LADYDRAGON.COM - Sid Meier's SimGolf

Sid Meier recently hosted a SimGolf chat at TheSims.com, here are the transcritps of the second chat

maxissid says, After a brief delay due to tech. difficulties, were here to talk about...

maxissid says, SimGolf and answer your questions.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #336 from directorjosh:

In SimGolf, can we have personalities like Tiger Woods?

maxissid says, On our last WebCast we got a lot of questions about how customizable SimGolf is going to be.

maxissid says, So today we'll spend some time talking about two new concepts in the game:

maxissid says, Theme Packs and user created stories.

maxissid says, Users will be able to customize and exchange through the SimGolf web site...

maxissid says, a number of elements from the game, among them...

maxissid says, Golfer characters complete with unique faces and dialogue,

maxissid says, Pro golfer characters with skill stats, faces, and dialogue...

maxissid says, Celebrity files which determine which celebrities buy homes on your course,...

maxissid says, and last but not least... user created stories which unfold as players play your course.

maxissid says, This is out Theme Pack selection screen...

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #355 from mattvols:

will we be able to create skins and houses and stories like in the sims

maxissid says, which share a common theme.

maxissid says, There are a lot of game elements which can be customized and changed.

maxissid says, The way we organize these is called a Theme Pack.

maxissid says, Examples of Theme Packs might be...

maxissid says, - your favorite Sims characters,

maxissid says, - your favorite golf course created in SimGolf for others to play.

maxissid says, - characters from a favorite movie: Caddyshack, Tin Cup, Star Trek, whatever.

maxissid says, - a group of comedy and romance stories.

maxissid says, - a complete course and group of pros from a recent major golf tournament.

maxissid says, - a collection of mystery and adventure stories.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #344 from kkurumada:

What kinds of tools will we have in the game?

maxissid says, After this WebCast we'll be making available a tool which allows you to create and

maxissid says, preview you own SimGolf stories,

maxissid says, Let me give you a few details in case you want to create your own stories.

maxissid says, Here is a screen shot from SimGolf of a story beginning.

maxissid says, In this shot Pierre and Gilbert are playing a round of golf and Pierre mentions a problem he is having with his goldfish.

maxissid says, This is chapter one of our story, each story has four chapters.

maxissid says, The progress of each story depends on how much fun the golfers have on your course.

maxissid says, Next picture please...

maxissid says, A bit later in their round Gilbert again asks about Pierre's goldfish.

maxissid says, Stories allow for both positive and negative responses at each chapter.

maxissid says, Since Pierre responded positively we have completed chapter two.

maxissid says, Next picture...

maxissid says, Here we are a little later, after a few more shots.

maxissid says, At this point Pierre has just hit a bad shot and is a little annoyed at Gilbert's questioning.

maxissid says, A story allows for up to three negative responses in each chapter.

maxissid says, Next picture...

maxissid says, A short while later Pierre is feeling better and reveals some interesting information about his goldfish feeding habits.

maxissid says, So we now move on to chapter four.

maxissid says, As they approach the green, both golfers are enjoying their round of golf.

maxissid says, Gilbert is able to give Pierre some valuable advice which will save his goldfish!

maxissid says, Next picture...

maxissid says, Here we have a very Happy Ending to the Goldfish story. (applause)

maxissid says, Whenever you have a happy ending on your course, a special scenic element or landmark is added

maxissid says, to commemorate the event.

maxissid says, A happy ending also makes it likely that these golfers will join your club and return to play again.

maxissid says, Here is the data file which allows this story to happen.

maxissid says, As you can see it is a simple, easy to create text file in a story format.

maxissid says, The first line is the story title.

maxissid says, The second line may optionally contain the authors name.

maxissid says, A line which begins at the far left indicates a new chapter.

maxissid says, So the first line of chapter one is...

maxissid says, "What's the matter, PARTNER? You look sad."

maxissid says, As you've probably figured out, the computer replaces the word PARTNER with the actual name of the player in the game.

maxissid says, The first possible response is always the positive one, in this case...

maxissid says, " My goldfish is sick, he's not gonna make it."

maxissid says, Note that since this is part of the same chapter, the first space in the line is blank,

maxissid says, a line which begins at the first column indicates a new chapter.

maxissid says, Following the positive response you can include up to three negative responses,

maxissid says, in this case we have a single one...

maxissid says, " I'd rather not talk about it."

maxissid says, Remember that if the player responds negatively we don't go on to the next chapter,

maxissid says, but try this chapter again a bit later in the game.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #345 from mattvols:

can we make are own personalities

maxissid says, Yes, you can add your own favorite personalities to SimGolf.

maxissid says, Here we have created famed golfer Will Cool.

maxisfetterman presents the speaker with question #361 from directorjosh:

Will there be famous Golf Course Scenarios?

maxissid says, Users can create thier own favorite courses and share them with other players.

maxissid says, You can then play those courses with your own customized Joe Cool golf pro.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #381 from kristin_and_ross:

Can you move the ducks in your game, Mister Sid sir?

maxissid says, Hey, that's a great idea. I'll put it in tomorrow!

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #382 from simmasterfran:

do you do the shots?

maxissid says, Yes, you design, build, and PLAY the course of your dreams.

maxissid says, Your golfer gains skills as he plays the course and can win money and play in tournaments.

maxisfetterman presents the speaker with question #348 from sidmeiersnumber1fan:

How massive can your golf course get, will it be really limited like the maps of SimCity?

maxissid says, Part of the challenge of the game is to use you land creatively. Every now and then...

maxissid says, County Commisioner I.M. Picky plays your course, and if he likes your course he'll allow you to expand your land.

maxissid says, Generally there will be enought space to build a full 18 holes.

maxissid says, Here is a third story called 'Male Bonding'.

maxissid says, Notice how the first chapter draws you into the story by making you wonder, 'What's going on here?'

maxissid says, With a variety of negative responses, this story will unfold in a different way each time.

maxissid says, The second and third chapters help to move the story along.

maxissid says, It is important that the final fourth chapter clearly signal the end of the story.

maxissid says, It also helps if it is funny, heartwarming, surprising, or resolves the mystery.

maxissid says, As you can see, writing stories can be a lot of fun. You can create them

maxissid says, using your favorite text editor or word processor. We've also made a tool

maxissid says, for you which will allow you to check out your stories and view them much

maxissid says, as they will unfold in SimGolf.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #399 from kristin_and_ross:

How many different story lines do you have for the golfers?

maxissid says, Well we've written a couple of store already, BUT....

maxissid says, we'd like to invite you to write a story or two and send them to us.

maxissid says, We'll try and share a couple of our favorites on the next webcast, who knows,

maxissid says, we might even be able to put a couple in the game!

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #402 from masterofsimsjosh:

where do we send the stories to?

maxissid says, Email your stories to golfstories@firaxis.com

maxissid says, once again that's golfstories@firaxis.com

maxissid says, I must tell you that...

maxissid says, Selected storytellers may have their entry featured in SimGolf.

maxissid says, Selected users will be emailed a liability and publicity release in the form provided by Maxis.

maxissid says, Maxis reserves the right to edit any entry for publication.

maxissid says, Please also note that submission does not guarantee inclusion in the product.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #404 from proadam:

You said that there would be a tool to create stories, is that going to come out when the game comes out ?

maxissid says, YES!!!! Dan has created a tool to allow you to view your stories, it's available at...

maxissid says, WWW.FIRAXIS.COM

maxissid says, Hang on...

maxissid says, It's actually http://www.firaxis.com/simgolf/storyviewer.cfm

maxismagaha says, You will also be able to get it from http://simgolf.ea.com as well

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #406 from mattvols:

what all should we put in the e-mail. Do we type it in in the e-mail or do we attach a .txt file?

maxissid says, Get that imposter off the stage!

maxissid says, Attach a text file to your e-mail and we look forward to seeing your stories.

maxissid says, Here's another screen grab from the story tool you can download.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #409 from masterofsimsjosh:

On the Author Section, are we allowed to put our E-Mail Addresses there?

maxissid says, Yes, we'll need your email addr. to get permission to use your story.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #411 from mattvols:

how long should the story be?

maxissid says, Each story consists of four chapters, some examples are included....

maxissid says, with the story viewer. We'll put up another slide in a moment to show an example.

maxisfetterman presents the speaker with question #412 from mattvols:

what all should the story have in it

maxissid says, Humor, surprise, pathos, drama, and wit. Not necessarily in that order.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #416 from masterofsimsjosh:

Should the Stories be G Rated?

maxissid says, We'll count on you to be tasteful but clever.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #418 from mattvols:

how long will you be accepting stories?

maxissid says, We'll be accepting stories for the next two weeks.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #417 from yamo11:

How will sim golfer stories impact game play?

maxissid says, Whenever you have a happy ending on your course, a special scenic element or landmark is added

maxissid says, to commemorate the event.

maxissid says, A happy ending also makes it likely that these golfers will join your club and return to play again.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #419 from proadam:

Are you going to come in again?

maxissid says, Yes, we'll be back in two weeks with (hopefully) some user created stories and more SimGolf info.

maxisbing says, note to sid: landmarks make your course more unique, and more successful, but are limited availability in the game. Happy endings let you make your course more unique and more successful.

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #421 from masterofsimsjosh:

What will the Next WebCast Topic be on?Golf lets you hold your own golf tournaments- and play in them..

maxissid says, We have time for one more question....

maxismagaha presents the speaker with question #427 from proadam:

On www.thesims.com they have a skin available to download of you. Will there ever be a golfer of you to download for SimGolf?

maxissid says, We plan to have a Firaxis Theme Pack available on the SimGolf web site when the game ships in October.

maxissid says, The Theme Pack will have members of the game dev. team, and maybe a few...

maxissid says, great leaders from Civ III that you can load into your game!

maxissid says, Thanks for all your questions, we'll see you in two weeks. ... Sid

maxismagaha says, Thanks everyone for coming! Don

mayorrob says, Thank you Sid & the Firaxis team for coming along and taking the time to chat with us. And thank you to all the users who came to watch!

maxismagaha says, Don't forget to download the Story Viewer and send in your stories!

simmastersteven says, Thanks for coming Sid! Start writing those golfer stories everyone!

maxismagaha says, Just to review:

maxismagaha says, send your stories to: golfstories@firaxis.com

maxismagaha says, and you can get the story viewer at:

maxismagaha says, http://simgolf.ea.com

maxismagaha says, or

maxismagaha says, http://www.firaxis.com/simgolf