Simulation Partner Update

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Hey Everyone. I'm working on about 3 hours of sleep so bear with me here I want to address the most glaring point of frustration on the forum (as far as I can tell, at least). It has to do with our simulation partners. I know it's been terribly exasperating for all involved. There has certainly been no secret plan to hold anything back, so let me explain where we are.

First I'll start with WGT - I think overall, for what it is intended to be, WGT has been a great success. There are 2 things to keep in mind here: 1) WGT was never intended to be a full 3D simulation experience with local multiplayer. etc. The goal was simply to provide WGT fans a badass "joystick" to be able to play the game using their own balls and clubs. While it may not be a full-blown simulator in the traditional sense of the word, it's still a great game with fantastic graphics and courses. 2) The WGT ball flight model does have a driver distance issue which we are actively working with them on. We all realize the gravity of this discrepancy, so believe me, it's very high on the radar.

We do have additional partners in the pipeline, but I am going to stay with the outstanding "big 3". TruGolf, Perfect Golf, and TGC all had previously successfully integrated with us using a very bare SDK from us to make a ball fly in their software. In order to be able to launch in the market, we needed tighter security features in place on a lot of fronts. This effort was significant more work for our partners to implement. In full disclosure, we have pulled our development efforts off any major software updates for SkyTrak in order to devote personal attention to each of the sim partners. In most cases, we are actually working with their code to integrate our system for them. We all understand the urgency to get this stuff out there and it's the right thing to do.

I am going to try and be better through the end of the year of maintaining a more reliable presence on the forum. You guys deserve good communication and your feedback needs to be read and absorbed - it makes us better.

Thanks and looking forward to getting you guys up on the sim software of your choice as soon as humanly possible.

Thanks,
Seth

[MrHogan]

Don't be releasing anything just yet I'm far too busy at work right now.
I stop on the 23rd so that would be perfect...

[apljb]

lol, couldn't have put it better

[Tekbud]

<bump> With many of us probably taking some time off for the holidays we sure are hopeful that there has been some progress made. Super jealous of luv2golf for switching to Gc2 and Perfect Golf and hopeful that we get a crack at it as well. All I want for Christmas is sim....

[luv2golf]

Sorry Tekbud, my back actually needed a rest today after 54 holes yesterday.

[Tekbud]

^@%$@$%@&^*$&*%^()&&$#$@^!!

[wee988]

Every time I see a new post on a subject like this I get excited and open it as fast as possible...only to find disappointment.....followed by growing anger and resentment.

Played wgt last week. Actually enjoyed it and was going to post about how it isn't bad. Mostly it wasn't bad because I hit the ball well and didn't have to chip. Played 9 again at pebble beach and couldn't get lobs/pitches to register at all. With like 8 attempts each time. I just had to punch it out and over. Makes me wonder if any sim can display a lob/pitch even in the future.

[goodmatt78]

I'm bummed E6 demo will be ending. I am not sure if I can reinstall, but I hope they have something to bridge to gap until full release. Anyone else have success with e6 after 30 days?

I like e6 and don't even open Skytrak except to set-up alignment. Chipping is still a bummer and putting is tough. I set gimmes to 10ft and if I end up on the fridge, I will hit a mulligan, but other than that I like it a lot.

[voodoo_ca]

I think your only option is to purchase it.

[aja]

Ending up on the fridge helps to ease the pain, long as there's always cold beer in the fridge...

[luv2golf]

goodmatt78 - I have the extender file, PM me.

[Mickey]

Did I miss something - is e6 for skytrak available for purchase?

[goodmatt78]

No it isn't...that is my dilemma. I have no problem purchasing....but it needs to be for sale first!

[voodoo_ca]

My mistake - I had thought that E6 was available - but it had limited courses (6? 8?) and was very expensive - $3000?
I thought that was why everyone was holding out for TGC.

[TorchRedRob]

I wonder if the full e6 version would just work if we bought it? I mean, it works in demo form.

[wbond]

Pretty expensive gamble.

[aja]

Mass hysteria setting in.... e6 ain't cheap! Guys... take a deep breath!

[TorchRedRob]

Mass hysteria setting in.... e6 ain't cheap! Guys... take a deep breath!

Jeez, dude. I wasn't suggesting that someone buy it and try it. I was suggesting that there are a few people who have e6 and a skytrak that could test it out for us perhaps. aja, most of your recent posts on the st forum seem to be for the purpose of stirring the pot. If that's all you've got, I'm not interested.

[Bubba22]

I have the full E6. It doesn't work with ST. You need an integration program for it to work. Yes the full E6 is expensive.

[dsailer]

The only thing I would add to this is that the chipping problem on WGT should be a fairly high priority also. I understand people are waiting for real sims, but people also already PAID for something that does not work. I've never been able to finish even 9 holes on WGT without having to take several extra strokes. It wouldn't seem like much work to support switching to putting from any location (hey, if you want to putt from the tee, go for it!) and or the ability to manually take strokes. As it is you have no option but hack, hack, hack or quit round and start over.

On the bright side, I sure am VERY focused on approach shots to the middle of the green

Happy Holidays, all, and congrats to Seth and good luck.

[SkyTrak_Seth]

Sorry, what is the chipping issue with WGT? I need to catch up on that thread...hopefully it's in there.

[wee988]

The issue is you can't hit any type of lob/pitch. Other day every time I tried to lob/chip it wasn't picked up. We are not talking super flops here. So if u are in a bunker or have a reason to hit a chip other than a bump and run type chip it won't be picked up (nine attempts on one shot with no register until I hit a simple low bump into the hill/lip). Which begs the question of can th skytrak pick up/register lobs?

[SkyTrak_Seth]

That's where I was going to go next..There's nothing in WGT that would prevent that that I know of. I'd be interested to see if you are able to pick up those in the SkyTrak range. Sometimes on flops, I'll actually tee the ball in front of the red dot (like towards the net).

[bennyg211]

I think a simple datasheet would be nice showing range of view in terms of tolerance for +/-mm from the red dot and guidance as to where to put balls in relation to the dot, maybe not in terms of teh club you're using as lofts change, but maybe launch angle, as this is the parameter that is effecting how its picked up. I'd imagine that would be a fairly simple one page data sheet for Skygolf to put together and integrate in the manual? It'd sure save you repeating a lot of responses to moving the ball back an inch for the driver, etc.

[pwade3]

I'm not having any issues with chip/lob shots now. I even tried one from deep bunker on Bandon and it registered. Moved the ball up a bit. Now I just need to fix my ceiling and I'm good. I did install a LED light from the ceiling that is above and behind the ST and projects down to laser area and I noticed it picks up shots much better as I had some missed shots with chips before that. It misses the odd one still but probably only 1 out of 12. I'm not sure the accuracy of short chips is good as my ball seems to check up to quickly compared to real life. Sometimes they stop right away. Great otherwise.