Shot-Online
- August 02, 2006 00:00 AM PST
Other MMORPGs are proving that gamers are playing more than just World of Warcraft.
When most gamers hear MMO, they think World of Warcraft or Guild Wars. But other genres can and will begin to filter into the MMO space, and sports games are inherently built for this type of design. Just think about the potential of online sports leagues. Theoretically, you could play a five-on-five game of basketball and with a separate user playing each position. I call point guard!
But perhaps golf makes the easiest transition. Interestingly enough, it isn't the next-gen Tiger Woods experience that is leading the way, and it took games like Mario Golf: Advance Tour and the Hot Shots Golf series to begin to pave the way. But it is an unlikely game that has made the first real leap into golf's MMO space.
Smooth as silk
Advantages of MMORPG golf:
- Interactive online environment is representative of the competitive nature of the sport- Character customization and experience levels becomes very important
- Real field of players presents high level of difficulty
- Trading system provides lots of customization
- Micro payment system can be cheaper than monthly cost structure
In many ways, console games like Tiger Woods PGA Tour do a lot right, -- they certainly capture the beauty of a green golf course -- but they don't capture the real competitive and personal nature of a golf match or tournament. Shot-Online, the first MMORPG based on the sport of golf, is as much about your character as it is about the sport.
For example, in Shot-Online, character customization and interactions are more similar a RPG than a sports game. Characters and courses are much more Final Fantasy than PGA Tour (the game comes from a Korean company called OnNet), which helps to set it apart from the rest of the field. Shot-Online is completely online based, so you'll be taking part in an interactive world with many other golfers. From the get-go you'll notice that, in RPG fashion, you can barter with other players even before you hit the links.
Finally, something Tiger can't do!
Here's the basic setup. Much like Advance Tour, you play as a student enrolled in a prestigious golfing school, and through much experience and play time, you'll work your way up the "academic" ladder. Once you've created your character (customization comes later during online play), it's out into the world to start golfing and making money, called NG.
The actual golfing mechanics in Shot-Online are reminiscent of Hot Shots Golf games, but things are definitely more difficult here. Swinging is accomplished with a three-click system. The meter moves much slower than in Hot Shots, but there is much more room for error here; even the slightest miscalculation can cause a nasty hook or slice.
Overall the gameplay feels much more realistic than the a popular golf game like, say, Tiger Woods, simply because it takes some real golf know-how to get things going. For instance, the game does not choose the correct club for you, nor does it even have a distance meter to tell you how far they go. So it's up to you to match up distance to the hole with the right club, which can be tricky at times.
There are your typical golf statistics including power, impact, and skill, but also stamina that can have a huge impact on your fatigue level during play. Combine that frustration with some nasty wind, and you could easily be in for a nice little bogey streak.
Like a MMORPG should be, Shot-Online will take a decent amount of play time to really get familiar with the play mechanics. You'll really feel like a hacker out there at the beginning, but time heals all wounds and you'll be joining up with more experienced foursomes with the proper practice.
Shot-Online for the PC is available on September 12 for $29.99. Included with the boxed version is a $20 Cyber Cash Card, a Gold Golf Invitational ticket (there are 6 each year), and a lottery ticket for a Tornado golf club Set ($100 value) and other prizes .
