HB Studios Next-Gen golf game: The Golf Club

[Diablo25]

I too jumped at the XB1 version but after hearing the PS4 impressions (sadly) I'm tempted to get it. If the graphics are that noticeable I'd consider it. More research.

[MERACE]

I, along with John, have been testing and playing TGC since it's closed beta in February. Unfortunately, unlike John, I've had to play it on low graphics at 19-12 fps on my low spec laptop until yesterday.

I'm so glad that I went with a PS4 rather than the Xbox One especially from my experience with TGC. The graphics were sharp, smooth and the colors seemed to pop off my 55" LED LCD HDTV screen at 1080p.

As for the gameplay, I haven't had this much fun playing a sports game (actually any video/PC game) since PGA Championship Golf 2000 (I played that game almost every night for 3 years). While dabbling a little with the course creator on the PC version of TGC I'm looking forward to spending much more time creating a course worth publishing.

The developers have been very responsive to implementing fixes and updates during Early Release so I'm fairly confident some of the "missing" features will be added to the game within the next 6 months or so.

John and I played a couple simultaneous multiplayer rounds last night and discussed the game in a party chat. I was concerned that the party chat would not be as good as on Xbox Live but it was as good or better. Until HB Studios implements a lobby system (they said it will probably take about 6 months development time) we will have to endure an 8 second lag for your opponent's shot animation to show up on your screen. If that is unbearable, you can always just play against "ghost balls".

In my opinion, the $34.99 price tag for the game is a steal!


-MERACE

[Diablo25]

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

Count me in on the PS4 version. After reading the strong impressions for the Ps4 I went for it. The XB1 version is nice but the 1080p and consistent frame rate on the Ps4 is superb. And I know it's seems trivial but the blurry ball (at least to me it's blurry) on the XB1 was really annoying. Definitely looks better on the PS4. I am excited to play on the Ps4 after I put up a par 72 in my first round. Unfortunately tomorrow I am heading to VA for the weekend so I won't be able to play until Sunday. Any of you guys don't have me as a friend on the PS4 my PSN is below.

[RobVarak]

A few more rounds in tonight. It looks $hitty on XB1, but it plays smooth for me at least. There's an elegance to the simplicity and pace of the game that is pretty addictive. I like the way the ghosts are implemented. The menus are still a little screwed up but I had no mid-round connection problems like I did when it was released.

Spooky, I beat your ass in a round tonight despite a snowman on the 8th hole. I'm going to give you a break on this one and assume that sleep deprivation played a part on your end.

[dbdynsty25]

They really need to work on the physics when the ball is hit TO the green. It's way too fast. The main place you notice it is if you're hitting a downhill put where you just came from. No way in hell the ball rolls as far as it does on the greens, especially going uphill on an approach shot. The physics are absolutely bonkers around the green. Not a fan at all right now.

[J_Cauthen]

They really need to work on the physics when the ball is hit TO the green. It's way too fast. The main place you notice it is if you're hitting a downhill put where you just came from. No way in hell the ball rolls as far as it does on the greens, especially going uphill on an approach shot. The physics are absolutely bonkers around the green. Not a fan at all right now.

This is the biggest weakness in TGC, the approach shots, particularly with middle irons and longer. If you don't sit the ball down in front of the green, on medium greens or faster, you're actually going to roll through it and off the back. I find myself going down a club and lofting it up for for approaches of 160 yards, or more. It tends to have a little more bite on it when I do that and has a better chance of holding.

This has been an ongoing issue from the early beta build. It's actually better now than it used to be. HBS is still trying to get a handle on this and I need to take your report as a reminder that they haven't gotten this dialed in yet. I've gotten too comfortable with my work-around, but even my work-around isn't enough, not should I have to do that.

[Spooky]

...and assume that sleep deprivation played a part on your end.

I think one has to have had sleep first in order to be deprived of it.

[MERACE]

They really need to work on the physics when the ball is hit TO the green. It's way too fast. The main place you notice it is if you're hitting a downhill put where you just came from. No way in hell the ball rolls as far as it does on the greens, especially going uphill on an approach shot. The physics are absolutely bonkers around the green. Not a fan at all right now.

This is the biggest weakness in TGC, the approach shots, particularly with middle irons and longer. If you don't sit the ball down in front of the green, on medium greens or faster, you're actually going to roll through it and off the back. I find myself going down a club and lofting it up for for approaches of 160 yards, or more. It tends to have a little more bite on it when I do that and has a better chance of holding.

This has been an ongoing issue from the early beta build. It's actually better now than it used to be. HBS is still trying to get a handle on this and I need to take your report as a reminder that they haven't gotten this dialed in yet. I've gotten too comfortable with my work-around, but even my work-around isn't enough, not should I have to do that.

They did tone down the rollout on approach shots from the way it was before in previous Earlier Access builds. You also have to know that many of the course creators try to make the courses tougher due to the ease of hitting the ball straight. Also, there is a separate firmness setting in the fairway section of the course creator that along with the amount of bounce it also has some effect on the rollout of the ball.

The good thing about the developers of this game is that if there is enough request from the community I'm sure they will tweak the physics more.


-MERACE

[MERACE]

Hey Diablo, I just finished playing your "ghost" round at Pinehurst River. We were neck and neck the whole round.

I love the concept of ghost balls since you don't have to be online together at the same time. My gameplay time is limited and varies as to when I can play.

Hopefully, John can set up some DSP tournaments soon.


-MERACE

[dbdynsty25]

Here's a decent review, but the interview at the end about why they made certain decision and what's planned for the future is the most important part of the article.

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-gol ... thony-kyne

[DChaps]

Unfortunately I only have Xbox One, but this whole ghost thing sounds awesome. Wasn't there some old PC golf game that had something similar years ago? Anyway, with DSP Poker Nights a thing of the past, my gaming time limited and usually only in the wee hours of the morning, competing against someones ghost is the closest I get to multiplayer gaming these days. I have yet to run any Xbox live multiplayer in Forza 5, but have enjoyed competing against DSP folks as rivals ghosts or drivatars. Rob, you and I may be the only ones playing TGC on Xbox One, but I will try to get some ghost rounds out there that you can destroy.

[RobVarak]

Rob, you and I may be the only ones play TGC on Xbox One, but I will try to get some ghost rounds out there that you can destroy.

There's a few of us. Diablo, Spooky, Hogz...more than enough to keep things interesting.

I suck, btw. Last night was my first round near par and I still almost bungled it away with a 4-put 8 on one hole

[DivotMaker]

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.

Fire one my way when you get time....gave you some love on the HB forums in the General All platform section....

[sportdan30]

Here's a decent review, but the interview at the end about why they made certain decision and what's planned for the future is the most important part of the article.

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-gol ... thony-kyne

Nice review and enjoyed the Q and A. Sounds like they are fully committed on building onto this game. Looks like I'll support them sooner than later with a purchase.

[DChaps]

Here's a decent review, but the interview at the end about why they made certain decision and what's planned for the future is the most important part of the article.

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-gol ... thony-kyne

Thanks for posting that review db. As somone who has not followed the beta, press, etc. that closely and is too lazy to read this entire thread, that review mentioned some good selling points that I had not realized. I am definitely going to purchase this for Xbox One tonight.

No power bar/meter. No golfer attributes/ratings....

Not having a power bar/meter is a plus, not a minus. You will learn to play video game golf from an entirely new perspective and most likely, you will enjoy the hell out of it.....

The fact that there aren’t any golfer attributes or ratings is also a plus. You will need to count on your skill alone, not your golfer’s ratings, to play better than the next guy (or gal). Everyone has the same physical ability from their golfer on day one and it stays that way. I enjoy this idea a lot. If I’m playing someone and I lose, I know it was from one of two things – I didn’t play well or my opponent played really well.....

There are literally thousands of user created courses already available which is sure to grow exponentially very quickly.....

Yeah just over 9000 courses at the moment. It’s amazing! We’re looking at improving discovery at the moment. There are some amazing courses out there as well as some poor efforts. We want the good ones to rise to the top. The plan is to look at the users abilities and push courses that are highly rated and match their skill level towards them.....

User-created courses are available to everyone cross platform, allowing someone on Xbox One to play a course created by someone on the PS4.

[Leadfoot5]

I'm in with the PS4 version as well. May send out some friend requests, I'm Leadfoot5.

Al

[Gangrel]

Rob, you and I may be the only ones play TGC on Xbox One, but I will try to get some ghost rounds out there that you can destroy.

There's a few of us. Diablo, Spooky, Hogz...more than enough to keep things interesting.

I suck, btw. Last night was my first round near par and I still almost bungled it away with a 4-put 8 on one hole

I'm on the One. Feel free to add me if you want an easy challenge lol.

[Diablo25]

I'm in with the PS4 version as well. May send out some friend requests, I'm Leadfoot5.

Al

Got your request. Your friends list has reached an epic level .

I like both the XB1 and PS4 controllers but typically lean towards the XB1 for most games. Not TGC. I like the DS4 better for this game. The tightness of the sticks is better. I feel like I have better control of the swing with the DS4. I'm on a mini vacation for my fantasy football draft and I'm Jonesing to play this game .

[Leadfoot5]

Am I missing any feedback on side-hill, or up/downhill lies? I think the game takes the lie into account with regards to shot trajectory, and since the UI tells you how much your club distance is affected by the lie, I would expect it would give some indication of the angle as well. I have a feeling it's one of those things they want us to figure out on our own....

[DChaps]

Got to play Rob last night live and it was pretty cool. He was a few holes ahead of me, but the game kept me up to date on his progress. Then it said I was disconnected. I was still logged into Xbox Live and everything else was working fine. Went back into TGC and it actually took me right back to where I left off. Pretty cool. However, when I finished that hole and clicked Advance, ithe camera just sat there looking at my golfer. I waited, waited, but nothing. Then I went back out to the console and back into TGC. Same thing again. Let me play the entire next hole, but when I clicked on Advance, it just sat there. I waited about 5 minutes this time. Tried it one last time and it let me play the 10th hole, and then did the same thing. It was pretty fun while it lasted.

[Gangrel]

Am I missing any feedback on side-hill, or up/downhill lies? I think the game takes the lie into account with regards to shot trajectory, and since the UI tells you how much your club distance is affected by the lie, I would expect it would give some indication of the angle as well. I have a feeling it's one of those things they want us to figure out on our own....

I believe sidehill lies are factored in, but up/downhill lies are NOT ion..... yet.

[MERACE]

The developers were able to get cross-platform course sharing into the game at launch but not cross-platform ghost ball play.

However, they said they are working on getting it into the game in a future update.


-MERACE

[Inuyasha]

Is this a good purchase for novice's? Seems like most of you are hardcore golf gamers who are really liking it. But for someone who isn't, would the game be too difficult? I thinking about buying it since I still have that $10 psn credit online.

[10spro]

Is this a good purchase for novice's? Seems like most of you are hardcore golf gamers who are really liking it. But for someone who isn't, would the game be too difficult? I thinking about buying it since I still have that $10 psn credit online.

I haven't seen the ridiculous scores yet as years past with TW. Definitely a challenging game depending on the courses but very enjoyable so far. If I can make the ball sit more on the green instead of sailing over the rough even more.

[sportdan30]

Is this a good purchase for novice's? Seems like most of you are hardcore golf gamers who are really liking it. But for someone who isn't, would the game be too difficult? I thinking about buying it since I still have that $10 psn credit online.

Buy it. Seriously. I'm as big of a golf novice as you'll know and from playing just one round, I'm thoroughly impressed. It's easy enough to get the controls down, but difficult to perfect. And you will improve, that I'm sure.

For what you get for the price, it's very much worth it. A ton of courses to pick from, and if you suck like me, you won't be too frustrated. It's challenging but you don't feel cheated.

Can't wait to play another round!