906 replies to this topic

[zmax - sim]

I think you are right.  When they put him in the game they said it was just a temporary place holder until they could get something better in place.  That was about two years ago now and I'm guessing that with their new owners and a steady focus on the simulator offering that updating this animation is on the WAY back burner as the sim guys have no use for an avatar.

 

While we don't see our avatars when we're hitting, we do see the other players avatar during a multiplayer game, which a lot of us do play.  Most of my tour rounds are in multiplayer. 

[JCat04]

While we don't see our avatars when we're hitting, we do see the other players avatar during a multiplayer game, which a lot of us do play.  Most of my tour rounds are in multiplayer. 

 

Do you also have the option of using the "Playing Companion Camera" when playing multiplayer?  If so, is it the same playing companion camera seen in the PC version, or do you get a different perspective?  I absolutely love the playing companion camera in JNPG.  I only wish they could mix it up to where you'd be standing in different spots, from time to time, as you watch your opponent play their shots.

[zmax - sim]

Yes, we do.  Same perspective.

[mebby]

While we don't see our avatars when we're hitting, we do see the other players avatar during a multiplayer game, which a lot of us do play.  Most of my tour rounds are in multiplayer. 

OK - good to know.  So if you're playing with all simulator players then you see their avatars right?  Not just PC based players avatars?

 

But even so - I'm willing to bet that the avatar for those purposes is probably good enough and not worth investing any more money to make it better.  A better avatar has a meaningful impact for real-time controller or mouse players.  Other than that it's just eye candy which is squarely in the nice-to-have realm.

[zmax - sim]

OK - good to know.  So if you're playing with all simulator players then you see their avatars right?  Not just PC based players avatars?

 

But even so - I'm willing to bet that the avatar for those purposes is probably good enough and not worth investing any more money to make it better.  A better avatar has a meaningful impact for real-time controller or mouse players.  Other than that it's just eye candy which is squarely in the nice-to-have realm.

 

I have played with both sim and pc players in the same game.  I see everybody's avatar.

[Buck]

I see we are still waiting on the "big announcement".

 

Why do I feel like this is going to be somewhat less than expected by some or perhaps just a touch disappointing?

I think I'm in a "show me" mindset with TGC at this point.

I see that JE is back bobbing on the AK knob a bit.
It's like a throwback party over there all of the sudden with hope springing eternal that the "good 'ol days" are on the way back...

We just need Lorin, a little ball squirt and some Dev Diaries and the party is complete.

Loft it up!

[Ted_Ball]

 I only wish they could mix it up to where you'd be standing in different spots, from time to time, as you watch your opponent play their shots.

 

I played multiplayer with StoneComet a couple of times and while the other guy was setting up and playing his shot we walked around with F5 and watched from where you liked. It was a pretty good thing to do - especially on the greens. You could stand (or squat) behind him when he was putting as well which was a bit rude but we both took it in good spirit. 

[JCat04]

Ted, if you haven't done this yet, give it a go and see how it affects the looks of the game.  TGC 2 defaults to "Depth of Field" enabled in the graphics settings.  I'd say more than 95% of those who play the game, including myself, think the game looks a ton better with the DOF OFF.  Maybe you've already turned it off, but I thought I'd throw it out there.  I'm always reading comments from new users about how they think the graphics are too "blurry"...  they're blurry because of the way overbaked DOF effect when it's enabled.  Invariably, they'll come back and remark about how much better the game looks after turning DOF OFF.

[mebby]

I see we are still waiting on the "big announcement".

 

Why do I feel like this is going to be somewhat less than expected by some or perhaps just a touch disappointing?

I think I'm in a "show me" mindset with TGC at this point.

I see that JE is back bobbing on the AK knob a bit.
It's like a throwback party over there all of the sudden with hope springing eternal that the "good 'ol days" are on the way back...

We just need Lorin, a little ball squirt and some Dev Diaries and the party is complete.

Loft it up!

I'm concerned that the announcement will be a let down for sure.  The biggest need the game has at the moment (outside of bug fixes - the most notable being the chipping situation) is a decent multiplayer solution.  They seem to have their heels dug in on this so I'm not expecting their announcement to have anything to do with this.  If it does I'll be pleasantly surprised but I expect them to basically say:

 

We are done with MG so updates will resume

We plan to focus on career mode

We will work on fixing chipping

Something on TGC3

[Buck]

Best news will just be updates resuming for sure.

JE probably doesn't mind the current multiplayer situation as he's still always able to play with AK's ghost balls

[JCat04]

I see we are still waiting on the "big announcement".

 

Why do I feel like this is going to be somewhat less than expected by some or perhaps just a touch disappointing?

I think I'm in a "show me" mindset with TGC at this point.

I see that JE is back bobbing on the AK knob a bit.
It's like a throwback party over there all of the sudden with hope springing eternal that the "good 'ol days" are on the way back...

We just need Lorin, a little ball squirt and some Dev Diaries and the party is complete.

Loft it up!

 

I'm trying to temper my expectations... at best, I want them to announce a 4K HDR enhanced update to the game for the XBox One X.  I'd be happy to have a leaderboard and announcer that takes into account that the ghost players I'm playing with are playing the same hole I'm playing, and stop giving me scoring information for them up to 8 holes ahead of the hole they're currently playing with me!

 

In my wildest dreams I'm not expecting a significant multiplayer update, if anything at all.  I don't think they can do that until TGC 3, but they'd have to have a design philosophy change to do that, which I've seen no indication of as of yet.

[JCat04]

We plan to focus on career mode

 

 

Oh yeah, I forgot about that... the career mode update will probably be the highlight of the announcement, as it's the only thing they've teased .  It won't float my boat, but there's a significant segment of TGC 2 players who are jonesin for a more in-depth career mode.

[Buck]

I'm certainly an advocate for robust career modes, but it's pretty baffling to me that they'd place that higher on the priority pole than better Multiplayer.

 

Per everyones speculation, that must require a more significant rewrite on the underlying game code or something.

I hope that's a major, if not the main, priority for TGC3 (also, murder that dial a distance loft grid garbage)

 

Depending upon what happens here, we might all be over there in a years time if PG2 goes Sim only.

(I know - rumor is that's not the case, but we have no idea what direction things will go here, especially with new ownership and zero official announcements of anything so far).

 

If HB doesn't get it together, I could be back playing TW08 (for the online match play) - yikes..

[mebby]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that... the career mode update will probably be the highlight of the announcement, as it's the only thing they've teased .  It won't float my boat, but there's a significant segment of TGC 2 players who are jonesin for a more in-depth career mode.

Career mode is like post-shot animations.  If you can REALLY get it right it's awesome.  But if you can't get it right then you might as well do with out it.  I don't think they have the chops to get career mode right if I'm being honest.  And that's not a dig on them... I just think that it would take a bigger studio with more resources and experiences to get it working well.

[JCat04]

I'm certainly an advocate for robust career modes, but it's pretty baffling to me that they'd place that higher on the priority pole than better Multiplayer.

 

Per everyones speculation, that must require a more significant rewrite on the underlying game code or something.

I hope that's a major, if not the main, priority for TGC3 (also, murder that dial a distance loft grid garbage)

 

Depending upon what happens here, we might all be over there in a years time if PG2 goes Sim only.

(I know - rumor is that's not the case, but we have no idea what direction things will go here, especially with new ownership and zero official announcements of anything so far).

 

If HB doesn't get it together, I could be back playing TW08 (for the online match play) - yikes..

 

I'll be more likely to dig into a career mode once I retire in a few years, provided there's a career mode worth playing.  I used to get into PGA Championship Golf 2000's career mode on the PC, as it had some life and depth to it.  90% of my playing time in TGC 2 right now is playing Society tournaments.  I play regularly in three different ones and they take a good bit of my playing time.

 

I think their money and effort would be better directed at multiplayer support also, but they're dead set against having multiplayer support that would require PS+ or XBox Gold, even though I'd guess >75%  of PS4 and XBox One owners already subscribe to.  I hope they shock with an announcement to the contrary, but I'm prepared to get nothing on the multiplayer front to be honest.

[Buck]

but they're dead set against having multiplayer support that would require PS+ or XBox Gold, even though I'd guess >75%  of PS4 and XBox One owners already subscribe to.

So that right there is interesting...
Do we think (or know) there are perhaps major costs on the Developer side to providing that access?

Because otherwise I don't get it. To your point, like every single XB & PS user I know subscribes to their respective online service.
It can't just be about the users...that just doesn't' sound right as the real reason.

[JCat04]

I played multiplayer with StoneComet a couple of times and while the other guy was setting up and playing his shot we walked around with F5 and watched from where you liked. It was a pretty good thing to do - especially on the greens. You could stand (or squat) behind him when he was putting as well which was a bit rude but we both took it in good spirit. 

 

I've done that a time or two myself... I really like how JNPG allows you to watch your playing companions play their shots from a 3/4 angle to the right rear.  I feel like I'm in the opponent's huddle when I'm watching my playing companions/opponents from their swing camera view.  That view should be reserved for your golfer only, at least IMO.

[JCat04]

So that right there is interesting...
Do we think (or know) there are perhaps major costs on the Developer side to providing that access?

Because otherwise I don't get it. To your point, like every single XB & PS user I know subscribes to their respective online service.
It can't just be about the users...that just doesn't' sound right as the real reason.

 

I think they underestimate how many console owners subscribe to these premium subscription services.  Anthony Kyne said early on when the original The Golf Club was in development that a multiplayer lobby and true, real time head-to-head play support would require PS+ and XBox Gold, and they would be alienating a large percentage of their potential customer base be requiring these services.  Steam can handle it with no problem, as evidenced by JNPG.  

 

I can't envision how there would be exorbitant development cost associated with a multiplayer lobby or real time head-to-head (not 2 to 7 second delay as we have now) play.  I'd think a fully fleshed career mode with truly independent AI players would  be significantly more resource consuming

[mebby]

I'll be more likely to dig into a career mode once I retire in a few years, provided there's a career mode worth playing.  I used to get into PGA Championship Golf 2000's career mode on the PC, as it had some life and depth to it.  90% of my playing time in TGC 2 right now is playing Society tournaments.  I play regularly in three different ones and they take a good bit of my playing time.
 
I think their money and effort would be better directed at multiplayer support also, but they're dead set against having multiplayer support that would require PS+ or XBox Gold, even though I'd guess >75%  of PS4 and XBox One owners already subscribe to.  I hope they shock with an announcement to the contrary, but I'm prepared to get nothing on the multiplayer front to be honest.

I agree. This is pure speculation on my part but I really think the reason they aren't giving MP any love is because they'd have to basically start over from scratch. I think the core game is so tightly wound around the ghost ball concept that a rewrite has to happen in order to deliver what the community REALLY wants.

So best we can hope for is a rebuild for TGC3 that incorporates proper MP. And even that seems unlikely to me.

[JCat04]

So best we can hope for is a rebuild for TGC3 that incorporates proper MP. And even that seems unlikely to me.

 

I haven't seen any inkling that they're rethinking their approach to multiplayer, have you?  They're harder to read now that Anthony Kyne has gone though, so maybe I haven't had enough tea leaves to ponder over this.