EA needs a golf game w/a story mode like the Journey

[bamagrad03]

It's been 3 years since RM was released, and we all know the warts that game had, but the engine is there.

One of the things that I think could make a golf game truly viable in a post-Tiger mania era of golf fandom is a story mode like EA has included with Madden and FIFA titles.

I'm not sure how many of y'all have played either, but it truly does add a dynamic to the games that bring a new dimension. Granted, this mode isn't for everyone, but for a single player sport like golf, I think it could be truly amazing if well executed.

Think of adding a layer of actual story on top of your career mode that starts your career as a teenager. They could even build in a rivalry with another player trying to earn his tour card, who you battle with. There could be a whole story line around qualifying for the open as an amateur or your first masters, etc.

This think worked really truly well for the Madden franchise. The story was actually great, the acting was solid. If it works for a team sport game like football or soccer, it could do tremendously well for an individual sport.

I know EA probably thinks that RM wasn't a success because Tiger isn't generating the interest he used to among casual golf fans - but it really just fell short in execution. Giving us something new like a story mode along with an excellent career mode in general would go a long way in reviving the franchise.

[DivotMaker]

Re: EA needs a golf game w/a story mode like the Journey

Sounds great except for a couple of issues....

EA is out of the Golf videogame market.

Not to nitpick, but Tiger is drawing as much if not more interest than in his heyday.....

[bamagrad03]

Re: EA needs a golf game w/a story mode like the Journey

Sounds great except for a couple of issues....

EA is out of the Golf videogame market.

Not to nitpick, but Tiger is drawing as much if not more interest than in his heyday.....

Having not made a golf game in 3 years doesn't mean they'll never make another. PGA has already said that EA has maintained their relationship with the PGA and PGA rights for a golf game aren't exclusive to a single entity.

I disagree on Tiger. Tiger in his prime drew in a ton of golf 'fans' who weren't really fans of golf but casual fans of Tiger. Tiger brought some interest back with his performance at the Open last weekend, but in terms of interest at a consistent level over the last couple of years that would have impacted the decision makers at EA regarding the financial viability of another golf game...that's a different story.

In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, he played in three events (during the time that such decisions were being made).

He has a /chance/ to bring those people back in, especially if he consistently performs. We saw the ratings bump last weekend prove that out.

[DivotMaker]

Re: EA needs a golf game w/a story mode like the Journey

Having not made a golf game in 3 years doesn't mean they'll never make another. PGA has already said that EA has maintained their relationship with the PGA and PGA rights for a golf game aren't exclusive to a single entity.

I disagree on Tiger. Tiger in his prime drew in a ton of golf 'fans' who weren't really fans of golf but casual fans of Tiger. Tiger brought some interest back with his performance at the Open last weekend, but in terms of interest at a consistent level over the last couple of years that would have impacted the decision makers at EA regarding the financial viability of another golf game...that's a different story.

In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, he played in three events (during the time that such decisions were being made).

He has a /chance/ to bring those people back in, especially if he consistently performs. We saw the ratings bump last weekend prove that out.

The fact that EA has relinquished the exclusive PGA TOUR license and gone on record saying they are done in the Golf videogame space for consoles is a pretty good indication of where they stand.

Tiger has been irrelevant since 2014/2015. He is relevant this year. ratings on events he plays is through the roof. Galleries following him play are back to the days when he was in his prime. It is not a question of IF he wins again, but when, IMO and many others in the Golf world feel similarly. His play this year has no relation to EA Sports or a new videogame. EA and Tiger parted ways several years ago as Tiger was in decline and his rash of personal issues did not help his brand. I doubt he nor EA Sports are interested in another relationship even if he were to win 5 more Majors and eclipse Jack's record.

I love the passion you have for another EA Golf game. Just don't see any chance of that happening with the current leadership at EA. 25+ years of having a PGA TOUR product and they ran out of ideas on how to maintain profitability and viability in the Golf video game marketplace. I would love to be proven wrong though.

That being said, I am really excited to see how HB Studios handles the PGA TOUR license. It is time for someone else to take their shot at making a great PGA TOUR experience that users from all skill levels love and want to come back and play more and more, IMO.

[bamagrad03]

Re: EA needs a golf game w/a story mode like the Journey

The fact that EA has relinquished the exclusive PGA TOUR license and gone on record saying they are done in the Golf videogame space for consoles is a pretty good indication of where they stand.

Tiger has been irrelevant since 2014/2015. He is relevant this year. ratings on events he plays is through the roof. Galleries following him play are back to the days when he was in his prime. It is not a question of IF he wins again, but when, IMO and many others in the Golf world feel similarly. His play this year has no relation to EA Sports or a new videogame. EA and Tiger parted ways several years ago as Tiger was in decline and his rash of personal issues did not help his brand. I doubt he nor EA Sports are interested in another relationship even if he were to win 5 more Majors and eclipse Jack's record.

I love the passion you have for another EA Golf game. Just don't see any chance of that happening with the current leadership at EA. 25+ years of having a PGA TOUR product and they ran out of ideas on how to maintain profitability and viability in the Golf video game marketplace. I would love to be proven wrong though.

That being said, I am really excited to see how HB Studios handles the PGA TOUR license. It is time for someone else to take their shot at making a great PGA TOUR experience that users from all skill levels love and want to come back and play more and more, IMO.

Just to clarify, I don't think the fact that it was called "Tiger Woods" golf is why casual golfers interested in Tiger Woods were buying copies. I think Tiger Woods sucked fans into being interested casually in golf. Just like I think his resurgence this year could, if sustained, bring them back into the fold - even if it's got Dustin Johnson on the cover.

If (big if) EA did get back into the golf game fold, I think they'd be better off having no title endorsee at all. Especially if they're trying to make a case for fiscal viability of the product - that's one place where you could save millions.

But yes, at least HB is giving us /something/. And maybe they can cultivate it to the point that it's as robust as the older TW titles of old, with modern platforms making it even better.

[DivotMaker]

Re: EA needs a golf game w/a story mode like the Journey

Just to clarify, I don't think the fact that it was called "Tiger Woods" golf is why casual golfers interested in Tiger Woods were buying copies. I think Tiger Woods sucked fans into being interested casually in golf. Just like I think his resurgence this year could, if sustained, bring them back into the fold - even if it's got Dustin Johnson on the cover.

If (big if) EA did get back into the golf game fold, I think they'd be better off having no title endorsee at all. Especially if they're trying to make a case for fiscal viability of the product - that's one place where you could save millions.

But yes, at least HB is giving us /something/. And maybe they can cultivate it to the point that it's as robust as the older TW titles of old, with modern platforms making it even better.

I am hoping HB Studios stays away from a cover athlete and we simply have PGA TOUR Golf, yet include as many real PGA TOUR Golfer likenesses they can without breaking the bank on it. Great PGA TOUR gameplay, visuals and sounds are what I am looking for.