HB Studios Next-Gen golf game: The Golf Club

[DivotMaker]

Shot 69 this AM with no grids on Sunday pin locations......it is doable, but it is challenging and you have to take the time to read the greens to make it work.

[vader29]

Finally got an Ace in a round tonight.

[pk500]

BUENO! Nice shot, man.

[XXXIV]

BUENO! Nice shot, man.

Pretty f***in cool!

[Diablo25]

BUENO! Nice shot, man.

Pretty f***in cool!

Atta boy...I'm still looking for my first...virtual at least. I got my real one back in 2001

[J_Cauthen]

Shot 69 this AM with no grids on Sunday pin locations......it is doable, but it is challenging and you have to take the time to read the greens to make it work.

A Sunday 69 with no grids is a special round. I'm sure it will stand out from most of your rounds in TGC. I somehow managed a 65 in my final round of the 2015 Masters Tournament that I put up at theclv24's request, but I did it by sticking approaches and playing for two putt greens on those that I didn't stick. I seriously doubt I could break 85 on this course without grids. Not only can I not read slope properly, I quite often get the direction of the slope wrong... and that leads to some really embarrassing results

[DivotMaker]

Shot 69 this AM with no grids on Sunday pin locations......it is doable, but it is challenging and you have to take the time to read the greens to make it work.

A Sunday 69 with no grids is a special round. I'm sure it will stand out from most of your rounds in TGC. I somehow managed a 65 in my final round of the 2015 Masters Tournament that I put up at theclv24's request, but I did it by sticking approaches and playing for two putt greens on those that I didn't stick. I seriously doubt I could break 85 on this course without grids. Not only can I not read slope properly, I quite often get the direction of the slope wrong... and that leads to some really embarrassing results

In Round 3 of this tournament, I got to -3 coming to the 9th hole. Left the 9th at E par with a triple bogey. Proceeded to bogey the next 3 holes to get to +3. Eagled 13, then finished with 3 more birdies coming in to finish at -2 for the round. Very up and down round punctuated by a bunker shot into the hoe on 16 for a birdies as well as a similar bunker shot into the cup on 18 to finish on a high note. One of the more interesting, yet realistic rounds I have played in ANY Golf game with all the typical peaks and valleys throughout the round.....

Reading the greens just takes alot of practice and observing the near horizon to guess the slope accurately. I find it mimics real life putting pretty accurately.

[Danimal]

punctuated by a bunker shot into the hoe

What course is that? I want to try it, must be rated XXX

[dbdynsty25]

Wow. Got the Xbox One version when it was on sale so I could play some tourneys with the xb1 boys and I just can't do it. The xb1 version is so far inferior to the ps4 its not even playable. A pixelated blurry stuttery mess. They should be embarrassed about how bad it plays. Unreal. Makes those lovely approach shots an even bigger crapshoot!

[10spro]

Wow. Got the Xbox One version when it was on sale so I could play some tourneys with the xb1 boys and I just can't do it. The xb1 version is so far inferior to the ps4 its not even playable. A pixelated blurry stuttery mess. They should be embarrassed about how bad it plays. Unreal. Makes those lovely approach shots an even bigger crapshoot!

Unfortunate, because I bought it for sale too and for the same reason. It's not worth any comparison because the PS4 is so much smoother, but with only Merace and JCauthen playing regularly there I wanted to see more action on the X1. Oh well, good thing we got it on sale.

[Wilk5280]

I haven't played this in quite awhile. If there's some PS4 tourney's going forward I'll get in.

[tjung0831]

I was tempted to purchase this for PS4 many times but I think I'm going to hold out for EA's upcoming PGA Tour 15. I like a little production in my games...

[pk500]

Wow. Got the Xbox One version when it was on sale so I could play some tourneys with the xb1 boys and I just can't do it. The xb1 version is so far inferior to the ps4 its not even playable. A pixelated blurry stuttery mess. They should be embarrassed about how bad it plays. Unreal. Makes those lovely approach shots an even bigger crapshoot!

Overdose on the hyperbole pills this morning, DB? I've never seen the PS4 version of this game, and I'm sure it's gorgeous. But calling the XB1 version "unplayable" is excessive.

The Golf Club has some stutters and pixelation on the XB1. It also still plays a fine game of golf, with fewer gameplay blemishes than any title in quite some time. In fact, The Golf Club is the best console golf game I've played since Links 2003 on the original Xbox. A TON of fun and not the wart-covered pig you depict.

[Diablo25]

Wow. Got the Xbox One version when it was on sale so I could play some tourneys with the xb1 boys and I just can't do it. The xb1 version is so far inferior to the ps4 its not even playable. A pixelated blurry stuttery mess. They should be embarrassed about how bad it plays. Unreal. Makes those lovely approach shots an even bigger crapshoot!

Overdose on the hyperbole pills this morning, DB? I've never seen the PS4 version of this game, and I'm sure it's gorgeous. But calling the XB1 version "unplayable" is excessive.

The Golf Club has some stutters and pixelation on the XB1. It also still plays a fine game of golf, with fewer gameplay blemishes than any title in quite some time. In fact, The Golf Club is the best console golf game I've played since Links 2003 on the original Xbox. A TON of fun and not the wart-covered pig you depict.

I'm with you DB - the PS4 version is noticeably prettier than the XB1 version. It's one of the few games where there is a 'noticeable' difference. It's also the one game where I prefer the DS4 controller and its firmer sticks than the XB1 controller. Its obviously a resolution thing that hasn't been optimized by HB. I'm sure they will close the gap (not even it) with some more optimization. In fact I believe it was mentioned in this thread that the next update to the XB1 version may have a much more optimized resolution. That being said, far from unplayable is really stretching it. I actually prefer playing the XB1 version due to the added social features of the XB1. Checking out everyone's great shots (or shitty shots ) in the activity feed (one of the XB1's coolest features) is damn fun.

[10spro]

I actually prefer playing the XB1 version due to the added social features of the XB1. Checking out everyone's great shots (or shitty shots ) in the activity feed (one of the XB1's coolest features) is damn fun.

Yeah, I should start sharing how ridiculous I pull my hooks sometimes, where the ball is not even in the rough.

[DivotMaker]

Wow. Got the Xbox One version when it was on sale so I could play some tourneys with the xb1 boys and I just can't do it. The xb1 version is so far inferior to the ps4 its not even playable. A pixelated blurry stuttery mess. They should be embarrassed about how bad it plays. Unreal. Makes those lovely approach shots an even bigger crapshoot!

Overdose on the hyperbole pills this morning, DB? I've never seen the PS4 version of this game, and I'm sure it's gorgeous. But calling the XB1 version "unplayable" is excessive.

The Golf Club has some stutters and pixelation on the XB1. It also still plays a fine game of golf, with fewer gameplay blemishes than any title in quite some time. In fact, The Golf Club is the best console golf game I've played since Links 2003 on the original Xbox. A TON of fun and not the wart-covered pig you depict.

Agree with PK....having played both PS4 and X1 extensively, the X1 version is nowhere near the disaster that has been mentioned, IMO and I'm a Golf video game whore first and foremost and a graphics whore second. While graphically it does not compete with the PS4, it is still a decent looking game and the courses are beginning to get smoother with each update. Hell, I am playing the majority of my tournaments with no grids, so it can't be as bad as described above....Obviously HBS underestimated the resources needed to render the console versions (especially the One as the PS4 is 1080p, but certainly nowhere near 60 FPS they claimed early on in the development process) at 1080p and I believe the Unity engine is the culprit. Here's hoping HBS finds a X1 / Unity engine guru to help squeeze more performance out of the One. I also think the console performance is a direct result of developing on PC first, then porting over to consoles last. I have seen it work both ways and it seems that the platform that gets "ported to" seems to take it in the shorts on performance more often than not.

I am "okay" with the graphics at this point, but I believe they need to bring them up to a competitive level with the PS4 when you see what the One is capable of with games like Forza 5 and FH2, the EA Sports games in which both consoles compete on a pretty level playing field. Interested to see what the Frostbite 2 engine holds for PGA Tour 15. I am not going to take credit for recommending this engine to EA during the last Tiger Community Day, but I am very happy to see that they have moved on to FB 2 and left that ancient Tiger engine that was wrought with all sorts of issues.

[Rodster]

Divot, have you been keeping up with PGA Tour 15?

[DivotMaker]

Divot, have you been keeping up with PGA Tour 15?

Not much to keep up with and I am hearing rumblings that they may be delaying the game after the poor reception to that hideous trailer for E3 last year. Graphics were outstanding, the rest hideous, IMO. Currently in Singapore for 10 days on business, but when I get back I am reaching out to my Tiburon contacts to see whats going on and if I can share anything at all, I will.....

[vader29]

A pixelated blurry stuttery mess.

Turning off depth of field fixes the blurred graphics for me, glad my PC wasn't able to to play the beta or that I don't have a PS4 to compare the graphics since I like the Xbone version a lot, the balls rolling off the green on approach shots on some of the courses is the only thing that bugs me.

[Gangrel]

So, i'm playing this a bit more again, and have gotten a bit better at approach shots, and found a way to cheat on pitches (add loft, do the math, no more gross overshoots, mostly)

But i was thinking this morning that i wish there was a way to see the lay of the greens on long approaches. I know it's a bit unrealistic, but I'm sure some real life courses give you hole guides with a diagram of the greens.

That way I would at least know which side of the flag to aim for to be below the hole......


I was also playing Royal Kobayeshi(?) just now and it was a pretty nice design. However, for the life of me I couldn't get a 100% shot consistently. I wonder if its the frame rate gremlins causing a hitch....... I played a round this morning and i swear using the same tempo I hit 100% quite often.

[Diablo25]

So, i'm playing this a bit more again, and have gotten a bit better at approach shots, and found a way to cheat on pitches (add loft, do the math, no more gross overshoots, mostly)

But i was thinking this morning that i wish there was a way to see the lay of the greens on long approaches. I know it's a bit unrealistic, but I'm sure some real life courses give you hole guides with a diagram of the greens.

That way I would at least know which side of the flag to aim for to be below the hole......


I was also playing Royal Kobayeshi(?) just now and it was a pretty nice design. However, for the life of me I couldn't get a 100% shot consistently. I wonder if its the frame rate gremlins causing a hitch....... I played a round this morning and i swear using the same tempo I hit 100% quite often.

You can see the lay of the green. Hit the Y button to zoom to the green then use the right stick and triggers to move around and zoom.

[Gangrel]

Yeah, but I think that's the aim camera or whatever it's called, isn't it? I play with that off. I guess I could turn it on, and only use it during my approach shots maybe.

[DChaps]

John or Tim,
Would you mind (at some point in your free time), posting your current preferred settings for settings, graphic options, controller settings, and particularly camera setup for the Xbox One? I have read through this thread multiple times and am just too slow to get it right. I recognize that some of this is personal preference, but from everything I am reading TGC is so much improved now on Xbox One, but I am just not feeling it. I managed to get one round in that last few days, but still having a lot of lag, stuttering, blurryness, stat problems, and lack of feel. I have verified that I have the patch/latest update. I will post a screenshot of my current settings when I have a chance, but I think I may just be messing something up. Granted, I have always been terrible at console golf, but just wanted to give this game the best "shot" possible. Thanks!!

[J_Cauthen]

John or Tim,
Would you mind (at some point in your free time), posting your current preferred settings for settings, graphic options, controller settings, and particularly camera setup for the Xbox One? I have read through this thread multiple times and am just too slow to get it right. I recognize that some of this is personal preference, but from everything I am reading TGC is so much improved now on Xbox One, but I am just not feeling it. I managed to get one round in that last few days, but still having a lot of lag, stuttering, blurryness, stat problems, and lack of feel. I have verified that I have the patch/latest update. I will post a screenshot of my current settings when I have a chance, but I think I may just be messing something up. Granted, I have always been terrible at console golf, but just wanted to give this game the best "shot" possible. Thanks!!

I'll try to pull them from memory here: I use Main Camera 3, Putting Camera 3, and Approach Camera 2, VSync OFF, Depth of Field OFF, I think my HUD offset is 14, but that will vary with your screen. Finally, I set the Follow camera to OFF. I love watching the ball from my golfer's perspective and this game does a great job of sort of moving the "head" to follow the ball. You can then hit the "A" button on the XB1 controller to shift to Follow cam and watch the ball reach its finish, at your discretion.

I'm not finding it much improved on the XB1 with Update 2 though. Yeah, it's nice to have the Depth of Field hold its setting from round to round, but the hinted frame rate improvement with Update 2 wound up coming in at around 10%, at best, where I was looking for something around 30%, based on what I was reading. The XB1 version is serviceable, but that's not how one would like to describe their next-gen console games. I like the audio and the color depth on the XB1 version better, and for a left stick swinger, I prefer the XB1 controller, but I've negated that advantage by buying a Titan One controller adapter so I can use my XB1 controller with the PS4 version. If HBS can get the XB1 version's res up to 900p and boost the frame rates on most courses to 30 FPS, or better, it will make a huge difference in the way the XB1 version looks and plays.

I just bought an Acer Aspire desktop system from Amazon, which has an Intel i5 4440 processor at its core, took out the 200 watt power supply it came with and dropped in a 500 watt EVGA supply (that cost me all of $39.99 at Amazon), took my Geforce GTX 750Ti out of my former gaming PC and dropped it in the Aspire, and now I've got a gaming PC tied to my home theater receiver and 55" LCD display. I'm now running the PC version at 1080p/High Detail, 8X Anisotropic filtering, 2X msAA, and I've got a number of other detail settings (object detail, high quality trees, high quality tree render distance) set above default, and it's running most courses at 30 to 35 FPS. It's going to be hard not to get spoiled by this BTW, this system ran the rFactor 2 demo with the graphics all maxed out, at 1080p, with frame rates varying between 60 and 70 FPS... not bad for a $575 dollar computer... well, it would be more like $720 if I had to buy the GTX 750Ti to put in it.

BTW, read my next message for some news that I think will change your play experience for the better with the XB1 version, hopefully next week.

[J_Cauthen]

Small patch coming soon (it came out for the PC on Tuesday) for the XB1 and PS4 versions of The Golf Club. It's fixing some minor problems associated with Update 2, but the big change is the physics change they've made with the putting game. They've tweaked it so that the swing interface requires more accuracy from the player to get the ball to travel the distance set by the aiming marker/targeting pole. The original game gives an overly generous amount of help with the distance, and I thought it dumbed the game down a bit and didn't make it feel as lively... I can tell you from playing the PC version with the new putting physics the last two days that it's made a big difference - for the better - in how the game feels and plays. Let's just say it's more 'sensually satisfying'