Hi All
I have been reading all the negative comments about this Virtual Golf World we live in, and in particular comments on the new Bethpage Black course.
I'd just like to make the following comments on WGT and our Virtual Golf World.
1 - The VIRTUAL GOLF WORLD is so very, very much easier than the real golf world, and much, much cheaper!! There are very few if any players playing in this virtual golf world that could match their scores in the real world. Tibbets and Co are shootng low to mid 60's, to me even that is unrealistic. They could not possibly shoot those scores day in day out in the real world - impossible. So !! It is much much easier sat in front of our computers.
2 - WGT are a real company. Yes REAL. How do they survive? How do they pay their employees? Well I'll tell you one thing - its not with virtual money thats for sure. They are a real company and real companies survive by making real money. How do WGT make money? Well, I guess they make money mainly from their sponsors, but also from the money we players spend on club upgrades. Thats the way it is, and I for one dont have any problems with that. No - I am not a rich kid, I dont have a lot of money, but I can afford to buy the odd club. I bought the starter set + I have just bought a driver for $7.50 Thats it for me. I was made redundant a few years ago and am trying to retire and make ends meet in this very difficult world we live in right now. I wish it was virtual, it would be a lot easier :-) I guess if this game is too difficult for some, then you could try buying Tiger Woods 2009, or PGA 2009 - if they exist, but it will cost you $50 or $100 bucks - and you'll need to upgrade in 12 months. Pretty expensive to my way of thinking!!
3 - Winning !! How many players do we think could win a US Open or a Masters? Well I would think there would be an elite few - right?. The Tigers and a few others of the top players in the world. So it is in the virtual world. There will be an elite few who have the chance of winning at Bethpage Black. It will be the Tibbets and Co of our virtual world. Thats the reality. In the real world other players make up the numbers and hope they make the cut. I guess having made the cut they hope to string together a couple of outstanding rounds and hope they can finish top 10 or even maybe win with that round of a lifetime. So it is in the Virtual world. I will not win the Virtual US Open, I may not even make the cut, but I really dont mind - see, I play this game for the sheer challenge and enjoyment of it. I am playing against myself and the course. Simply trying to post better rounds with the hope of maybe making the cut. If I dont then I'm not good enough at the moment. One things for sure though - it wont be for lack of trying.
Also when coming from a world of entirely single player golf games, where difficulty can be set, the player can choose to BE Tiger Woods, etc... you may come to WGT hoping to "win" too, however as with all multiplayer games, and this could possibly be called a MMOG, you play against hundreds or thousands of people all hoping to win, playing their hardest. You have to put things in perspective and change your goals from winning, to things like making the cut or finishing in the top 100.
4 - Game problems. OK there are a few issues with the game play. Ok - I cant reach the fairways on BB either on a few holes, but thats cool. Yes the swing meter maybe has issues. The putting is not easy, the tiers are different now. We've all been bumped up a level, and that makes it all the more difficult to play - dont forget though, golf is not an easy game to play. It is still in BETA testing also, which means the game is not quite finished.
In closing I'd just like to say that what we have here is an incredible product. WGT have done an awesome job of putting (pardon the pun) this product on the market for us to play - and for free. OK it is only a game, and no its not perfect, but boy it is realistic and it is great fun - warts an all.
WGT need all the support they can get right now, so lets all get behind them and make this an even better place to be.
Sorry to those people who disagree, and there are many of you out there - but thats just my 2 bobs worth. Oh yeh - I dont work for WGT either, and am not getting paid to put this post up!!
Did I mention the game isn't finished (BETA) and its free? Course I did !!
Cheers Doug