Today Electronic Arts laid off a bunch of people. I guess video games aren’t selling well now that we’re all tightening our budgets. But a new startup in Silicon Valley has a better idea: make a better golf game online and give it away for free. It’s called the World Golf Tour and I interviewed the CEO and got a demo (16 minute video).
How is it better? Well, they are visually superior because they use real photography of real golf courses. Plus, since you play in your browser, you are able to do all the collaborative stuff you’d expect to do online.
Scobleizer 
Interesting graphics, but I had to allow two different popup windows to get the thing to show up on my machine. Hard to imagine why such a tech savvy site would still use popup windows at all.
LikeLike
Interesting graphics, but I had to allow two different popup windows to get the thing to show up on my machine. Hard to imagine why such a tech savvy site would still use popup windows at all.
LikeLike
The whole world must be trying to access this because all it does is open the new window and try to load…
LikeLike
The whole world must be trying to access this because all it does is open the new window and try to load…
LikeLike
Nice visuals, but video game it does not make, more an overlay really. EA’s Tiger Woods PGA TOUR has nothing to worry about.
Speaking of EA, I knew upcoming trouble, the second you went to the Dead Space junket, always the omen. But nothing overall new, EA, goes layoff mode and kills off underperformers, on an annual basis, last time it was all blamed on Pandemic/Bioware, this time easy enough to blame current the “economy”. But that’s a cop-out, it’s just EA. Yearly recycled titles sports-title churn, bureaucratic sponge and integration problems (maybe with Mythic being the sole exception, time will tell) Losing respect with the hardcore gamers, who be mad at the draconian DRM issues and the fascist forums. Internal morale is lower than the usual low, with work-to-death as a verb. Changing the game, by buying up anything that moves and partnering with the remaining only works for so long. Least EA gets one or two titles out before they ruin the studios.
LikeLike
Nice visuals, but video game it does not make, more an overlay really. EA’s Tiger Woods PGA TOUR has nothing to worry about.
Speaking of EA, I knew upcoming trouble, the second you went to the Dead Space junket, always the omen. But nothing overall new, EA, goes layoff mode and kills off underperformers, on an annual basis, last time it was all blamed on Pandemic/Bioware, this time easy enough to blame current the “economy”. But that’s a cop-out, it’s just EA. Yearly recycled titles sports-title churn, bureaucratic sponge and integration problems (maybe with Mythic being the sole exception, time will tell) Losing respect with the hardcore gamers, who be mad at the draconian DRM issues and the fascist forums. Internal morale is lower than the usual low, with work-to-death as a verb. Changing the game, by buying up anything that moves and partnering with the remaining only works for so long. Least EA gets one or two titles out before they ruin the studios.
LikeLike
Great, just what we need in a time when people NEED to be focusing on their jobs: An even better distraction.
LikeLike
Great, just what we need in a time when people NEED to be focusing on their jobs: An even better distraction.
LikeLike
Actually, EA lays off 5-6% of its staff every 1-1.5 years. This is just the latest in a long history of hirings and firings as corporate practice.
LikeLike
Actually, EA lays off 5-6% of its staff every 1-1.5 years. This is just the latest in a long history of hirings and firings as corporate practice.
LikeLike
Thanks for all the positive comments. Regarding the loading issues, due to a wide variety of different computers, browsers and internet connection speeds, there are some loading issues affecting a few configurations. Subsequent loads from the same browser should go much faster. We are taking this beta release to tackle these important issues and hope to have improvements in the near future. Thanks for your patience.
LikeLike
Thanks for all the positive comments. Regarding the loading issues, due to a wide variety of different computers, browsers and internet connection speeds, there are some loading issues affecting a few configurations. Subsequent loads from the same browser should go much faster. We are taking this beta release to tackle these important issues and hope to have improvements in the near future. Thanks for your patience.
LikeLike
I’ve played The Ocean Course and this looks and plays just like it but it is way too slow right now. At certain points it gets jerky which can cause shots to go anywhere. No good when you’re trying to score. Not ready for prime time.
LikeLike
I’ve played The Ocean Course and this looks and plays just like it but it is way too slow right now. At certain points it gets jerky which can cause shots to go anywhere. No good when you’re trying to score. Not ready for prime time.
LikeLike
I can’t wait to see this when it’s out of beta because I know at least three guys in my immediate family who will probably give up their wives, their homes, and their dogs to play this full-time – to the blissful exclusion of all else!
Dan
LikeLike
I can’t wait to see this when it’s out of beta because I know at least three guys in my immediate family who will probably give up their wives, their homes, and their dogs to play this full-time – to the blissful exclusion of all else!
Dan
LikeLike
Well, they are visually superior because they use real photography of real golf courses. Plus, since you play in your browser, you are able to do all the collaborative stuff you’d expect to do online.
LikeLike
Well, they are visually superior because they use real photography of real golf courses. Plus, since you play in your browser, you are able to do all the collaborative stuff you’d expect to do online.
LikeLike