Boomerboy44:What I don't understand is why people think Wgt has it in for them..I have know idea how many players there are on WGT now but it has to be in the 10's of thousands. Do people really believe Wgt picks them out of the thousands to punish for some reason? To what purpose ????
Boomer, they don't need to pick you out of the 10s of thousands if they do it automatically in the software. Have you ever read the Automatically Adapting Virtual Equipment Model patent granted to WGT? IF they have implemented it, even in part, they could be adapting the shot results (they mention sweet spot adjustment for example in the patent) based on a player's demonstrated increased/decreased skill level during a game.
Auto Adapting VEM Patent:
Abstract
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for
determining a user skill level for user interaction with virtual
equipment in an interactive computer game. The virtual equipment is
capable of being manipulated through user interaction with an associated
representation. Automatically adapting a virtual equipment model
associated with the virtual equipment to reflect the determined user
skill level. The virtual equipment model governs how the virtual
equipment behaves in response to user interaction with the
representation.
Here is what the patent claims
Auto Adapting VEM Patent:
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving user input
directed to manipulation of virtual equipment in an interactive computer
game, the virtual equipment being
manipulated through the user's interaction with an associated
representation; determining a change in a user's skill level for
interaction with the virtual equipment in response to the received user
input; and adapting a virtual equipment model having
one or more variables associated with the virtual equipment to reflect
the determined change in user skill level, the virtual equipment model
governing how the virtual equipment behaves in response to the user's
interaction with the representation, and
where the adapting comprises: if the change indicates that the user's
skill level has increased, decreasing a sweet spot for a variable of the
virtual equipment model; and if the change indicates that the user's
skill level has decreased, increasing the
sweet spot for the variable of the virtual equipment model, where the
sweet spot is an area of a curve for the variable where the area is
based on a degree of deviation from an ideal value for the variable.
In a nutshell, if the game detects you are getting worse, they make it easier. If the game detects you are getting better, they make it harder.
For example, I recently was on the verge of scoring under the cut line at Congressional after weeks of trying every day. I was -10 in the fairway at #18, 224 to the pin, 5mph gentle wind right to left. I aimed safely well right of the pin at the center of the green. I used my trusty hybrid which I have hit on the green dozens of time from that fairway, never once in the water. I dinged the shot and the ball flew left off the rough into the water. I did everything correctly. Aimed safe. Correct club. Dinged shot. Ball in the water! I was crushed.
Was I VEMed? I was dinging everything, hitting fairways, hitting close, making putts. For me, -10 was great. 3 or 4 shots better than prior scores. Out of nowhere, perfect shot=ball in the water. Makes me go hmmmm.