Software:What the Golf?

From HandWiki
Short description: 2019 video game
WHAT THE GOLF?
Developer(s)Triband
Publisher(s)Triband[lower-alpha 1]
Composer(s)Sune “Køter” Kølster
EngineUnity
Platform(s)iOS, macOS, tvOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, visionOS, Windows
Release
  • iOS, macOS, tvOS
  • 19 September 2019
  • Windows
  • 1 October 2019
  • Nintendo Switch
  • 21 May 2020
  • visionOS
  • 2 February 2024
  • PS4, PS5
  • 14 March 2024
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

What the Golf? (stylized as WHAT THE GOLF?) is a 2019 sports video game developed and published by Danish studio Triband. It was originally released for iOS, macOS and tvOS through Apple Arcade by The Label on 19 September 2019 as a launch title for the service, with a visionOS version also released on the service in 2024 by Team17 USA, The Label's successor.[1] Ports for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were released by Triband, respectively in 2019, 2020 and 2024.[2][3] The game received critical acclaim for its surreal humor and gameplay, winning multiple awards and becoming one of Apple Arcade's most popular titles.[4][5] It was followed up by What the Car? and What the Clash?.

Gameplay

A level in which the golf ball is replaced by a couch.

The game revolves around completing levels to progress on the world map. The goal of each level is to reach the hole. Every level of the game has a twist on traditional golf. Each section of the world map has its own theme, which the level's unique mechanics follow in comedic fashion.

A multiplayer mode, Party Mode, was initially released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch version before being released for other non-Apple Arcade versions.[6]

Development

What the Golf? was crowdfunded through American crowdfunding website Fig.[7] The developers chose golf as the sport to parody, saying that it was "mostly played by rich people, so it seemed like a safe target". The levels in the game were designed to be short, to be able to try as many jokes as possible. Much of the game's humor is based around slapstick, as it was seen as a form of comedy that would work regardless of where the player was. The game's crown system was designed to make players revisit levels and for people who wanted to complete everything. The developers considered having unlockable skins for the golf ball, but the idea ended up being scrapped. The slow-motion feature was originally intended for the game's soccer level, but it was added to the rest of the game.[8] FoxNext funded the game's development.[9]

Release

What the Golf? released on 19 September 2019 for iOS, macOS and tvOS on Apple Arcade by The Label. A macOS version separate from Apple Arcade and a Windows port launched through the Epic Games Store on 1 October 2019.[10] A Nintendo Switch port was released on 21 May 2020.[11] A physical Nintendo Switch release was sold through Iam8bit alongside a vinyl soundtrack.[12] A Steam version was released on 22 October 2020.[13] A version for visionOS with mixed reality features became available through Apple Arcade with the release of the Apple Vision Pro headset on February 2, 2024.[14] Versions for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were released on 14 March 2024.[15]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
MetacriticiOS: 79/100[16]
PC: 83/100[17]
NS: 84/100[18]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid8.5/10
GameSpot8/10
PC Gamer (US)88/100
TouchArcadeStarStarStarStarHalf star[20]

What the Golf? received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[16][17] Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received "mighty" approval, being recommended by 98% of critics.[19] Sergio Velasquez of TouchArcade praised the element of surprise the game presented.[20] Jordan Devore of Destructoid appreciated the game's comedic value.[21] Christopher Livingston, writing for PC Gamer, while also praising the comedy, enjoyed both the soundtrack and the challenge each level brought.[22] However, James O'Connor of GameSpot did not enjoy the differences between the Windows and Apple editions.[23]

Awards

Year Award Category Result Ref
2019 SXSW Gaming Awards 2019 Gamer's Voice: Video Game Nominated [4]
Independent Games Festival Awards 2019 Excellence in Design Nominated [24]
The Game Awards 2019 Best Mobile Game Nominated [5]
2020 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game Nominated [25]
Portable Game of the Year Nominated
Game Developers Choice Awards Best Mobile Game Won [26]
16th British Academy Games Awards EE Mobile Game of the Year Nominated [27]
2020 Webby Awards Best Game Design Nominated [28]
Best User Experience Nominated

Notes

  1. ↑ Released on Apple Arcade by Team17 USA (formerly by The Label).

References

  1. ↑ Frushtick, Russ (2019-09-17). "Here's the full list of games coming to Apple Arcade on launch day" (in en). https://www.polygon.com/apple/2019/9/17/20870210/apple-arcade-line-up-full-list-release-date-november-19. 
  2. ↑ "'What the Golf' is coming to the Nintendo Switch on May 21st" (in en-US). 2020-05-12. https://www.engadget.com/what-the-golf-nintendo-switch-174555359.html. 
  3. ↑ Ivan, Tom (2024-02-12). "Indie hit What the Golf? is coming to PlayStation" (in en-GB). https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/indie-hit-what-the-golf-is-coming-to-playstation/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Trent, Logan (2019-01-29). "Announcing the 2019 SXSW Gamer's Voice Award Nominees!". https://gaming.sxsw.com/news/2019/announcing-the-2019-sxsw-gamers-voice-award-nominees/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Makuch, Eddie (2019-12-13). "All Winners From The Game Awards 2019". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/all-winners-from-the-game-awards-2019/1100-6472169/. 
  6. ↑ Hall, Charlie (2020-05-12). "What The Golf? arrives for Nintendo Switch this May with new local multiplayer mode" (in en-US). https://www.polygon.com/2020/5/12/21255790/what-the-golf-nintendo-switch-release-date-price-local-multiplayer. 
  7. ↑ Alvarez, Edgar (2018-03-22). "'What The Golf?' is the perfect game for people who don't care about golf". https://www.engadget.com/2018/03/22/what-the-golf-demo/. 
  8. ↑ Harris, John (November 2019). "What the Golf? is going on in this Q&A" (in en). https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/353206/What_the_Golf_is_going_on_in_this_QA.php. 
  9. ↑ Forde, Matthew (22 March 2019). "GDC 2019: FoxNext Games picks up Big Indie Pitch winner What The Golf?". Pocket Gamer. https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/70311/gdc-2019-foxnext-games-picks-up-big-indie-pitch-winner-what-the-golf/. 
  10. ↑ "What the Golf? - The golf game for people who hate golf" (in en-US). October 2019. https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/product/what-the-golf/home. 
  11. ↑ "If Utterly Bonkers Multiplayer Games Are Your Jam, Check Out What The Golf? On Switch". 12 May 2020. http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/05/if_utterly_bonkers_multiplayer_games_are_your_jam_check_out_what_the_golf_on_switch. 
  12. ↑ "WHAT THE GOLF? (Nintendo Switch Physical Edition)" (in en). https://www.iam8bit.com/products/what-the-golf-nintendo-switch-physical-edition. 
  13. ↑ "WHAT THE GOLF? on Steam" (in en). https://store.steampowered.com/app/785790/WHAT_THE_GOLF/. 
  14. ↑ "Apple announces more than 600 new apps built for Apple Vision Pro". Apple Inc.. 2024-02-01. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/02/apple-announces-more-than-600-new-apps-built-for-apple-vision-pro/. 
  15. ↑ Nightingale, Ed (2024-02-13). "What The Golf? heading to PlayStation next month" (in en). Eurogamer.net. https://www.eurogamer.net/what-the-golf-heading-to-playstation-next-month. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "WHAT THE GOLF? for iPhone/iPad Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/what-the-golf/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "WHAT THE GOLF? for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/what-the-golf/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  18. ↑ "WHAT THE GOLF? for Switch Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/what-the-golf/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "What the Golf?". OpenCritic. https://opencritic.com/game/8322/what-the-golf-. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Velasquez, Sergio (2019-09-25). "Apple Arcade: 'What The Golf?' Review – The Best Golf Game not related to Golf". https://toucharcade.com/2019/09/25/apple-arcade-what-the-golf-review/. 
  21. ↑ Devore, Jordan (2019-09-21). "Review: What the Golf?". https://www.destructoid.com/review-what-the-golf--567523.phtml. 
  22. ↑ Livingston, Christopher (2019-10-02). "What the Golf? review". https://www.pcgamer.com/what-the-golf-review/. 
  23. ↑ O'Connor, James (2019-10-09). "What The Golf Review - Swing And A Hit". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/what-the-golf-review-swing-and-a-hit/1900-6417335/. 
  24. ↑ Fogel, Stephanie (2019-01-03). "'Return of the Obra Dinn' Leads IGF Awards Nominees". https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/igf-awards-2019-nominees-1203098551/. 
  25. ↑ Chalk, Andy (2020-01-13). "Control and Death Stranding get 8 nominations each for the 2020 DICE Awards". https://www.pcgamer.com/control-and-death-stranding-get-eight-nominations-each-for-the-2020-dice-awards/. 
  26. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (2020-03-18). "Untitled Goose Game Wins Another Game Of The Year Award". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/untitled-goose-game-wins-another-game-of-the-year-/1100-6474953/. 
  27. ↑ Stuart, Keith (2020-03-03). "Death Stranding and Control dominate Bafta games awards nominations". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/mar/03/death-stranding-and-control-dominate-bafta-games-awards-nominations. 
  28. ↑ "Webby Awards: Games". 2020-05-19. https://winners.webbyawards.com/#/winners/games. 



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