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This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Deconstructing Golden Tee LIVEDeconstructing Golden Tee LIVE

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This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Deconstructing Golden Tee LIVEDeconstructing Golden Tee LIVE

Learn More Buy

Introducing Player Customizations and Other Options

The concept of being able to personalize your golfer was triggered primarily by the desire to introduce a woman golfer into the game. For years, players and operators grumbled about the absence of women in Golden Tee. The game’s golfer was male, the announcers were male, and most of the players were male. Women felt left out. Operators knew that if they could get even a small percentage of their female patrons involved in the game, it would boost their revenue. In prior versions of Golden Tee, technical limitations prevented the addition of a female golfer. In LIVE, there were no roadblocks, and Larry and Jim knew the time was right to add a female golfer to Golden Tee.

After they decided to put a female golfer in the game, they began to wonder how they could possibly do that without driving players crazy with a series of options that they would have to sift through before they could play. And that’s when they decided to add the Options button, a button that sent a clear signal: "If you want more options, press here. Otherwise, tee up." The button provided options on demand—options available for players who wanted them and easily passed over for those who didn’t.

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Although player customization features are pretty standard in games designed for home consoles, they’re problematic in coin-op games. "When you’re designing for a coin-operated game," explains Jim, "you can’t afford to do what the console games do—a player can spend all day customizing his game persona. We can’t afford to do that. We’d lose money in the cash box. So, we came up with the Options button, which is great because it sits underneath the surface of the game. You can play the game and have fun without ever touching the button, but it’s there for those who want it. The Options button was the key that enabled us to offer player customization in a coin-operated environment; it added a hidden layer to the game that was easily accessible."

Like the concept of an always-on connection, the Options button blossomed into a bouquet of opportunities. What else could players do with the Options button? Larry and Jim began kicking around some ideas. If players could choose the golfer’s sex, why not let them choose from a variety of races and ethnicities? If they could make those choices, maybe they should be able to select clothes as well. Perhaps they could equip their golfers with special clubs and golf balls. The relatively minor decision to add a female golfer to the game rippled through the development of Golden Tee LIVE, affecting changes that Larry and Jim hadn’t even considered at first.

Figure 3.3

Figure 3.3 Deciding to put a female golfer in the game leads to an Options button, which inspires additional options.

Pro Shop

The growing trend in personalizing products also influenced the decision to add an Options button to the game. "We recognized the importance of individuality," explains Larry. "It’s clear in the cell phone industry. People have gone crazy with ring tones, skins, faceplates, and other ways to personalize the stuff they buy. It’s a trend. So, we decided that we wanted to drive individuality as well, and that led us to the clothes, and that led us to the equipment and the custom balls. The customization options add more depth to the game; they change the way the game plays. And it all started with that low rumble on the street to add a female golfer to the game."

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