OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

[fantasysportsguy]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

Yep, nothing to defend as far as I see. I don't think I've had a tourney yet where anyone was above -18.
I'm just looking for a fun and competitive game of video golf to play. That said, that's what I'm getting.

Wait until you start getting close to the leaders, it will activate the super AI and they will start shooting 59's, like I saw yesterday, to stay ahead of you.

We're not making this crap up guys.

[DivotMaker]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

It's hardly an uninformed rant. In fact, it's happening to so many people that I'm starting to see it discussed at nearly all gaming sites I visit on a daily basis.

So, does the CPU put up -40 under every tourney? No, but it seems to put up unrealistic scores and prevents you from winning 100% of the time.

What I find troubling is that so many of you seem to be defending this, when for a lot of people, this is a gamekiller. Imagine just not being able to beat a game like Halo 3 because once you kill a certain level of Flood or Covenant, the game kicks into insane mode and basically prevents you from achieving mission completions due to its superhuman-ness. That's what we're talking about here.

I remember numerous complaints about TW 07/08/09 AI. Seems this year is no different. If you think the AI in TW10 is unfair, good thing you never played TW99 for PC. In that game, Tiger wouls shoot -14 to -18 in numerous rounds in a 1 on 1 tournament. In fact, I paracticed against his AI score to compete on the EA Sports Internet TOUR back in 99/2000.

The past several years users have complained that the AI never gives them enough challenge or "rubber bands". Well, it sounds like EA was listening as the challenge has bee bumped up. I played a great deal with season mode the past 2 versions, so as soon as I finish Tournament Challenge (4 scenarios to finish), I will pop on Season mode and give you my assessment of how it compares to previous versions....if what you are saying IS true, then I can look forward to winning tournaments by realistic margins instead of 10-20 strokes as I did at times in 09 and 08....

[fantasysportsguy]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

Actually, I did play that game. I've been playing Golf games for well over 20 years. Last years game you could win on, the rubber banding was gone, but for some reason, they have brought it back and the pros are breaking 60 again when you get close to taking the lead.

I want a challenge, but I want fairness also. I don't want the pros shooting -35 at Pebble Beach or -40 at Torrey Pines, just because I get close to them on the leaderboard.

[Seymour Scagnetti]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

I remember numerous complaints about TW 07/08/09 AI. Seems this year is no different. If you think the AI in TW10 is unfair, good thing you never played TW99 for PC. In that game, Tiger wouls shoot -14 to -18 in numerous rounds in a 1 on 1 tournament. In fact, I paracticed against his AI score to compete on the EA Sports Internet TOUR back in 99/2000.

The past several years users have complained that the AI never gives them enough challenge or "rubber bands". Well, it sounds like EA was listening as the challenge has bee bumped up. I played a great deal with season mode the past 2 versions, so as soon as I finish Tournament Challenge (4 scenarios to finish), I will pop on Season mode and give you my assessment of how it compares to previous versions....if what you are saying IS true, then I can look forward to winning tournaments by realistic margins instead of 10-20 strokes as I did at times in 09 and 08....

I understand you like to defend EA at all costs but you're so off on this. There's nothing challenging about super AI. How hard is it for EA to give us a slider (they've made this game for a gazillion years and have heard these complaints about as long) so we can get realistic leaderboards so when you make a realistic golfer with skill that mimics what real PGA players shoot. If they refuse to make a slider then make the #'s sensible. You know how incredibly easy it is to program an AI score slider but EA, in it's infinite and idiotic wisdom, continue to believe that every gamer wants to arcade up all the skills and all shoot in the low 50's so they give an AI to match.

Seems like some of you guys are not listening, or don't want to listen. There's no challenge bump, I can make my golfer superhuman by tomorrow, actually right now because I have enough skill points that I refuse to use, and shoot -30 to -40 and I'll win almost every tournament.

The concern is that EA can't get the simple notion of giving realistic scores for AI players. -25 is almost as bad as -40, I can count on one hand the # of times real PGA events have the leaders at -25 in one year.

This was never a problem in the PC TW version and it was so much more fun that way. It pitted you against the course not against a rubberband and unrealistic AI. All the scores in the PC game ranged from -8 to -20 regardless of what you did. Sometimes I won by 5 strokes and sometimes I missed the cut and it was great. Somehow EA continues to think that console gamers are semi-******** who can't handle simulation and can't resist in making thier golfer superhuman and PC gamers are a higher form of life.

[DivotMaker]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

I understand you like to defend EA at all costs but you're so off on this.

Bull****.

[OnlookerDelay]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

I'm playing the WGC-CA at Doral right now in my season (Tour Pro difficulty). Through 3 rounds, I'm +11. I've put 3 balls OB during the three rounds, two tee shots and two approach shots. I holed a 125 yard sandwedge approach for an eagle on one hole, and then 5-putted for a triple bogey 6 on the next hole from 16 feet! I made a good number of birdies, but I've had more 4-putt greens than I care to recall.

The FIR's and GIR's feel about right though. Some of the greens I've missed was were I was trying to play a loft increased draw or fade into a green that was protected by a bunker. If you have a swingpath error on those shot types, you are judiciously punished. I think it's brilliant they way they've captured this in the model. It certainly makes you think about how far you want to go with hitting complex shots. Of course, my workability percentages are all well below where Hank's telling me to put them. That could have some bearning on my results.

Anyway, more on the point of AI player scoring... in this WGC-CA tournament I'm in right now, Oglivy leads at -20, while Kevin Stadler is three back at -17. This is through 54 holes. I guess there's not a cut in this tournament, otherwise I'd have been sent packing after 36 holes. I look at the leaderboard and see lots of 62 to 64 scores though. I'd have to agree that the AI's are playing slightly superhuman right now. As long as I leave my sweetpots and attributes where they are, I can't see myself competing with them for titles, but I can't say that I'm not enjoying the challenge. I think I'll get better over time. There's a long, slow learning curve to meterless precision putting and so far, I'm enjoying the ride!

[Zinger]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

I haven't got the game yet and this thread puts doubt in my mind about getting it. Why are the TW developers so DUMB. Every year, DUMB DUMB DUMB. I agree particularly with Seymour Scagnetti's comments. It would be so easy to program a sliding scale into the game so that users can have the kind of tournament results they want ranging from realistic to arcade. Has anyone played Bethpage Black yet? Are winning scores there in the -20 range too??? What a farce considering 'tournament realism' was meant to be such a big priority this year. It seems the gameplay is better this year (the only reason why I might still get it), but EA always slip up somewhere. In a wonderful game like MLB 09 The Show the love of the game and attention to detail shines through all the time. I seriously wonder whether any of the TW developers even play golf, let alone love it.

[OpusX910]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

While it doesnt make me too mad anymore because im used to EA screwing up every game, except for NHL....I think i've figured out why EA has the computers shoot so low....people complain about the game being way too easy (including myself), so EA takes the easy route of making the computer shoot really low to make it difficult to beat, instead of reworking the whole gameplay system to make the game harder and more realistic from a players standpoint.

How awesome would it be to play bethpage on this game and feel like you lit up the course shooting +2? I can only dream those days will come someday....like with other EA games i have major gripes about, they simply need some competition so their game has to be complete and the best, instead of ho hum.

All in all tho, this game will still keep me entertained for a month or so as usual

[baa7]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

While it doesnt make me too mad anymore because im used to EA screwing up every game, except for NHL.

EA's NHL series is terrible as far as over-the-top, superhuman AI on the highest difficulty levels. The worst of any sports video game I've ever played. Bad comparison.

[baa7]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

I think i've figured out why EA has the computers shoot so low....people complain about the game being way too easy (including myself)

Many of us who are playing on Tour level with the Precision putting meter off and the sweetspots on our clubs tuned to 20% are struggling to break par on any course. So I'd say your theory isn't entirely accurate. What EA may have done is build in a sort of AI scoring equalizer, to prevent the kids who play on Amateur while using Classic putting from burning through Career Mode. Which would be unfortunate.

[baa7]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

Wait until you start getting close to the leaders, it will activate the super AI and they will start shooting 59's, like I saw yesterday, to stay ahead of you.

We're not making this crap up guys.

If that's what in fact is happening, then that's bad. But again, several people are saying CPU winning scores are more in the -13 to -27 range. That sounds like a nice challenge to me.

[Zinger]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

Many of us who are playing on Tour level with the Precision putting meter off and the sweetspots on our clubs tuned to 20% are struggling to break par on any course. So I'd say your theory isn't entirely accurate. What EA may have done is build in a sort of AI scoring equalizer, to prevent the kids who play on Amateur while using Classic putting from burning through Career Mode. Which would be unfortunate.

Which is why they should have made it possible for the user to choose the level of difficulty of tournament scores he wants. They have allowed us to customise our golfer to play at as hard or easy a level as we want (well done, TW devs); but they haven't allowed us to customise the difficulty level of the tournament scores (DUMB play, TW devs). The dilemma you mention could have been avoided had the devs just done that. The TW devs are trying to please two kinds of user - those who want realism and those who want an arcade experience - and the only way to do that in one game is to give plenty of choice.

[baa7]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

they haven't allowed us to customise the difficulty level of the tournament scores (DUMB play, TW devs).

That I completely agree with. Then again, EA's games are traditionally the least customizable of any other sports games. Example: they're only just now adding a handful of separate CPU-User sliders to their NHL series, and this will be the fourth year on next-gen.

[pskepsilon]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

I understand you like to defend EA at all costs but you're so off on this. There's nothing challenging about super AI. How hard is it for EA to give us a slider (they've made this game for a gazillion years and have heard these complaints about as long) so we can get realistic leaderboards so when you make a realistic golfer with skill that mimics what real PGA players shoot. If they refuse to make a slider then make the #'s sensible. You know how incredibly easy it is to program an AI score slider but EA, in it's infinite and idiotic wisdom, continue to believe that every gamer wants to arcade up all the skills and all shoot in the low 50's so they give an AI to match.

Seems like some of you guys are not listening, or don't want to listen. There's no challenge bump, I can make my golfer superhuman by tomorrow, actually right now because I have enough skill points that I refuse to use, and shoot -30 to -40 and I'll win almost every tournament.

The concern is that EA can't get the simple notion of giving realistic scores for AI players. -25 is almost as bad as -40, I can count on one hand the # of times real PGA events have the leaders at -25 in one year.

This was never a problem in the PC TW version and it was so much more fun that way. It pitted you against the course not against a rubberband and unrealistic AI. All the scores in the PC game ranged from -8 to -20 regardless of what you did. Sometimes I won by 5 strokes and sometimes I missed the cut and it was great. Somehow EA continues to think that console gamers are semi-******** who can't handle simulation and can't resist in making thier golfer superhuman and PC gamers are a higher form of life.

This, exactly.

Like I said before, we're not even really talking about AI here. That would require extending the umbrella of "artificial intelligence" to something as trivial as literally generating numbers in a certain range. It would be one thing if EA had to actually code realistic golfing performances in these tournaments (i.e., players miss realistically, take more chances when trailing, etc.), but because you play by yourself in tournaments and all you get with respect to the computer opponents is a number generated for their score, there is absolutely no excuse for any problems of this nature, especially not persistent problems that have been plaguing the series for years.

And for people who are defending/claim to enjoy the rubberband/superhuman "AI", there would be a simple solution. Do what NBA Jam did and allow it to be toggled on or off. If it's on, you get this nonsensical, unrealistic scoring and you can try to shoot in the 50's on a regular basis to have a prayer of consistently winning. If it's off...they could literally do something as simple as have a bell-curve distribution of likely professional scores and just pick random numbers with those frequencies and it would be an infinite improvement in terms of realism over what we have here.

[starship]

Re: OMG ,WHAT A JOKE!!!

I haven't started season mode yet. Does anyone know if the tourney AI scores reflect the course difficulty/conditions? I mean, -27 may in the the realm of believeability on some courses-- but not Bethpage. Is there any indication that the game is aware of where the tourney's being played?