Virtual golf scores a hole in one

By Julian Knight
BBC News website

A computer golfer replicates the action on screen

So this is what virtual gaming 2006 style is all about.

Standing in my living room with a foot-long plastic golf club in my two gloved hands, which are in turn attached by very strong string to a Gametrak motion capture home technology unit, I feel, well, a bit of a prat.

Thankfully, I remembered to close the curtains before starting to play the Real World Golf video game for the Gametrak on PlayStation 2.

The movement of the gloves is mirrored in real time by the on-screen character.

I make a golf swing over the Gametrak and a rather dapper looking chap on screen - no garish pants so it's not true Real World Golf then - does exactly the same.

The computer golfer makes contact with the ball and sends it soaring all of 10 yards into long grass just short of the ladies tee. Ironically, this is almost identical to how I play golf in the real world.

Pick up and play

Real World Golf offers a completely novel gaming experience and for that it has to be applauded.

The gloves are attached to a Gametrak motion capture unit

First of all, it is easy to grasp. For example, navigating the menu is simply a matter of stretching out either the right or left gloved hand and pressing a floor button. This arm-flailing can make it seem like you are using semaphore but it works.

As for the golf, you choose which set of golf clubs you are going to use, ranging from amateur to professional characteristics.

Amateur clubs mean that you do not hit the ball far but generally it goes straight. On the other hand, select professional and you give it a right tonk but it may end up in the next county.

Putting is the best thing about this game. When you get on the green, which can take a fair few hacks, the game tells you how hard you have to putt the ball to hole it.

You then get the option to take practice swings. Each time you take a practice swing it tells you how hard your stroke is.

This brings a real tension to the putting stroke: can you reproduce your perfect practice or will you end up smacking off the green and into the bunker?

Mundane commentary

Getting good at Real World Golf is a long haul but improvements are rewarded along the way by being granted access to all five of the game's golf courses.

REAL WORLD GOLF Format: PlayStation 2 Sound: 5 Gameplay: 7 Enduring appeal: 7 Overall: 7

There are lots of modes, tournaments, match play and even fun party games where you try to hit targets on a virtual driving range.

You can also compete in two player party games and match play.

All in all, there is enough to keep you entertained for months; just as long as you don't have one of those: what am I doing, swinging a miniature club around my living room moments?

Sadly the commentary, supplied by veteran commentator Peter Allis, never delivers anything beyond the mundane.

Allis' richly contoured voice is produced perfectly but his trademark "madder than a bag of ferrets" pronouncements are sadly lacking.

Likewise, the graphics are mediocre and Tiger Woods knocks plus fours off it as far as choice of courses and sheer depth of options goes.

Real World Golf is not cheap - the game costs £24.99 and the Gametrak £19.99 but you can use it with another game, the Tekken-style fighter Darkwind.

There are plans to bring out more Gametrak games in 2007 and an Xbox compatible version in March.

All in all, Real World Golf and the Gametrak offers a unique gaming experience bound to make some gamers take notice in these days of tired driving games and shoot-em ups.

But one piece of advice, if you play this at home, remember to draw the curtains.