HB Studios Next-Gen golf game: The Golf Club

[Danimal]

Royal Ethalwind might be the best course I've ever seen in a PC Golf game. I started out well in all 3 of my rounds for the PC but eventually ended up shooting 80's in all three rounds. The course can be scored on if you can hit the fairway and I tend to go off the rails for a few holes during the round even though I swear my swing hasn't changed. However get off the fairway and your dead.

Hole #13 has cooked me twice. In round one I juiced it over the green into the water and in round 2 the winds blew me into the rocks. Probably the most frustrating thing with this course was my putting. I kept reading too much break into putts. Up to now I've been really good on the green but this courses greens have me puzzled and I've had at least 8 putts hit the cup and lip out, unlike other courses where you get the swirl around the cup and in.

I would vote to make this our home course on the PC and I would love if this was an actually course somewhere.

[pk500]

I've been accepted to the DSP Society. How the hell do I access the tournament? I press the A button and just am caught in an endless loop of returning to the main Society page.

Holy botched rollout of a game, Batman. This is VERY shoddy.

Try to join the society again...I had to do that after I was "accepted"...for some reason it just needs to be tweaked.

Got in the tourney the next time I tried to enter. Think it was a server issue. Shocker!

[Rodster]

Well I'm hooked (no pun intended), I bought the PC version.

[TCrouch]

I really love most of this game--but the putting, my God. Sometimes it feels like the greens are made of ice. Then I go to a "medium" and it feels like they're just slightly less slippery ice.

The breaks make no sense. I see the tiniest amount of break in the grid, and adjust a little. Then the ball takes off about 20 degrees the other way. I try to compensate for that type of grid display next time, and it doesn't move at all. I go "ok, maybe it's a power issue", as I know drilling it will cause it to drive hard before starting to break....but then the power seems to have no consistency. It's like there's a massive dead zone in the stick, so trying to make a very precise putt is like doing something in delayed time.

I've farted with it over and over (never really played The Golf Club 1 much), and I still can't figure out what they're trying to do with the putting engine. It's frustratingly varied, and really the only thing that's made me want to throw my controller with this game.

I like the mis-hits based on tempo, I like that I can suddenly get the yips in a round and be all over the place. But I swear I have probably 20 chip-ins from off the green, and maybe 4 or 5 putts made that are longer than 10 feet. It's ridiculous.

[pk500]

Well I'm hooked (no pun intended), I bought the PC version.

It is a terrific game from developers who clearly care about their product and its community. I think that's why so many people are willing to give HB Studios and Maximum Games such a pass for the botched roll-out of this game -- they give a sh*t about virtual golf and its players.

A major house like EA or Ubisoft would be PILLORIED if one of its new titles rolled out with this many server problems. But continued outreach to the community over a span of years pays dividends. HB and Maximum appear to burn no bridges with their customers.

[Rodster]

OK, I need help trying to pull-up Royal Ethalwind. On the PS4 I press the L3 button and it brings up the search menu. I type Royal Ethalwind, it confirms the search. I then select 18 holes, then apply the filter and I get screen with golf courses. WTF am I missing?

[Danimal]

I like the mis-hits based on tempo, I like that I can suddenly get the yips in a round and be all over the place. But I swear I have probably 20 chip-ins from off the green, and maybe 4 or 5 putts made that are longer than 10 feet. It's ridiculous.

The putting does seem to have some oddities to it. I can hit a chip from off the green that comes to a dead stop and follow it with a putt that rolls 20 feet past the hole. I've seen putts that are breaking just flatten out and experienced the same "grid show a little break, hit the putt and it goes hard that direction" thing many times.

I think it really comes down to the fact it is impossible to replicate putting well, something I've complained about before. You can't get a good read on the green if you just get up and hit it. Here is what works for me, but again I still share many of your frustrations.

I go through every putting view for 90% of my putts. I start with default and then switch to each one and look at the putt. On short ones inside 7 feet, I typically look at it in the first view and then switch to the second view to line it up. It's incredibly frustrating to miss a 3 foot putt but this method helps.

As JC mentioned above I try to be methodical, there is no tempo modeled into the putt mechanic so slowing down helps a lot.

Finally if I have an uphill put that is in the 40 foot or higher range, i switch and chip the ball. Side note but I was shocked how many people I golf with that didn't know you can chip on the green until they saw it in the US Open. I had a 98 foot uphill putt last night, no way to get that close with the putter so I chipped it to 2 feet.

[10spro]

OK, I need help trying to pull-up Royal Ethalwind. On the PS4 I press the L3 button and it brings up the search menu. I type Royal Ethalwind, it confirms the search. I then select 18 holes, then apply the filter and I get screen with golf courses. WTF am I missing?

It was an issue with the Xbox yesterday. Just type Royal only and you should get about 6-8 courses listed among them Ethalwind. I know they keep working on the servers but my feeling is that this weekend is going to get worse before we see any further improvements.

[FifaInspected]

Ok fellas.

This thread is about the most bi-polar conversation i've read in a while about a game. Everything from "i'm hooked" to "huge improvement over the first version" to "the most frustrating game i've played" and "putting is broke"

I was a big fan of the first version and burned many weekends with the course designer. I thought the game played a solid round of golf and was incrediibly fun online with friends..The perfect social game.

As much as i want to go by this right now i'm not sure if I'll end up with a better experiene than the first version or a mass of frustration. As mentioned by others, I too really appreciate the developers and am fully confident that at some point, the wrinkles should get ironed out.

in my sea of confusion i'll ask a couple of questions.

As of today, is it better than TGC1?

Are visuals improved? (standard ps4)

Any major techincal hiccups not related to server issues?


Thanks guys!

[TCrouch]

For the record, I'm not claiming putting is broken (and I know your comment wasn't necessarily directed at me). I'm completely open to the fact that I'm just doing something wrong, but it sure as hell seems to be inconsistent from green to green, grid to grid, and course to course. There are times that I land an approach 10 feet from the hole and end up 4-putting because what looks like a simple slight-right-to-left ends up being 15 feet past because I wanted to drain it with minimal break, and hit the back of the cup with it. Then I try to compensate for that and end up hitting it 7 feet short on the next one.

I don't know if it's just SUPPOSED to be tricky like that, to simulate how much you have to learn to putt well in real golf, and I'm OK with that. It's just frustrating when you have a 7 footer for birdie and end up double bogeying because the track of the ball was nothing like what the grid showed me it would do.

[Danimal]

Ok I misunderstood your first post. I've never had a ball break the opposite way the grid is showing it will break. Now I've had those lines make me think it was going to break a little left but it ends up being a much bigger break than I thought, but opposite direction? No, never once.

[pk500]

Ok I misunderstood your first post. I've never had a ball break the opposite way the grid is showing it will break. Now I've had those lines make me think it was going to break a little left but it ends up being a much bigger break than I thought, but opposite direction? No, never once.

Same. It took me a good week of nightly playing when I first got TGC 1 to get a feel for putting. I don't honestly feel any difference between the putting models for TGC 1 and TGC 2. Both are nice and consistent. My misses are due to operator error.

Chipping does feel a bit easier in TGC 2. And the flop shot is far less deadly and much more unpredictable in TGC 2, which is a good thing. The flop was far too effective of a weapon in the first game.

[FifaInspected]

Very Correct. My comments were not directed at anyone. I was just pulling bits of what i've read that led to my confusion. I'll probably have it by the end of the day

For the record, I'm not claiming putting is broken (and I know your comment wasn't necessarily directed at me). I'm completely open to the fact that I'm just doing something wrong, but it sure as hell seems to be inconsistent from green to green, grid to grid, and course to course. There are times that I land an approach 10 feet from the hole and end up 4-putting because what looks like a simple slight-right-to-left ends up being 15 feet past because I wanted to drain it with minimal break, and hit the back of the cup with it. Then I try to compensate for that and end up hitting it 7 feet short on the next one.

I don't know if it's just SUPPOSED to be tricky like that, to simulate how much you have to learn to putt well in real golf, and I'm OK with that. It's just frustrating when you have a 7 footer for birdie and end up double bogeying because the track of the ball was nothing like what the grid showed me it would do.

[pk500]

FIFA:

The game has a few sizable warts right now, mainly related to the poor preparation of server load by HB. But that situation is improving daily, and TGC 2 is a really fun game of golf when everything works.

If you liked TGC 1, then you'll dig TGC 2. A very solid, fun game of golf at its core.

Pull that trigger, brother!

[TCrouch]

Ok I misunderstood your first post. I've never had a ball break the opposite way the grid is showing it will break. Now I've had those lines make me think it was going to break a little left but it ends up being a much bigger break than I thought, but opposite direction? No, never once.

That was poor explanation by me. That's what I'm saying--it shows the tiniest amount of break (if any, as the lines are barely moving), and then without warning, it shoots 20 to 90 degrees like I was putting on a cliff face.

I'm not talking the grid shows left and the putt breaks right. Sorry--I just meant the grid doesn't seem to line up with what I see, as far as break amount. It looks little, and instead breaks like mad. Or the reverse, to where I can never be sure when setting up to putt what I'm supposed to be expecting.

[DivotMaker]

Ok I misunderstood your first post. I've never had a ball break the opposite way the grid is showing it will break. Now I've had those lines make me think it was going to break a little left but it ends up being a much bigger break than I thought, but opposite direction? No, never once.

That was poor explanation by me. That's what I'm saying--it shows the tiniest amount of break (if any, as the lines are barely moving), and then without warning, it shoots 20 to 90 degrees like I was putting on a cliff face.

I'm not talking the grid shows left and the putt breaks right. Sorry--I just meant the grid doesn't seem to line up with what I see, as far as break amount. It looks little, and instead breaks like mad. Or the reverse, to where I can never be sure when setting up to putt what I'm supposed to be expecting.

Fellas,

Here are a couple of hints. I recommend using the y button Scout Cam on the green and then use the swing stick to rotate the camera so you can see behind the cup. That may help you see some breaks that aren't readily apparent.

Also, there is an issue where right handed golfers will hit a putt that appears to shoot left alot more than the break indicates. Usually there are on slight mounds and the grid does not do a good job of representing the true break. Another great use of the scout cam is to hit the Y button, then pull the camera down as low to the ground as it can go and view the break of the mound from behind the pin. This is my MO until they fix this in a future update.

Downhill putts simply take a TON of practice and a deft touch.

Hope this helps.

[TCrouch]

Didn't know about Y and using the stick to look around the hole. That alone will help immensely, thanks bud.

[RobVarak]

Ok fellas.

This thread is about the most bi-polar conversation i've read in a while about a game. Everything from "i'm hooked" to "huge improvement over the first version" to "the most frustrating game i've played" and "putting is broke"

I was a big fan of the first version and burned many weekends with the course designer. I thought the game played a solid round of golf and was incrediibly fun online with friends..The perfect social game.

As much as i want to go by this right now i'm not sure if I'll end up with a better experiene than the first version or a mass of frustration. As mentioned by others, I too really appreciate the developers and am fully confident that at some point, the wrinkles should get ironed out.

in my sea of confusion i'll ask a couple of questions.

As of today, is it better than TGC1?

Are visuals improved? (standard ps4)

Any major techincal hiccups not related to server issues?


Thanks guys!

I think it is a notable improvement over the first game...and it's also incredibly frustrating.

I've only played a few rounds with the higher-difficulty clubs, so I'm sure it will improve as will I. OTOH, there are more than a few shots every round where my execution leads me to expect an entirely different outcome from what actually happens.

It's just much harder, plain and simple. I probably should've played a few rounds with the with the tougher clubs before jumping into the society tourneys.

That said, there's no excuse for the ongoing server problems. If you loved the first game, definitely get this one...but maybe wait until they straighten out the infrastructure first.

[FifaInspected]

Thanks Rob!

[TheTruth]

FIFA - I couldn't play the first game because the performance on the Xbox was terrible. This year's version is lightyears better in my eyes. And I am digging the difficulty on the hardest level clubs. The server issues are just plain bad right now though.

[J_Cauthen]

I'm now showing myself, DivotMaker, Terry, and Danimal in the PC version membership for the DSP Society in the game. I the PS4 version I've got myself and Wilk. Aren't there other requests still pending for both version's Societies? It might show pending, or something to that effect on your end, but I know I've accepted a couple of requests, yet the memberships are showing on the Members list within the game.

[J_Cauthen]

FIFA - I couldn't play the first game because the performance on the Xbox was terrible. This year's version is lightyears better in my eyes. And I am digging the difficulty on the hardest level clubs. The server issues are just plain bad right now though.

This is so true... not only does the XBox One version perform better in TGC 2, it looks considerably better - some questionable lighting excesses aside at times - than the original. I'm about to step up from Player to Tour clubs as I'm now finding the Player clubs to not be pushing me like they were.

The servers issues on both console versions are still pretty bad. I'm having pretty solid server performance out of the PC version though. I think once they get all that sorted out, this game is going to deliver even more solid, less stuttering gameplay.

[TCrouch]

That was confusing to me at first...like I'd apply to join, and it said I was accepted--but until the applicant actually clicks the "Join Society", it's still in a pending mode or something.

It's definitely not a bug, just a wonky design decision, to allow an applicant to back out or cancel gracefully before officially joining, I guess.

[J_Cauthen]

That was confusing to me at first...like I'd apply to join, and it said I was accepted--but until the applicant actually clicks the "Join Society", it's still in a pending mode or something.

It's definitely not a bug, just a wonky design decision, to allow an applicant to back out or cancel gracefully before officially joining, I guess.

Oh, I see... that is a bit confusing. Thanks for sharing that Terry!

I know when I was trying to approve Wilk's membership request on the PS4 version, I would click it, the network icon would shot progress for about 30 seconds, and then it'd stop. I never got confirmation that his request had actually been accepted. It still showed him as "pending" on the screen, but I guess it was waiting on him to click "join society"?

[Diablo25]

A few camera tips. I'm assuming TGC vets already know these, but......

1) Turn off follow cam (or at least give it a try ). If you do that you can watch the ball from the tee as long as you want. Just hit the A button when you want the camera to pan ahead to the ball (or use the D Pad camera switch). I like watching my shot in the air until it almost hits the ground. Sometimes I don't even hit the A button which gives you the perspective of a real golf shot. For putting I like the no follow cam view because you can watch your putt as long as you want before hitting the A button to pan up to the hole.

2) The Main camera in settings is for regular shots AND putting. Its a bit confusing because there is a "Putting Camera Preset" in settings which (I think) leads you to believe you are setting up your deafault view when you putt. Nope - it's just another view of the green. I have the Putting Camera Preset set to TWO. When on the green hit the Y button (scout cam) and then the Right Bumper. That (camera two) will immediately take you to the opposite side of the hole which really helps with reading the break. You can cycle thru the other four putting presets by clicking the right stick. They take you to a side view, an angled view, and an over the top view...I think) . Those same cameras apply to the "Approach Camera Preset" which is accessible from like 40 yards and in. You can actually putt (and chip) from the presets (behind the hole, etc.) if you 'Unlock' the cameras with the A button.

Check the Activity Feed on the Xbox if you have me as a friend...I just put a video up of the presets and even putting from behind the hole. The early part of the video is me putting it up to about 15 feet...I'm not THAT bad

UPDATE. Here is a link to the video.
http://xboxclips.com/Diablo25/a11845f6- ... f0f4/embed