WGT,
What is the benefit of changing the ball mid game? This is very negative for many reasons: 1) it changes the game mechanics - ball flight, landing, meter speed, etc - mid game, which you don't see coming at all, 2) it is not how real golf works, as you would at least get another ball of the same type and it would play the same way, and 3) it is of NO benefit to WGT as a business (that I can think of). I lost a major $100 match played with a friend because it switched my ball (ended the current ball), which hit differently and I hit it in the water on a hole that I KNEW I had hit a perfect shot. (8th hole on front side of Bethpage black 196y, with 8 mph wind, and hit my 205 yard club full distance and it hit the front at 175y and went in the water. I was going for 20 feet behind the front pin, since I was 2 up and know there is no way it would have gone in the water with the balls I normally use, as I have played it 300 times)
Please look into this. I now you have the 'play until end of game' code, cause the energy drinks have it and display a dialog that says 'hour up, but will last til end of game.' If a benefit to you, let me know, but I cannot think of one.
I think the balls running out, and getting people to buy more needs to be done more eloquently. You have no idea when you run out, and sometimes don't see you are playing with the regular white ball until the 3rd or 4th shot or even 2nd hole. Then its too late to start over. I would buy a lot more balls if this was done better. Let players know in a crystal clear way (huge dialog) when they are almost out or going to be out soon. In real golf I clearly know what I am hitting and if a new crappy white ball was on the ground in front of me.
BTW, I am a game designer myself and have done many console/web games in the past and am not the Director of Product Management at a virtual world/game company.
Thanks for listening!
Billy
profile: BBalder