473 replies to this topic

[trailblazergolf]

umm -- if there is no PC version I will be one  pissed off customer--bought this game 1st day it released PC is all I got I'm old fart and not about to try all that other stuff--I will die before I cud learn that fancy stuff

[jmk59]

In my best Fox Mulder voice - I want to believe.

[Richard]

Buck, you may find this impossible to believe, but you and I have found common ground on which to believe. PG2 will only contain what is necessary for the simulator crowd. I may be one returning to Links. The exception being that JNPG may be maintained. Might be wishful thinking.

[Buck]

In my best Fox Mulder voice - I want to believe.

 
lol   Me too

 

Buck, you may find this impossible to believe, but you and I have found common ground on which to believe. PG2 will only contain what is necessary for the simulator crowd. I may be one returning to Links. The exception being that JNPG may be maintained. Might be wishful thinking.

Never say never!

Honestly, I don't think any of us want to be right on any of this PG2 speculation, it's just the situation that makes the most sense.

[Buck]

umm -- if there is no PC version I will be one  pissed off customer--bought this game 1st day it released PC is all I got I'm old fart and not about to try all that other stuff--I will die before I cud learn that fancy stuff

I don't know how pissed off any of us could be or should be really.
We've had a great run with PG1 and certainly it's delivered lots of value in its multi-year run.

And, to take a positive take, what's to say they'll shut anything about PG1 down?
Who knows - The lights may stay on for a very long time!

 

I'll keep my blinders on and hope for a good outcome until we hear otherwise (assuming we ever do..)

[MERACE]

Here’s another possibility. Trackman could increase the funds and staff for the development of the simulation version of PG2 while Mike and Andrew concentrate on the PC (and hopefully console) version of PG2.


-MERACE

[Buck]

Here’s another possibility. Trackman could increase the funds and staff for the development of the simulation version of PG2 while Mike and Andrew concentrate on the PC (and hopefully console) version of PG2.


-MERACE

 

That's one possibility, no doubt (one I hope is close to the mark!)

 

But let's have a thought experiment with that..

Why would Trackman do that?

 

They are a sim hardware company that acqui-hired the software and talent that wrote the software that, presumably, is going to be the next gen of software to mate up with their hardware.

 

Have they ever been in the general PC gaming business? (honest question - I have no idea but assume not)

If not - why would they want to? (and at this moment in time in particular)

 

It's largely acknowledged that the general consumer golf gaming business is pretty niche - so niche that the stalwart bailed on it after decades of being in it (EA).

 

What's your best case business scenario for why Trackman would want to spread out any resources to suddenly be in the PC/Console space vs just focusing on supporting their core business of Sim hardware?

 

My best hope for something there would be all around fostering a larger eco-system of courses and perhaps plugins of other kind (gear/apparel/other) that the sim side could benefit from.  

 

But if I am being honest, I see as many negatives to that as I see positives.  

It might be more desirable to have Mike Jones (and perhaps others) nose to the grindstone cranking out fully licensed courses that would be expensive, but selling to an audience that would happily bear the cost (sim users) - as they are used to this hobby being very expensive.

[MERACE]

Maybe from the sale of PP to Trackman, Mike and/or Andrew can afford to hire a small staff of graphic artists and programmers to continue development of their side business: PG2 PC/Consoles.

I know, I’m grasping for straws.


-MERACE

[Buck]

Maybe from the sale of PP to Trackman, Mike and/or Andrew can afford to hire a small staff of graphic artists and programmers to continue development of their side business: PG2 PC/Consoles.

I know, I’m grasping for straws.


-MERACE

 

I hear you man - We all are grasping - no question..

 

What makes you think Trackman bought PP but that doesn't include PG 2 (and 1 - which by all indications 2 is heavily based off of)?

If they didn't buy PG2, what did they really buy?

 

It would seem more likely that, if they bought only parts, they'd want PG2 and not PG1! 

[jmk59]

I think Trackman wants a less expensive golf game companion than the current E6, along with PP graphics.  The Trackman software only translates the ball-club collision info. into launch data, then tracks that ball flight (real time data).  They would still need the PP's golf game (PG1 or PG2) to do all the game graphics and physics.

 

Why wouldn't they use the PC community (here) as a test platform for PG2, as a full-up golf game?

[Buck]

Why wouldn't they use the PC community (here) as a test platform for PG2, as a full-up golf game?

 

It's a fair point and question - I just can't determine if we are only thinking this way because we want it to be true..

 

But at what point does this other gaming community of testers actually become more trouble than it's worth?

 

Normal users play the game with totally different input methods requiring different code and visual and interaction affordances, all of which tremendously increases the time and money required to develop the software.

 

Wouldn't it make more sense to have testers that are playing the game using the specific Sim hardware that you are developing the software for and where the serious income originates?

[jmk59]

Buck - PP has a lot of the input methods in place already with PG1.  They just need tweaked, not totally redone from scratch.  Any companion golf game that Trackman uses will most likely need to run on a PC anyway.

[Buck]

Buck - PP has a lot of the input methods in place already with PG1. They just need tweaked, not totally redone from scratch. Any companion golf game that Trackman uses will most likely need to run on a PC anyway.

I guess that "tweaking" is what I mean. It's endless. And any software changes and feature updates always have to consider implications and bugs for all the different methods each and every time (and have to be tested across all).

Are we sure the upside is worth all the extra time, cost and effort?
Don't get me wrong. I definitely hope you're right.

I can just see a lot of benefit, from a development point of view, to reducing the overhead and complexity of the current game and focusing on providing for the Sim side of the business.

[M Rose]

Maybe from the sale of PP to Trackman, Mike and/or Andrew can afford to hire a small staff of graphic artists and programmers to continue development of their side business: PG2 PC/Consoles.

I know, I’m grasping for straws.


-MERACE

 

Oh man....  it sure would be sweet to be able to design courses in Course Forge and get paid to do it. It's such an amazing labor of love for me.

[frank70]

I think that it might depend on how far the development of PG2 for PC and consoles has progressed to this day.

If they aren't that far away .... why shouldn't trackman make some cash with the selled units of PC and consoles?

[Buck]

I think that it might depend on how far the development of PG2 for PC and consoles has progressed to this day.
If they aren't that far away .... why shouldn't trackman make some cash with the selled units of PC and consoles?

As long as there are plans to support it in an ongoing fashion, for sure! No brainer
I personally wouldn't want a release that's just a one off of what they have to this point for "some cash" for them.

[frank70]

As long as there are plans to support it in an ongoing fashion, for sure! No brainer
I personally wouldn't want a release that's just a one off of what they have to this point for "some cash" for them.

Further development would probably be dependant of financial success of PG2. It it sells good or at least acceptable, it would be stupid to abandon it.

[Ted_Ball]

But the PG1 track record is not good as far as sales go. Why would they think PG2 would be any different? The 'small team' format is a nightmare time-wise and  public perception-wise. Those poor, hapless engineers will be dragged along fixing an endless conveyor belt of bugs for little economic gain. 

 

It's not going to happen. And even if it does happen it's not going to be anytime soon.

[mcthommo]

I also would hope to see PG2 for PC, especially as I'm lucky to have a system that should give it a lot of whistles and bells.

However, the distinct lack of any positive news does inevitably lead to the conclusion that no news= bad news for us long term PC'ers.

I can understand that things like NDA's can hinder this but would it really hurt anything with some news- good or bad- so the community can go forward either way. If its only PG1 then ok, we'll get the most out of it as per Links previously and take it from there.

If there is to be a PG2, fingers crossed, then it will surely breathe new life into the community as well.

[Dazmaniac]

Mike did post 'unofficially' to state work was still obgoing with PG2 and that they had a full time UI guy on the job {probably a Trackman stipulation).

Would be odd for him to post something like that if there was no future for a PC Golf game version of PG2.