Technical News

The GGS range of golf 3D graphics software and electronic hardware is being updated with new features continuously.

The GGS software is currently available in 2 versions: ProX and ProXcom.

ProX is the professional version of the software and contains many advanced features.

Important bug fix: When adjusting club carry/distance factors in the Trajectories window, the value was being saved but not used until the next system start. There was also a possibility that the new values were being discarded under certain circumstances.

You can now switch off the Save Game ? (when quiting a game) and the Continue Saved Game ? (when loading the course) message boxes. Setting is in the Setup/Graphics window.

For golf course designers: The auto generated course texture file for ACG courses is now automatically converted to a BMP file during the generation process and not just when loading the course hole.

Number of 3d models that can be planted on a single course hole increased from 32 to 64

18.09.08 ProX 4.65.7

XD and Vertical Ball Track features implemented.

The auto generated course texture file for ACG courses is now automatically converted to a BMP file allowing course designers to edit in a graphics tool.

Various small bugs fixed

25.08.08 ProXcom 4.63.3

The commercial version of ProX (ProXcom) now features System Log and Billing Information

All main events and associated time stamps on the system such as System Start, Game Start, Course played, Holes played, Names of players in flight, Game End, System End etc
are recorded and can viewed and printed out. This information can then be used to bill customers.

29.07.08 Golf Course Designer Tools

Numerous new tools and golf course components will be available in the new Designer Tools section of this web-site.

25.07.08 ProX 4.63.0

Interacitve 3D long grass planting. Press Ctrl/G to enter this mode.

XD ball track now implemented.

New: For golf course designers: Pond Bed textures. Pond beds can now be assigned a pond bed texture. As Pond Beds use the same reflect model as the water, you just need to assign a material to the model in 3DS, tilled to about 16. In ProX, press the ctrl/W key to enter water mode and select from 3 different pond bed textures.

Fixed: ad banner problems with ProXcom

17.07.08 ProX 4.62.6

Windows or Full Screen mode option window on first load can now be switched off if desired so that the system will always load in full screen mode. Use the -f switch parameter in the command line or link e.g. GGSProX.exe -f

Bug fix: Cross screen Animations control screen was not being started with the ctrl/A key. Now fixed.

12.07.08

GOLFBALL.xls can now be dowloaded from the www.GolfSimFactory.com site.

Use this Excel calculation sheet to compare real world trajectory data with your setup in ProX.

Adjust the ProX trajectory graphs as required.

A new Trajectory Data default function based on these calculations will soon be available to simplify this process.

12.07.08 ProX 4.62.4

Great new shot and replay overhead camera view. Shot Replay in after-shot window. After shot window with time-out number.

New camera menus at top and bottom of screen for shots and replay types (Overhead, Fly with ball 1 and 2, Reverse and Normal).

Various small improvements. Windows or Full Screen mode option can be selected when system is first loaded.

New: 3d Grass can be set to be shown everywhere where Hi-Rough is assigned or just from a grass map or both.

How it works: During the tree load procedure and when Water Ripple is set on, ProX makes 8 small copies of the tree image and applies a sine wave to them for the water distortion. This only happens once so the first hole load will take a few moments longer. You will notice in the course folder that for every tree image, 8 other smaller images are created each with a RF (reflection frame) name extension.

In the rendering process, a reflect image index is incremented and is used to select the next reflection image for the tree. Result is a ripple effect for all trees and the panorama.

New very fast rendering method for 3D grass. There are now fields of 3D grass as far as the eye can see. Switch 3D grass on in the Graphics settings to show.

Coming up: Ball Impact sound detector. This small device is attached to the sensor mat (either internally or externally). It is used to prevent balls from launching in the system when not using a ball track. i.e a launch will occur only when the ball on club-face hit sound is detected.

15.06.08 ProXsensors : The ProPlay software sensor interface, is complete and will be shipped free of charge with the ProX software in future.

Numerous smaller improvements. New Use Club-head path for ball Path option in sensor settings.

Advertising Banners feature stage 2 implemented. Banners can now change at a user defined rate.

GGS-ProX-com Air Golf Simulation The Air Golf Simulation mode allows you to play without a ball or just with foam balls. For use in commercial environments such as bars, hotels, showrooms etc. or at home where it is not practical to have a full size golf siimulator due to space restrictions, noise problems, danger of stray high-speed flying golf balls and full swinging golf clubs.

Using this mode no large space consuming enclosure is required and allows the player to play using only half-swings for full 250 yard carries without a ball.

Putting is as usual with a ball if desired.

Coming soon: 100 big name golf courses including Pebble Beach Links, St. Andrew's Links and the Belfry PGA National. Rendered with enhannced graphics and improved ball physics engine.

Announcing ProXcom. The commercial version of the ProX golf simulation software. Includes banner advertising ads, commercial video playback and central desk control.

05.05.2008 GGS-ProX 4.56.2 Carry Power Boost: Press the B key to get an extra 30% of carry for your next shot if you are having problems getting over that lake or your flight partners seem to be on steroids with their 300 yard drives and you feel a bit inadequate.

29.04.2008 GGS-ProX 4.56.1 Driving Range distance board bug: The driving range distance boards were not being set to the correct distances when not in Metric mode.

25.04.2008 GGS-ProX 4.56.0 Printer functions: As of this version, printer functions have been introduced to print the score card, swing statistics etc, etc. In addition, you can print any screen by pressing the Alt/P key.

18.04.2008 GGS-ProX 4.54.3 Sky and Wind key stroke shortcuts: New: Press alt/S to change sky. Alt/W to change wind direction and strength

16.04.2008 GGS-ProX 4.54.2 Bug fix: Bug in sensor polling loop caused 0.5 second delay between real ball hitting screen and trajectory animation start.

14.04.2008 GGS-ProX 4.54.1 Left/Right hand player swap feature. Press Alt/L to swap the current player from right handed to left handed and vice-versa. Useful for retailers demo-ing the system and Pros during instruction (ProX only)

12.04.2008 GGS-ProX Coming soon: Database support. Within the next few weeks, ProX will store all data in a new relational database management system (RDMS) for greatly improved player statistics and commercial environment management.

12.04.2008 GGS-ProX 4.54.0 Easier Putting. A new feature in the game setup allows you to set the system to ensure the ball always rolls into the hole on either the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th putt or a random selection of one these options. (ProX only)

07.04.2008 Double-Bank ball track system production date set to 1st June 2008. The double-bank ball track eliminates the need for a putting mat and allows players to hit balls from anywhere behind the sensors rather than just from the sensor mat.

Player name labels on ball allow you see where your opponents in the flight lie at all times.

This feature is optional and can be switched on/off in the graphics settings window.

08.03.2008 GGS-ProX 4.52.0 New Sensor Layout image with additional dimension inputs in sensor settings window required for new vertical launch angle monitor (ProX only)

11.02.2008 GGS-ProX 4.51.3 (for golf course desgners) Reflect Model Terrain Following (ProX only)

If your pond bed is not level then the Reflection model won't allign properly over the entire pond. ie you may get it correct at one end but at the other end of the pond (at a higher or lower elevation) it will either dissapear into the ground or protude up in the air. Reflect Model Terrain Following fixes this. Especially helpful with rivers.