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I thought I'd let you guys know why I've been so quiet.

I volunteered to help Wolverine Studios with their current game project. Its actually quite an interesting concept. It's a PureSim-type game but it's a Golf simulation. The game will be called "Total Pro Golf."

Gary Gorski, the game's lead developer, has released some pretty cool games in our genre (Total Pro Basketball, Total College Basketball) and I was delighted when he jumped at the chance to let me help out where I could. In fact I was thrilled when he accepted. Man, I'd kill for their artist, he has laid out a gorgeous user interface.

I have been re-implementing the animation of the on course ball-flight code over the last few days. It turned out really nice. I use true trajectories and physics (with a little inspiration from the PureSim ball flight code). I have to admit, it has been sort of relaxing to work on some Golf physics/animation code and be Baseball-free for a few days. Don't worry, it's a quick diversion

I think Wolverine is looking to release the game next Friday. so I encourage you to stop over at his web site and look around. They have come a LONG way since the beta demo and the game is really shaping up. I love the fact that it includes a course designer. I'm actually having a lot of fun with it right now.

Wolverine is a great bunch of guys, so stop by their site, pop in the forums and let him know that the PureSim crowd is interested

http://www.wolverinestudios.com


Back to the course. (Don't be mad at me ok? It helps with the burn out)

Good stuff Shaun!
 
The best way to get out of sports slump, or programming slump, IMO is to do something different. Theres that finite section of the brain that requires so much effort to get your "Arms around" something, that when do something different, can open up new doors (synapses?)

To be honest, I don't think I'd be too interested in this, but my Dad, who's now 72 but more physically active than his 49-year old son [:(],  is an avid golfer, and he has played a few PC golf games.   I'll let him know about it.  [;)] 

Im not a golfer by any means, but Ive been reading up on TPG and it sounds interesting. I actually downloaded the demo before I realized that I wouldnt be able to really try out an of the career aspects of the game, which is what Id be interested in. Maybe Ill buy it. Dunno.

ORIGINAL: puresimmer
Gary Gorski, the game's lead developer, has released some pretty cool games in our genre (Total Pro Basketball, Total College Basketball) and I was delighted when he jumped at the chance to let me help out where I could. In fact I was thrilled when he accepted. Man, I'd kill for their artist, he has laid out a gorgeous user interface.

Well, at least you know what to ask for if he ever wants to repay the favor. [:)]

ORIGINAL: Nukester

Im not a golfer by any means, but Ive been reading up on TPG and it sounds interesting. I actually downloaded the demo before I realized that I wouldnt be able to really try out an of the career aspects of the game, which is what Id be interested in. Maybe Ill buy it. Dunno.

The second demo, coming out soon after the commercial release is supposed to cover some of the career aspects of the game. Looking forward to that as well.

Yeah, I've been following this game since Gary moved and created the new company. I'm probably going to buy the game soon, so it's good to know that I'll be supporting, at least indirectly, Shaun again.

And I second the fact that it is good for you to be able to do something other than PureSim, if only for a few days.

Sold [:)]

Pfff .. I bought that Total Pro Basketball game last year. It was completely awful. FastBreak blew it away and it was already three years old. It was obtuse and the outcomes were simply ludicrous.
 
Then we have the whole "Wolverine" studios.
 
Have fun selling that in Ohio.
 
Marketing genius there.
 
 

JB44 Did you ever say anything to anyone at GDS about your thoughts and concerns? Thousands have bought TPB and TCB and complaints have been few.
"Then we have the whole "Wolverine" studios.

Have fun selling that in Ohio.

Marketing genius there. "
 
Actually quite a bit of interest from Ohio and other states has come to Wolverine Studios. Not sure what your point is? Gary is a proud graduate of University of Michigan an dnothing wrong with showing the love and besides he's in Michigan. If people won't buy a product based on a persons alma mater then I doubt they were actually a customer in the first place.
Besides you understand a wolverine is an animal right?
 

 

I'm a big fan of Gary's - and delighted to hear that Shaun is helping him out.  I've talked with Gary quite a bit since he left GDS and even though I was a little skeptical about what my interest level would be in the golf game, I'm quite impressed by it and so far am finding it far more entertaining that I thought I would.
 
(And I consider Gary's college game to be my second-favorite sports sim out there.  It is a very classy piece of work!)
 
And as a long-time survivor in the indie-development world, I believe that more collaboration and creative ways of working together is good for all of us! 

I bought Total Pro Football, really enjoyed it, but thought the support was garbage.  And they did nothing to really build much of a community.  

ORIGINAL: SittingDuck

I bought Total Pro Football, really enjoyed it, but thought the support was garbage.  And they did nothing to really build much of a community.  

Total Pro Football has nothing to do with Wolverine or Gary.

ORIGINAL: JB44

Pfff .. I bought that Total Pro Basketball game last year. It was completely awful. FastBreak blew it away and it was already three years old. It was obtuse and the outcomes were simply ludicrous.

Then we have the whole "Wolverine" studios.

Have fun selling that in Ohio.

Marketing genius there.

I'm sorry you feel that way.

ORIGINAL: puresimmer
Total Pro Football has nothing to do with Wolverine or Gary.

Eh, an oblique comment, then. Well, that's good (that they aren't related). Lord knows while the original engineered package is important, if a community is not built to foster play, modifications and feedback/patching, it's pretty much worthless in today's marketplace.


Here I thought a Wolverine was a superhero figure. Are you sure you aren't thinking of a badger? [;)]

ORIGINAL: puresimmer

I thought I'd let you guys know why I've been so quiet.

I volunteered to help Wolverine Studios with their current game project. Its actually quite an interesting concept. It's a PureSim-type game but it's a Golf simulation. The game will be called "Total Pro Golf."

Seems like I had this idea two years ago?? Anyway, I downloaded the demo when it first came out and I was completely disappointed. Gary would have to add a lot of new stuff to turn me on. BTW, I like his interfaces.

Where (IMO) he screwed up was not making it more like PGA's TOURCast. During a tournament you should be able to click on any hole (via a course overhead) and join any group in-progress. What I saw was one group (yours) and one group only, and maybe a scoreboard in the background. I don't see the fun in that. I myself will stick to TOURCast -- which is fun! I think they won an Emmy if I'm not mistaken.

Plus, it should play a TOURCast, realistic speed (or maybe you should be able to adjust it). Now the AI plays in turbo speed and you really have very little to do.

Anyway, I'll try the final demo. Maybe he'll surprise me. However, I'm convinced that a "text PGA type golf" sim should have been more "macro" in tournament design.

ORIGINAL: SittingDuck


Here I thought a Wolverine was a superhero figure. Are you sure you aren't thinking of a badger? [;)]

ORIGINAL: SittingDuck
Here I thought a Wolverine was a superhero figure. Are you sure you aren't thinking of a badger? [;)]

So all this time you've thought that the University of Michigan Wolverines were named after the comic book superhero???

A Michigan man would tell you they're all superheros. (laughing)

ORIGINAL: PadresFan104

So all this time you've thought that the University of Michigan Wolverines were named after the comic book superhero???

And you think I was serious, don't you?