Ping-Pong | Evolving Consumer

Table to Die For

While it is easy to think of ping pong as a game played on a rickety old table in a damp basement or garage, this one is truly steps up the game and then some. The Killerspin SVR Black Ping Pong table offers playing surface that is specially designed with the maker’s Repeat Roller Coating (RRC) process that provides a superior glare reducing finish, while the 22mm medium density fiberboard (MDF) provides consistent bounce. It also has a design that looks stylish, so much so you won’t want to relegate it to the basement.

Killerspin Official Website

Holiday Gift Guide: Serious Table Tennis

When we think of table tennis – aka Ping Pong – we think of that basic looking green table that people fold up and store in the basement or garage. The Eleven Ravens Stealth Ping Pong Table is a work of art – and it carries a price tag that you might find on such! At $70,000 it is probably out of most players’ price range, but this table is made of aircraft grade aluminum and features carbon fiber accents.

Moreover, the company is just making five tables, and each is numbered and signed by the artist.

Eleven Ravens Stealth Ping Pong Table Official Website

Table Tennis

Have enough space for either a full sized dining table or a table tennis table but not both? Consider the Table & Tennis, which is designed to serve as dinner/meeting table while also being just the right size to be a regulation ping pong table. It features mirrored stainless steel base and a walnut veneer that evokes serious stile. There are even drawers to store paddles, balls and a quick-release net.

It might be enough to make you want to rush through dinner/meeting so you can get back to the game.

Table & Tennis Official Website

Luv the Racquet on PlayStation 3 and Move

The U.S. Open recently wrapped. The PlayStation Move is just now in stores. So now you can pick up a racket of your own with Racquet Sports for PlayStation Move on the PlayStation 3. Try your swing in five different sports including tennis, ping-pong, badminton, squash and beach tennis.

Players can team up or go head-to-head in multiplayer mode. Of course you’ll need more than one Move if you want to play a tournament with friends. The game has 30 environments inspired by real-world landmarks such as the beaches of Copacabana, the foot of Mt. Fuji, overlooking Dubai’s skyline, and the middle of Ha Long Bay. In these settings you can play one of 11 different athletes, or should we say characters? They each have unique personalities — though don’t expect one to have complete temper tantrums on the court a-la John McEnro.

Five racket courts gives Racquet Sports from Ubisoft added life. It’s more than just tennis, and you can vary the level of seriousness or fun based on the sport and setting. Whatever your game, you will get some exercise running all over your living room to hit the ball.

Racquet Sports official website.

Move Your Racquet

Game, set and match… and all in your living room. This is what Ubisoft’s Racquet Sports allows users to do, with a multisport game that includes tennis, ping-pong, badminton, squash and beach tennis. While originally released with the Nintendo Wii, this get-off-the-couch game will be heading to the PlayStation 3 this fall. It will of course be compatible with the PlayStation Move so you’ll get the chance to hit the court in your living room. The game promises pinpoint gameplay mechanics that bring every serve, swing and backhand to life.

Racquet Sports features 30 rich graphical environments, and many probably look better than your local tennis court too, and are certainly places where you’d expect to get in the swing of things. These include real-world landmarks such as the beach of Copacabana, the foot of Mount Fuji and even the skyline of Dubai. These include animated backgrounds, dynamic sounds and even day and night modes. Players will further have the ability to customize their onscreen persona, and can perform with 11 different athletes, each who has a distinct personality and flair. There are 30 outfits, 30 hairstyles and even 15 different racquets available as well to keep things fresh.

Players will also have the chance to play together cooperatively or against each other, with up to four players taking the court. About the only thing missing is the chance to jump over the net, but at least you won’t have any balls to chase when this one arrives this fall!

Racquet Sports Official Site