May 5, 2008
I would love to have a go!
Cries of “Nice shot!” greet the satisfying ping of club against ball as Takashi Ochiai gets his round off to a perfect start. His opponents’ magnanimity could be simple sportsmanship, but it’s more likely to be the effects of the cold beers they are gulping as they track his ball to its resting place bang in the middle of the fairway.
The greens at this Tokyo golf course are pristine, permanently bathed in sunshine and mercifully free of inept beginners failing, for the umpteenth time, to swipe their ball out of a bunker. If it sounds too good to be true, that’s because it isn’t.
Links, one of several virtual golf courses to have appeared in Tokyo in recent months, is sating a growing appetite for communal gaming that owes much to the success of the group-friendly Nintendo Wii.
Although Ochiai and his colleagues were brought here by their love of golf – not by an interest in video games – they owe their obvious enjoyment to a powerful piece of simulation software.
The ball’s journey is quickly cut short by a brightly lit screen; a virtual course that keeps a tally of shots played, the distance to the pin and the other vital statistics on which the gaming golfer depends.
The software package calculates where the ball should come to rest depending on which part of the screen it strikes, and how fast it is traveling. Weekend golfers who require work on their swing beware: the software also knows a hideous slice or hook when it sees one.
The system’s maker, 3D, says it has sold 50 golf simulators – at about 6 million yen (£29,250) apiece – and reckons it will have shifted more than a hundred by the end of the year.
Via: guardian.co.uk
Filed by: MiiGolfer at May 5th, 2008 under News
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Rejoice! EA sports has announced that Tiger Woods PGA 09 will be released this summer! I hope they really fix the swing problems! Also guess what? Tiger’s coach Hank Haney will be around to give you in game tips. That is very cool.
EA has formally announced via a press release that Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 is on the way for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP and Nintendo Wii.
For the first time, the game will feature Hank Haney, Tiger Woods’ personal coach. Haney will assist gamers as they hit the links and will provide feedback based on a player’s performance after a round. Online play has also been reworked and will contain the ability for up to four players to play each hole at the same time.
“Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09 is the most authentic golf video game on the market, and we’re excited to bring an immersive experience to the masses,” said Executive Producer Mike Taramykin. “Our partnership with Hank Haney provides fans immediate coaching from one of the top minds in golf. This year’s game brings unprecedented levels of customisation and control, allowing seasoned vets and first time players ‘inside the ropes’ of TOUR golf.”
Also accordingly to QJ.net:
Also thrown into the package is the integration of EA Sports’ GamerNet system into the game for online play, sporting an easy-to-use interface. The GamerNet system also includes daily leaderboards, as well as various challenges that gamers of all playing styles can try out.
Another online play enhancement is Simultaneous Play, which basically lets four players play a hole at the same time. This improvement will definitely make golf rounds even faster, adding an element of frantic gameplay.
I think it is time to upgrade from Tiger Woods 07, dont’ you think? Do stay tuned to WiiGolf.net for more Wii golfing news!
Via: PAL Gaming Network
Filed by: MiiGolfer at May 5th, 2008 under News
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April 24, 2008
Finally! According Takahashi brothers the designers of We Love Golf (which we covered earlier this month) it is not realistic at all:
Acknowledging (at last!) that swinging a Wiimote doesn’t actually feel like swinging a golf club, the game drops the idea of emulating a “natural” swing, opting for a more precise system that allows you to set swing parameters with the remote and then simply match the timing and angle of an on-screen swing to hit the shot.
Interesting. Rather than try to make it realistic, they modified the mechanics instead and still keep the feel of a gold game. However the game is still pretty in-depth, and I would say something between Wii Golf (Wii Sports) and Tiger Woods PGA. Check out their full interview and explanation via EuroGamer.
Filed by: MiiGolfer at April 24th, 2008 under News
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April 11, 2008
For your Friday laughs, thanks Jerome!
Via: On the Green Comics
Filed by: MiiGolfer at April 11th, 2008 under WiiGolf Moments
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April 10, 2008
Yes we not finally have a full on golf simulator avaliable at an Arcade near you. Eh perhaps in Japan that is. Called Go Go Golf from Sega, this simulator works by:
By using a series of sensors, the game detects the angle and velocity of the ball and translates that into the virtual world that you see on the screen. In addition to standard golf long-driving practice mode, it also features several mini-game modes where the player tries to break different targets using the ball including floating colored panels, colored balloons, bingo and more.
The graphics look fantastic and the green environment very Immersive. I’m sure it will appeal to both serious and casual golfers everywhere!
Via: Arcade Heroes and images from Dengeki Online.
Filed by: MiiGolfer at April 10th, 2008 under News
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