Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13: Better with Kinect

EA Sports has added Kinect functionality to its latest version of the popular golfing franchise Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 that includes being able to actually swing at the ball and give voice commands through the sensor’s camera and microphone.

Avid golfers, certainly one of the key audiences for a game like this, will be happy to know that you are now actually able to swing the ball using the same motion you do when actually playing the game. But there is a catch. Because it is far easier for the sensor to pick up the nuances of the stroke from the front, rather than from the side, players basically face the screen to address the ball and swing the club. This may throw one’s game off a bit because while they are swinging, they are seeing a different perspective on the screen, which can get a bit odd. It also strikes me that the same could hold true the other way around. Getting used to swinging sideways to propel the ball forward may have ramifications out on the real course. Although I would imagine that with a little practice, it won’t be so bad, but I could see it being a bit unnaturally grating to regular golfing enthusiasts.

The other big feature shown is the ability to talk to the game in order to perform certain functions. They call it See It-Say It. Basically words are put on the screen giving your whatever options are available at the moment for voice. “Aim Shot” for example lets you make fine adjustments to the aim on the green when putting. After saying the command, you use your hands to adjust the stance so that the ball is properly aligned. You can also say “Putt Preview” to get the lay of the land to see if there is any curves or hills that may not be apparent.


Above is a look at these new ways to play from EA Sports via their latest trailer for the game, focusing exclusively on their Kinect implementation for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13. In the video, a member of the development team takes us on a tour of navigating a typical hole. It first shows how one addresses and swings the ball with the driver down the fairway. He then goes into more detail on what happens when you get to the green for putting.

The game can still be played with a regular controller, thus the moniker Better with Kinect. This isn’t the only sports game EA plans to add this sort of functionality to. Plans are also underway to include Kinectability to Madden NFL 13 and FIFA 13, as well as an undisclosed sports title, according to their preview at E3 last year. They also intend on going beyond sports titles with such additions like Sim Pets.

Release date for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is March 30, 2012 in the US and the UK.