HB Studios Next-Gen golf game: The Golf Club

[Leadfoot5]

Bought it for the PC yesterday, my initial impression is "Meh." Was there a tutorial that I missed? I had to figure out how to swing by trial and error, although it's just like every other game that uses a gamepad, so not a huge deal. I think I like the way aiming works, but I really dislike how easy it is to hit the ball straight. I feel like I'm playing connect the dots, not golfing. I think I will always prefer a horizontal swing meter to the stick/mouse approach, just for the potential for a shank or bad slice if you aren't concentrating. I think I will love using the course designer, but if the gameplay isn't compelling, what's the point...

Al

Leadfoot, Here are some tutorial vids that HB has been posting on their site for the past few months.

http://thegolfclubgame.com/category/video/tutorials/

That was helpful, thanks.

[J_Cauthen]

Okay PS4 gamers, here's the news you've been waiting for:

"We can officially announce that The Golf Club will be available for purchase and download on the PlayStation Store in North America on next Tuesday, August 26, 2014! The price will be $34.99

For Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, we have not yet finalized the release date. However, we are 95% sure the game will be coming the following week, the week beginning September 1st, in those territories. We will know more definitively next week, and we will officially announce it here, and everywhere, the moment we know.

We are very excited to welcome our PlayStation players to The Club, and we can't wait to see what you do with the Greg Norman Course Designer and to play a few rounds with you."

I'm anxious to read your reports on it, as I've decided to buy a PS4 to play TGC on in 1080p, after the first update comes out for it that allows optional swing camera angles and user selectable point to switch from golfer perspective view to follow camera at any point in the shot. That update should be out by the end of September, from what I'm gathering.

[Leadfoot5]

Ok, I played again last night after watching the tutorials and had a better time. I'd like to play against other peoples recorded rounds, but I don't have any "friends" in game yet. Not at home right now so I was wondering if it's easy to search for people to play against...?

[Diablo25]

Ok, I played again last night after watching the tutorials and had a better time. I'd like to play against other peoples recorded rounds, but I don't have any "friends" in game yet. Not at home right now so I was wondering if it's easy to search for people to play against...?

Your XBox live friends ghost rounds should be in there for courses that both have played. Are you on my Live friends list?

[Leadfoot5]

Ok, I played again last night after watching the tutorials and had a better time. I'd like to play against other peoples recorded rounds, but I don't have any "friends" in game yet. Not at home right now so I was wondering if it's easy to search for people to play against...?

Your XBox live friends ghost rounds should be in there for courses that both have played. Are you on my Live friends list?

I'm playing the PC version... I thought since the courses were cross platform, maybe the ghosts would be too? Maybe not?

[J_Cauthen]

I'm playing the PC version... I thought since the courses were cross platform, maybe the ghosts would be too? Maybe not?

They aren't.... yet, but I think eventually they will be.

[J_Cauthen]

I've just created what is being called a "Tour" by The Golf Club (XB1), although it's nothing more than a 2 round tournament, spanning 4 days. I'm calling it an experimental tournament because I'm wanting to use it to gauge various player's experiences on a course that I know from playing on the PC has as solid a frame rate performance, while providing a compelling golf challenge at the same, on the XBox One. I'm calling it the Autumn Ridge G.C. FPS (Frames Per Second) invitational because it's set at Autumn Ridge G.C., it has had a track record for solid game engine performance on the PC, and I'm inviting you to play in it.

I've already played my first round and my experience in the wee hours of Sunday morning has me scratching my head. I hadn't experienced frame rate problems at Autumn Ridge G.C. in any of my previous rounds there, PC or XB1 version - I did this morning I'm talking swing interface affecting frame rate issues, the likes of which I'd never even sniffed at this course before. I don't understand what it is about this game that being connected to the servers drags down to this level.

I can't play Autumn Ridge G.C. offline because it's not a "vetted" course, but do know that I couldn't play Knoll Down online on Saturday morning without serious frame rate issues while connected, but when I played Knoll Down later in the day in Offline mode, it played smoothly. I hope HBS has a handle on this issue and can get it under wraps because it's really a buzz kill at times.

Anyway, let us all know what your experiences are in this thread while playing the tournament. I had two, hideous three putt greens from inside of 8 feet due to swing interface frame rate/lag issues

[Gangrel]

I'm finding putting really challenging. I don't know how many times I haven't sunk onr from two feet away. It seems you have to pull the putter back a lot further than i would in real life and is throwing me off.

I'll see if I can find your tournament and participate in the experiments.

[Leadfoot5]

So the more I play the game (PC version), the more I like it. I have my graphics settings dialed in for a solid experience, and I have a better understanding of what the designers were trying to accomplish. My primary complaint at this point has to do with the interaction with the courses....

In real life, course design takes into account players of all levels. Hole shape, length and hazards make each hole a unique experience for players of varying skill levels. In TGC, since we can all hit 270 yard drives, it makes the first level of hazards irrelevant. What's the point of a course designer plopping in hazards at 200 yards when they will never be a factor? Same goes for the fairway hazards at the 300-350 range. In TGC, it's purely aesthetics, where in real life those traps are going to be in play for the folks that can't drive the ball as well. My point is that it would be a great feature if the game could challenge us to play the courses at varying skill levels so that we could experience all the holes have to offer. I think having a tournament setting that simply reduces everyones power across the board might be fun.

Otherwise, I am enjoying playing the courses with a ghost or two playing with me, but it would be awesome if there was realtime multiplayer with randoms too.

[J_Cauthen]

I'm finding putting really challenging. I don't know how many times I haven't sunk onr from two feet away. It seems you have to pull the putter back a lot further than i would in real life and is throwing me off.

I'll see if I can find your tournament and participate in the experiments.

Thanks Gangrel, just remember it's under the "Tour" menu, not the "Tournament", like one would think. I can't figure out HBS distinguishes between a tour and a tournament. What I set up is nothing more than a 2 round tournament, but it's called a tour?

[Diablo25]

Tap in/one foot putts are EXTREMELY annoying right now. Needs to be addressed.

[Gangrel]

I found following the advice on the game forum and moving the aim marker 2 feet past the hole on level putts helped me a lot. Smooths out the putting stroke.

[J_Cauthen]

Tap in/one foot putts are EXTREMELY annoying right now. Needs to be addressed.

I don't have nearly as much of a problem with those in the PC version as I am the XB1. It seems to have a lot to do with frame rate. I'm set up to run in the high 30's on the PC, whereas I it feels like the XB1 is struggling to maintain 30 fps, a lot of the time. There are strong hints that there will be some XB1 performance improvement items in the first and second patch. Hopefully, this will help mend the short putt problem you're describing.

[TheTruth]

Tap in/one foot putts are EXTREMELY annoying right now. Needs to be addressed.

I don't have nearly as much of a problem with those in the PC version as I am the XB1. It seems to have a lot to do with frame rate. I'm set up to run in the high 30's on the PC, whereas I it feels like the XB1 is struggling to maintain 30 fps, a lot of the time. There are strong hints that there will be some XB1 performance improvement items in the first and second patch. Hopefully, this will help mend the short putt problem you're describing.

I guess I'm not seeing the 1 foot tap in problem. Have had no issues in tapping in from close. Is that the issue, your missing those putts?

[MERACE]

For the guys having problems with putting (especially on short putts under 6 feet) look for HB_LorinB's post in this thread:

http://www.hb-studios.com/forum/index.p ... 1#msg49981


-MERACE

[Gangrel]

Yes, as soon as I read this and started doing it, my tap in problem went away for the most part.... before that, I did it 9 or 10 times a round!

[10spro]

Sony, anytime today would be nice.

[sportdan30]

Sony, anytime today would be nice.

I'm thinking it'll be around 5 pm central time.

I have such fond memories of playing golf games way back on the PC (1980s) and recalling there not being much presentation or depth. That said, it was a pretty straight forward golf sim and I really enjoyed it. Thinking this might be a nice change of pace and more to my liking than say Tiger Woods games that I never really could get into for whatever reason.

If anything it'll be a nice hold over until the rumored Hot Shots Golf comes to the PS4.

[10spro]

Well, after waiting most of the day I DL the game around 10 PM and being that late the announcer just about put me to sleep. Not the prettiest golf game out there for sure, but I enjoyed the gameplay being my first go at it with TGC. Didn't noticed any sluggishness or lag, but from time to time I saw some screen tearing around my player. But nothing that would impede my swing. This is on the PS4.

Just played the Yuma dessert, my problem wasn't the putting but rather the short game around the green. Chipping with a 9 iron gave me headaches until I decided to use my more reliable flop shot. Still I need to learn how to chip better for sure.

Is there a way where you can speed up your drive shots instead of watching the whole trajectory?

Enjoyed the game overall.

[sportdan30]

Think I'm going to wait for a sale. I'm not convinced I'll spend enough time to warrant the full price.

[Leebo33]

I purchased on PS4 and got to play for about an hour late last night. It's a little underwhelming at first with a noticeable lack of options, camera angles, customization, and general polish. However, by the end of the hour I was having a good time and if it wasn't so late at the time I would have played more. I didn't notice anything bothersome regarding framerate or performance. I'll definitely get my $35 worth (the price of a round at an average or below course around here), but given the amount of content and features that are available in $60 games this one probably should be priced closer to $20.

[J_Cauthen]

I got my PS4 and this game yesterday and it has made a believer out of me. I was mostly disappointed with the 720p resolution and sluggish frame rates on the XB1. The PS4 version plays a different class of game, IMO. It looks so much spiffier and natural looking in 1080p, but the biggest difference is how much more solid the frame rates are. Even some of the more demanding courses seem to rarely drop it below 30 fps, in what I've experienced so far.

The swing feels much more manageable in the PS4 version because of the responsiveness of the golfer's animation. There's a need to pull off percentage shots in the pitching and flop shot departments. I can come closer to modulating that with better feel thanks to the PS4 version's more fluid frame rate.

The putting feels like a different game also thanks to the increased performance and graphics. For one thing, the grid lines aren't jaggy and are fully developed. You can putt with greater fidelity thanks to the smoother and more responsive stroke. And finally, when your putter sets the ball rolling, it looks like a 3D spherical object, not a 2D blip. You can actually see it rolling better thanks to the increased textures on it and it makes a fluid trip, not a series of linked together segments like the XB1 version. I'm really digging the game, but I can't get used to the DS4's left thumbstick location. It's too low on the controller body for my muscle memory and it feels so awkward. I'm slicing everything to the right and it ain't gettin' no better. I'll find a solution to this sooner or later.... I hope

Oh, and leebo... we're going to get some serious love with the cameras in a number of ways in the second patch. I wish I could say more but, I'm sure you'll be pleased

[10spro]

John, I thought you were kidding when you mentioned that you would get a PS4 just to 'Show them"...But I guess you weren't' joking. My PSN is 'xeneixe', welcome.

[J_Cauthen]

John, I thought you were kidding when you mentioned that you would get a PS4 just to 'Show them"...But I guess you weren't' joking.

Yeah, I really made HB Studios pay for producing a weak version of the game on the XB1, didn't I I really should have waited because I suspected the PS4 version was going to be better, I just never imagined it would be this much better

My PSN is 'xeneixe', welcome.

Okay, I'll send you an FR... I'm fumbling and bumbling my way around the PS4's inteface. All I've done is play TGC since I got it at 5PM yesterday, but I'll get the hang of it eventually.

[dbdynsty25]

Yeah, I really made HB Studios pay for producing a weak version of the game on the XB1, didn't I I really should have waited because I suspected the PS4 version was going to be better, I just never imagined it would be this much better

Welcome to Next Gen. Some things never change. I'm seriously glad I had the willpower to refrain from purchasing the XB1 version. Everyone complaining about the XB1 graphics certainly helped. Thankfully I have you to compare em and I don't have to.

Same PSN name for me as my handle...see you on the course.