Tiger Woods, Party of 50, Move to Tee Box Please

[Micasa]

Gamers who buy EA products are used to a couple things going wrong at launch, and having the online component fail to function as anticipated is certainly one of those things*.

Tiger Woods 2007 is apparently no different, according to this note (http://gaming-edge.blogspot.com/2006/10/tiger-woods-07-call-for-tee-time.html) at Gaming Edge.

The EA Lobby doesn't hold more than 50 players, which means nobody else can play. It's an issue that, according to EA forum posts, is known and will be fixed sometime soon.

* - The phrase "fail to function as anticipated" is a gross understatement. "Fails to function at all" would be closer to the truth. Something tells me not to hold my breath on this one.

[IrishWhiskey]

I'm nominating EA as 'worst next gen developer', also as 'developer most abusing microtransactions'.

Seriously, I wonder how long they can last putting out shoddy products like this. 2K games are already getting much betting ratings.

[Verocity]

Lawl! I should have my 6yr old daughter apply for a job there. She is obviously over qualified...

[Sandman]

Does the game only have one lobby or is it like Madden with multiple lobbies?

[flinxz]

You know... this is not news, this is expected.

Post when an EA game works, that would be some real news.

[dirtbag]

When will EA pack it in and just go with XBox Live, since that actually works? Or would that not fit into EA's plan of producing mind-bendingly bad experiences after buying exclusive rights to whole sports leagues?

[ElectricMonk]

wait... so am I reading this correctly, which means only 50 people in the world can play at any given time?

[skarironfist]

Not often I say this ...

Its a bloody disgrace.

[El Ikkir]

People... people... people!

Stop buying CRAP!

Then you may consequently savor nothing but the goodness that bring gaming studios that actually care about what you play, not just a name or brand.


You make your choices, now deal with them.

[Wonka]

My friends and I have stopped buying EA titles.

They just never allow you to play with your friends. There is always at least one person who cannot join the game. This only seems to be a problem with ALL EA titles. It's really disgraceful. We gave them more than their fair share of chances to "do it right". At this point we are waiting to hear that one is NOT broken before we will even consider "testing" a game...

It's so bad that it's almost as if they were willfully sabotaging things at EA on the online side. I cannot think of a motive for EA to screw up this badly, or else I would be CONVINCED that this was actually happening...

[Knightsaber]

Does the game only have one lobby or is it like Madden with multiple lobbies?

It has one, that can hold 50 people. Yes it's true. I've been in it twice. When you actually start a match (hosting or playing), you are removed from the lobby, not that this helps any. Many many people are just getting into the lobby early, and sitting afk for a few hours until they're ready to play, just to make sure they have a spot.

I'm contenting myself by playing offline.

[Micasa]

To be fair to the TW team, I think they made some decent choices on their DLC. They left it in the game to be unlocked that way as well, which is a huge change of policy for EA's standard. I think the Sunday Tiger can't be unlocked ingame, but that's it.

All in all, that's a decent way to do it - let lazy people buy it while the rest of us can still earn it.

But they need to get the back end of their game in order. It's ridiculous that it hit shelves with the online component simply not ready, whether it's really because the lobby won't hold enough or whatever the issue is.

[MSUStud911]

I'm just looking for some clarification. Is it possible to specifically seek out a friend and play a head-to-head match without having to deal with this lobby nonsense? I guess what I'm asking is, does this only affect people looking for random matches, or does it prevent all online play period?

[bapenguin]

Man..what a shame. The single player part of Tiger Woods is damn solid. One of the best golf games since Links on XBox. I haven't even touched the multi..and it looks like I won't for a while.

[TKO]

I'm just looking for some clarification. Is it possible to specifically seek out a friend and play a head-to-head match without having to deal with this lobby nonsense?
Given that the Penny Arcade guys have been trying it every day since they purchased it, and have only once managed to get four friends together in a game, I think seeking out a friend is as screwed as the rest of it. (and probably relies on the same lobby bull.) ..they certainly had other issues with it too. Check out their site if ya wanna be shocked even more by the crapness of this release. (well, ok, this is EA: probably no shock involved.)

[KarmaGhost]

SURPRISE! You got fucked (http://www.penny-arcade.com/2006/10/23) again by EA! Better luck next time! :p

[Beelzebud]

They were too busy figuring out how to charge for cheat codes to actually get the game working.

[Mister Pie]

Haha... so 50 spots for EVERYONE in the US? How do people even get in to play?

[Kadoo]

I'm pretty surprised that the industry hasn't taken great notice of the power of Penny Arcade. A nod from them is like the midas touch but equally cold receptions can be the kiss of death.

I know a lot of my game purchase are influenced by there comments. If Tycho and Gabe say some thing I would expect the Industry to listen. If they are saying this stuff publicly then a lot of people are probably thinking the same thing.

EA you need to start paying attention to your users. Especially public figures like the guys at PA.

Sony same deal. PA have clearly said the have no intentions of buying PS3. Sony you are obviously doing something wrong.

Is this not crystal clear to these developers. I guess you can't see, hear or read if your head is in your ass.

[Kadoo]

I have a feeling that EA has done this so they will have less work to rewrite the for PS3
Doesn't seem to have worked out very well for them.