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Post by rchwallace on Dec 12, 2020 14:32:54 GMT -5
Hey guys,
I am getting close to wanting to beta test my course with friends and will want to publish it for that. But I have a few questions...
Is there a recommended way to be able to publish a "beta early release" that can then be edited and "fiinished" for full release?
If I publish a course and then work on it and then republish it will it overwrite the course file so that there is only one course?
Can I delete the beta course after publishing the finished course?
Additionally, weather and time of day settings in the course designer, I dont think I have seen anything about these in the tutorials that I have watched... Do they have any affect on the course when it is played?
Thanks in advance
Also, how do I subscribe to a thread if I want to be notified of replies?
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Post by ErixonStone on Dec 12, 2020 15:22:15 GMT -5
Is there a recommended way to be able to publish a "beta early release" that can then be edited and "fiinished" for full release? Best practice is to give it a nondescript name that clearly identifies it as a BETA. If your course name is "Pebble Beach Golf Links" then something like "PBGLBETA" works. If I publish a course and then work on it and then republish it will it overwrite the course file so that there is only one course? No. You'll end up with two published courses. Can I delete the beta course after publishing the finished course? No. Anything that is published is out there forever, for better or worse. Additionally, weather and time of day settings in the course designer, I dont think I have seen anything about these in the tutorials that I have watched... Do they have any affect on the course when it is played? Weather and Time of Day affect lighting, but have no effect on gameplay. how do I subscribe to a thread if I want to be notified of replies? at the top of this page, there is a "Thread Options" menu. Select "Bookmark".
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Post by 15eicheltower9 on Dec 12, 2020 15:34:28 GMT -5
In case you were unaware, in order to edit the course after publish to need to go into to "published courses" in the designer. It will reload it and save it in to your unpublished courses list as a different course with the same name. When you publish again it will technically be a different course. As Patrick said, any publish will be on the hb server forever so renaming your beta is the way to go. Save your proper course name for when your done.
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Post by Violinguy69 on Dec 12, 2020 17:02:59 GMT -5
With the ability to playtest a course within the designer, it's rarely necessary to publish a beta version anymore. You can set wind conditions within the designer. If you're doing so to have others play it before you "finish" it, fine, but do as above and name it something besides the name of your course.
Sometimes we forget something or maybe your course is being considered for tour play and the rangers find some bad pins or something. In that case, you would re-publish the fixed version as My Course (Tour) or something like that. The name has to be different enough for players to be able to find it for practice rounds.
You shouldn't publish more than one version of the course (aside from maybe a beta). Designers need to take their time and get the first one right rather than publish 3 or 4 versions. There is no rush to publish a course. An extra day or two makes no difference. We're all guilty of being anxious to get our courses out there, but take the extra time to make sure it's finished before hitting the publish button. I see it all the time in the game. Sometimes as many as 5 or 6 of the same course, same screenshot, same everything. The database is already clogged with enough garbage. Also, if you want players to find and play your course, having only one is a big help.
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Post by rchwallace on Dec 12, 2020 18:47:20 GMT -5
With the ability to playtest a course within the designer, it's rarely necessary to publish a beta version anymore. You can set wind conditions within the designer. If you're doing so to have others play it before you "finish" it, fine, but do as above and name it something besides the name of your course. Sometimes we forget something or maybe your course is being considered for tour play and the rangers find some bad pins or something. In that case, you would re-publish the fixed version as My Course (Tour) or something like that. The name has to be different enough for players to be able to find it for practice rounds. You shouldn't publish more than one version of the course (aside from maybe a beta). Designers need to take their time and get the first one right rather than publish 3 or 4 versions. There is no rush to publish a course. An extra day or two makes no difference. We're all guilty of being anxious to get our courses out there, but take the extra time to make sure it's finished before hitting the publish button. I see it all the time in the game. Sometimes as many as 5 or 6 of the same course, same screenshot, same everything. The database is already clogged with enough garbage. Also, if you want players to find and play your course, having only one is a big help. Hey Vio... Thanks for the comments Agree, primary reason I wanted to potentially publish a beta was so that the XBOX ‘community’ can give it a couple of goes. I am designing a real course and want people who play it to run it through the ringer... but I am designing on the PC. I fully intend to have it very close to finish... the reality is that I intend it to be finished but need a few others to play who are more familiar with the course or with designing in general to make comments on it so that I see with a different pair of goggles. I literally spent 2 hours on one 1/2 of a dual water hazard today so I am planning a high level of fidelity. For example I saw a post picture with OB markers on it and immediately I thought of numerous different applications that I might look into.... but getting some “beta” play done before that is likely preferable no?? Anyway, I am a mature gamer... lol, so I have no intention of spamming the courses. One Beta and one final release and maybe even no Beta... we will see.
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Post by Violinguy69 on Dec 13, 2020 12:15:53 GMT -5
rchwallaceSorry if it seemed like I was saying you might do that. That's not what I meant. On a positive note, we designers got our OB back when planting the stakes. For a while there, we didn't get the OB indication like we used to when putting down the markers. We had to kind of eyeball it. As for a beta, go right ahead. If you've got a good group of guys that'll give you good suggestions, by all means. Heck, I'll play it and see what's what if you like. My point was, if all you're doing is testing wind, a beta ain't necessary anymore.
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Post by rchwallace on Dec 14, 2020 0:15:37 GMT -5
rchwallaceSorry if it seemed like I was saying you might do that. That's not what I meant. On a positive note, we designers got our OB back when planting the stakes. For a while there, we didn't get the OB indication like we used to when putting down the markers. We had to kind of eyeball it. As for a beta, go right ahead. If you've got a good group of guys that'll give you good suggestions, by all means. Heck, I'll play it and see what's what if you like. My point was, if all you're doing is testing wind, a beta ain't necessary anymore. Understood and all good 😉
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