Cracking wee game with great developer support, I've been here from original release to the second-updated version and can honestly say that, throughout my many years of gaming, I've never seen a development team so consistently pushing the boundaries in order to make their product better and better.
When the game initially got released I was one of the many 'no community game is worth 800 points' naysayers, however, hand-on-heart I can say this is! There has been so many improvements and tweaks made by the developer which have literally been jokes when playing the sessions. Y'know like we'd say 'Hey Matt, how's about giving us backspin? How's about logging our online scores? How about we get to swap courses with each other? How about we get HATS on our little guys? How's about...' and I promise you, for every single request we put forward this guy worked his ass off to provide. He's tweaked the physics, brought courses back from error 4 hell, I promise you if we put a bowl of water down and asked him to walk across it?... Well maybe not. But only maybe!
There's now 8 player online MP, 6 courses available out of the non-box, a competition running till the end of March allowing you to win 1600 MS points for the lowest scoring game card. The only drawback is the amount of time I sadly do not have to play games these days (curse ye life!) however I know this isn't a game which is gonna be gone anytime soon, the community is great and you know what? That's what community games are all about! Even if golf isn't your thing (which in my case rings pretty true) try this game, see the love and attention to detail which has been lavished upon this game and if you still feel that supporting an up-and-coming developer isn't your thing, well I can only say thanks for trying and have a nice day, everyone else? See you online
Rorifett
From Xbox Evolved:
"Earlier this week we reported on a leaked video showing Avatars playing golf. Turns out, its nothing new. "
They will also come up with some fine new idea's, that the competition will steal.
Stupid story what's the point? sounds bitter.
Wii is the first to have avatars playing golf. sarcasm
What's with the disagrees? did somebody from Xbox land say avatar golf was first on 360?
Game Focus writes: "Microsoft's XNA Creator's Club is a great way to let folks, who don't necessarily work in the gaming industry, a way to showcase their ideas. Matt Davis of Barker Crest Studios originally began his career programming business software. Always a fan of video games, he made his move into the Independent Gaming Industry by publishing his first game on the XNA Creator's Club, Easy Golf. One of the pricier games coming out of the XNA market, it offers far more than many other Xbox Live Arcade titles, giving players a full Arcade Golf title for their 800 Microsoft Points."
Pros
+ Nice graphics for an XNA title
+ Great course creation editor
+ True multiplayer (up to 8 players) from online course play
+ Player created content with Sharing ala LBP's Create, Share, Play!
+ Little or no golf knowledge needed to jump right in
+ Game depth gives players an Arcade Golf game
+ Quick downloads of courses
Cons
- Editor felt a little difficult at times
- Sound may get one some people's nerves
- Golf game is similar to other golf titles out there
- Pricey for XNA at 800 MSP, which might shy some players away
Easy Golf Course Architect is one of those fun titles in the Community Games section that you can really sink your teeth into...
Just to add that there has been a recent price drop for Easy Golf and it can now be purchased for the criminally underpriced 400 MS points. Again people, download and try the demo and think of supporting an indie developer. This is just his first game, think of what he can bring to the table in future!
Cheers,
Fett