Is EA Sports PGA Tour Losing Its Sim?

[lnin0]

Depends on your definition of "successful". I think a sim orientated golf game could be successful in tofay's gaming atmosphere. COD successful, no. FIFA successful, no. Successful at making a profit and building a fan base, yrs.

[Grey_Osprey]

Re: Is EA Sports PGA Tour Losing Its Sim?

EA often uses development cycles and first attempts as an excuse for lack of quality and support of titles...so of course when resources are used in such an arcade way we know given EA's history and way of doing things that somewhere else the game is going to be shorthanded.

But hey, they're trying to sell games and I don't blame them in this specific situation:

1.) I'm not aware of a BIG golf gaming community that clamors for sim
2.) They lost Tiger and need some way to Jazz it up, so they go back to what they do best - ARCADE
3.) Sales..they're trying to bring in the kids.

The bold would be my worry too. The fact that they found it necessary to make this "fantasy course" a part of their focus and presentation worries me. Sure, it may only be one course, but how much time was spent developing it and what other parts of the game suffered because of it. All you have to do is look at EA's Madden to see what happens when you concentrate on fancy features and gimmicks and let core game play issues go.

Their video lost me at the battle ship intro. I'll stick with The Golf Club and Links for my golf fix.

[brandon27]

Re: Is EA Sports PGA Tour Losing Its Sim?

If I'm not forced to use it during career/season mode - than why worry about what fantasy course they put in the game. This series has had fantasy courses for years, so I am not sure what the issue is?

Am I missing something?

That's how I feel about this. If its like the current fantasy courses in the game, where they are just there as an option to play if I want to and I'm not forced to use them in any way, shape, or form, then I don't really care. As long as the game play gets better, and we have far more real and authentic courses, then I'm alright with it. Afterall, its no different than how TW14 was.

[pietasterp]

Re: Is EA Sports PGA Tour Losing Its Sim?

That's how I feel about this. If its like the current fantasy courses in the game, where they are just there as an option to play if I want to and I'm not forced to use them in any way, shape, or form, then I don't really care. As long as the game play gets better, and we have far more real and authentic courses, then I'm alright with it. Afterall, its no different than how TW14 was.

Your point is well taken, but I think it's the larger, overall gestalt that the TW series has been ever-more casually-oriented that is the most off-putting. As others have stated, since the name change of the franchise to "Tiger Woods" from "PGA", I think that was the turning point. Since then, it's been all free-fall downhill in my opinion. Thank goodness there are no competitor products, otherwise an entire gaming niche/genre would be essentially unserved.

[grabursock55]

If anyone is familiar with the older platforms like N64 PS1 and the likes, this reminds me of a throwback to those consoles. Where companies would intertwine games. I think this is a refreshing idea... As was said before, this is a fantasy course and it seems that you arent forced to play it. Remember, its a video game. If you want ultra-realism, go pick up some clubs and hit the links.

Also repeat to yourself "its just a game, I should really just relax"
For the PGA tour video game

[McG]

I see a lot of people are wondering why EA would do this to their golf game. What are we doing right now? We are talking about a golf game. One that isn't even out yet and that doesn't have a "cover boy" anymore. They are using "shock tactics" in order to create an imprint in your mind about a golf game. For all of you that say you aren't buying the game, a few of you will the same people that walk by the video game store/section a few months after it's out, see the game and pick it up just to give it a try. More than likely, you probably wont even remember that you did(or didn't) like the battleship thing but the game will stand out to you and that's all that EA is trying to do, grab the casual/on the fence player.

[Jarbeez]

If I'm not forced to use it during career/season mode - than why worry about what fantasy course they put in the game. This series has had fantasy courses for years, so I am not sure what the issue is?

Am I missing something?

Agreed with bluengold, they have had these fantasy courses in there before and it was always kind of cool to play them. To me some of their fantasy courses have been the most challenging since they can kind of push the limits a bit more. So I'm all for it.

[globalbeats7]

Re: Is EA Sports PGA Tour Losing Its Sim?

I see a lot of people are wondering why EA would do this to their golf game. What are we doing right now? We are talking about a golf game. One that isn't even out yet and that doesn't have a "cover boy" anymore. They are using "shock tactics" in order to create an imprint in your mind about a golf game. For all of you that say you aren't buying the game, a few of you will the same people that walk by the video game store/section a few months after it's out, see the game and pick it up just to give it a try. More than likely, you probably wont even remember that you did(or didn't) like the battleship thing but the game will stand out to you and that's all that EA is trying to do, grab the casual/on the fence player.

nope. we did not have options in years past. now we do. if golf club tanks, im sure many folks will give EA a try...but they are certainly losing the sim golfing gamer for now.

[DirtyJerz32]

Re: Is EA Sports PGA Tour Losing Its Sim?

Since when was any of their Golf games a sim. What kind of sim lets you power up your shots and stuff like that?

Exactly! Guys were shooting in the 50/60's on the the hardest setting. Nothing about their game has technically been sim.

With that said, I won't be purchasing it. With the other golf game soon to hit shelves, I only need one golf game in my life.

[bakan723]

I'd rather play Hot Shots. Not a fan of the analog swing mechanics.

[tHurley2010]

I don't think EA is going to go away from the simulation golf they have attempted to provide with past iterations of golf games. It's important to remember that the enhanced capabilities of the PS4 and XBOne will allow the developers more room to incorporate more sim features. Nobody should be worried about that.

From an EA perspective though, you have to ask what about the game led to a decrease in sales to such an extreme such that sales in 2003 were 1/10th of what they were in 2013. Could it have been that Tiger Woods was significantly more popular in '03 than '13? Could it be that the series just grew stale? Could it be that a purely sim golf game doesn't appeal to the amount of audience EA wants to reach?

[hawley088]

dont see what the big deal is...there have always been fantasy courses

[Matt10]

Re: Is EA Sports PGA Tour Losing Its Sim?

Might be another year of TW08 on the PC

[Triggerfish]

Re: Is EA Sports PGA Tour Losing Its Sim?

for me at least Golf Club is a breath of fresh air!! Have it on the PC and awaiting the PS4. EA be gone.. :-) Wish they would put it on Vita also!

[P4ntherBe4r]

As a man who loves sports games, but has never played PGA Tour, or any golf game out there, I do play golf, which might contribute to my sudden Interest in this game. I personally think it is a good idea to include these fantasy maps. When I first saw the trailer; I said "hmm, another golf game." When I saw that they branched out and included the fantasy maps, I thought it was actually something UNIQUE in a golf game, if on the title screen you hit "Play" Then "User Created" or "Fantasy Maps" Which would not be playable in a career mode, would not take away from the actual golf sim, and just be a cool addition, and if you dont like it, dont play it. but for people like me, its something cool, and would make me give this game a try.