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The Premier of "Shot Makers"

• Wutpa 4,803 Posts

  Tue, Apr 10 2018 11:00 AM

  Luckystar5:

  I almost 100% convinced, that the BIG change will be that game for everyone to experience.  Top golf now calls the shots, why wouldn't they want that stupid game, to be the highlight on here?  

  I'm not convinced. I doubt very much that introducing such a comedy golf format to the PC game is something that would make Icon "def have a smile", not when he seems to love this game as much or more than so many of us.

  I think the introduction of the Tour Champion tier is much more likely, but I'm sure they are well aware of the echoing howls of derision they would get if the TG format was the big announcement. 

  I saw the trailer for 'Shot Makers' and that was more than enough for me to avoid the actual program. There are better and more entertaining vids on YouTube of people playing trick shots if that's what I want, and I don't.

• Luckystar5 1,641 Posts

  Tue, Apr 10 2018 11:19 AM

  Wutpa:

  Luckystar5:

  I almost 100% convinced, that the BIG change will be that game for everyone to experience.  Top golf now calls the shots, why wouldn't they want that stupid game, to be the highlight on here?  

  I'm not convinced. I doubt very much that introducing such a comedy golf format to the PC game is something that would make Icon "def have a smile", not when he seems to love this game as much or more than so many of us.

  I think the introduction of the Tour Champion tier is much more likely, but I'm sure they are well aware of the echoing howls of derision they would get if the TG format was the big announcement. 

  I saw the trailer for 'Shot Makers' and that was more than enough for me to avoid the actual program. There are better and more entertaining vids on YouTube of people playing trick shots if that's what I want, and I don't.

  I hope your right, for all our sakes. But as far as icons smile, maybe he's just laughing his butt off,  at how ridiculous the target game would be? Please don't get me wrong, I don't want it, and wish it wasn't on the mobile version.  I, too, love this game, and would hate to see its demise. 

• Lute345 2,483 Posts

  Wed, Apr 11 2018 4:24 AM

  I appreciate all of your comments Gentlemen. You all have brought a different prospective to this debate. And I couldn't agree more with those comments made by HackWilson. But need I also remind all of you of an old saying, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you".

  When the World Golf Tour was first conceived back some 10 to 12 years ago, it was all the rage. People flocked to it, making WGT one of the hottest, and still is, the best on line virtual golf games on this planet!! It made the original owners a ton of money. Then when MisterWGT sold out to TopGolf, things began to change for us. TopGolf had a source of income to "invest" in outside interests. So wouldn't you think they'd want to keep their "Cash Cow" going?? And keep those who have spent money on it happy too?? I think it's called Good Business Sense!!

  Then they introduced the Mobile version of WGT Golf, which at first was a big hit. It's my personal opinion that they were trying to "target", play on words, the "Millennials" who use their phones and iPads for everything. But then they went too far with all the 'Gimmicks" in my opinion, which turned people off.

  I also believe that the PC side is more suited for us "Dinosaurs", folks who are close to or have already retired. When I belonged to a larger CC, I took a survey of the membership there and was quite surprised to find out most of it's members were in the 50 and older age group. Some were even in their 70's!! I had also included a question, why are you playing WGT Golf? And the majority of responses were, because we can't play real golf like we once were able to and this game is the closest we can come to it.

  Bottom line, in my personal opinion, TopGolf needs to listen to it's "veteran players" to help recapture it's place as the Best Virtual Reality Golf Game again. They need to build on the success it's had in the past and continue to grow the game, not kill it. With the advent of drone technology and High Def cameras, how much would it really cost to film a new course and present it to us versus the old way of doing things?

  I'd love to see more European courses presented to us in the future. I would think they would be overjoyed to have them showcased to such a large group of people here on WGT. And I don't think advertising would be a problem. But that's just my opinion.

  I'd love to hear what others think, I'd really like to hear from more of you as well on this subject. Maybe we can catch the attention of the WGT Moderators, which in turn could help with suggestions for them to present to their Management people. We can only hope.

  Lute

• Wutpa 4,803 Posts

  Wed, Apr 11 2018 10:26 AM

  You make some good points Lute, but there are two linked problems regarding adding any new courses as far as I can see. (Lots more than that in all likelihood but I'm only talking about two here.)

  The first is that it has to be a course of decent length and difficulty. There are hundreds, probably thousands of excellent and challenging courses all over the world, but with the equipment available on WGT and the skill levels of the top players any non-championship course that was added would get ripped to shreds within minutes of release. hell, that already happened with Erin Hills and Pebble Beach before that.

  And therein also lies the second problem. Which prestigious club would want to see their course added here just to have hundreds of players make it look easy by shooting scores in the mid-50s? Certainly not the likes of Augusta, nor Shinnecock Hills or any other club that is exclusive and maintains its traditions and reputation with steely, snake-eyed resolve.

  And really, outside of any binding agreement between the USGA and WGT, what's in it for any club? Not much I would suggest.

  I want more courses. I would love lots more courses. But think WGT is such a particular kind of animal with its photo-realistic digitising of courses that it has painted itself into a corner now.

  And TG doesn't seem interested in rescuing it. Everything it does seems to be about directing money and attention to its real world facilities. It sucked in the WGT software to incorporate there, it has refocussed the mobile version to add more TG elements and the 'Shot Makers' show is practically an extended ad for their facilities and type of play.

  WGT is just fuel for the TG golfing experience, and little more than that. They bought it to boost their own business not to invest, improve and expand it. That makes corporate sense I guess but it makes for a dismal outlook for the PC player in particular.

• Lute345 2,483 Posts

  Wed, Apr 11 2018 12:12 PM

  Can't say as I disagree with any of the points you have brought up Wutpa. They all make total sense business-wise. But I find it hard to believe that TopGolf would turn their backs on their "Cash Cow" without at least throwing us a bone. Not that they're going to add any new courses mind you, but possibly even new pin placements would be considered a major improvement wouldn't you agree?

  I can't recall which of the "regular" contributors to the forums wrote it, but I think we can all agree that player ship on both levels, be it PC or Mobile, is in decline as of late, but I attribute that to TopGolf's refusal to fix glitches or add something that will make this game great again. And I'm not talking about the silly things they added to the "Clash" either.

  Maybe I'm just being too hopeful that WGT can regain some of the luster it once had several years ago. I still think there are thousands who are playing WGT religiously. I've "glanced" at what else there is to offer in virtual golf games and it's not at all what I'm looking for to replace WGT Golf. Because there isn't anything that even comes reasonably close to matching the graphics and feel of real life golf that WGT has to offer in my opinion.

  I think it would be a fatal mistake on TopGolf's part to simply let WGT go down the drain. That to me at least, would not make very good business sense.

  I appreciate those who have spoken up on this subject and for taking the time to read what I've had to say. Thank you.

  Lute