More Details Emerge About The Golf Club

[MERACE]

Here's another link partially addressing presentation and specifically audio:

http://www.hb-studios.com/forum/index.php?topic=567.0

"Hi guys, thanks for the question - I've been lurking around here waiting for some audio questions hah. Our commentary system is going to be ever-evolving so what you get a launch will be cool but what you will get later will be super cool.

The commentary will be less traditional than we've seen in other golf sims. I wanted the overall audio experience to be a relaxing experience so the commentary reflects this in its casual tone. I want it to act like any other golfing buddy you'd be out on the course with. Nice an casual without being too talkative. The commentary will mainly serve as a guy to give you relevant info like your score, if there are hazards off the tee, how your friends are doing compared to you, etc. I'd like the commentary to be one part useful, one part entertaining and one part not-all-in-your-face.

And yes, you can disable the commentary but I'm really trying to make a game where the commentary doesn't annoy people. Since is self published we have some really fun ideas for commentary as to how it can evolve after launch. I really want to have a dialogue with the fans out there who are playing it all the time and adapt it with the help of their input. For example I have set up a twitter account just for the voice of 'The Golf Club' - https://twitter.com/NewVoiceOfGolf

This has never been done before (to my knowledge) and I think it's a great opportunity to make a game with commentary that people actually like to listen to. Another first is that I am actually the voice talent but am also implementing the commentary so I don't have to wait to book someone in the studio to add new content.... this is where we will really be pushing the envelope. We will be able to change the commentary with each update and add new (or remove annoying ^_^) commentary over the life of the game.

As for the ambience, we have a really cool system in place that gives each course theme its own feel and adapts depending where you are on the course. So it'll never sound same-y

Lemme know if y'all have any other questions! And follow the voice on twitter!! He's always looking for input from the fans!"


-MERACE

[MERACE]

When it comes to new game announcements (especially sports games) there are two extreme camps some people fall in - Paula Pollyanna or Debbie Downer.

I fall in the camp somewhere in between - Henry Hopeful.


-MERACE

[Skyboxer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Seymour Scagnetti

I really don't care how much funds they have. I want a simulation type golf game and if a company had limited funds to develop one than I have limited excitement about it coming out. Do you have a relative that works for this company? This board is hilarious. People only want total agreement because everything should be peaches and cream on this board. I didn't get the memo that this was a cheerleading thread for this game. I have as much reason to be pessimistic as you do being optimistic. You have your opinion and I have mine. Just because a developer is putting out info and is being accommodating to gamers doesn't mean much. They want you to buy their game, they are in it to make money. EA is very accommodating the month before their games are released and what happens 2 weeks after its released.......the sound of crickets.

You really have zero clue what you are talking about.
I'm not being optimistic at all. In fact I stated many Times that the game would probably not be all that great at the start.
I'm just being fair and realistic about a new game built from scratch. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt at the start and don't have unrealistic expectations for a first release game.
So no I won't be spewing negativity after every single update. If after a few releases they aren't where I feel they could have been then ill share my disappointment.
Again this isn't EA which had years with the game. ..lmao

I'll just do what I should have done before and use ignore button.

[Seymour Scagnetti]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

You really have zero clue what you are talking about. I'm not being optimistic at all. In fact I stated many Times that the game would probably not be all that great at the start. I'm just being fair and realistic about a new game built from scratch. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt at the start and don't have unrealistic expectations for a first release game. So no I won't be spewing negativity after every single update. If after a few releases they aren't where I feel they could have been then ill share my disappointment. Again this isn't EA which had years with the game. ..lmao I'll just do what I should have done before and use ignore button.

Lol, I love it when people need to proclaim proudly that they are going to use the ignore button (99% of the time they don't) like anybody gives a crap about it.

[SinisterAlex]

Quote: Originally Posted by Seymour Scagnetti

Lol, I love it when people need to proclaim proudly that they are going to use the ignore button (99% of the time they don't) like anybody gives a crap about it.

I just used the ignore button.

[jmaj315]

Quote: Originally Posted by MERACE

Here's a link to a thread at the HB Studios The Golf Club forums that addresses some concerns expressed here on gameplay: How Will The Golf Club Represent The GAME of Golf http://www.hb-studios.com/forum/index.php?topic=582.0 "Hi guys, It's a balancing act at this stage. As you've rightly said for the first iteration of the game we have concentrated on a solid base to develop from. The goals of the game at the start was to make a fun, challenging game that was a bit different than what was out there already. As you've also pointed out, we're also an indie developer. This means that not everything we want to go in can get in. So for the first release we wont have every option available to a golfer in real life, for example drops, although it is on our list. The time needed on this would have drastically impacted other features, as having infinite course creates a whole world of new edge cases other games dont have to worry about. We do match the rules as closely as possible though, and we've tried to mimic how us amateurs play rather than pros. For example you do get penalty strokes for hitting the ball in the water, and then you retake the shot from where you are. It's not ideal but small steps in the right direction are better than stretching ourselves too thinly and getting nothing right, which I think you'll agree on I think you'll enjoy what we have, and I think you'll very much enjoy helping us evolve the game in the time ahead." -MERACE

So eventually... It would be amazing if the game also (somewhat) taught you the rules of golf. I've been playing for years and always have to guess on what I'm able to do after hitting it into a water hazard. In short it would be nice to get all legal drop options.

Quote: Originally Posted by OnlookerDelay

We got some relief on this today it seems... a couple of developers have confirmed that the way to have multiple pin settings for a course is to, in essence, create four unique courses. ....... How does this sit with you guys? Are there problems with this that I'm not seeing?

I think its 100% okay... when you think about it, this is how it is on TW

Quote: Originally Posted by lhslancers

You don't want the developers making scoring difficult by placing pins in impossible locations Nor do you want them making fairways that play like Mario Golf. If they don't have a way to increase the difficulty by making the analog swing more or less sensitive then the only way it could be done would be to add in the old 3 click swing system where difficulty could be increased by a smaller hitting area or an increased swing speed meter. The game looks promising but I wouldn't want a game that I could shoot 60.

I mean if you shoot 60 one time in say.... 4 or 500 rounds.... i think id be okay with that lol

[rolltide1017]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skyboxer

You really have zero clue what you are talking about. I'm not being optimistic at all. In fact I stated many Times that the game would probably not be all that great at the start. I'm just being fair and realistic about a new game built from scratch. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt at the start and don't have unrealistic expectations for a first release game. So no I won't be spewing negativity after every single update. If after a few releases they aren't where I feel they could have been then ill share my disappointment. Again this isn't EA which had years with the game. ..lmao I'll just do what I should have done before and use ignore button.

I think you're being a little harsh towards Seymour's opinion. I share some of the same concerns he has about the game. Not even getting drops right means there're not getting the game of golf completely right but, neither has TW to this date.

I can deal with not being able to move around on the tee box but, I hope they change that in the future. Drops on the other hand, are a basic fundamental aspect of the sport and not including them puts a damper on this game IMO. Having to re-hit every time you land in a hazard is not the way the game was meant to be played. Very few times in the game of golf is re-hitting the best choice, that's why you don't see pros do it that often.

I play golf in real life and I'm not that good which means I have a lot of practice hitting hazards and taking drops. The only time I may re-hit is if I hit a hazard from the tee. Most other times I'm taking my drop because it normally takes the hazard out of play or lessens its influence on your next shot. If a basic fundamental of football or baseball was left out of one of those games there would be a huge uproar on this site so, I don't understand why it is taboo to be disappointed when these devs have admitted that they haven't even gotten the basic fundamentals of the sport right.

They claim to be a sim golf game but can't figure out how to get drops in, that's not sim golf IMO. I'm still going to support this game because I think it looks pretty good and has great potential, I just hope that 2 or 3 years from now we are not still waiting for drops to be added to the game.

[ralphieboy11]

I would imagine drops not being in has to do with the infinite amount of courses that could become available.

When you put the course creator in the hands of the masses you never know what people might design. What if someone creates a completely island green without a drop zone? Certainly seems like that will be possible. If the ball goes into the water on the tee shot, where do you drop the ball. Onto the green?

There are many other scenarios like this that could become difficult to program when you factor in golf rules like natural water hazards, lateral water hazards, drop zones, out of bounds, etc.

I would think the developers would address these issues in later installments, but for now I don't blame them for just wanting to get a working game into the hands of the public.