HB Studios Next-Gen golf game: The Golf Club

[Aristo]

[grtwhtsk]

Just picked TGC up yesterday using some Microsoft credit that was rotting in my account, and man do I stink big time! Any tips for this novice?

[vader29]

Just picked TGC up yesterday using some Microsoft credit that was rotting in my account, and man do I stink big time! Any tips for this novice?

Just keep playing the easiest official courses until you break par and then move up to medium and hard, eventually with time you'll get better. I bought the game last year and my first rounds were with the DSP tournament and I had terrible rounds in it and now after getting used to the game I can shoot under par at most courses regularly.

[DivotMaker]

Just picked TGC up yesterday using some Microsoft credit that was rotting in my account, and man do I stink big time! Any tips for this novice?

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

I'd play with you to try to help, but I went back to the PS4 last month giving my Xbox to my Son.....feel free to ask questions...I'll help any way I can

[grtwhtsk]

Thanks guys!

[J_Cauthen]

HB Studios has now released the Spring Update for The Golf Club on all three systems, with the XB1 version coming yesterday evening shortly after 8:00 PM, EDT. I'd be curious to read what the reactions of the XB1 version owners are here at DSP, since it got the biggest change of the lot with the addition of 900p graphics.

My thoughts are that it actually looks better at 900p than I'd imagined it would; however, as I suspected, it caused an overall frame rate hit, albeit a slight one, in getting there. HBS said they had improved the performance with some of the tools provided by the latest Microsoft SDK, but they would have had to improve that frame rate performance by 15% just to hold the frame rates they were seeing at 720p. My experimentation with the PC version of the game showed that going from 720p to 900p resulted in a 15% frame rate drop.

I'll admit that my impressions are skewed by the fact that I can play the PC version on the same screen at 1080p, at >40 FPS. I played Gladstone Vale C.C. last night on the XB1 and it felt like about 21 to 24 FPS. I can judge this by ramping up the PC versions advanced Object detail and quality object rendering distance up to ridiculous levels until FRAPs shows frame rates in that range. The swing and the look of the animation most closely matches the XB1 version at 21 to 24 FPS.

Royal Birkdale 2015, with its lower object and tree count, played at a comfortable frame rate at 900p, but it's clearly a good bit slower now than it was before, when it was running at what felt like 45 to 50 FPS.

I think this is a step the game needed to take on the XB1, but I'd say HBS still has work to do to make this game perform up to its original charter. I commend them for continuing to update and upgrade the game.

[MERACE]

I beginning to believe that, like DivotMaker, the Unity engine is not near fully matured or robust like other gaming engines (i.e. Frostbite 3) to afford a smooth 60 fps at 900 or 1080p.


-MERACE

[TheTruth]

HB Studios has now released the Spring Update for The Golf Club on all three systems, with the XB1 version coming yesterday evening shortly after 8:00 PM, EDT. I'd be curious to read what the reactions of the XB1 version owners are here at DSP, since it got the biggest change of the lot with the addition of 900p graphics.

My thoughts are that it actually looks better at 900p than I'd imagined it would; however, as I suspected, it caused an overall frame rate hit, albeit a slight one, in getting there. HBS said they had improved the performance with some of the tools provided by the latest Microsoft SDK, but they would have had to improve that frame rate performance by 15% just to hold the frame rates they were seeing at 720p. My experimentation with the PC version of the game showed that going from 720p to 900p resulted in a 15% frame rate drop.

I'll admit that my impressions are skewed by the fact that I can play the PC version on the same screen at 1080p, at >40 FPS. I played Gladstone Vale C.C. last night on the XB1 and it felt like about 21 to 24 FPS. I can judge this by ramping up the PC versions advanced Object detail and quality object rendering distance up to ridiculous levels until FRAPs shows frame rates in that range. The swing and the look of the animation most closely matches the XB1 version at 21 to 24 FPS.

Royal Birkdale 2015, with its lower object and tree count, played at a comfortable frame rate at 900p, but it's clearly a good bit slower now than it was before, when it was running at what felt like 45 to 50 FPS.

I think this is a step the game needed to take on the XB1, but I'd say HBS still has work to do to make this game perform up to its original charter. I commend them for continuing to update and upgrade the game.

John, I've not played it yet with the update, but if what you say is true...this game has been a waste of money for me. The game already chugged at times as it was; to the point where I just don't want to play it. And to be honest the gameplay didn't feel much different than recent TW games on hardest difficulty. Except maybe the chipping/short game.

Also, I wasn't really a fan of everyone using the same golfer, but understand why they chose that path. That's one reason I look forward to EA's attempt. I just don't have faith the developer can get the XB1 version up to speed, even their RBI baseball game runs like crap on xbox1. Just not as crappy.

[DivotMaker]

I beginning to believe that, like DivotMaker, the Unity engine is not near fully matured or robust like other gaming engines (i.e. Frostbite 3) to afford a smooth 60 fps at 900 or 1080p.


-MERACE

Not only that, but this has to be one of the worst putting engines I have ever seen. The interface is not straightforward and is very unintuitive sine the update in January. It was a decent putting engine before this update, now I think it is the worst I have ever played because what the meter shows and the results of the putt are two different things on virtually every putt. and if your ball is on an uneven lie, the ball shoots off of the putter head very much in the direction of the slope and not at all realistically nor like any other putting engine I have ever seen. I am close to putting this game away til RM gets here. Another issue is the vast majority of course are nice to look at, but play like EA's fantasy courses. Pin positions are idiotic and almost always on a ridiculous slope which the putting engine struggles with. IMO, this game has gone backwards in playability this year.

EDIT: Everyone should check their gameplay settings to make sure your analog stick axis is not set to "Inverted". If so, set it to "Normal" and the game should play like it is supposed to. Can't believe they would introduce a new feature that fundamentally changes the gameplay and sets it to default after an update and not mention it at all.

[Diablo25]

Just played Chambers Bay, WA...where the U.S. Open is being played and, man it's fun. Give it a shot if you get a chance. I played the Thursday version.

[pk500]

Just played Chambers Bay, WA...where the U.S. Open is being played and, man it's fun. Give it a shot if you get a chance. I played the Thursday version.

Was it pay-for-play DLC? How dare TGC lets you play that course for free!

Love,
EA Sports

[10spro]

Just played Chambers Bay, WA...where the U.S. Open is being played and, man it's fun. Give it a shot if you get a chance. I played the Thursday version.

I can see why some players are hating the course. Tough and long. At least I didn't shot an 80 like Tiger but with all the sand traps and ondulations, kudos to the Pros today for hitting -5.

[Diablo25]

Just played Chambers Bay, WA...where the U.S. Open is being played and, man it's fun. Give it a shot if you get a chance. I played the Thursday version.

I can see why some players are hating the course. Tough and long. At least I didn't shot an 80 like Tiger but with all the sand traps and ondulations, kudos to the Pros today for hitting -5.

Agreed. I shot a +5 and was kinda happy

[Pete]

Just played Chambers Bay, WA...where the U.S. Open is being played and, man it's fun. Give it a shot if you get a chance. I played the Thursday version.

Is it called Chambers Bay in the game?

[Diablo25]

Just played Chambers Bay, WA...where the U.S. Open is being played and, man it's fun. Give it a shot if you get a chance. I played the Thursday version.

Is it called Chambers Bay in the game?

It's labeled "Chambers Bay, WA". Thursday thru Sunday versions.

[DivotMaker]

Not only that, but this has to be one of the worst putting engines I have ever seen. The interface is not straightforward and is very unintuitive sine the update in January. It was a decent putting engine before this update, now I think it is the worst I have ever played because what the meter shows and the results of the putt are two different things on virtually every putt. and if your ball is on an uneven lie, the ball shoots off of the putter head very much in the direction of the slope and not at all realistically nor like any other putting engine I have ever seen. I am close to putting this game away til RM gets here. Another issue is the vast majority of course are nice to look at, but play like EA's fantasy courses. Pin positions are idiotic and almost always on a ridiculous slope which the putting engine struggles with. IMO, this game has gone backwards in playability this year.

EDIT: Everyone should check their gameplay settings to make sure your analog stick axis is not set to "Inverted". If so, set it to "Normal" and the game should play like it is supposed to. Can't believe they would introduce a new feature that fundamentally changes the gameplay and sets it to default after an update and not mention it at all.

Time to eat some crow on the putting engine and the Xbox One version. I have figured out the putting engine and the sidehill putts are the ones that give me the most trouble and it is simply difficult to make them just like IRL.

Here is what I posted at OS this AM to a user who was fed up with the graphics of the Xbox One version:

I felt the same way as you regarding graphics on Xbox. I even went so far as to give my Xbox to my Son and purchase a PS4 just because I could not stand the graphics on the Xbox. However, since this last update to 900p for the Xbox, the game looks completely different and SO much improved IMO. Exchanged my PS4 back for an Xbox with Halo and 1 TB hard drive and I am very pleased now with how the Xbox version of this game renders and performs. Have you tried the game since the update? It was like a night and day difference for me. Plus, I like the Xbox controller better than the PS4. Very satisfied Xbox and TGC customer right now.

One more thing I recommend everyone with an Xbox One....please go and calibrate your TV or display with the Calibration tool inside the Settings of the Xbox. I did this the other day and the screen simply pops with beautiful colors and performance.

Needless to say, I am damn pleased with the Xbox One version. I am also glad to be back on the One for EA Access and the fact that the majority of us here are playing MP on the One and not the PS4. PS4 is a great machine, but the One has evolved nicely and I am anxious to see what BC brings us on the One....

[10spro]

I played both versions last night. Visually, there's not much apart to differentiate and while I never thought the X1 was inferior in this department, the PS4 does run smoother without the odd stuttering that the X1 still faces on and off.

[vader29]

I get stuttering on some of the newer courses, really noticeable on courses where they added the cart paths. Hope they can figure out what is causing the corrupted saves in season mode as I have played through the first season twice now and got a data corruption error and get sent back to the beginning like I haven't even played a single round.

[DivotMaker]

I played both versions last night. Visually, there's not much apart to differentiate and while I never thought the X1 was inferior in this department, the PS4 does run smoother without the odd stuttering that the X1 still faces on and off.

Have not seen any stuttering in the 25+ rounds I have played since the update.....

[Inuyasha]

I was at target and saw this game on disc now.

question to the experts - I'd like to get the game to my XB1 now, have it on PS4. I noticed that when I play it on PS4 (Downloaded), it makes the PS4 really hot. If I get the disc version, will it not make the hardware as hot or it doesn't matter? I've always been leary about how hot this game makes the console get. I'm always scared that a $20 game will break a $400 console.

[DivotMaker]

I was at target and saw this game on disc now.

question to the experts - I'd like to get the game to my XB1 now, have it on PS4. I noticed that when I play it on PS4 (Downloaded), it makes the PS4 really hot. If I get the disc version, will it not make the hardware as hot or it doesn't matter? I've always been leary about how hot this game makes the console get. I'm always scared that a $20 game will break a $400 console.

Xbox One is quiet as a mouse with this game.....

[Rodster]

I wish Steam had their refund policy back when I bought this game because I surely would have used it and it wouldn't have taken me 2 hours to make my decision.

The game is badly optimized even for the PC. It's CPU/GPU intensive and makes my PC fans kick into high gear if I played the game for more than 35 minutes and the game just looks awful even with all the details turned up. So it's no surprise to hear that it causes a PS4 fan to spin up.

[DivotMaker]

I wish Steam had their refund policy back when I bought this game because I surely would have used it and it wouldn't have taken me 2 hours to make my decision.

The game is badly optimized even for the PC. It's CPU/GPU intensive and makes my PC fans kick into high gear if I played the game for more than 35 minutes and the game just looks awful even with all the details turned up. So it's no surprise to hear that it causes a PS4 fan to spin up.

Same here on the Steam refund policy...

On the other hand, it is not a Next Gen game graphically, but it has improved a great deal on the Xbox One and when calibrating the TV with the Xbox, the visuals are fine by me. In the absence of any other Golf game, TGC beats the crap out of not playing anything.

I think Rory will run circles around TGC graphically. Unity was not the best engine for EA when they came out with Tiger Woods Online, and it does not seem to have improved. If we could take what RM looks like (Frostbite 3) and the PGA TOUR licensing and customization along with TGC and it's ongoing support and drive for improvements and collaborative community with their developers, I think we would have the ultimate Golf game for PC, Xbox, and PS4.

[MERACE]

I think Rory will run circles around TGC graphically. Unity was not the best engine for EA when they came out with Tiger Woods Online, and it does not seem to have improved. If we could take what RM looks like (Frostbite 3) and the PGA TOUR licensing and customization along with TGC and it's ongoing support and drive for improvements and collaborative community with their developers, I think we would have the ultimate Golf game for PC, Xbox, and PS4.

I totally agree!

I noticed you used the term "ultimate" instead of "perfect" Golf game.


-MERACE

[Diablo25]

Wrong thread