The Golf Club - PS4 Framerate/Graphical Performance

[RefTix]

For those of you with The Golf Club on PS4, how does it perform?

Is there screen-tearing?
Have the updates helped?
How is the framerate?

I am really, really close to buying it regardless (my God, does the www.tgctours.com look INCREDIBLE!), but I really want to know what platform is best for me.

I am buying a Steam Machine at the end of November and thought about waiting for better performance (avoiding double-purchase).

[OnlookerDelay]

As the world's most anally retentive gamer when it comes to framerates and graphics resolutions, I'll be glad to field this question

First of all on the resolution, the PS4 version runs at 1080p and has a quality object/tree distance that's about twice that of the XB1 version. I'd guess it's about 300 yards, which winds up looking pretty darn good, especially if you turn off the “Depth of Field” special effect, which I highly recommend doing. I recommend turning off DOF for three reasons:

1.) It causes about a 5% framerate hit when it’s on
2.) It blurs the objects at too shallow a distance from the viewpoint and looks artificially overbaked
3.) The trees look properly focused with the effect off, at 300 yards. The scaled back detail level beyond 300 yards sorts of takes the roll of the intent of the DOF effect anyway.

I’m very impressed with how crisp and vibrant the graphics and colors are on the PS4 version.

As for the framerates, they vary considerably. I see what I’d estimated to be 22 FPS to 45 FPS, depending on the course contours and mostly, the object count and density. I’d guess the average is between 28 and 35 FPS. I can tell the swing performance suffers at bit when the frame rates drop below 28 FPS, but 98% of the time, it’s reasonably manageable.

I don’t see a lot of tearing, but I’m usually not geared to be looking for it. I leave vsync off because I worry about skipping frames when the game can’t maintain 30 FPS. I’m content with the way it looks and performs with vsync off, although it could be better.

Some of the updates have resulted in graphics performance improvements, but I get the sense that they’ve hit the ceiling with what can be done with this engine using Unity 4. It would be great if they could get this game running at its originally targeted goal of 60 FPS, at 1080P, but if I had to guess, I’d say its overall average framerate is 32 FPS. I can tell a difference in the way the game feels and in the quality of play when I tweak my PC for 60 FPS, and it does take the gameplay to another level of sensual satisfaction; however, your senses can adjust to the 28 to 35 FPS in which it generally runs on the PS4. Still, there are some desirable courses that are on my “Do Not Play” list on the PS4 because they drag the performance down into the 22 to 25 FPS range too often for my tastes.

I don’t know which Steam machine you may be considering buying, but I can tell you it will take a reasonably healthy Steam machine to run this game at the same resolution and framerates as the PS4. I haven’t looked at the specs on the Steam boxes, but I honestly couldn’t recommend this game to a PC owner that had less than an nVidia Geforce GTX 960 graphics card, if they’re wanting to run the game at 1080p/high detail/object detail 2, and maintain greater than 40 FPS.

[RefTix]

Well.. I bought TGC this weekend on PS4 ...


Wow. Am I happy that I did!

I really enjoy being able to download any course, and hop straight into a nice, sim golf game. Its refreshing.

Pros

• Limitless Courses
• Some Beautiful Moments (the game can look incredible at times)
• Difficulty is High
• SIM Golf Exists!

Cons

• Screen Tearing
• Framerate (probably sub-30 fps when ball is in the air)
• Licensed Golfers (obviously)

[DivotMaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by RefTix

Well.. I bought TGC this weekend on PS4 ... Wow. Am I happy that I did! I really enjoy being able to download any course, and hop straight into a nice, sim golf game. Its refreshing. Pros Limitless Courses Some Beautiful Moments (the game can look incredible at times) Difficulty is High SIM Golf Exists! Cons Screen Tearing Framerate (probably sub-30 fps when ball is in the air) Licensed Golfers (obviously)

Enjoy the game. Unfortunately the game is not what I would call "simulation" at all. It is very easy for me as there is little to no challenge tee to green and it is a bit lifeless. This just demonstrates that there are numerous opinions on what constitutes a "simulation". Have fun with the game. What it tries to do, it does pretty well.

[AnthonyKyne]

Thanks for the compliments RefTix.
I'd disagree with my old buddy Divotmaker on simulation a little. His definition of simulation mean hard, which is not necessarily the case.
Simulations means to Simulate the act of playing golf in real life on a computer. As game designers I want to recreate

• The thought process I have when I'm the course
• The feeling or joy, disappointment and achievement when you make or miss a putt

what it shouldn't be is a game of skill with a twitch mechanic that makes it hard or not, because that doesn't simulate real life.
You play games to get the natural ability you don't have in real life but still challenge your mind.
I'm no pro soccer player, but Fifa allows me to actually make the 70yrd pass I've always wanted to make
The golf club gives me the ability to drive the ball 270yrds, which I can't do in real life, and opens up "or Simulates" my thought process to match things that would be part of a pro's if I only had the natural ability.

[ROTTEN]

Quote: Originally Posted by AnthonyKyne

Simulations means to Simulate the act of playing golf in real life on a computer.

....... and also locking players to using the clumsy analog controls. Your way or the highway. Gotta love it.

[AnthonyKyne]

Plus it doesn't really get any more simulation than this
https://youtu.be/lOSYog8gRqk?t=70

[DivotMaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by AnthonyKyne

Thanks for the compliments RefTix. I'd disagree with my old buddy Divotmaker on simulation a little. His definition of simulation mean hard, which is not necessarily the case. Simulations means to Simulate the act of playing golf in real life on a computer. As game designers I want to recreate The thought process I have when I'm the course The feeling or joy, disappointment and achievement when you make or miss a putt what it shouldn't be is a game of skill with a twitch mechanic that makes it hard or not, because that doesn't simulate real life. You play games to get the natural ability you don't have in real life but still challenge your mind. I'm no pro soccer player, but Fifa allows me to actually make the 70yrd pass I've always wanted to make The golf club gives me the ability to drive the ball 270yrds, which I can't do in real life, and opens up "or Simulates" my thought process to match things that would be part of a pro's if I only had the natural ability.

Respectfully, I am getting more of a simulation out of another title right now that isn't a twitch mechanic by any means if anyone has spent any appreciable time with that "other" game. I still enjoy TGC for what it is, but after a year of the same swing and challenge, it does not challenge me personally any longer. I do hope one day that we can find a swing mechanic and/or GUI that has a steadily rising challenge curve that keeps users challenged and feels more and more like how you would play IRL. I am a 10 handicap and I can and have hit 270-300 yard drives. You and I may see things differently and disagree on a couple of things here and there, but I think we both want the most immersive and challenging Golf game that keeps users coming back for more 24/7/365.....