Although golfing has always had a spot in the corner of my eye, it’s something I’ve never really pursued. Until now, thanks to a Playstation 3 game and a friend who’s been itching to go golfing again.
The video game, “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters,” utilizes Playstation Move controls for a realistic golfing experience. Players swing and putt just like they would on a real golf course, with the Move Eye camera registering every nuance of every move a golfer makes.
It’s realistic because I pretty much double bogeyed and tripled bogeyed every hole I played for the first few rounds of golf. And actually, I’d probably do worse on a real golf course.
The more I play the game, though, the better I get. As I learn to focus on the fake ball at my feet, my drives have become straighter, often landing on fairways 250 yards away, and my putts are improving to the point where sometimes it only takes two or three to get the ball in the hole.
I’ve gotten to the point where I’m actually parring, and occasionally birdieing, most holes. In fact, I won an amateur tournament in Arizona with a score of five over par, which was much better than the second-place golfer who had a score of 10 over.
Granted, it wasn’t a real tournament, but anything to boost one’s ego is always great. That’s probably why video games are so popular, because they offer an unlimited amount of such ego boosts.
When I screw up, I get angry at the Playstation Move controller, as well as my television. I’ve managed to curb the swear words, but that doesn’t stop me from huffing out some steam. I imagine on a real golf course, some of that steam will come in the form of a few swear words, as much as I hate to admit that.
My real life golf experience consists mainly of hitting balls at a driving range. In college, my friends and I often visited the driving range, because swinging at balls was a great way to forget about the stress of school. We would have golfed, but all of us were too poor to afford that experience.
I’ve only golfed one round in my entire life. A friend of mine from Wautoma took me out about seven years ago to learn the game. It was fun, and frustrating, but for some reason I never returned to the links.
I wasn’t sure I ever would, but the Playstation 3 game has inspired me. I knew my friend Brian liked to golf, but he hasn’t really been able to because none of his friends here do. So I sent him an email, asking if he would like to go golfing sometime, and serve as a teacher to me.
He was more than happy to oblige, and now we’re trying to arrange our schedules to hit one of this area’s many beautiful courses. I live just a quarter-mile away from SentryWorld, so we’ll probably start there. It’ll be like playing in my front yard.
****
Originally published in The Portage County Gazette on Friday, Aug. 19, 2011.
Showing posts with label Playstation 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Playstation 3. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Playstation 3 does everything except serve food, beverages
With birthday funds and savings, I was able to purchase a Playstation 3 several months ago, and it’s the best purchase I’ve made in a long time.
The Playstation 3, for those not already familiar with its wondrous abilities, is the latest generation video game console that also serves as a Blu-Ray player, an MP3 player, Internet browser, photograph viewer and Netflix player. If it popped popcorn and served soda, it would have everything one would need to have the perfect movie night.
I decided to get a Playstation 3 mainly because I wasn’t happy with my Nintendo Wii. I’ve never really liked the motion controls of the Wii, and I discovered the games I played the most on that system were the ones in which I didn’t have to wiggle the controller, such as the classic “Super Mario Bros.” games, or I used a different controller altogether, such as the guitar with “Rock Band 2.”
I’ll admit I’m a full-fledged member of the video game generation. I got my first console, the original Nintendo Entertainment System, in 1988 as a confirmation present (thank you God) and have never been without a console since then. I’ve owned the Super Nintendo, the Nintendo 64, the original Playstation and the Playstation 2.
Of those consoles, the original Nintendo was my favorite, as I played hundreds of games through the remainder of middle school, high school and even college. My friends and I would stay up all night playing “Mega Man” and “Super Tecmo Bowl.” It was like the brother I never had.
The Nintendo also allowed me to forge a bond with my father, who became addicted to “The Legend of Zelda.” He played the game for hours as I told him what to do. It’s a memory I’ll always cherish of him.
This bond is now one I’m sharing with my 5-year-old son, Braden. He not only likes video games but is surprisingly good at them, and he and I have spent hours together this winter playing some of the “Lego” games, including “Lego Batman” and his favorite, “Lego Indiana Jones.” He just informed me he wants to dress as Indiana Jones for Halloween and he wants me to change his name to “Indiana Jones.” I told him no to that request, but that I would call him “Indiana Braden” as a compromise.
When I’m not playing kid-friendly games with Braden, I’m usually playing one game, “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves,” which I declare is the best video game ever created. This game, a third-person shooter adventure similar to the “Tomb Raider” series, boasts amazing graphics, fluid controls and superior gameplay. I’m nearly through the game, but even when I complete it I still have the online component to tackle in which I can take on other players in a number of battles.
Online play is one of the Playstation 3’s main attractions, yet it’s the only one that intimidates me. The few times I’ve ventured online to take on other human opponents I’m usually beaten quickly. That’s probably because so many people out there are extremely talented when it comes to video games, but also because I’ve let the whole notion of them being better get into my head.
I’m better with people I know, rather than strangers; however, I only have one Playstation “Friend.” Any local people interested in befriending me should send a request to “mtk93.” I’ll gladly accept it to have the opportunity to take on Gazette readers.
Although I’m late in getting a Playstation 3 – it has been out since 2005 – I don’t have to worry about a newer generation console replacing it anytime soon. It’ll be at least two years before any of those come out.
The Playstation 3, for those not already familiar with its wondrous abilities, is the latest generation video game console that also serves as a Blu-Ray player, an MP3 player, Internet browser, photograph viewer and Netflix player. If it popped popcorn and served soda, it would have everything one would need to have the perfect movie night.
I decided to get a Playstation 3 mainly because I wasn’t happy with my Nintendo Wii. I’ve never really liked the motion controls of the Wii, and I discovered the games I played the most on that system were the ones in which I didn’t have to wiggle the controller, such as the classic “Super Mario Bros.” games, or I used a different controller altogether, such as the guitar with “Rock Band 2.”
I’ll admit I’m a full-fledged member of the video game generation. I got my first console, the original Nintendo Entertainment System, in 1988 as a confirmation present (thank you God) and have never been without a console since then. I’ve owned the Super Nintendo, the Nintendo 64, the original Playstation and the Playstation 2.
Of those consoles, the original Nintendo was my favorite, as I played hundreds of games through the remainder of middle school, high school and even college. My friends and I would stay up all night playing “Mega Man” and “Super Tecmo Bowl.” It was like the brother I never had.
The Nintendo also allowed me to forge a bond with my father, who became addicted to “The Legend of Zelda.” He played the game for hours as I told him what to do. It’s a memory I’ll always cherish of him.
This bond is now one I’m sharing with my 5-year-old son, Braden. He not only likes video games but is surprisingly good at them, and he and I have spent hours together this winter playing some of the “Lego” games, including “Lego Batman” and his favorite, “Lego Indiana Jones.” He just informed me he wants to dress as Indiana Jones for Halloween and he wants me to change his name to “Indiana Jones.” I told him no to that request, but that I would call him “Indiana Braden” as a compromise.
When I’m not playing kid-friendly games with Braden, I’m usually playing one game, “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves,” which I declare is the best video game ever created. This game, a third-person shooter adventure similar to the “Tomb Raider” series, boasts amazing graphics, fluid controls and superior gameplay. I’m nearly through the game, but even when I complete it I still have the online component to tackle in which I can take on other players in a number of battles.
Online play is one of the Playstation 3’s main attractions, yet it’s the only one that intimidates me. The few times I’ve ventured online to take on other human opponents I’m usually beaten quickly. That’s probably because so many people out there are extremely talented when it comes to video games, but also because I’ve let the whole notion of them being better get into my head.
I’m better with people I know, rather than strangers; however, I only have one Playstation “Friend.” Any local people interested in befriending me should send a request to “mtk93.” I’ll gladly accept it to have the opportunity to take on Gazette readers.
Although I’m late in getting a Playstation 3 – it has been out since 2005 – I don’t have to worry about a newer generation console replacing it anytime soon. It’ll be at least two years before any of those come out.
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