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''World Golf Tour'' is an online multiplayer virtual golf game. WGT Golf is played virtually on actual golf courses from around the world, using a patented 3D photorealistic georeferencing technology.〔 〕〔 〕 Players have the ability to play with their family or friends, join a foursome, or start their own game.〔 〕 Players can choose and compete in a variety of virtual golf courses with up to four players at a time, play individually or enter into a skills challenge or in tournaments for prizes.〔 〕〔 〕 Co-founders of WGT Media Chad Nelson and YuChiang Cheng〔 〕 collaborated in 2006 to come up with a high-quality golf game simulation that could be played for free on the Internet,〔 〕 and compete with or surpass the visual quality of console video sports games. Part of the intended goal was to have a fully integrated social golfing network website.〔〔 〕 They recruited JF Prata and Phil Gorrow of Electronic Arts to build the physics game engine〔 that interfaces the thousands of photographs of each golf course that are used to create the WGT Golf experience. WGT Media launched a demo of the site in 2007 and commenced an open beta test in October 2008.〔 〕 The first golf course WGT Media captured and developed for play was the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, located in South Carolina.〔 〕 Because of its authenticity in photographing and using actual golf courses for game development, WGT Golf differs from standard console video sports games that are produced fully by computer graphics, rendered by animators.〔 Using this particular process of game development, it can allow real golfers to play virtually on real golf courses at WGT Golf and then take that knowledge and experience out to the actual golf courses themselves to test their skills and ability.〔〔 〕 Members of the PGA have even practiced at WGT Golf before going to tournaments. WGT Media does not charge a fee to play the HD courses it has developed (although there is a green fee for licensed non-HD courses). WGT Media derives revenue from high-profile online tournament sponsors, advertisements, and in-game micro transactions for upgrading player golfing equipment and for different choices in costume avatar clothing.〔 Tournament cash prizes can be won and then used to buy virtual goods, like new clubs and clothing to customize the in-game avatar.〔 In January 2011, a foursome completed the 100 millionth virtual round of golf played on WGT Golf. In October 2013, World Golf Tour Media released the mobile version for tablets and smartphones. == Game Development == WGT Golf is developed using Adobe Creative Suite 4 Web Premium software. WGT Media starts the process of game development by taking thousands of high definition photos of actual golf courses using helicopters equipped with cameras〔 〕 and GPS tracking systems.〔〔 〕 WGT Media then textures the photographs onto the 3D environment, 〔 using Adobe Premiere Pro to determine how each of the different surfaces will have an effect on the ball. The terrain is within 1-1.5 inch vertical accuracy of the real world.〔〔 〕 Computer animation, using Adobe Flash CS4 Professional, is then used to create the avatars that are used as the golfer for each player.〔 To replicate how the golf ball reacts to the club swing, rolls across the green, or bounces down the fairway, WGT Media ran various tests to measure impact and collision data. The data were then entered into WGT's newly created game physics engine to determine how each player's golf swing would affect ball travel based on input by the player. 〔 Lastly Adobe Flash is then used to stream audio and video together for a seamless transition from picture to picture during game play, as a player moves down the fairway or makes a putt.〔 〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「World Golf Tour」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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