Sid Meier's SimGolf
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| Sid Meier's Sim Golf | |
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| Developer(s) | Firaxis Maxis |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Designer(s) | Sid Meier |
| Engine | Custom |
| Release date(s) | 23 January, 2002 |
| Genre(s) | Simulation/Strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ELSPA: 3+ ESRB: Everyone (E) PEGI: 3+ |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Media | 1 CD |
| Input | Keyboard & mouse |
Sid Meier's Sim Golf is a computer game created by Sid Meier, Firaxis, and Maxis in 2002. In the game, players must successfully design golf courses and play them with their professional golfer. Played in a near-isometric dimetric view, the game runs on fairly low system specs, but only at an 800x600 resolution.
[edit] Overview
The game features a complete system that allows the player to build their own golf empire. Players begin with some money and choose a country to begin building the players' course. Once there, players begin by placing a teeing ground and a putting green for Hole One and are then allowed to go on adding or modifying what lies between: trees, rough, bunkers (or sandtraps), landmarks, benches, paths, flowerbeds, terrain and just do about anything players would normally see in a golf course. Players are advised not to waste money because if the coffers stay in the red long enough, the game is over. If players design the course well, they can manage to build an entire 18-hole course while obtaining profits. Players can also populate their course with a variety of staff, such as gardeners who will pull out any unsightly weeds, managers that will talk to customers and drinks stands to help golfers quench their thirst.
Everything players add (or fail to) will modify the overall mood of the golfers. Keeping them happy will allow them to invest in the players' course or donate a valuable landmark. Reward buildings, such as marinas, airstrips, theme parks or churches, will be provided and may be used to beautify the landscape. Other facilities made available as players progress through the game include a bar, a putting green, a tennis court and homes to Hollywood stars or other international celebrities. These landmarks have different properties that help the environment in some way, improving unpopular spots and otherwise calming down angry golfers (Every part of the course is rated in this way, so that players have to raise its value with fun, skill and intelligence to have customers like it).
The game also enables the player to save their professional golfer, Gary Golf, and then play championships with him to earn some extra money to further embellish or expand the course. Maxis has also set up a website where players can visit the exchange part and enter a huge archive of player-designed Championship courses for players to download and play, which adds immensely to the long-term value of the game.
The game is fairly easy to pick up and play, compared to The Sims 2, for example. In the long run, however, it takes skill and dedication to build really beautiful, profitable courses that work. Another thing that adds to its depth is the fact that golfers come to play in pairs and usually talk about their own interests. If players put the proper landmarks in the proper places, these stories may progress and have a happy ending, which also adds to players' course. There is also a 'sandbox' mode, which allows you to play the game with an infinite amount of money, so you can hone your designing skills.
