UTour Golf

Infobox VG
product=utour


developer= Gusto Games
publisher= Groove Games
platforms= SkillGround
released= 2007
genre= Golf, Sports
modes = Head to Head, SBG, Tournaments, Multiplayer
industry= Interactive entertainment
homepage= [http://www.utour.com/ www.utour.com]

UTour Golf is an online golf game developed by Gusto Games and published by Groove Media Inc [ [http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2007/07/c8716.html CNW Group Press Report] ] . The game has been released through SkillGround: an online, skill-gaming platform owned by Groove.

Players may compete in single and multiplayer games for free, or challenge others to cash games where the winner collects a cash prize. This is not considered gambling, as the outcome is based on skill. Despite this fact, the service is still restricted within 13 states of the United States [ [http://www1.skillground.com/help/policies.html States Restricting Skill Gaming] ] .

Free play is supported by advertising, displayed both before the game starts, and during play on billboards presented within the game [ [http://www.groovegames.com/press_release2.html Groove Media Press Release] ] . Cash play has no advertisements outside of game play, and is supported by a rake placed on wagers.

Game Play

Game play is based on a three click system. The user must click at certain times as a progress bar sweeps from left to right, then back from right to left [ [http://pc.gamezone.com/gamesell/p33799.htm UTour Golf Review] ] .

The first sweep controls the power; the closer to the right end of the shot bar, the more power the shot will have. The second sweep controls the accuracy; the closer to a center line near the left end, the more accurate the shot will be.

Game play is also affected by such issues as wind, weather, club type, pin and tee locations, and grass roughness. These affect accuracy, how far the ball will fly, and how far the ball will roll [ [http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2007/07/c8716.html CNW Group Press Report] ] .

Players are also matched on the site by a ranking system. This system provides a numerical estimate of a player’s skill level. By viewing the skill level of an opponent, a player may decide to accept or refuse challenges. A handicap system is also available where strokes may be forfeited to an opponent to allow players of different skill levels to compete on a more even playing field.

The game also provides detailed statistics, though these are only available to the player, and are not publicly shared.

Rules

UTour offers different game modes based on traditional golf rules. Players may compete under the Stroke Play, Match Play, or Stableford Plus rule sets.

Mini-games based on driving ranges and putting challenges are also available.

Contests

UTour has offered a number of partner sponsored tournaments with prizes generally consisting of golf-related trips or golf equipment.

These include:

* A trip to the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational – Sponsored by Golf.com [ [http://www.groovegames.com/press_release2.html Groove Media Press Release] ]
* A trip to Maui Hawaii – Sponsored by Sports Illustrated (SI.com) [ [http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2007/07/c8716.html CNW Group Press Report] ]
* A trip to Las Vegas – Sponsored by GolfLink.com [ [http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/utour-golf-callaway-golf-present/story.aspx?guid=%7BB977F513-09DE-4D1E-ADB5-AFE4DBDBA61A%7D UTour Golf announces the GolfLink.com Online Open Sweepstakes] ]
* New golf clubs – Sponsored by Callaway Golf [ [http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/utour-golf-callaway-golf-present/story.aspx?guid=%7BB977F513-09DE-4D1E-ADB5-AFE4DBDBA61A%7D UTour Golf and Callaway Golf Present the Ultimate Online Golfing Tournament] ]

UTour also holds contests geared towards cash rewards for Players' Club members, an example of which is the [http://www.utourgolf.com/2008cupclassic/index.html 2008 Cup Classic]

History

UTour Golf was released both through UTourGolf.com and SkillGround.com in August 2007. SkillGround had been previously released in the winter of 2006.

It was initially launched in a beta format, and has subsequently been upgraded. In November 2007, the following features were added [ [http://www.ottawagolfblog.com/2007/11/utour-golf-has-added-new-features.html UTour Golf Has Added New Features] ] :

* Handicap – Players of varying skill levels could compete more fairly by forfeiting strokes.
* One Hole Option – Players could compete in single hole matches.
* Player Created Tournaments – Players could challenge their friends to closed tournaments.
* Driving Range Mini Game – A new game play mode modeling a driving range was available in single player and tournament game types.
* Increased Statistics – The statistics tracking feature was extended from cash players to both cash and free players.

See also

* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=2Sc2zPibBiQ UTour Game Play Videos]
* [http://forums.skillground.com/ SkillGround Forums]
* [http://www1.skillground.com/sg/showAcademyLesson1.do UTour Academy]

References