Recently, Jeremy Bennett (JB Huskers), from the Back Nine Blog and the EA SPORTS Forums
where he is a Moderator, sat down with Greg Rinaldi from the Tiger Woods Online
team to discuss the game and its current open beta state:
Jeremy Bennett (JB): For those who may be brand new to Tiger Woods
PGA Tour Online, what is the best way to describe the overall experience?
Greg Rinaldi (GR): Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online is the first
browser-based, online, streaming sports simulation from EA SPORTS. This
revolutionary addition to the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR franchise allows players to
access their favorite golf title from just about any internet-enable PC or
Mac. This means that you can play Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online virtually
anywhere; at work, at home, at the airport or even at your in-laws' house...but
wherever you are, you're only one click away from your next round of golf.
JB: What was the
driving force behind creating Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online?
GR: The goal in creating Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online was always
to re-energize our PC product. Most importantly, we wanted to build an
experience that would allow us to have a more direct relationship with our
audience and which would make it possible for us to evolve and tailor the
experience to best suit our players. We're changing the way we think
about game development at EA and the way our audience influences the games we
create. Along with multiple feedback channels, we're also able to
track players' behaviors which gives us a much clearer picture on which
features are working and which need our attention. This telemetry is the
main driver in how we will be approaching additions and updates to the game
going forward.
JB: Tiger Woods PGA
Tour Online uses streaming technology to deliver the gaming experience.
Why have you chosen this method instead of a disc-based game?
GR: More and more people are getting their entertainment
through streamed online experiences. Whether that means streaming music
via Pandora or streaming movies via NetFlix, the convenience and immediacy of
streaming media is appealing to both consumers and content creators.
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online represents what we refer to as "games as a service"
rather than a product on a shelf. A disc-based game is a static product,
meaning that whatever we put on that disc is what our audience gets, and we
can't change or add anything until we ship another disc the following
year. With a streaming game, we can add or update features and add new
content as soon as it's ready. We don't have to go through the process of
shipping a disc and our audience doesn't have to go through the process of
purchasing and installing a new disc. Everything is immediate and
dynamic. Not to mention the fact that with a streamed experience, you are
able to access the game from any internet-enabled PC or Mac, without having to
purchase and install a new disc on each machine you wish to play on.
JB: One large part of
Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online is the social networking aspect of the game.
How have you tied these aspects into the game itself?
GR: Absolutely. In recent years, social networking has
exploded on the web thanks to the likes of facebook, twitter, MySpace,
etc. When it comes to the internet, no one is an island; everyone is
connected in some way. Naturally, we wanted to extend that experience to
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online. Community is key in our game and we plan to
introduce several features at launch and shortly thereafter that will allow our
community to connect with each other in more ways than in any other online
sports title. Our players can use a feature called facebook connect
to link their facebook account with their Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online
account. They will also be able to become fans of other golfers and can
sponsor their fellow players to earn cash in the game. Additionally,
players are able to chat with and connect with others through the forums or the
in-game chat feature.
JB: Can you describe
the MMO aspect of your created golfer, and what it takes to go from an amateur
to a legend?
GR: Creating your custom golfer and progressing him through
the ranks is at the core of what makes Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online a compelling
experience. We create sports simulations at EA SPORTS so that our
audience can get a taste of what it's like to be a professional athlete.
Just like in real life, you'll start your career as an Amateur golfer and
you'll need to prove that you can handle yourself on the links in order to
reach the status of golf Legend. To climb the ranks, you'll need to earn
experience points (XP) by playing good golf and you'll also need to master each
course by completing a series of objectives which will put your skills to the
test.
JB: For those who are
fans of the console version, what similarities and differences will Tiger Woods
PGA Tour Online present to the gamer?
GR: Each version of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online is a unique
experience. Of course, all products in the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR franchise
boast the same unparalleled golf simulation our audience has come to
expect. However, each platform has its own strengths and each appeals to
different sensibilities. The XBOX 360 and PS3 versions provide
immersion...meaning that they appeal to players who want to kick back on the
couch in front of their big-screen and escape reality for a few hours.
The Wii version provides the audience with a tactile simulation which appeals
to players who want to experience the thrill of swinging a virtual golf club in
the comfort of their home. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online appeals to several
different types of players. First, it is tailored to our PC and Mac audience
who may not own a console or who simply prefer the PC or Mac as their platform
of choice. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online also appeals to gamers on the go;
especially players who may only have a few minutes between meetings to get
their golf fix.
JB: One of your major
taglines is "Golf...whenever you want it". Could you let
the gamers know what the focus is behind this tagline, and the advantages of
its features?
GR: "Golf...whenever you want it" means that the game is
always available and easily accessible from anywhere...anytime. The
fact that the game is streamed to your browser means that there is no disc to
install, which means you now have a high-quality, portable golf
experience. The only requirement is a modern PC or Mac and a dependable
internet connection. And because the entire game lives on a server, you
can start and stop a game at anytime/anywhere and pick it up later; right where
you left off. For example, you could start a game on your PC desktop the
office, close the browser when your boss pops in and then login and complete
that same round on your MacBook at home. You never even have to save your
game because it's always there on the server; just close your browser and come
back to it whenever you want.
JB: Could you go into
detail the different modes that one has to choose from when they want to get a
round of golf in?
GR: In the Open Beta, players can choose to play either a
Single Player or Multi-Player Stroke Play round on one of our seven world-class
golf courses. There are also a host of Daily Tournaments to choose from
which are divided into Beginner, Amateur, Pro and Tour Pro tiers. Soon
we'll be rolling out Weekly Tournaments, Special Events, Match Play and Group
Play Tournaments. We'll also be adding more single player modes and
challenges throughout the year.
JB: What are the
initial courses that will be in this game? Also, what is on the table in
regards to additions to the game down the road?
GR: There are currently seven courses available in the Open
Beta. They are TPC Sawgrass, Pebble Beach Golf Links, St. Andrews Links,
Wentworth, Wolf Creek Golf Club, Sheshan Golf Club and Torrey Pines. In
addition to these great courses, we plan to introduce a new course about once
per month from the day we launch. We will also release several new features
throughout the year including Turn-Based Multiplayer, a fully stocked Pro Shop
and additional game modes.
JB: Finally, once
Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online is released in full to the public, can you go into
detail how one can access the game initially, and what options will be
available to them outside of the basic trial?
GR: Once the game exits Open Beta and is officially
launched, registering for Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online will be free. The
free membership will have its benefits and registered users will be able to
create a golfer and play full rounds of golf on a specific course.
Additionally, the user will have the option to purchase a monthly or yearly
subscription in order to gain access to the full stable of world-class courses
and unlock the complete Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online experience.