The current PGA is considered a Live Service. There have been other live services games that made successful turnarounds like Star Wars Battlefront 2 and EA UFC 3. EA UFC 3 was one game where sliders got added after 5th update. I am mentioning this because PGA Tour can possibly follow this path. The first 4 updates made UFC 3 progressively harder since advanced level gamers claim game was too easy; in theses instances, I had to re-learn game after each update similar to this game. After 4th update, a group of beginners made a strong complaint about a game becoming unplayable and requested sliders; I actually almost traded in the game. By 5th update, sliders were added, and UFC 3 has become one of my all time favorite games.EA PGA Tour has also a group of SIM Level gamers requesting a more difficult game because it has gotten too easy for them. I am thinking of a level system similar to PGA 2K23 where there are 6 levels: 1) Beginner, 2) Amateur, 3) Pro, 4) Tour, 5) Lite SIM, 6) True SIM.For single player non-competitive modes, sliders can be introduced and modified for whatever environment players want to be in. Items that can be updated are the following: wind speed, weather effects, flagstick position, RNG effects/dispersion, accuracy, power, level of backspin, rough area/distance, bunker size, tree effect, AI competency, shot clock, recovery, control, lip-out freqency, putt line accuracy, putt difficulty, hazard penalty level. Most of the options are similar to TW14, but it is more advanced since they are sliders.In addition to regular sliders, there could be sliders to buff or nerf shot types. This option is very similar to NBA 2K, and the baseline shot level is 50. To nerf, the shot type is adjusted below 50. To buff, the shot type is adjusted above 50. For example gamers could buff the blast and nerf the pick shot as stated in another post. Other players could buff all shots.Next step is the competitive modes. For these cases, societies such as in PGA 2K would be ideal based on level. For True SIM, all difficulty sliders are automatically set to 100 and all shots are fully nerfed (0 slider). For Lite SIM difficulty, all difficulty sliders are automatically set to 85 and all shots are nerfed with 15 slider. For Tour difficulty, all difficulty sliders are automatically set to 70 and all shots are nerfed with 30 slider. For Pro difficulty, all difficulty sliders are automatically set to 50 and all shots are at baseline 50 slider. For Amateur difficulty, all difficulty sliders are automatically set to 35 and all shots are buffed with 65 slider. For Beginner difficulty, all difficulty sliders are automatically set to 20 and all shots are buffed with 80 slider. Competitive modes will not see a 0 in difficulty sliders or fully buffed shots.For making VC, there will be a multiplier option based on difficulty. The higher the difficulty, the larger the earnings for VC. This is similar to PGA 2K23.These sliders and options allow all gamers of all levels select their preferred environment. I normally play single player non-competitive modes and I prefer to select my environment instead of playing someone else’s environment.

@PalomaMarvel24 I believe the flop and pick shots need rebalancing across the board. They are far too an agressive shot allowing you to stick it wherever it lands. Into an uphill slope... sure. A flat surface... maybe a small bounce and then have it check. Into a downhill slope... it should kick forward and run out a little.And my biggest issue... it should be more difficult to execute than a pitch/chip or blast shot. There should be some risk/reward attached to the pick and flop shots.They can always... make these shots exponentially more difficult to execute as you go up in difficulty levels. So at AMATEUR settings it executes perfect everytime... but requires timing in the single digits +/- 0.9% at the SIM level. Otherwise the ball is duffed, bladed (low ball flight) across the green or something inbetween.

@ELF014 wrote:They can always... make these shots exponentially more difficult to execute as you go up in difficulty levels. So at AMATEUR settings it executes perfect everytime... but requires timing in the single digits +/- 0.9% at the SIM level. Otherwise the ball is duffed, bladed (low ball flight) across the green or something inbetween.I totally agree with your idea making flop and pick shots exponentially more difficult with increased difficulty levels. I play at Amateur and I get to keep it the way it is.

@agentputt wrote:Not sure what game you guys are playing but I hardly use pick and flop they seem to go miles compared to if I use chip, pitch or spinner In side bunkers, the only options the game is giving me are pick and blast. Blast is the one to go miles for me. Spinner is like cherry picking from the fairways, the game is not giving this option to me in the rough.

EA will not make the game more difficult because every shot in the game is linked to the marker. The game is good but could be great if we are allowed distance control but the marker is king in this game & is so far imbedded into the games DNA it’s impossible to change.Diagonal swing is amazing in this game but without being forced to use it it’s worthless.I find myself getting switched off to the swing mechanics so I house rule advanced shot shaping on all shot’s except putting & it’s a great round of golf.I wish they’d take the marker intent away from putting & let the player gauge distance by backswing & through swing, bring some feel into the game would be amazing.Can’t see it happening but we can hope..😎

@gasman1 wrote:EA will not make the game more difficult because every shot in the game is linked to the marker. The game is good but could be great if we are allowed distance control but the marker is king in this game & is so far imbedded into the games DNA it’s impossible to change.Diagonal swing is amazing in this game but without being forced to use it it’s worthless.I find myself getting switched off to the swing mechanics so I house rule advanced shot shaping on all shot’s except putting & it’s a great round of golf.I wish they’d take the marker intent away from putting & let the player gauge distance by backswing & through swing, bring some feel into the game would be amazing.Can’t see it happening but we can hope..😎I'm not personally fond of the slider idea as it feels like it adds far too many variables into the game. And being able to resize sandtraps changes the actual course.I would welcome being able to hide the aiming reticule on all shots not just putting. As this is the way we have always played the 2K golf games.It is a more natural and realistic way of playing the game. You eyeball a target line and hit to known yardages for your clubs rather than this point and shoot that you see in video games. And you are right that it would introduce some more feel into the game.I don't agree about the diagonal swing for shot shaping though. It isn't difficult to execute once you realize that you just need to hit two points on the controller. But in real life fade and draw are done in your setup. It can happen in your swing but I don't know anyone that does it this way on purpose, so to me it is a bit gimmicky.And besides you seldom really need to execute this in EA. I tend to use it much more in 2K... where it is done through the players setup... and things can go awry through the actual swing, as it should.

Adding Sliders/Options and Difficulty Levels for PGA Tour

15 Replies

gasman1
Rising Scout
3 years ago
EA will not make the game more difficult because every shot in the game is linked to the marker. The game is good but could be great if we are allowed distance control but the marker is king in this game & is so far imbedded into the games DNA it’s impossible to change.
Diagonal swing is amazing in this game but without being forced to use it it’s worthless.
I find myself getting switched off to the swing mechanics so I house rule advanced shot shaping on all shot’s except putting & it’s a great round of golf.
I wish they’d take the marker intent away from putting & let the player gauge distance by backswing & through swing, bring some feel into the game would be amazing.
Can’t see it happening but we can hope..😎
ELF014
3 years ago
@gasman1 wrote:
EA will not make the game more difficult because every shot in the game is linked to the marker. The game is good but could be great if we are allowed distance control but the marker is king in this game & is so far imbedded into the games DNA it’s impossible to change.
Diagonal swing is amazing in this game but without being forced to use it it’s worthless.
I find myself getting switched off to the swing mechanics so I house rule advanced shot shaping on all shot’s except putting & it’s a great round of golf.
I wish they’d take the marker intent away from putting & let the player gauge distance by backswing & through swing, bring some feel into the game would be amazing.
Can’t see it happening but we can hope..😎
I'm not personally fond of the slider idea as it feels like it adds far too many variables into the game. And being able to resize sandtraps changes the actual course.
I would welcome being able to hide the aiming reticule on all shots not just putting. As this is the way we have always played the 2K golf games.
It is a more natural and realistic way of playing the game. You eyeball a target line and hit to known yardages for your clubs rather than this point and shoot that you see in video games. And you are right that it would introduce some more feel into the game.
I don't agree about the diagonal swing for shot shaping though. It isn't difficult to execute once you realize that you just need to hit two points on the controller. But in real life fade and draw are done in your setup. It can happen in your swing but I don't know anyone that does it this way on purpose, so to me it is a bit gimmicky.
And besides you seldom really need to execute this in EA. I tend to use it much more in 2K... where it is done through the players setup... and things can go awry through the actual swing, as it should.
ELF014
3 years ago
@PalomaMarvel24 For myself this game has a lot of inherent issues. But addressing a few of them would make the game much more playable. And I don't think they would be that difficult to incorporate into the game.

1. Give us the option to turn off the aiming reticule. Even just having this option would go a long way to making the game better.

2. As someone else had mentioned, rebalance the flop and pick shots, they make the game far to easy.

3. Let us lockdown every setting in Gameplay and Visual effects in our Private games. Currently settings are controlled by each players personal settings. Each setting should allow the host the option of ON/OFF/OPEN.

4. Show OB areas on the overhead map (easiest thing to do and dumbest thing to have left out).

Bonus - Leave the ball where it finishes... none of this repositioning of the ball (this one will take work). Currently you will never see a ball up against the face of a pot bunker.

These few changes would make the game much more playable. Even just the option to disable the reticule and rebalancing the flop and pick shots would add a lot to the game.
PalomaMarvel24
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@ELF014 wrote:
@PalomaMarvel24 For myself this game has a lot of inherent issues. But addressing a few of them would make the game much more playable. And I don't think they would be that difficult to incorporate into the game.

1. Give us the option to turn off the aiming reticule. Even just having this option would go a long way to making the game better.

2. As someone else had mentioned, rebalance the flop and pick shots, they make the game far to easy.

3. Let us lockdown every setting in Gameplay and Visual effects in our Private games. Currently settings are controlled by each players personal settings. Each setting should allow the host the option of ON/OFF/OPEN.

4. Show OB areas on the overhead map (easiest thing to do and dumbest thing to have left out).

Bonus - Leave the ball where it finishes... none of this repositioning of the ball (this one will take work). Currently you will never see a ball up against the face of a pot bunker.

These few changes would make the game much more playable. Even just the option to disable the reticule and rebalancing the flop and pick shots would add a lot to the game.
Item 1: I completely agree. Having more options are better.
Item 2: I would rather have options to change flop and pick shots with sliders for single player non- competitive modes. I like the way flop and pick shots are now and don’t want change imposed. For competitive modes, I would agree with item 2.
Item 3: Totally agree. It is similar to competitive section in original post, but I like idea of owner locking the settings.
Item 4: Absolutely agree.
Bonus: Absolutely a no brainer.
ELF014
3 years ago
@PalomaMarvel24 I believe the flop and pick shots need rebalancing across the board. They are far too an agressive shot allowing you to stick it wherever it lands. Into an uphill slope... sure. A flat surface... maybe a small bounce and then have it check. Into a downhill slope... it should kick forward and run out a little.

And my biggest issue... it should be more difficult to execute than a pitch/chip or blast shot. There should be some risk/reward attached to the pick and flop shots.

They can always... make these shots exponentially more difficult to execute as you go up in difficulty levels. So at AMATEUR settings it executes perfect everytime... but requires timing in the single digits +/- 0.9% at the SIM level. Otherwise the ball is duffed, bladed (low ball flight) across the green or something inbetween.
PalomaMarvel24
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@ELF014 wrote:

They can always... make these shots exponentially more difficult to execute as you go up in difficulty levels. So at AMATEUR settings it executes perfect everytime... but requires timing in the single digits +/- 0.9% at the SIM level. Otherwise the ball is duffed, bladed (low ball flight) across the green or something inbetween.
I totally agree with your idea making flop and pick shots exponentially more difficult with increased difficulty levels. I play at Amateur and I get to keep it the way it is.
PalomaMarvel24
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
In comparison with other games, Tiger Woods 14 has five difficulty levels: Amateur, Pro, Tour Pro, Tournament and Simulation. In that iteration, Amateur is actually easy and Simulation is actually hard. In addition to difficulty levels, Options such as wind speed and flag position can be selected. 2K has six difficulty levels: Beginner, Amateur, Pro-Am, Pro, Master and Legend.Just wishing Current EA PGA Tour follows this format since I do not want extra difficulty imposed on beginners due to some Simmers thinking the game is easy. This happened in Update 3.0. I would rather have more levels instead of re-learning game after update.
ELF014
2 years ago
@PalomaMarvel24 wrote:
In comparison with other games, Tiger Woods 14 has five difficulty levels: Amateur, Pro, Tour Pro, Tournament and Simulation. In that iteration, Amateur is actually easy and Simulation is actually hard. In addition to difficulty levels, Options such as wind speed and flag position can be selected. 2K has six difficulty levels: Beginner, Amateur, Pro-Am, Pro, Master and Legend.Just wishing Current EA PGA Tour follows this format since I do not want extra difficulty imposed on beginners due to some Simmers thinking the game is easy. This happened in Update 3.0. I would rather have more levels instead of re-learning game after update.
I have never asked for EA to change the game with a broad brush that would affect all levels of play.
Difficulty can be done by changing parameters within each difficulty level. As you have mentioned this is pretty much how 2K does it.
They have multiple green speeds settings, as well as disabling aids for different levels and increasing the sensitivity of the swing path and timing meter.
EA would have enough challenge in the game for me if they simply allowed me to disable the aiming reticule, gave me faster green speeds and allowed me to lockdown whatever features I want in a private room.
The RNG would still be unreasonable, bad ball drops, unbalanced shot types... but there would be enough in the game to be playable. And none of what I am asking for would affect the current game. They would just be either additional features... or the ability to toggle existing features in the game.
agentputt
2 years ago
Not sure what game you guys are playing but I hardly use pick and flop they seem to go miles compared to if I use chip, pitch or spinner
PalomaMarvel24
Seasoned Ace
2 years ago
@ELF014 wrote:

I have never asked for EA to change the game with a broad brush that would affect all levels of play.
Difficulty can be done by changing parameters within each difficulty level. Ask you have mentioned this is pretty much how 2K does it.
They have multiple green speeds settings, as well as disabling aids for different levels and increasing the sensitivity of the swing path and timing meter.
EA would have enough challenge in the game for me if they simply allowed me to disable the aiming reticule, gave me faster green speeds and allowed to lockdown whatever features I want in a private room.
The RNG would still be unreasonable, bad ball drops, unbalanced shot types... but there would be enough in the game to be playable. And none of what I asking for would affect the current game. They would just be either additional features... or the ability to toggle existing features in the game.
I actually am not blaming you. During Update 3.0 there were a group of Simmers, who left Dodge for good, that highly advocated that change. When a group of beginners complained about the change, these simmers replied the change should had happened and the beginners should play better. You would not fit the bill for comments like those because your comments are respectful. These simmers have regretted the change be Update 5.0 and were joining the chorus of how bad game has become. Sorry if I made it sound like I am blaming you. When I read the post, you actually made a comment that the change in Update 3.0 went overboard.
That old post is shown below.
https://answers.ea.com/t5/General-Discussion/Putting-Ruined-in-Update-3-0/m-p/12573012#M4957