173 replies to this topic

[mebby]

3 years now ,half a game by console standards, maybe by 2020.

this game is far from being able to be sold as console game, just ain't there

don't see it either.

I agree Dave.  If they released the current game on the consoles it wouldn't do very well at all.  However, based on what I've seen of JNPG2 I'd be willing to be that it has a decent shot at being a console success.

 

The gameplay is there.  Right, wrong, or indifferent... graphics matter in today's world and that's the single biggest need to push JNPG2 into relevancy. 

[✠ davef ✠]

everyone is over looking all the other stuff that has to be added to the game itself, sure

the game now plays great, better graphics will help of course but ton's of stuff needs to be added to bring it into the console age as it stands now, half a game ain't going to get it to get the console $$$$$$$. not to mention how the designers courses have to be handled as it is now.

you can't have a console version with all sorts of versions of courses,for little changes made. crap like that will not work in the console world.

[Buck]

I would just remind everyone that we know very little about PG2 and their plans.

These guys aren't stupid.
They know the challenges and requirements for a more modern console version, no question.

[zmax - sim]

Can we get an Armchair Golf Game Developer/career mode put in for PG 2?  I'd be camping out in 0 deg weather for that.... 

[Buck]

Can we get an Armchair Golf Game Developer/career mode put in for PG 2?  I'd be camping out in 0 deg weather for that.... 

"SimGolf: Game Dev Edition"

[Pappy]

Why would I not buy a console? Easy answer, i’m not a gamer. PG is my only game and before it was links 2003. Eliminate the PC platform and I’m history. I’m 73+ and am not interested in new toys. My current PC handles this game extremely well. For PG2 I will have to upgrade to W10 and maybe upgrade my 970 card. No big deal.

Ditto Richard and 74 here. I have no desire to go console etc. Except for bug fixes  I am totally happy with PG1 - don't even have to make any more courses, got plenty. Got a few friends scattered around out there for online matches (and an off line match) that's all I need. I found as I get older I don't require as many toys. So with all that said, devs, I hope you guys can keep PG1 functioning.

[frank70]

Just for some perspective on why the console is where this game will make money and why it will be steered that way just look at the first week EA Sports Rory game was released in 2015 and in that first week it sold 216,000 copies world wide.  Most consoles are sold at below or at cost as where they make their money is in software sales and with the whole world basically owning consoles the market is huge and TGC and the TGC2 are probable right there with Rory at this time.  Also the cost of a console is much less than a good gaming PC and if they allow you to play 3C with a controller like Rory does why would you not buy one as you can pickup a new PS4 or Xbox One for $250 or less and if you want the elite Xbox One X its around $400.  Its the future of gaming and I own myself PS2. PS3, Xbox One S not to mention all the old systems like the Dreamcast and Sega also.  Yes I love my PC but playing in front of a 60 inch TV is quite nice and if you can why not.  There is no way they will sell the rights to this game IMHO as they real money is coming when it gets to console.

PG2 in the hands of PP will never sell 200.000 copies on the consoles - no matter how good it might be.

 

EA puts a lot of money into marketing and advertising their games. That is the reason, why sales are rather high. PP has a small budget, they don't even hire additional programmers to speed up the development process. How will they advertise the game without money? I know Social Media, Web and so on. But without real advertising there won't be enough players that even know about the game. And there will be no "hype train". I hate this as well - but hype is a big reason for big sales.

 

Therefore i wouldn't be opposed at all, if PP would join forces with Microsoft. For us customers that wouldn't neccesarily a bad thing. In theory there would be way more funds to develop and advertise the game. But of course: The terms have to be right for Mike and Andrew. Not only the financial part i would think. I could imagine, that they would like to keep influence to the game/gameplay itself.

 

We'll see. But the thread is open for roundabout a day already .... and we still haven't heard a "NO" from the devs.

[Greensboronclion]

Interesting thoughts Frank and here is another way to look at it.  For years the PS4 has dwarfed the Xbox One but the gap has closed and the Xbox One X is primed to really make a move and Microsoft really needs flagship games even more.  Yes they have Halo and Forza but all the other big sports games are played on both systems so what if Microsoft was trying to cut a deal to make JNPG exclusive to the them sort of like Sony does with Grand Turismo and The Show.  If Microsoft can find games exclusive to their system that creates more sales and lets face it JNPG2 could be an incredible game.  I look for the console companies to look to add more games that are just on their systems down the line as that will grab more sales and tho I don't look for PP to sell the game I wouldn't be shocked if they were to partner with Microsoft to do the game as W10 is huge and the masses could be reached.  With the right partner JNPG2 could be a game for the ages and that is just my 2 cents.

[Richard]

Interesting thoughts Frank and here is another way to look at it.  For years the PS4 has dwarfed the Xbox One but the gap has closed and the Xbox One X is primed to really make a move and Microsoft really needs flagship games even more.  Yes they have Halo and Forza but all the other big sports games are played on both systems so what if Microsoft was trying to cut a deal to make JNPG exclusive to the them sort of like Sony does with Grand Turismo and The Show.  If Microsoft can find games exclusive to their system that creates more sales and lets face it JNPG2 could be an incredible game.  I look for the console companies to look to add more games that are just on their systems down the line as that will grab more sales and tho I don't look for PP to sell the game I wouldn't be shocked if they were to partner with Microsoft to do the game as W10 is huge and the masses could be reached.  With the right partner JNPG2 could be a game for the ages and that is just my 2 cents.

 

Since I'm not a gamer, please correct me if I'm wrong. With the rapid change in technology today, I don't see any game lasting for ages, like Links 2003, I would get too expensive to constantly upgrade. Also, IMHO, no golf game, regardless of how realistic and good, will ever be a BIG seller. It's too slow without the bang, bam bing etc. Unless a HIO results in blowing up the green and a bunker shot sprays sand 50 feet out from impact, it isn't exciting enough for the young gamers. There's is a limited amount of 'eye candy' available for a game like golf. 

[frank70]

Since I'm not a gamer, please correct me if I'm wrong. With the rapid change in technology today, I don't see any game lasting for ages, like Links 2003, I would get too expensive to constantly upgrade. Also, IMHO, no golf game, regardless of how realistic and good, will ever be a BIG seller. It's too slow without the bang, bam bing etc. Unless a HIO results in blowing up the green and a bunker shot sprays sand 50 feet out from impact, it isn't exciting enough for the young gamers. There's is a limited amount of 'eye candy' available for a game like golf. 

Generally, you are right. But Rory sold almost 1 Million copies. For EA it was a failure, they wanted and had to sell more to make real profit (because of the license costs). But still: Almost 1 Million people bought the game. And it were way more, when Tiger Woods was on the cover. So, a market is there. But i think you need a license and some known players on the box to lure in the casual gamers.

 

What about PP (or Microsoft) negotiating a license with the European Tour? It could be a win-win for both. The European Tour starves for publicity and PP could use the names to have a selling point.

 

Just throwing out some ideas. But a big partner could open up opportunities PP currently doesn't have.

[Greensboronclion]

Richard don't forget how big the TW series was on consoles as it sold millions of copies and the right golf game with the right marketing would do the same.  Don't underestimate the power of the console as Dad buys the kids an Xbox One or PS4 lets say and he uses it also as more people buy these units as family units every day and also use them to watch TV and movies and everything else.  They truly are a home entertainment center and I use mine to just play games but my new Xbox One S is loaded with all from Netflix to Hulu and that is something that the whole family can use.  Also once a system becomes outdated doesn't mean it doesn't get used as I still use my PS3 to play The Show and Grand Turismo and they still make a few games for it also.

[ArcadeHack]

What’s the demoninator here? Yes, That would be Tiger himself. There isn’t one pro golfer today that could touch let alone sniff the impact he had on the game and how he sold so many units just by name alone. How many 15 - 25 year old console gamers could name a PGA pro other than Tiger?

You could throw money into marketing a golf game all you want. In the end if it’s not arcady, colorful, or have Tiger on the cover then it’s just not gonna sell well. I think the guys at PP do this for something they love to do. And if it draws a few bucks then great.

[Greensboronclion]

What’s the demoninator here? Yes, That would be Tiger himself. There isn’t one pro golfer today that could touch let alone sniff the impact he had on the game and how he sold so many units just by name alone. How many 15 - 25 year old console gamers could name a PGA pro other than Tiger?

You could throw money into marketing a golf game all you want. In the end if it’s not arcady, colorful, or have Tiger on the cover then it’s just not gonna sell well. I think the guys at PP do this for something they love to do. And if it draws a few bucks then great.

 

 

You are correct there and that is the whole problem with the PGA tour as there is no Tiger Woods and why they are so desperate to get him back on the course no matter what.  Lots of good players but fans want to see swash buckling play like he and Phil did and Arnold before them as todays players are boring and system like and all the same.  One other thing that I didn't think of when we were debating this is the Millenial crowd as stats show they are not playing golf like their fathers and its hurting the game in general to get new players involved with the game so that is another issue a video golf game has as the crowd that plays it is older.

[Acrilix]

This thread reminds me of one that was on Links Corner many years ago. It gave the regulars something to get their teeth into when they were starved of excitement. At the time, someone claimed to be working for a major game company and to have modded Links 2003 for their own use, posting an impressive screen shot as evidence and that they were considering releasing it to all. Multiple pages of discussion followed until the original poster was eventually exposed as a hoaxer when the origin of the screen shot was found.

To keep this thread running though, note that PP have never once called PG2, JNPG2... probably because they are in negotiations with another party.   

Of course PP haven't responded. This thread is keeping everyone occupied, and reasonably content at present. 

[trailblazergolf]

i'm 77 now and only own 2 games--ricoshet--perfect golf love em both--i can't get around much so lot of time spent rt here at my computer,

i find PG  very exl game and very real--i don't own all this console mess - just a nice computer--SOOOOOO LEAVE IT ALONE --and i not pay any attention to all the bitchers--

[Buck]

You know, it wouldn't hurt for the older crowd to at least admit there's a different perspective, necessarily, for PP.

 

They are not older and not done moving forward in life.  

They are trying to run a business.

 

"leave it alone", "PG1 is fine, just tweak some things" and "keep the PG1 servers going forever and I'll play that"..

 

..are all non-starters if you are trying to run a business.

[mebby]

Maybe PP will "release" JNPG1 to the wild and allow for modders to take over once they get JNPG2 out there.  That will keep the computer-bound, refusal to change crowd happy while the rest of the progressive world continues to evolve.

[Buck]

Hopefully PG2 will be great, cross platform, multi-swing and cater to all the differing desires expressed here..

 

But if not, and PP find themselves wanting to move in a different direction with the release to attempt to capture where the market is these days with consoles and the features that group is acclimated to...

 

For the crowd that doesn't want to go in that direction, there is still a golf game that is out right now, runs great on older PC hardware, has a great 3C and tons and tons of courses and is never going anywhere:  

 

Links

[Jesus Jones]

In 2016 pc gaming accounted for 34 billion dollars out of a total 91 billion gaming market. And it's growing. Those are not the signs of a dying pc market. I seem to recall most if not all console games are beta tested on computers first?

[Buck]

In 2016 pc gaming accounted for 34 billion dollars out of a total 91 billion gaming market. And it's growing. Those are not the signs of a dying pc market. I seem to recall most if not all console games are beta tested on computers first?

 
PC gaming market  ≠  Golf gaming market