I've noticed a lot of debate over the past few Betas about the level of challenge in TWO. Many players seem to feel as though the game is simply too easy (and some of the lowest scores seem to validate that).

So my question to you all is what do you think we can do as developers to make the game more challenging, avoid the crazy low-scores and yet still make it fun and competitive? This is something we've been struggling with because we want a game that is fun and easy to pick up and play, but yet provides an increasing level of challenge the more you play it.

Thoughts?

For 3 click definitly speed up the meter and make the bottom/snap line smaller. Take away the putt preview on higher levels along with removing the putting grid on tour pro mode. Limit or remove the numer of restarts.

junglejym

As you reach certain levels you are not able to play at lower levels, as you get better there needs to be less aids, as in no putting grid, having to choose what club to use, a 3 click meter with no distance aids, a 100% shot is all the way and go back from there and learn how to control distance. A lot of those were present in previous TW series but I don't want another TW08. I'm sure others will chime in with more so keep listening that is what we want and need to make this a great product.

Thought you would never ask Greg!

1. Mis-hit tuning/Tempo - there needs to be some tweaking of the mis-hit tuning and tempo on TrueSwing. It is currently too easy to hit "Perfect" on swing tempo as it seems impossible to swing "too fast" This would make the user concentrate on getting his tempo to be between "too fast" or "fast"and "too slo" or "slow". I thought TW08 had this nailed because if you pushed the mouse back and foward too fast or too slow, there was a distance penalty of some kind. I can see this with slow or too slow in this TS, but I never see fast or too fast tempo.

One other aspect of TS that I believe would tighten up the difficulty. Previous TrueSwing versions had "impact" and "club path" calculations that had an impact on shot results that are not apparent in this version.

2. Added camera functionality - TW08 gave us a number of user camera angles of which there are only 3 in TWO. If we had at least the same #4 Camera from TW08 (behind the pin) we could then have TOUR Pro be a difficulty where there are no grids on the green. This makes putting FAR more challenging and introduces the "chance" that you misread the green just like IRL. IOW, the grid gives the experienced user far too much information, IMO.

3. Cup Physics - Cup physics have improved dramatically over the betas. This beta is the best yet. Seeing more lipouts than before. That being said, I still find some putts that are moving pretty quickly seem to still find their way in the cup when it appears they should have lipped out. This is especially the case on putts that are moving left to right or right to left approaching the cup and cross the front lip of the cup, but still somehow go in even though the ball appears to be moving too fast to drop.

Where I really see a need for improvement is with straight in putts when the ball is moving too fast, yet it still goes in the cup when you expect it to go on over the top of the cup and either pop up on the back end of the cup and bounce away.

4. Winds - TW08 had some variability in wind speeds on a per-hole basis. This means the wind was not completely constant during play of the hole. This would go a long way towards introducing challenge to the game by making the user guess when the wind is in his favor for his particular shot setup.

This is all that was on the top of my mind as of right now...I am sure others will chime in with some of their ideas.

Thank you for asking!

Tim

I like the current 3 click meter speed, but it is too easy to hit the sweet spots, what we need is a faster meter during higher levels of play, as well all levels of play should have a meter that varies in speed based on the club you select, faster speed on irons etc...

This way it is more challenging to remember meter speed on all the different clubs....

Like Tim mentioned, the hole phsyics need to be a little tougher.

Wind variation after the shot is in the air, like in real life, although this has to be not too unrealistic, this should also reduce the low scores...

And lastly... a Beer cart on hole #9, after 5 beers you just plain play bad

I have to agree with Tim with regard to the ease of hitting straight with TS......... this absolutely needs to become more difficult. Also,,,,,,,,, get rid of the little flag on the 3-clk meter.......... that's just pure Arcade!

Guys, if you really want to know what PC players really want, sign up over at the PGAX tour ( www.pgax.com) in the 08 game. I guarantee it will be an eye-opener for the devs. Additionally, I would wager that ( a great many of the higher-ranked) console players would appreciate a game that plays more like the real thing as an option............

Yes, levels so to speak. So when you choose a certain level, you will know what your dealing with, easy as pie, or tough as nails, and in between too. All the bells and whistles, some of them, or pure golf as it should be!!!
I'm sure others will chime in too.. And please get rid of that pin marker, I wanna see the flag...

Since I haven't been invited back for Closed Beta 4, I'm afraid I can't give you any feedback at this time.

variability in wind speeds ie. 2-6mph,7-14mph ect while, you are setting up your shot,no putt previews,no putting grids,3 click overswing area over 100%,make the white areas left and right of the snap point on the 3 click meter draw and fade area`s and take the "to the pin" mark off the swing meter.

Establish four levels of play, tied to average score:

HACK - Avg Score above 101 - with the putting grid, putt preview, 3 Click swing aids, Club distances, Caddy, etc.

AMATEUR - Avg Score between 100 and 80 - with putting grid, with swings aids, Caddy, Club distances, but NO putt preview.

PRO - Avg score between 79 and 60 - with optional putting grid, Caddy and club distances, but no other aids.

TOUR PRO - Avg score below 60 - No grid, no Caddy, no aids.

Once you move up a level there is no going back, regardless of score. Tournaments, and Match Play to be restricted by level. Games between "friends/followers" would be unrestricted as to level.

cem_ea_id.Crusty56 wrote:Establish four levels of play, tied to average score:

HACK - Avg Score above 101 - with the putting grid, putt preview, 3 Click swing aids, Club distances, Caddy, etc.

AMATEUR - Avg Score between 100 and 80 - with putting grid, with swings aids, Caddy, Club distances, but NO putt preview.

PRO - Avg score between 79 and 60 - with optional putting grid, Caddy and club distances, but no other aids.

TOUR PRO - Avg score below 60 - No grid, no Caddy, no aids.

Once you move up a level there is no going back, regardless of score. Tournaments, and Match Play to be restricted by level. Games between "friends/followers" would be unrestricted as to level.

If it's like this, too many people will endlessly be bouncing between tour pro and pro. No grid is pretty harsh, just make the swing a lot more difficult in tour pro and make the grid optional.

Something simple as eliminating Putt Preview would drop scores dramatically.

It would give an advantage to those who read the greens as opposed to read a line thats set up for a 1-putt.

Some folks would still go low, but they're numbers would drop as would the number of people who go uber low on the scores.

Or make so there is no putt preview in tournaments. Folks could still play their rounds normally with it, but not in the tournaments.

My issue / concern with making the TS or 3-click harder is simply losing players. If the learning curve is to steep for this you simply wont retain players (ie - paying customers) very long.

The economics of needing to bring in the masses probably and needing to tamp down the scores of the top 10% of the players dont necessarily go hand in hand unfortunately. Obviously striking that balance is key.

I dont know that'd Id go overboard one way or the other though. The ability to never truly contend in most the tournaments however (I usually go 8-12 under) regardless of difficulty levels is frustrating. Maybe tweaking the ratings system? Making more tournaments available daily, but making it so those of a higher skill level COULDNT play in the lower ones. Just thoughts though. Adding 'beginner' was a good start --- hopefully not an end to the tweaking with that.

cem_ea_id.BPSkelly wrote:My issue / concern with making the TS or 3-click harder is simply losing players. If the learning curve is to steep for this you simply wont retain players (ie - paying customers) very long.

The economics of needing to bring in the masses probably and needing to tamp down the scores of the top 10% of the players dont necessarily go hand in hand unfortunately. Obviously striking that balance is key.

Why not? EA has done this before in previous TW PC versions. Hence why there are 3-4 difficulty levels. Players will gravitate to a level they are comfortable with and if they are competitive in nature, they will learn the intricacies of playing the game and make themselves better players. Can't see how that leaves any of the "masses" out as customers....

Right On Tim!

If this is all the game has to offer challenge wise, then it's not worth paying for....