I'm definitely interested in picking up TW09. I sold of 07 awhile back, and meant to pick up 08. I guess 09 will will have to do, if we can get a few of us that want to play.

I think I'll be picking this up. Would be fun to have a GWJ golfing season of sorts. I wonder how you could arrange such a thing?

I was thinking about picking this up. I recently got my 360 and tried demos for '07 and '08. '08 seemed to move at hyperspeed so I picked up '07 based on the demo feeling that much better. I wasn't even thinking about online play.

Demo is out and from what I've read in the XB Forums it's really dumbed down and you can't tell if it's going to be really a challenge or not. Hard to determine what improvements there really are. I guess I'll be downloading it (of course) and checking it out regardless.

Do I need to buy the game to get at the gay sex?

Okay, ignoring SwampYankees comment above, I just pre-ordeder this game. I think it could be a hoot if several of us play semi-regularly. Don't want to bite into Madden time or anything, but it would be fun. So cmon, please pick it up! Don't let my $60 be spent in vain...

Well, it look's like...

*puts on sunglasses*

...we're going to have to play a round.

Comes out next week! Can't wait! Sure hope a few other GWJ'ers pick this up and we can play a foursome!

I didn't notice anyone else posting this, so I thought I would share this EA promotional video -- it made me chuckle. Tiger Woods Can in Fact Walk on Water.

I don't know why they dired up. I cannot rule you out as a factor.

The problem is, would EA be making a mockery of their last game if they had any competition? Seriously, I'm getting back to that place (again) where, as a sports gamer, I have hard time putting up with anything EA. They have really ruined the landscape of sports games.

Some comments from someone who got ahold of a copy early (no on-line info yet, but probably by the weekend for a couple more folks have got a copy too and plan to play).

'...

Anyway, the cam starts behind your golfer and then switches to a multitude of camera views while the ball is traveling in the air. The cam stays behind you for a split second longer this year, and thats it before it switches to a random camera that you cannot pick. When playing with the CPU, it is identical to last year.

Replays can be veiwed from any angle.

Yes, the putting camera switches constantly so that you cannot have a read coming back if you miss. Oh well...

Load times are ALOT better this year. As far as the swing goes, the animations look better this year, as well as the feel/feedback you get from the meter in the bottom left. Very good feeling to it and much smoother it seems.

So far I have only played tour pro and it is a little too easy right now with my guy up to about a 7.1 out of 12. I have played a couple rounds of the first PGA tour event and I had a hole in one and shot 66. I felt that I left about a 60 on the course though. The CPU leaders were at 5 and 4 under.

Sorry OrthoStud, havent played the final round yet, and no, I have not seen OB stakes - but I will look later tonight. Lastly, the CPU was at about 5 under when I was around 1 under through 8 or 9.

Gamerface image was uploaded new, as I couldnt use last years image....

...

Im using the stock MS wireless controller. My tuning sweetspots are set around 52% for almost all clubs and I am getting plenty of distance. Right around tour average for a Driver (280) and 7-iron (155~) - and I am about half way leveled up (7.0). PS: You cannot use the right analog stick - at least I havent seen the option.

I dont know, but hitting straighter shots (at least for me) compared to my maxed out golfer last year on Tour Mode, seems ALOT easier as you can view your swing stick location in the bottom left. So if I am a little bit inside I can try to straighten it out on the upswing. I dont think Ive hit a wayward shot yet, and I am not as good as you guys. More of a recreational player. Last year my guy was all over the place.

With that said, putting seems very similar to last year on Tour Mode. Not easy. Lastly, I have only played two rounds and beat a few challenges, so with more difficult pin locations and weather, the difficulty may go up.

I will check on the minimum sweet spot percentage tonight. I hope to see you guys getting the game soon, as it is a little lonely online...

...What is cool though, after every shot you can pull the RT to post the shot online to the GamerNet challenges instantly, without interrupting play. Load times are quick. Nice feature.

...'

I've got my copy. I'll post some impressions tonight once i've spent some serious time screwing up the courses.

Mine came in the mail yesterday, but ..... ok, I'll just say it.....

My wife forced me to watch big brother with her and I only got to create my golfer and play 2 holes at Sawgrass before bed.

If you see me around... shoot an invite. It just might get me out of watching another lame TV show.

Alright, I found my first gripe.

The opening difficulty level (Balanced) isn't very balanced. Or hard. Once I leveled up my golfer (average skill level 8.0 although my short game needs work) I just crushed the TPC at Sawgrass to the tune of a -14 under par with little difficulty. The upside, is that there are two difficulty levels after that (Hard, and Tour Pro).

Except online. In internet play, there only seem to be two difficulty levels, Balanced and Tour Pro. I haven't tried the latter yet, but I have a feeling it might turn my -14 into a +24 right quick.

I'll give hard a try today, see how I do and report back. I have a feeling that "Tour Pro" may be the GWJ online mode of play favored, because Balanced just allows for too much awesomeness (Eagles are not a rarity, but a probability with any capable golfer on Balanced).

I have to say, for those of you worried about online play, i'm not seeing any issues whatsover. I did more dabbling last night, and although I didn't win a damn thing, I haven't seen hiccup a-one. Again, I was keeping it short with 3-Hole minigames, but no problems acessing, playing, very little lag.

EDIT: I forgot, there's a LOT of flex for playing courses though. Choice of tees, difficulty of the greens, fairways, of the pin, et cetera. Have I mentioned I like this game a lot? Because I do.