TGC 2019 on Skytrak

[Moz]

If it was only TGC 2019 then I wouldn’t have been as disgruntled. I’m frankly perturbed due to the rope a dope tactics with the previous conversations around TGC 2 and then TGC 2019. For the mass majority that joined in the last 14 months they may not be fully aware of the commitments that were made in 2017. We had the TGC software only for 10 months before the talk of upgrading platforms occurred.

https://golfsimulatorforum.com/forum/golf-simulator-brands-and-types/the-golf-club/113669-buy-tgc-on-sale-now-or-wait-for-tgc2

This has been a very long saga and frankly a complete cluster.

[SZ]

I wasn’t part of the tgc2 saga, but I can imagine how those folks feel. And I agree, the roll out could have been much smoother, and they wouldn’t be dealing with as many disappointed customers.

[Scyukon]

I think if Protee wants to avoid a similar fiasco next time around, perhaps they need to adopt a different pricing lease strategy. I know with my skytrak I always have to pay the 100 yearly fee, on top of what I shelled out to buy the unit to begin with. This seems to keep skytrak afloat.

I wonder if a similar pricing structure would keep Protee comfortably fed? As in if you bite the bullet and purchase a lifetime licence, then from then on you pay a 100 yearly fee but you would be eligible for automatic upgrades when and if new versions of TGC arrive. To me that would seem a much smoother income stream for Protee and also perhaps avoid much of the bruised feelings which have arisen this time around.

They could still keep the pure yearly lease option available for those that don’t purchase the lifetime license, but to me this would show a lot more warmth towards their “loyal” customers who shell out for a license and commit to their software.

[penrose]

I am guessing Gresh12 you also ask what the monthly cost is when you buy a car. From my viewpoint Protee did nothing wrong..they gave out free software and getting blamed for it. I am guessing the folks complaining are in the age range of 22-35. OK...let go back and have some fun hitting golf balls.

[Moz]

22-35 LOL. Fascinating perspective. Perhaps you should get the facts before making such ignorant comments. Read back from 2017 onwards and you can see how those that purchased back in 2017 were talking about the same features available today would be available in TGC2. That was only 10 months after it was released for skytrak. Get the facts..

[Gresh12]

Of course I would ask what the monthly cost of a car is. Then I would compare that to the total cost of buying it outright and the loss I’d take when/if I upgrade. Some things are better as leases than ownership depending on the pricing option under each scenario, how long they will last and whether you will want to upgrade when the new model comes out.

For the record I own both my cars as I don’t feel the need to upgrade them every couple years. Software gets upgraded to the new version though.

[rjd1975]

Ok played 6 holes absolutely loving it! great spin rates excellent physics bar far the best game ever. Then, I lost connection and now I get this error and cannot play any longer, anyone know WTF!!! this means I have tried everything and why did I play 6 holes it seemed to be fine then.

I had the same error. I had to re-enter my license key. After that it has worked great. Been about a week of no issues.

[HTTR]

So you reward users who purchased TGC from 2018 on, yet the users who purchased TGC years before do not get the free upgrade? I don't understand the logic there, we have been around longer, and as a result are being told we need to shell out more cash while newer users don't? It makes no sense, we paid the same amount if not maybe even more (not sure if any discounts/promotions have been given out since).

[Gresh12]

If they wanted to sell any copies of TGC in 2018 (after people knew a new version was imminent) they had to promise an upgrade which they did so those are guaranteed. Shutting off revenue for a year (or more with the TGC2 false start) isn’t palatable for a business.

We can debate whether they have made the right choices in terms of free upgrades for pre-2018 and I won’t get in to that as everyone will have their own view but I’m not sure the logic of I paid in earlier holds here. We both paid roughly $1000 one time fee (unless it cost way more many years ago and then I’ll stand down) but I’ve used it for 6 month and someone else used it for 5 years I’d ask who got more value. The duration argument holds if its a recurring payment of $500 annually and the longer user paid 5x as much.

[Fhacker]

I agree the tgc2 start/stop put Protee in a bind which was basically HB's cause not Protee. I purchased in early 18 on the premise a TGC2 upgrade was coming. Never happened as HB got the PGA affiliation and then they announced a new 19 version. So Protee basically had to wait a year till HB released 19 before they could port to sim. Protee had to promise upgrades to 18 purchases to keep revenues flowing. Then prior purchasers wanted upgrade also. Tough situation for Protee which was really out of their control.

[trhuke]

You got "x" years of play out of your initial purchase. Now there is a newer version. The people that bought in the last year got substantially less play out of their initial purchase, I think that is also why there is a bit of upgrade wiggle room for people who bought before 2018 but not months or years before. If they do't have a revenue stream they'll go under and we'll all be out of luck.

[Thebenross]

So just chatted with Skytrak support and was told that if you purchased and registered after January 1, 2018 that you should receive an email with upgrade instructions by next week sometime. This is the most information they have given up to this point, so hopefully it's getting close.

[GmanJeff]

So you reward users who purchased TGC from 2018 on, yet the users who purchased TGC years before do not get the free upgrade? I don't understand the logic there, we have been around longer, and as a result are being told we need to shell out more cash while newer users don't? It makes no sense, we paid the same amount if not maybe even more (not sure if any discounts/promotions have been given out since).

I suspect few who bought prior to 2018 will reinvest in a newer version. The initial cost was just too high and the improvements for 2019 too incremental rather than transformational, even if such buyers had more than one year of use from the product. Pre-2018 buyers will just keep using their perpetual license for the product they own, and likely will be disgruntled at the perception that some buyers of the same product were upgraded based on an arbitrary purchase date (why 2018 buyers and not buyers whop purchased on December 31, 2017, for example?). Consequently upgrading those earlier buyers to promote customer goodwill likely would not be at the expense of additional sales of the 2019 product.

[Gresh12]

Time will tell. I’d be tempted to argue most will upgrade eventually. Obviously talking different orders of magnitude but Madden sells the same game every year with updated players to the same people for decades at a time. Very few people I’ve ever known skip three then by one and repeat for example.

Sure a $60 video game is not an $800 sim purchase but golf is expensive and most of the people playing TGC already have thousands “invested” and pay hundreds for new clubs and rounds of real golf etc. I cringed when I bought TGC at the price then realized it was only the cost of 5-8 real rounds in the summer at a nice course.

I also think the LIDAR course creation is a total game changer. I haven’t experienced first hand but getting awesome recreation (I’m setup to do one of my local courses once I have the software) will draw people to upgrade. Now I appreciate the LIDAR tools are built by a user not Protee but I don’t think the same opportunity exists to do that under original TGC based on my limited understanding on how it works.

[Scyukon]

I think GmanJeff has it right about most pre 2018 players being disgruntled. Yes we all have thousands invested in our system, and the cost of an upgrade will be in the order of 4 to 8 rounds depending on your version of a quality golf course. So I think it is going to be more of a principle thing for the pre 2018 crowd. Pay 522 US now, then in two or three years likely be in the same position again with TGC22. Except this time the post 2018 crowd will be in the same boat as the pre 2018 crowd, but with their eyes wide open hopefully.

Personally I don’t think I’m going to follow that path. I think I will either just keep my original system, or perhaps look into selling it for a discount, now that it is devalued, and check out other options.

As I mentioned in a previous post I don’t mind the model of a certain upfront cost followed by a reasonable yearly lease. Psychologically shelling out 100 per year like for skytrak does not bother me. Shelling out 522 US for maybe two or three years, after shelling out 1000 US three years ago just makes me want to explore other options.

[Wizard of Coz]

I will continue to play tgc sim tour but honestly I just play tgc2019 on my own time and don't touch tgc except for the tour. I think the improvements are more than incremental. I would have waited til 2019 to buy it but they offered up if you buy tgc you will get 2019 and have both so I pulled the trigger on it at the end of 2018. I think that was the incentive to not wait. ??

[CBDBOZ]

So just chatted with Skytrak support and was told that if you purchased and registered after January 1, 2018 that you should receive an email with upgrade instructions by next week sometime. This is the most information they have given up to this point, so hopefully it's getting close.

Any mention for all the rest of us who bought the lifetime license in 2017???

[DiscWiz]

Chatted with SkyTrack this morning. I didn't get any information on upgrades other than they expect emails to go out this week.

[calebm1001]

I'm going to break my refresh button over the next few days then.

[Thanakorn Kuawong]

Finally, the waiting time is over.... (official on skytrak website)

[Thebenross]

Any 2018/2019 purchasers of TGC received a free upgrade email yet?

[Clipless]

I was a bit slow

[DiscWiz]

Just chatted with SkyTrak and they confirmed I would be getting an email with a free upgrade. I purchased my TPC license in December 2018.

[Randwik]

Just chatted with SkyTrak and they confirmed I would be getting an email with a free upgrade. I purchased my TPC license in December 2018.

Me too, this for this week

[Teddy Dunn]

Wow - So nice to see it "officially" on their website. So now that TGC 19 can be purchased I assume immediately download for use, hopefully the people waiting for their upgrade will get an email before too long.

[Lgnir]

If anyone here does not qualify for the free upgrade, SkyTrak is offering TGC 2019 upgrade for $395.

[Rockstar1974]

I can't remember if that is the same as the pre-order price?

[Schmohawk]

What are the stipulations to get the free upgrade? I got the upgrade for $395 offer.