Tiger Woods 13 PGA TOUR and CE Info

[DivotMaker]

Its lame. How is it going to pick up your swing plane or in and out or contact with the ball if its straight on.

If Kinect is that good doctors are going to be doing surgery with it, at least it should be able to pick up my swing from a proper golfing angle.

There was a Kinect Dev Tools update about a month ago that is supposed to enable the straight on swing. My understanding is the TW Devs are working to get this functionality implemented prior to release....

[J_Cauthen]

[quote="DivotMaker]There was a Kinect Dev Tools update about a month ago that is supposed to enable the straight on swing. My understanding is the TW Devs are working to get this functionality implemented prior to release....[/quote]

I'd heard this also... I hope they are able to get it done before the game goes gold. I think they'll lose some marketing splash if it has to be added by a patch later. People's first impressions are going to be the ones that stick in their minds, and if they see the face on approach out of the gate only, that's the image that will be cemented in their minds.

It's going to be one of those issues that's not an issue in the minds of those who aren't "wired" for the perception of hitting the ball where you're physically aiming, but will be an unused option at best, or a no-sale at worst for those who are wired that way. I'll still play the game with the wireless controller, whether the Kinect face-on only, or not. I'd just like to have that side-on option at my disposal for the times I would use the Kinect.

BTW, in watching the Golf Channel's morning drive feature yesterday, with Gary Williams using the Kinect swing in the Legend Challenge, I still see the same degree of lag between the Kinect swing and the animation, probably at least a month after the Tiger demonstration with the Kinect which premiered last month. I know Brent said they were working on tightening that up... I hope they can do better than that for those who will be watching the animation during their swing. I won't be watching mine, but I'm sure it will be a point of contention if they don't improve on what I'm seeing.

[Jimmydeicide]

So is draw and fade just a pre shot input? Whats the point i may aswell just use the controller then.

I just dont like the way they are trying to sell us the head on thing they treat us like morons.

[DivotMaker]

So is draw and fade just a pre shot input? Whats the point i may aswell just use the controller then.

I just dont like the way they are trying to sell us the head on thing they treat us like morons.

Why don't you go and read the threads at the EA Tiger forums where the Devs are responding to questions like yours?

Lastly, the reason the swing is head on is due to a limitation of Kinect. It has nothing to do with anything but that. MS has released an update to the Kinect Dev Toolkit recently where the sensor can now detect the swing if you are facing 90 degrees away from the sensor and hitting into the screen. EA is working hard to get this new functionality into the game before release......

[Jimmydeicide]

Limitation . Exactly my point. Just admit it and implement it properly.
If i wanted to go and find out more i would. You seem to do a good job of bringing the info here so why should i go elsewhere.

[J_Cauthen]

MS has released an update to the Kinect Dev Toolkit recently where the sensor can now detect the swing if you are facing 90 degrees away from the sensor and hitting into the screen. EA is working hard to get this new functionality into the game before release......

Tim, do you happen to know if this update a part of the Kinect for Windows non-commercial release, which officially launched on Feb. 1st, or hopefully, another update to the 360 only Toolkit? If it's the latter, I would think they would have had more time to work with it and refine it. If EA Sports truly was capturing Otronicon conference goers swinging a club with the Kinect, side-on, back on January 14th, it would suggest that they may be far enough along to have it ready for the official release date of Tiger 13.

[Teal]

Jaezus, you'd think that there weren't any limitations to the Wiimote thingy, and the Kinect version was creating a cardinal sin by facing the tv. Damn, people, get a grip. I will go on record as saying not only do I not mind it facing the camera, I actually kind of like it. Furthermore, the ability to read the entirety of the swing motion, rather than being able to cheat like you can so easily with the little wiimote thingy, is a big plus, so if it winds up that facing the tv is the way it is, then I just don't understand what all the stinking hulabaloo is about. Geez Louise.

[Jimmydeicide]

I like to feel like I'm doing something realistic in my golf game, most of the time. I gravitate to the real course variety more times than not, because it is there that I find my thirst for realism, strategy, and depth slaked. I'm just not going to be a fan of elves running around and shooting me with an M16, while I, as a goblin, shoot my M9. It just doesn't make any sense to me. It's akin to giving gatling guns to hobbits...

So I may give 'er a whirl later on, but don't be expecting me to warm up to it...I can't get past the ridiculous premise...

Its called realism Teal now be quiet and let me have a moan

[Jimmydeicide]

dble post... sssh Teal.

[J_Cauthen]

Teal, I certainly don't want to appear to be condemning EA Sports for implementing the Kinect in whatever arrangement they're going to have to do to make it work. I can easily see why the Kinect could pick up more data face-on than side-on. I think the majority of Kinect gamers will be in your camp in terms of not seeing the face-on interface as a problem. I've experimented with swinging my pitching wedge in my current arrangement in my rec room; I'll have to slide a book cabinet back to allow the face on swing to work with a club. There are no space restrictions if I'm aiming toward the screen.

I'd like to see EA make the Kinect interface as flexible as possible to make it work for more people. As I've said earlier, it's certainly not a make or break deal as far as the game goes. Even if the Kinect implementation is as seamless and hassle free as possible, I'd be willing to bet that I'll still be playing the game with the wireless controller 75% of the time.

[J_Cauthen]

Apparently there was a Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 preview event held in New York City recently, and Adam Rosenberg of G4TV was in attendance. He has a preview up at the website, although there's no new revelations in it other than the following:

Once the ball is in the air, you can twist and turn a balled fist in front of the screen to manipulate the spin on the ball. It's not exactly accurate to real life, since most golfers--possibly even all?--don't have telekinetic powers. It's a cool gesture-oriented take on a longtime Tiger game feature

Adam said he was playing the game in the easiest difficulty level and that it was easy to hit the ball straight. I know in the video with Tiger playing using the Kinect, they hadn't decided on the control mechanism for post shot spin in Amateur and Pro difficulty... we now have that answer.

http://www.g4tv.com/games/xbox-360/6577 ... he-golfer/

[JRod]

I'm confused now...

So they have something to measure your swing plane but on the kinect you are facing the camera thus eliminating the ability for the Kinect to read the swing plane.

What am I missing here.

[J_Cauthen]

I'm confused now...
So they have something to measure your swing plane but on the kinect you are facing the camera thus eliminating the ability for the Kinect to read the swing plane.
What am I missing here.

Good question... I think what's happening is the Kinect can detect the distance to your hands. It apparently is accurate enough to tell if your hands traced the same distance away in your downswing as they did in your backswing. In the Tournament mode Kinect demo I saw at Giant Bomb.com, Brent Nielsen's swing was shown as being a slice swing and he sliced it. I would think that it could track your swing plane better if your hip was facing the Kinect, but then the measurement challenge becomes the ability to track the backswing length.

I can see where this would be a bigger challenge to plot and factor into the shot result. Your hands will come closer to the Kinect as you reach the top of your backswing. The geometry would get trickier for this, but I think it could be done if the math is right.

[J_Cauthen]

I want info on the Online Country Clubs. THAT has my interest. I think that gets unveiled next week.

More information is leaking out about the Online Country Clubs feature. Here's a paragraph about it from this month's Game Informer:

"Tinkering with its swing isn't the only addition to Tiger 13, work has also been done on the online side with the creation of Online Country Clubs. These can house 25 members, and you"ll vie for weekly championship status within your club, challenge other clubs and earn upgrades for your club as a whole."

Wish they'd had more to say, but that was it... there was a bit more that I'd missed earlier from the Giant Bomb 27 minute Kinect video. This was another 'tip' from one of the loading screens that made mention of the creation of public and private country clubs. I have no idea what they're planning to do with the public country club, but it could be that these are set up for a more short lived purpose, and would probably be open to more players. They've got a lot of information to disclose about Online Country Clubs in their forthcoming blog about it, scheduled for publication on the 21st.

[Diablo25]

Thought today would be the day for the online CC feature info but still nothing

[Diablo25]

Online Country Club feature. Looks good. Someone is going to have to set up the Digital Sportspage CC.

[Naples39]

In the top video, good to see someone posting a round score of 47, and racking up hundreds of hole outs from off the green.

[DivotMaker]

In the top video, good to see someone posting a round score of 47, and racking up hundreds of hole outs from off the green.

Amateur mode...

[J_Cauthen]

Some really good stuff posted today once you dig into it a bit. I love this section of Christian Brandt's blog:

Custom Club Live Tournaments - Web Integration

We have also extended the Country Clubs experience onto the web. It’s a free to use site that will allow you to setup or join a Country Club before the game ships. Look for the website to launch around the demo date. Also for the first time ever, gamers will be able to create their very own Custom Club Live Tournaments to compete against teammates. You will be able to schedule Daily and Weekly tournaments with any settings you like. You will be provided with all the same tools we use to create live tournaments such as course, difficulty settings, and conditions.

[Naples39]

In the top video, good to see someone posting a round score of 47, and racking up hundreds of hole outs from off the green.

Amateur mode...

I figured as much. Just blows my mind that people want to play golf this way.

[J_Cauthen]

One other item I noticed in the video with Mike DeVault, there will be a head-to-head option within the Club menu. I'm not sure where it goes from there, but at least there's a facility within the club's clubhouse to handle what could be match and medal play, and likely fourball, best ball, and alternate shot to boot!

[fsquid]

I'm also looking forward to the online country club thing. It might really be fun.

[J_Cauthen]

I noticed on the club creation screen that the "difficulty" for the club in the video was set to "Pro". I wonder how that affects the play within the club? There's obviously a "Head to Head" play menu on the club's main menu page. Could that mean that all head to head play competition in that club would be in Pro difficulty only? OTOH, the custom club Live Tournament screen shows that you can tailor the tournament difficulty to about anything you want. It at least looks like there's some flexibility in this tool!

[J_Cauthen]

I noticed on the club creation screen that the "difficulty" for the club in the video was set to "Pro". I wonder how that affects the play within the club? There's obviously a "Head to Head" play menu on the club's main menu page. Could that mean that all head to head play competition in that club would be in Pro difficulty only? OTOH, the custom club Live Tournament screen shows that you can tailor the tournament difficulty to about anything you want. It at least looks like there's some flexibility in this tool!

[DivotMaker]

In the top video, good to see someone posting a round score of 47, and racking up hundreds of hole outs from off the green.

Amateur mode...

I figured as much. Just blows my mind that people want to play golf this way.

Same here...you would be SHOCKED at how many want to play the game with the boost, aftershot spin and all that other arcade nonsense....I would LOVE to shoot the bastard who introduced this to TW years ago and who thinks something like this belongs in a PGA TOUR licensed sports game. This is something that belongs in HSG, not TW.....but again, the number of users who play this way FAR outweight those who want to play it as a simulation or near-simulation of the sport....mind-blowing is an understatement.....