Not to be a debbie downer Nik and maybe I'm wrong and the wgt development team has improved but wgt moves imfamously slow with fixes often causing new bugs in the process that go unfixed for long periods of time.
I like your posistivity though. I hope what you're saying ends up being true. But based on past experiences I'm not going to be overly enthusiastic or optimistic. Trying to not be overly negative also. With that in mind, if some things aren't said I feel there is no chance for this new version to keep the older players. It might come across as me ragging on wgt. But in actuality it comes from a place that wants wgt to succeed.
It doesn't need to be a replica of the flash version Nik, I don't think that's what we have said or even particularly want. We just want it to play similar and keep it's core of how it plays, which is why we've stuck around so long (10 years myself). It's a great game. We wouldn't (and I'm speaking for most top players) mind having the game play harder! The issue is in the greens that are NOT accurate.. the dots don't move correctly and the game looks like a cartoon. Drive and approach shot forgivness is also way too high. Would love for it to be harder than the flash version I wouldnt mind one bit. So no, it doesnt need to be a clone.
To the guy who said '46' had a good round and didn't have issues with putting. That was his initial view of the putting. I believe he's said thereafter that the aimpoints are the same but the dots move too slow and are innacurate on many of the bigger breaking putts. Especially the short to mid range putts.
One of my biggest worries along with the dot speed on greens is the cheating. It is way easier to cheat with a standalone exe file than with an online flash platform.
The game is in early release not a beta version meaning most likely, for the most part, what you see is what you'll get. They didn't develop this for pc, they ported the mobile version to the standalone and so far all they are addressing in comments is adding functionality and are not responding to comments or attempting to take veteran players feedback seriously at all concerning how the game plays, looks or feels. Maybe they are and just haven't responded. But I haven't seen any quick replies to suggestions from veterans while you see many replies for pointless things like playing multiplayer from friends list. It won't matter if the game plays like this. I will be done and most other top players I've spoken to on stream and in private, feel the same way.
I would be singing to a different tune if they actively sought out our opinions and showed they cared, but they have done the exact opposite so far.
It appears they are catering to a new mobile wave of younger players where they can upsell them with cartoon looking avatar add-ons and gear. Notice how they add very little in the way of equiptment for higher level players. In their view we dont make them money, the newbies do that move up levels and tiers. They have never really cared about the top tier players and opinions and it's showing to be true yet again.
It's fine to try to make money, it's a business. But forgetting about your loyal veteran fanbase is just bad taste and a bad idea.
And to be honest I think this is happening and will continue to happen in this new standalone. It's a big mistake. I hope I'm completely wrong, I do.