• added color icon
• the ball hitting twice the ground is now a mistake, as requested by the users. This was premediated exception in the earliest versions.

• color, gray and black&white on PalmOS 3.0+ handhelds.
• Separate black&white-only version 1.5 supports Palm OS 2.0+ devices or saves RAM (~ 40 KB)
• smoother animation
• dynamically allocates memory for full-screen 3D animation
• added animated service,  ground hit, color transpared images of the players
• improved messages in 2 players' game - 3D Tennis reverts the text and the scoring device so the opposite player sees them correctly
• you can adjust preferences even during the game, new options (6 types of courts without using of extra memory for images, you can change color scheme on the fly, 4 levels of difficulty)
• Preferences panel moved from the Menu, new button "Prefs" on the main screen, button "Play training" has been changed to be "Practice"
• new 3D looking color buttons
• control over the game speed

• new faster default players as requested by the users
• better physics' model - the net is "real".
• fixed small bug in ball's flight after Pause (in ver. 1.3 only)

• another real tennis rule is implemented: the service ball must hit the ground, before the Receiver returns it
• fixed "fault" bug, "shadow on the scoring device" bug
• The Registered version is able to generate 1000000's various computer models of tennis opponents, while the previous ver. has only 20 fixed models.

You can purchase a licensed version at www.palmgear.com (PalmGear H.Q) directly here:
 http://www2.viaweb.com/pilotgearsw/palmdepot.html
There are also detailed instructions at the developers' site how to register.
PalmGear H.Q maintain a secure server to accept credit cards for all registrations, as well as taking telephone orders.
You can order 3D Tennis from PalmGear H.Q. by phone: 817.640.6558 or by fax: 817.640.6614.
You will receive an e-mail from developer with the Registration Code based on the Hotsync user name of your Palm device. Start 3D Tennis. Click on Menu | Register 3D Tennis from the main screen to complete registration.
Please allow 1-2  days for processing/e-mail of the registration info

Note for the new users: To access the Menu click with the stylus on menu silk button of you Palm device. It is hard-painted at the down-left corner of the Palm Screen.
Important! You must be aware of what is your exact Palm hotsync username when purchasing!
If not, click on the Menu | Register 3D Tennis from the main game screen. You will see it. Note that it is
case-sensitive so "John" is not like "john".
Write it exactly as you see it.

Why to register?
All future updates will be free for you.
Registering is the only way to keep your Top20 Rank position forever.
Registered users with receive monthly e-mail notification for the upgrade of the ranking list according to ATP (Association of Tennis professionals) and WTA (Women’s tennis association).
Registered version is able to generate 1000000s various computer models of tennis opponents, while the unregistered one works with 20 default models. This game never ends.
The registered version can vary the speed of the game, according to your preferences.

By default 3DTennis is installed with the Top20 Men rank list.
If you want to switch to the the Top20 Women rank list, install the included in this zip Top20Women.pdb file on the next hotsync, after starting 3DTennisCG once. You may change the rank-list from Men to Women or v.v. later at any time by installing included Top20Men or Top20Women pdb files.

System requirements: any hardware (Palm, Sony, Handspring etc.) , min. Palm OS 3.0
also read the compatibility note

Note to Palm OS 2.0 users: 3D Tennis ver. 1.5 that supports PalmOS 2.0 is still available on your demand.
It is full functional in black&white color and offers all the features of the current color version.
We support this release only as a commercial product, so please purchase first and contact us at support@pda3dware.com, requesting ver. 1.5 . We will send it to you.

General Installation instructions for newbies:
Start your Palm Desktop application on the PC.
To install the game to your handheld choose the game file, for example,
  3DTennisCG.prc
and run it using Explorer, command line, or your favorite file manager.
Palm Software Installation utility will prompt you with other installation
options.  Then put your Palm in the cradle and press the hotsync button.

3D Tennis, especially the game is not working properly on the Emulator application. It's not buggy but the Emulator refreshes the screen too slow for it.

You may beam this application to a friend. Beam both 3DTennis and PToolBoxLib applications. 3DTennis will start with an empty database.

3.1. Uninstall
If you decide to deinstall 3D Tennis, we regret your decision. Please, think again that you just won't find a full-colored 3D action at this price.
Press Menu | Delete from the Application launcher:
1. Delete 3DTennis itself.
2. Delete PToolboxLib shared library if you haven't other color games that require it.

If you find the game a bit too difficult in the beginning, do not despair – after all, you are playing against the computer models of some of the best world tennis players! You may wish to start with the 20th ranked tennis player, or just change the level of difficulty to “beginner” by clicking on the 'Prefs' button.

The speed of the ball and difficulty depends on the Rank position of your TOP20 opponent.
You can choose betweеn 4 levels of difficulty using  the "Preferences Panel".

Each of the Top20 Players has a different strategy. The registered version of 3DTennis is able to produce new strategies (see Item 6).
But it is important to note that they also make typical for the real tennis mistakes, i.e. fault, double fault, out, miss:

1. the fault mistake: the ball served did not hit the proper area of the opponent's court. The service will be replayed.
2. the double fault: two consecutive faults. Your Top20 opponent loses a point.
3. out: the ball in play hits the ground outside any of the lines which bound your part of the court.
4. miss:  a player fails to return the ball
5. the ball hits the ground twice

Control Buttons during the game: (hard buttons from left to right without PgUp & PgDown) :pause, sound on/off, (quit) back to main screen, Preferences Panel.

To exit to application launcher and to use other programs tap Home ("Applications")  silk-button (it's hard painted at the left corner of the device).
When you restart 3D Tennis, it will automatically take you to the last unfinished game, if any.

4.1. Тhe game rules:
The virtual 3D Tennis follows very closely the scoring rules of the real tennis game. The only differences are the following:

• The match finishes after one set, as it is assumed that the typical Palm user has not got the time to play for 3 hours as at Wimbledon! You can even select a that set is 3 games from the "Prefs Panel".

4.2. How to move the racket?
Simply point with the stylus where in the field you would like to meet the incoming ball.
You can do this several times.

4.3 Left or right return:
If you return the ball both with the left hand and right hand side of the racket, it will fall near court side-lines. These two hits would present an additional challenge for your TOP20 opponent, so try and use them more often. It would be fair to say that you can conquer the ranked 1 to 8 players only if you get familiar with this technique.

The Service:
The ball served must hit the ground before the Receiver returns it. 3D Tennis will take care for right positions of the players, accordind to the real tennis rules.

4.4. Тhe game modes
3D Tennis has 3 modes of play for you to try. All the modes are selected from the main title page using the corresponding buttons.

1. Tour (“Play for Rank No…. “ button):

You play two compulsory qualification games according to a scheme set by 3D Tennis. There are 3 outcomes, according to your results: 1) you move one level up the Top20 rank list, 2) you remain at your current rank level, 3) you lose one rank level.
The surprise for registered users only is that the game will not end when the rank No 1 is reached.
2. Training ('Practice' button)

This mode allows you to practice against one of the famous players, whom you can select from a list-box. Please note that the game results will not count for the TOP20 ranking.
3. Two players game.

An exceptionally fun game for two players using one device. The view point will “fly” over the field into 3D space according to who is in turn to hit the ball. You can use a non-sharp plastic pen as a second stylus.
Both players can be moved at any position of the court.

Options:

• Colors - The important feature is that you can change the color scheme even during the game. For example a PalmIIIc owner would be able to play in Color, 16 colors gray, 4 colors gray and even black&white.
• Grass - 6 different court views without using of extra memory
• 2 players' court  - A special option for the “two players” game allows you to control whether the 3D view of the tennis court will "fly" or just change.This is an important option as beta tests show that some users may get dizzy because of the complete 3D illusion.
• Sound - On/Off
• Duration - you can finish the set in 3 or 6 games like in the real tennis.
• Difficulty - 4 levels, according to your skill.

The menu (from the main screen only!)
To access the Menu click with the stylus on menu silk button of you Palm device. It is hard-painted at the down-left corner of the Palm Screen. The menu options are clear enough and  I will not describe them here.
 

You can use this menu option at any time. Your rank position wiil be saved during this proccess.
Remember that you can always return to the Default model by clicking on Menu | Restore default model.

7.1. From the product’s website.

Once a month TOP20 Rank list will be updated in accordance with the real-life ranking group of ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) and WTA (Women’s Tennis Association).

You can download the updates from the following URL:
http://www.pda3dware.com/Top20.htm

Just install the new Top20Men.pdb or Top20Women.pdb file to your Palm device. Your own position in the Top20 Rank List will be saved during the update.

Please note that this will be done automatically as long as there are at least 10 registrations of the 3D Tennis per month and the developer is in a good health. Otherwise the registered users can always update the 3D Tennis database, as described below.

7.2. Updating the 3D Tennis TOP20 List using Yahoo web resources of ATP and WTA Tours.
You have the incredible option to import the Tennis Rank List directly from the sport pages of Yahoo and other web resources. This has been done to secure endless support for the registered users.

Step by step instructions:

1. Start you Palm Desktop software. Click on the Memo button.
2. Browse to those web pages using your desktop web browser:

Men (ATP):     http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/atppoints.html
Women (WTA):   http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/womrank.html
3. Select with the mouse a part of the page, containing first 20 players or just Select All. Copy the selection to Windows Clipboard (Menu Edit | Copy).

It is not neccessary to select only the first 20 players. You can select any part of the page containind first 20.
4. Activate your Palm Desktop application and Paste (Menu Edit | Paste) the selection in the left window of MemoPad area.
5. Change the first line of the new created memo to be “top20men” or “top20women” (default)
6. Hotsync your Palm device.
7. Start 3D Tennis and choose Menu | Import Top20 from Memo. 3DTennis will proceed with an advanced semantic processing of the text, extract precisely the relevant information about the players and update your 3D Tennis Rank List. This process may take a few seconds.
8. If the information about some of the players has not been correctly recognized, you can edit it manually using Menu | Edit TOP20 Player.

The important thing is that every player must be on a single line.
The developer did not tested if it’s possible to update from Yahoo using the wireless technology of Palm VII. Maybe yes.

9. Troubleshooting
1. If you see the messages:
"Could not load PToolboxLib library" or "The version of PToolboxLib library is too old!"
- 3D Tennis will not start
3D Tennis and every other Color&Grayscale game by "PDA 3Dware.com" requires this shared library.
Do not delete it!
Install 3DTennisCG.prc file and start it again.

2. Compatibility with other 3-rd party software
3D Tennis is not compatible with old versions of CJKOS - a localization hack for Chinese/Japanese/Korean.
  Using of CJKOS ver. 4.21 or newer resolve this issue. Thanks to Michael Ding for this tip.

Good luck and enjoy!