Is EA Sports PGA Tour Losing Its Sim?

Feature Article

Submitted on: 07/01/2014 by Ben Vollmer

There are a lot of mixed emotions when you see one of your favorite sports titles get invaded by a gigantic battleship right in the middle of a round of golf.

During EA's brief showcase of their Tiger Woods-less PGA Tour during E3, they threw a fairly shocking surprise at us in the last few seconds. If you haven't seen the video, EA shows off a bevy of the world's most famous golf courses only to follow it with the Battlefield 4 map Paracel Storm, in the form of a golf course. So the question definitely has to be asked: Should we worry that PGA Tour is straying from simulation golf? Something that only recently EA was able to truly capture? I'm not so sure.

It was clear when EA announced that their partnership with Tiger Woods was being dropped that there were big changes in store for a franchise that probably needed them. According to VGCharts, the Tiger Woods series sold about a tenth in 2013 of what it did a decade before that. So even though, from a simulation perspective, the series certainly improved, sales did not.

Again, I'm not sure that means that PGA Tour won't strive to be the best possible simulation that it can be -- some wacky golf courses aside. In all honesty, for a golf video game to be successful in the current climate of video game sales, it probably needs to strike a perfect balance of simulation and fantasy. How EA will try and manage that remains to be seen, but at the very least, I think it's important to hold out for more information before jumping to any kind of conclusion. Especially when the real courses that we did see looked absolutely gorgeous.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the expanded power of the PS4 and Xbox One should allow EA to make the game more customizable than ever. While it's almost certain that they'll be trying to reach an expanded audience for PGA Tour, and they should, there will probably be quite a bit there to keep their more hardcore fans happy as well. If the images shown in the E3 trailer are anything close to the reality of what we'll get when the game comes out, I can't imagine that they would ignore other aspects of simulation like improved swing animations, better ball physics, enhanced short game, and a lengthy career mode.

Ultimately, I don't think that the trailer gives much of anything to worry about. If EA's other games like UFC, Madden, and NBA Live are any indication of what they're trying to do with their sports games, I'd like to think that PGA Tour will developed to recreate the game of golf in as accurate a way as possible. Outlandish courses like Paracel Storm should intrigue a wider audience into giving the game a shot, and simulation golf might be what keeps them there.

Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR Videos

Member Comments

# 1 kehlis @ 07/01/14 03:28 PM

Is that a add on map of Call of Duty?

# 2 TheBleedingRed21 @ 07/01/14 03:28 PM

That is from battlefield Parcel Storm.

Absolutely crazy they think this is a good idea. Smh.

# 3 bluengold34_OS @ 07/01/14 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukebeatsuncagain


	Dudes. It's ONE course. Seriously some OS'ers need to come down off their high horse and try and accept that this might be fun...because it's pretty cool. As a golf fan, a sim fan, and a Battlefield fan...why not? The fact that this is SUCH a big concern over one course/hole is absurd.

If I'm not forced to use it during career/season mode - than why worry about what fantasy course they put in the game. This series has had fantasy courses for years, so I am not sure what the issue is?

Am I missing something?

# 4 jilly55 @ 07/01/14 03:56 PM

I'm really not super up in arms about this. If these types of courses can possibly bring in a larger playership, and keep the franchise afloat, then I'm all for it. I probably will not be playing these courses much though.

# 5 kehlis @ 07/01/14 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluengold34_OS


	If I'm not forced to use it during career/season mode - than why worry about what fantasy course they put in the game. This series has had fantasy courses for years, so I am not sure what the issue is? Am I missing something?

I don't think so, I just think he took offense to the battlefield comparisons for some reason which is what it looks like.

I'm on no high horse and in fact hope there are users who enjoy it, I just know that I won't and as long as I'm not forced to use it no skin off my back.

# 6 DiscountCleric @ 07/01/14 04:16 PM

The big question is: who does it market towards?
Golf sim players are turned off by its mere existence, let alone hyping it up.
Non-golf players are going to need more than "One course has a battleship!" to draw any interest.

# 7 TheBleedingRed21 @ 07/01/14 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluengold34_OS


	If I'm not forced to use it during career/season mode - than why worry about what fantasy course they put in the game. This series has had fantasy courses for years, so I am not sure what the issue is? Am I missing something?

Maybe it's just me but I can see they aren't steering for straight sim which is a problem to me.

That's why I don't like it

# 8 ocat @ 07/01/14 04:49 PM

This series has never been "sim" on the consoles, the PC version was really good but the console versions haven't come close. Its mainly comes down the the golf ball physics, not even close to how a golf ball behaves in the real world, which for a golf game I would think is a pretty important thing to get right

# 9 inkcil @ 07/01/14 06:44 PM

EA often uses development cycles and first attempts as an excuse for lack of quality and support of titles...so of course when resources are used in such an arcade way we know given EA's history and way of doing things that somewhere else the game is going to be shorthanded.

But hey, they're trying to sell games and I don't blame them in this specific situation:

1.) I'm not aware of a BIG golf gaming community that clamors for sim
2.) They lost Tiger and need some way to Jazz it up, so they go back to what they do best - ARCADE
3.) Sales..they're trying to bring in the kids.

# 10 cusefan74 @ 07/01/14 10:01 PM

Since when was any of their Golf games a sim. What kind of sim lets you power up your shots and stuff like that?

# 11 globalbeats7 @ 07/01/14 10:03 PM

to each is own. but ea lost my $ when golf club and to lesser degree, if it ever is made, perfect golf appear.

# 12 BBallcoach @ 07/01/14 10:05 PM

Ugh... EA went in the complete wrong direction with this.

# 13 lnin0 @ 07/01/14 10:13 PM

Depends on your definition of "successful". I think a sim orientated golf game could be successful in tofay's gaming atmosphere. COD successful, no. FIFA successful, no. Successful at making a profit and building a fan base, yrs.

# 14 Grey_Osprey @ 07/02/14 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inkcil


	EA often uses development cycles and first attempts as an excuse for lack of quality and support of titles...so of course when resources are used in such an arcade way we know given EA's history and way of doing things that somewhere else the game is going to be shorthanded. But hey, they're trying to sell games and I don't blame them in this specific situation: 1.) I'm not aware of a BIG golf gaming community that clamors for sim 2.) They lost Tiger and need some way to Jazz it up, so they go back to what they do best - ARCADE 3.) Sales..they're trying to bring in the kids.

The bold would be my worry too. The fact that they found it necessary to make this "fantasy course" a part of their focus and presentation worries me. Sure, it may only be one course, but how much time was spent developing it and what other parts of the game suffered because of it. All you have to do is look at EA's Madden to see what happens when you concentrate on fancy features and gimmicks and let core game play issues go.

Their video lost me at the battle ship intro. I'll stick with The Golf Club and Links for my golf fix.

# 15 brandon27 @ 07/02/14 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluengold34_OS


	If I'm not forced to use it during career/season mode - than why worry about what fantasy course they put in the game. This series has had fantasy courses for years, so I am not sure what the issue is? Am I missing something?

That's how I feel about this. If its like the current fantasy courses in the game, where they are just there as an option to play if I want to and I'm not forced to use them in any way, shape, or form, then I don't really care. As long as the game play gets better, and we have far more real and authentic courses, then I'm alright with it. Afterall, its no different than how TW14 was.

# 16 pietasterp @ 07/02/14 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandon27


	That's how I feel about this. If its like the current fantasy courses in the game, where they are just there as an option to play if I want to and I'm not forced to use them in any way, shape, or form, then I don't really care. As long as the game play gets better, and we have far more real and authentic courses, then I'm alright with it. Afterall, its no different than how TW14 was.

Your point is well taken, but I think it's the larger, overall gestalt that the TW series has been ever-more casually-oriented that is the most off-putting. As others have stated, since the name change of the franchise to "Tiger Woods" from "PGA", I think that was the turning point. Since then, it's been all free-fall downhill in my opinion. Thank goodness there are no competitor products, otherwise an entire gaming niche/genre would be essentially unserved.

# 17 grabursock55 @ 07/02/14 12:02 PM

If anyone is familiar with the older platforms like N64 PS1 and the likes, this reminds me of a throwback to those consoles. Where companies would intertwine games. I think this is a refreshing idea... As was said before, this is a fantasy course and it seems that you arent forced to play it. Remember, its a video game. If you want ultra-realism, go pick up some clubs and hit the links.

Also repeat to yourself "its just a game, I should really just relax"
For the PGA tour video game

# 18 McG @ 07/02/14 12:21 PM

I see a lot of people are wondering why EA would do this to their golf game. What are we doing right now? We are talking about a golf game. One that isn't even out yet and that doesn't have a "cover boy" anymore. They are using "shock tactics" in order to create an imprint in your mind about a golf game. For all of you that say you aren't buying the game, a few of you will the same people that walk by the video game store/section a few months after it's out, see the game and pick it up just to give it a try. More than likely, you probably wont even remember that you did(or didn't) like the battleship thing but the game will stand out to you and that's all that EA is trying to do, grab the casual/on the fence player.

# 19 Jarbeez @ 07/02/14 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluengold34_OS


	If I'm not forced to use it during career/season mode - than why worry about what fantasy course they put in the game. This series has had fantasy courses for years, so I am not sure what the issue is? Am I missing something?

Agreed with bluengold, they have had these fantasy courses in there before and it was always kind of cool to play them. To me some of their fantasy courses have been the most challenging since they can kind of push the limits a bit more. So I'm all for it.

# 20 globalbeats7 @ 07/02/14 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McG


	I see a lot of people are wondering why EA would do this to their golf game. What are we doing right now? We are talking about a golf game. One that isn't even out yet and that doesn't have a "cover boy" anymore. They are using "shock tactics" in order to create an imprint in your mind about a golf game. For all of you that say you aren't buying the game, a few of you will the same people that walk by the video game store/section a few months after it's out, see the game and pick it up just to give it a try. More than likely, you probably wont even remember that you did(or didn't) like the battleship thing but the game will stand out to you and that's all that EA is trying to do, grab the casual/on the fence player.

nope. we did not have options in years past. now we do. if golf club tanks, im sure many folks will give EA a try...but they are certainly losing the sim golfing gamer for now.

« Previous12 Next »

More Links