Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
First Look: GL Golf
If you're the golfing type (and I must admit, I'm no golfer), then you may like a new game/simulator for your iPhone/iPod touch. GL Golf [iTunes Link] allows you to play golf on your iPhone in a semi-realistic 3D world. The game consists of 5 golf courses, and you can play with up to 4 people. I really like the ability to change variables in the game. You can change things like weather, time of day, season, ball color, difficulty of play, and the type of course.
The game play is solid. To swing the club just double tap on the screen; when the power meter reaches to a spot you want, just single tap and the club will swing, hitting the ball. You can change the type of club you have by dragging your finger up/down the screen, thereby changing the range. The game does pause itself when you tap the home button, so if you get a call while playing, you won't lose your game.
The game is almost perfect with the exception of two things that could be easily changed with an update. First off, the graphics are not the best that you're going to find on an iPhone game. Second, not being able to move the camera (view point) around is a big downfall in certain circumstances. Sometimes a tree or river bank might be blocking your view and you cannot see if you're hitting the ball in the right direction (see screenshot 6). Despite that, the physics model in the game is amazing and very accurate.
Overall, this is a solid game and should definitely be on every duffer's app download list. You can purchase GL Golf from the App Store today for $7.99. Be sure to look at our gallery of screenshots.
Gallery: First Looks: GL Golf
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
branden said 10:16PM on 9-17-2008
it is easy to move the view. Just tap and drag with one finger.
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aaronparker said 10:21PM on 9-17-2008
I love golf, but those graphics are just hideous.
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nuclearnova said 10:23PM on 9-17-2008
Thanks for the Review Cory. Version 1.1 will hopefully have transparent trees that are in the way, like the mac version. I also found a big optimization that will hopefully allow me to add some more of the graphical goodies into the iPhone version.
Comments are more than welcome, anyone who has downloaded the mac version knows I listen to user input!
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JD said 12:21AM on 9-18-2008
I think it's nicer to have the vistas to end in mountains, forests, oceans, clouds, etc, never just a flat horizon unless you're on a plateau. Simple additions like that make the environs much more pleasant to play in. See, for instance, the Wii Sports golf game -- very basic, but with pleasing though simple scenery.
nuclearnova said 12:32AM on 9-18-2008
Thanks. In the mac version I have way more trees to end the hole, but I couldn't do that for the iPhone version. I'll see what I can do about putting mountains and other features on the horizon
John said 3:45AM on 9-18-2008
I have this game on my Mac. It's one of those games that you're not sure you'll play, but it's surprisingly addictive. It's a no-stress way to relax for a while and have a little fun. And the physics are very good. Just an overall fun game! Now I am talking about the Mac version, but I would assume the iPhone version is also addictive :)
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Marcello said 3:49AM on 9-18-2008
Come on, really, the golf game included with my crappy nokia looks MUCH better... possibly even "leader board" running on my old amiga looked better.
Ok, the gameplay could be nice, but the hideous graphics aren't simply "not the best that you're going to find on an iPhone game", they're unacceptable on a commercial product in 2008.
Marcello
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MarkM said 6:17AM on 9-18-2008
I agree fully with Marcello - this looks like a game from the 80's ! I'm sorry but saying the iPhone doesn't have the power to have scenery etc is weak - compare the graphics to SMB or X-Plane among many others that are far superior.
Gameplay might be good but with graphics like that you are getting $7.99 - maybe $0.99 but no way the amount you are asking.
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Some Dude said 10:11AM on 9-18-2008
You know, you people with your graphics! It's like you expect everyone to be some kind of graphics designer. What happened to your imagination?
The only fault I see with this game is the price. Ok, I can accept the graphics not being amazing, but don't go and sell it for $7.99. More like $2.99.
The app store shouldn't be a place for just amazing graphical games. A one person programming team should have an opportunity to sell, without having the most amazing graphics in the world.
However, price wise the products should be much less then those amazing graphic games.
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Max said 1:16PM on 9-18-2008
I agree with "Some Dude". If the physics and gameplay are good, I can deal with the graphics being less-than-excellent. I'd actually rather have flat-shaded graphics than ugly bitmaps. One of my favorite games ever was Hellcats Over the Pacific, and that used simple flat polygons. But the game was quick, fluid, and lots of fun,and that's what's important.
However, I also agree that $7.99 is a bit high for a game like this one. I think the author would move way more units if it was $2.99-$4.99.
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marcello said 3:10AM on 9-19-2008
@some dude "It's like you expect everyone to be some kind of graphics designer. What happened to your imagination?"
uh?
well, yes, i actually expect that anyone working on a videogame they intend to sell does work with some kind of graphics designer. i can tolerate sucky graphics from the early versions of a *very* creative and original open source game.
but if i'm going to pay some money (ok, 7.99$ aren't much money) for a game i expect it to at least be on par with current generation videogames, not to look like it was written in the '80s for a 1mhz 8bit home computer.
have a look a what we had on 386 generation computers (it was 1992):
http://www.abandonware-paradise.fr/Gifs/Abandonware/Links386.png
and compare it with the screenshots from this game.
and no, the "ehi, but this is just a phone" argument doesn't work: have a look at other games on the iphone (i.e. monkey ball or spore origins) to have an idea on what can be done.
M
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Hannibal said 5:49PM on 11-08-2008
A fun game but not worth $8.00!! Why don't you lower the price like everyone is asking? What do you have to loose? You will get more sales, I assure you.
I would buy it in a second!!
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