HB puts online lobby on back burner

[Maverick]

http://www.hb-studios.com/forum/index.php?topic=9042.0

[HWoods]

The polite word for this is: Garbage. E6 is now an option for me.

Edit: Lets all post in that HB thread and show them that us SiM people need a lobby.

[Bubba22]

Sounds like it will be coming but not till summer so ready for next year. Hopefully they improve the drops, mini map, short keyboard options etc.

[4 Degrees Flat]

The polite word for this is: Garbage. E6 is now an option for me.

Edit: Lets all post in that HB thread and show them that us SiM people need a lobby.

Sorry for not being more "informed"... but can someone explain to me what a lobby would be used for and why it's such a bad thing to not have one? I'm obviously not educated on this subject because I can't figure out why it's important.

[HWoods]

Sorry for not being more "informed"... but can someone explain to me what a lobby would be used for and why it's such a bad thing to not have one? I'm obviously not educated on this subject because I can't figure out why it's important.

No worries man. The first reason is the way they do multiplayer. Right now it appears to be some form of peer to peer networking where each player connects to all other players individually. I'm not sure what they are doing but it appears they aren't doing proper packet drop verification and games get out of hand quickly for people with slowler connections. Loss of sync is basically a given every single game and it's a nightmare to 'resynch. Server/Client is usually the way to go - it eliminates those problems. They could fix it the way it is now and implement proper coding to eliminate problems but I bet it would be a nightmare. I'm not a networking guy tho.

Second reason for me is simply options. We can't 'host' a game and start on any hole but #1, we can't set greens, flags or common settings, we cant set tees. Basically, we can't set anything at all. All these things are multiplayer type options that can be configured into a lobby.

[Richard_Askren]

...Second reason for me is simply options. We can't 'host' a game and start on any hole but #1, we can't set greens, flags or common settings, we cant set tees. Basically, we can't set anything at all. All these things are multiplayer type options that can be configured into a lobby.

Still boggles my mind these options weren't built into the base game. I remember first loading up TGC in beta before the sim version and being a little taken aback by the lack of those options. Pretty much all golf games in the last 20+ years have had them as default. I looked past it though since I never thought I'd be playing it on a simulator and I was glad to finally have a new golf game on PC. Now the lack of those options really frustrates me. I tried for a few days having my customers use TGC. The younger and middle age guys were ok with it. But the lack of switching tees really hurt my more elderly customers and women. I'm back to using PP for now and also looking forward to E6 Cloud.

[goatbarn]

Yes, Hogan, good write up on why lobbies are important.

It's really the only way to handle this type of thing. That sucks...

[goatbarn]

But I will say, I agree with their mantra of eliminating all waiting when playing online with others. I HATE waiting.

Simultaneous play with a lobby would be my preference. I understand why the league is run turn based, but I would love to play in a league that has simultaneous play.

I'd be able to play 2x-3x as fast without waiting on others, and so would everyone else.

[Maverick]

Me and two other guys(maybe hogan and cart?) played asyncronous online one time. We finished in record time but it was too fast for me. It was like hitting shots after shots on the range. I like turn based because its more like golfing with friends and has the added pressure of performing in front of your friends.

If HB adds the lobby, the delay will be cut down dramatically. Then it will be back to playing ready golf. When I see a player taking too to hit a shot, I will tell them to speed up. A lot of times, people don't know they are playing slow.

[Richard_Askren]

I agree about asynchronous play. It mostly feels like you're golfing by yourself. I like taking turns, too, so that you know you're not playing alone. I like being able to watch my playing partner's shots, too, without worrying about hitting my shot right away.

[Craig118]

Still boggles my mind these options weren't built into the base game. I remember first loading up TGC in beta before the sim version and being a little taken aback by the lack of those options. Pretty much all golf games in the last 20+ years have had them as default. I looked past it though since I never thought I'd be playing it on a simulator and I was glad to finally have a new golf game on PC. Now the lack of those options really frustrates me. I tried for a few days having my customers use TGC. The younger and middle age guys were ok with it. But the lack of switching tees really hurt my more elderly customers and women. I'm back to using PP for now and also looking forward to E6 Cloud.

Remember the simulator version is low priority to HB, they have stated many times on the HB web site forums that they feel "multi-player is only used by 10% of all gamers". However, those 10% are not representative of those of us who play on simulators. I think golf simulator users % would be up around 60-70% online multiplayer . Unfortunately the simulator version is just an afterthought for TGC, their focus is on the platforms and PC game. We will not see a lobby until those systems receive it....Sad.

[HWoods]

Remember the simulator version is low priority to HB, they have stated many times on the HB web site forums that they feel "multi-player is only used by 10% of all gamers". However, those 10% are not representative of those of us who play on simulators. I think golf simulator users % would be up around 60-70% online multiplayer . Unfortunately the simulator version is just an afterthought for TGC, their focus is on the platforms and PC game. We will not see a lobby until those systems receive it....Sad.

I understand their point of view. It makes sense if the 10% figure is accurate and I'd do the same thing if I were them. That said, we aren't them and we want what we need, which is a lobby! It's too bad because a year from now there's no way they put money into R&D for a lobby if the game isn't selling so it looks to me like it will never happen.

[Craig118]

I understand their point of view. It makes sense if the 10% figure is accurate and I'd do the same thing if I were them. That said, we aren't them and we want what we need, which is a lobby! It's too bad because a year from now there's no way they put money into R&D for a lobby if the game isn't selling so it looks to me like it will never happen.

Sounds like we also will probably never get a real practice mode for the simulator ....or mini map functionality... or club selection in our bag.. or multiple tee options

[Throttle]

How do we confirm the actual roadmap? Anyone know some names they can call over at HB or who to email?

[Js1010]

Found this about practice mode

http://www.hb-studios.com/forum/index.php?topic=8949.0

Found this thread on gps or improved overhead map

http://www.hb-studios.com/forum/index.php?topic=8960.0

Hopefully we will get these two items-