Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

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There's an updated preview of Tiger Woods 2008, dated 6/18/07 on IGN

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/797/797472p1.html

The previewer actually got to lay hands on this one via one of EA Sports debug 360's in L.A.. A few more questions get answered, but the one that I found most interesting is that a three-click swing option will be added this year. Furthermore, it sounds like you can mix and match click and analog thumbstick swings in the same round!? Not sure what to think about this... if the click option is there, I would hope there would be an option for a pure click round, and vice-versa, a pure analog stick round.

I don't know why these previewers are so obsessed with this goofiness of uploading shots to GamerNet, particularly those where the player is using his video as proof of how many spectators he hit in the gallery with his custom competition shot (do we really want competitions set up to see how many gallery members can be hit with one shot!?)

One thing that really troubled me about this preview was the mention of the putt preview feature. It will show you the line your putt will take with your current aim, but will only be enabled once per hole. Do we really need something that cheesy? I'm sure there will be an option to disable it, but why do they insist on taking the guts out of golf games!!??

Nick Ahern talks briefly about slight graphical upgrades and of course, the Gamerface *feature*, but he was once again shutout on his question of how draws and fades will be controlled in 2008.

Anyway, give it a read and see what you come away with. I'm a little surprised that there wasn't more meat in this preview at this stage. It sounds like Nick had limited access to the game though.

[Triggerfish]

Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

probably to early for any gameplay features..this sounds like fluff...this is looking like we are going to get the same damn putting. Good news is it looks like we may see a Prostroke 08 soon! (good news for me at least)

http://www.gustogames.com/mainsite/projects.html

[DivotMaker]

Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

Good news is it looks like we may see a Prostroke 08 soon! (good news for me at least)

This game has a LONG way to go before I get interested. The first version was a flop commercially.....

[xythander]

Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

Sounds like EA added a bunch of fluff and not much gameplay changes which isn't really surprising. It also sounds like EA is still trying to stay in between arcade and sim game. It will be interesting to read a more detailed report on the gameplay.

[jzicc]

Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

i would really settle for LINKS with upgraded graphics and some mode enhancements ---- GAMEPLAY GAMEPLAY

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Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

I forgot to include a link to Gamespot's updated preview yesterday:

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/sports/tigerwoodspgatour08/news.html?sid=6172695&mode=recent

They don't really have much more to offer than IGN, other than to say there will be five new courses, and 10 from last year's game. The new courses are: Cog Hill, Westchester, TPC Boston, Harbour Town and Atlanta's East Lake.

They also were told that new, downloadable courses would be offered from day one... (for a nominal fee, of course (no pun intended)).

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

Three click is a step in the right direction. I've thought the stick swing has been grossly overrated for a while. Maybe they'll fix shot physics so each shot doesn't cruise along a perfectly symetrical arc. Maybe they'll also kill the worst feature in the game, the ball cam. If I had to pick a #1 annoyance in all games I like to play the ball cam would easily be #1.

Edit - The three click swing seems even better since it means you can dial in pitches. One thing that tour pros can do so long as the conditions aren't too tough is drop pretty much any ball within 20' from any decent fairway lie to about 80 yards out. Also, being able to upload shots = a waste of development time. I hate EA's priorities.

Double edit - The screen shot indicates EA didn't spend the time to correct how far golfers throw the putter through the ball on short putts. The image on page two looks like Tiger should be whacking a 40' putt... not a 5 footer. Wtf.

Triple edit - I'm guessing EA was once again blind to the fact that the golf course is the star of any round, not the player. They can pretend they're the editor over at Fox and zoom in on players eyes as much as they want but nothing matters as much as the course. Whatever. This game could be good but I'm sure they'll blow it again.

[Triggerfish]

Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

"This game has a LONG way to go before I get interested. The first version was a flop commercially....."

Agreed but if they are willing to make another one there must be something there. Any kind of competition to tiger is good for all of us. 2K is still using Links as a paperweight so i have lost hope in that one. Hell the new hot shots may even play better then tiger!

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Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

probably to early for any gameplay features..this sounds like fluff...this is looking like we are going to get the same damn putting. Good news is it looks like we may see a Prostroke 08 soon! (good news for me at least)

http://www.gustogames.com/mainsite/projects.html

The putting in 2008 continues to worry me as well. I'll have to wait and see on that.

I tried ProStroke 2007 on the XBox and the PC, and couldn't get into either one. Gusto is trying something very ambitious with this interface, for which I applaude them, but the first generation didn't work for me. I tried and tried, but never could "get" the feel of the prostroke swing method.

I'll give it another chance on the 360. Hopefully a year of tinkering with it and they'll have something. I'm not overly optimistic about it because it seems like they've got a long way to go with it. I hope they'll prove me wrong.

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Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

i would really settle for LINKS with upgraded graphics and some mode enhancements ---- GAMEPLAY GAMEPLAY

I think we would have been playing something far greater than this since last September had Take-Two not closed down Indie Built Games entirely. I think Links had to suffer along with Indie's less successful franchises in this case, although Links 2004 wasn't a world beater. It still lost out to Tiger 2004 on the marketplace, even though it was a vastly superior game, IMO.

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Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

Three click is a step in the right direction. I've thought the stick swing has been grossly overrated for a while.

No one has been able to even sniff what I think is possible with a stick swing. I think it's largely because they don't model intertial physics in the player animation. One thing that Links 2004 did was give a more tangible reward for a properly tempoed speed. IOW, you didn't get the fastest clubhead speed for wiggling the stick the fastest.

I don't know why we haven't seen any attempt to work inertial modelling into the stick swing interface.

Maybe they'll fix shot physics so each shot doesn't cruise along a perfectly symetrical arc.

That would definitely be an improvement. I doubt we're going to see it though, based on a gut level hunch.

Maybe they'll also kill the worst feature in the game, the ball cam. If I had to pick a #1 annoyance in all games I like to play the ball cam would easily be #1.

AMEN! I hate the friggin ball cam with a passion!!. Short iron approach shots to greens are especially annoying, the way the ball cam just continues to climb until you're almost looking straight down on the green. It's totally taken me out of the environment at that point.

I seriously doubt we'll see any changes here eithe because I think Tiburon is mostly taking a handoff on this year's title. I hope I'm wrong though.

Edit - The three click swing seems even better since it means you can dial in pitches. One thing that tour pros can do so long as the conditions aren't too tough is drop pretty much any ball within 20' from any decent fairway lie to about 80 yards out.

I'm not sure I'll be able to go back and forth between stick at click in one round. In fact, I'm not sure that I would want to have the chance to do so. It would be almost like an the MLB using the designated hitter rule for half of the ball game. I can see this having the potential for causing controversy. I do know that I'm in support of having a three click swing option for those who want to play the entire game that way. I'm just not sure on where I stand on this mixed-mode business.

Also, being able to upload shots = a waste of development time. I hate EA's priorities.

Agreed... I can't see where this is going to be a big hit. I never look at uploaded clips with Forza 2, I'm equally sure I won't waste my time with it in TW 2008 either.

Double edit - The screen shot indicates EA didn't spend the time to correct how far golfers throw the putter through the ball on short putts. The image on page two looks like Tiger should be whacking a 40' putt... not a 5 footer. Wtf.

Isn't that the goofiest way to present your game!? I don't understand why they can't see how out of whack that looks and feels!!??

[Triggerfish]

Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

worries me about the putting in the next gen machines ..it is the NEW engine right? They will never redo it...

[JRod]

Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

The three click method is a feature FROM PC GAMES. Am I the only one that laughed about it.

Geez EA has really outdone themselves with this feature. They are putting something that was standard 10 years ago.

[DivotMaker]

Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

The three click method is a feature FROM PC GAMES. Am I the only one that laughed about it.

Geez EA has really outdone themselves with this feature. They are putting something that was standard 10 years ago.

If you cared to venture to the EA Tiger forums you would be able to see how MANY console users have complained that this feature was removed from the game. How can giving users another option that they have complained about NOT being in the game a bad thing? God forbid...

[Carolina93]

Re: Updated IGN TW 2008 Preview (06/18/07)

Maybe I don't take video games so seriously and know that if I want real golf, I can walk out of my front door and onto a great course's fairways and play, but I like Tiger07.

It's funny too because one of my main competitors in the majors this season on there has been a real life friend of mine that is on Tour.