Electronic Arts had a playable demo of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007 at their Studio Showcase event. The development team had the game set up so that holes on four different courses could be played. AMN sat down and got a chance to get some hands on time with this developing title.

But first, some history: Last year's edition, Tiger Woods 06, was distinct from the PS2 and original Xbox versions in that it was somewhat scaled back. The 06 game lacked some of the variety in course and player choice that the PS2 and original Xbox version had in full supply, but made up for that with tighter controls and a more realistic difficulty level. That said, it seems the developers have listened to all the feedback and made noticeable improvements in several areas of the game. The number of courses available for play has been doubled to twelve, and will now include courses such as St. Andrews, Bandon Dunes (a more links-style course in eastern Oregon), Princeville (a famous Hawaiian course), Firestone Country Club, and Glen Abbey. A full set of PGA players will be available, as well as the popular GameFace mode that lets players design their own golfer in great detail, In addition, the interface and controls used to play the game have been changed significantly to offer a more realistic golf experience.

We spent most of our time with the Xbox 360 version, because the PS3 version was not as far along. The developers did mention that the final products on both systems would look and play the same. As of press time there have been no announcements stating that there will be any console exclusive content for either system.

The interface seems to be the big change this year. All the clutter has been cleared away and now all relevant information is cleanly displayed in the bottom corners of the screen. The club is still swung with the left stick, but the right stick now functions as the Loft Stick, allowing you to adjust the club face angle for higher or lower shots. During putting the Loft Stick lets you adjust the amount of oomph you put into the swing.

The aiming system has been drastically changed, and this is a good thing –- the last game's arrow-based targeting was so accurate you might as well have been using a sniper rifle. Anyone who has played golf knows that myriad variables can affect a shot. The new targeting system features a large vague circle that gives the player an idea of all the places that a shot could land. Using this circle to place a shot felt more like actually playing golf. Let's say you're trying to hit a small green or narrow fairway. You'll have to be cognizant of all the nearby hazards: water, bunkers, even the crowd of adoring fans watching you play. Even Tiger Woods dunks a ball every now and then.



Tiger is back; and better than ever.

The analog control was tight and responsive as we are used to by now. Putting felt natural, and we were glad to see that the game doesn't help you out too much. Gone is the Ideal Putt Cam (although it can be turned on in the options), and all you are left with is a flashing grid to help with assessing the break on long putts.

Another interesting change was how players advance through the game. Instead of spending points upping various attributes, the game now provides a beautiful practice facility where you can work on your game. The facility was huge, with lots of mini-game type things to do. Practice makes perfect, so the areas in which you spend most of your time will dictate how your virtual golfer improves. The final result will be better range of your clubs and a smaller, tighter aiming circle out on the course.



Look at that finish!