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{{Short description|1997 video game}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox video game
{{Refimprove|date=May 2009}}
| collapsible =
'''''Jack Nicklaus 4''''' is a {{vgy|1997}} [[sports game|sports]] [[golf]] [[video game]]. It was [[video game publisher|published]] by [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]]. The original [[Microsoft Windows]] version was [[video game developer|developed]] by [[Santa Cruz, California]]-based [[Cinematronics, LLC|Cinematronics]] and the [[Macintosh|Apple Macintosh]] version was developed by [[Austin, Texas]]-based Eclipse Entertainment.
| state =
| italic title =
| title = Jack Nicklaus 4
| image = Jack Nicklaus 4 cover art.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Windows cover art
| developer = [[Cinematronics, LLC|Cinematronics]]
| publisher = [[Accolade, Inc.|Accolade]]<br/> [[MacSoft]] (Macintosh version only)
| series = ''[[Jack Nicklaus (series)|Jack Nicklaus]]''
| engine =
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]]<br/>[[Macintosh]]<br/>[[DVD-ROM]]
| released = March 25, 1997 (Windows)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.accolade.com/press/nws032697_01.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103139/http://www.accolade.com/press/nws032697_01.htm|archive-date = 1998-02-01|title = Accolade}}</ref><br />Q2 1997 (Machintosh)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.accolade.com/press/nws051597.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103127/http://www.accolade.com/press/nws051597.htm|archive-date = 1998-02-01|title = Accolade}}</ref>
| genre = [[Sports game|Sports]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| producer = Michael Franco<br/>Brad Fregger
| designer = Michael Franco<br/>Brad Fregger
}}


'''''Jack Nicklaus 4''''' is a [[1997 in video gaming|1997]] [[sports game|sports]] [[golf]] [[video game]]. It was [[video game publisher|published]] by [[Accolade, Inc.|Accolade]], and is the fourth in [[Jack Nicklaus (series)|a series of video games]] named after golfer [[Jack Nicklaus]], following ''[[Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design: Signature Edition]]'' (1992). The original [[Microsoft Windows]] version was [[video game developer|developed]] by [[Cinematronics, LLC|Cinematronics]]. Versions were also released for [[Macintosh]] and DVD. A [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] version titled '''''Jack Nicklaus '98''''' was also in development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.accolade.com/press/6.19.jn4psx.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103057/http://www.accolade.com/press/6.19.jn4psx.htm|archive-date = 1998-02-01|title = Accolade}}</ref> The game was followed by ''[[Jack Nicklaus 5]]'', released later in 1997.
==Description==


==Gameplay==
The game includes four courses designed by [[Jack Nicklaus]]: [[Muirfield Village|Muirfield Village Golf Club]], [[Colleton River Plantation]], [[Country Club of the South]] and [[Cabo del Sol]]. It also includes one course created especially for the game. In addition to the course layout, weather is also a factor in play.
''Jack Nicklaus 4'' includes eight different game modes.<ref name=CS/> The game features five 18-hole courses, including four real-life courses: [[Muirfield Village]], [[Colleton River Plantation]], [[Country Club of the South]] and [[Cabo del Sol]]. The fifth course is Winding Springs, a fictional location created by the developers using a [[Level editor|golf course designer program]] that comes with the game.<ref name=CGW/><ref name=GS/> The course designer allows the player to create a custom golf course, one hole at a time.<ref name=GS/> The course designer includes over 100 scalable objects, including bushes, trees, and rocks.<ref name=GS/> Approximately two-thirds of the game's instruction manual is devoted to the course designer, which also includes a built-in [[Wizard (software)|wizard program]] to aid the user.<ref name=CGW/> The game includes the ability to import and convert online user-created golf courses from ''[[Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design: Signature Edition]]'', which also featured a course designer.<ref name=CGW/> Courses created in ''Jack Nicklaus 4'' are compatible with the game's sequel, ''[[Jack Nicklaus 5]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Chet |title=Jack Nicklaus 5 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/jacknicklaus5/review.html |work=GameSpot |date=December 4, 1997 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030707160939/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/jacknicklaus5/review.html|archivedate=July 7, 2003}}</ref> The player competes against various opponents throughout the game, including [[Jack Nicklaus]], who is not a playable character.<ref name=GS/> The game includes four [[multiplayer]] modes, via [[serial cable]], [[modem]], [[LAN]], or the Internet.<ref name=AGO>{{cite web |last=Anthony |first=Baize |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 overview |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25810 |work=AllGame |accessdate=February 26, 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114221741/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25810 |archivedate=November 14, 2014}}</ref> While aiming, the player can get an overhead view that goes up to 150 feet high.<ref name=Advocate>{{cite web |last= |first= |title= Design golf courses like Nicklaus with JN4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/289188239/ |work=[[The Advocate (Newark)|The Advocate]] |date=April 24, 1997 |accessdate=February 28, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription }}</ref>


The DVD version includes 10 game modes and an [[ABC Sports]] video titled ''Toughest 18 Holes''. The DVD version also features four golf courses, as well as six others that were made with the course designer. In addition, the game offers three types of weather and five types of wind.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sutyak |first=Jonathan |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 (DVD) |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=5686 |work=AllGame |accessdate=February 26, 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114113430/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=5686 |archivedate=November 14, 2014}}</ref>
Play is similar to the previous games in the series, but the graphic quality and realism are greatly enhanced. For example, [[water hazard]]s no longer look like "blue [[tar pit]]s", but instead reflect the surrounding environment realistically.


==Development and release==
The same [[level editor|course editor]] used by the developers comes with the game. It can be used to create new courses and modify the included ones. Courses from the previous ''[[Jack Nicklaus Signature Edition]]'' game can be loaded into the editor, as can user-designed ones from the older game. As with the previous games in the series, user-created courses abound on the [[Internet]].
''Jack Nicklaus 4'' was developed by [[Cinematronics, LLC|Cinematronics]], with Michael Franco as producer. The team's goal was to develop a game which would recreate the experience of playing real golf, partially through graphics and sounds. The game would also offer more viewing angles than other golf games, and more control over the swing profile.<ref name=McDonald>{{cite web |last=McDonald |first=T. Liam |title=Jack Nicklaus Four |url=https://archive.org/details/PCGamer199701/page/n49 |work=PC Gamer |date=January 1997 |accessdate=February 26, 2019|pages=48–49}}</ref> During development, the game included the subtitle ''Golden Bear Edition''.<ref name=Tee/><ref>{{cite magazine |title=First Look – Jack Nicklaus Golf: Golden Bear Edition |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_151/page/n51 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |page=48 |date=February 1997}}</ref> Development was underway as of January 1995,<ref name=Tee>{{cite web |last=Buchanan |first=Lee |title=Tee Time |url=https://archive.org/details/UneditedPCGamer_marktrade/page/n147 |website=PC Gamer |date=January 1995 |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |page=147}}</ref> and the game was announced that month at the [[Winter Consumer Electronics Show]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The 1995 Winter Consumer Electronic Show |url=http://www.csoon.com/issue3/wces95.htm |website=Coming Soon Magazine |accessdate=February 28, 2019 |date=1995}}</ref> The game was developed for [[Microsoft Windows]] due to the operating system's increased prevalence.<ref name=Tee/>


Franco produced the game on behalf of [[Accolade, Inc.|Accolade]], while Brad Fregger produced it for Cinematronics; they both also handled the game design.<ref name=Credits>{{cite web |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 credits |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25810&tab=credits |website=AllGame |accessdate=February 28, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116015458/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25810&tab=credits |archivedate=November 16, 2014}}</ref> Fregger joined the development team in 1996, when Cinematronics contacted him to help finish the game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 and 5 |url=http://www.fregger.com/software/jack5.html |website=fregger.com |accessdate=February 28, 2019}}</ref> Dennis Clark programmed the physics, while Mike Sandige programmed the rendering. Jim Mischel programmed the course designer.<ref name=Credits/> The game includes 16.7 million colors.<ref name=GS/> The game does not support [[Video card|3D card]]s, as it already uses a fast [[rendering engine]]. Another factor was scheduling and the competitive market, prompting Accolade to release the game without 3D card support.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=McCauley |first=Dennis |title=3D or Not 3D? |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_155/page/n179 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |page=177 |date=June 1997}}</ref> The game has 32 [[megabyte]]s' worth of sound, which include regionally authentic bird sounds for the golf courses. The game uses [[DirectSound]], and its multiplayer mode utilizes [[DirectPlay]]. The course designer was modeled after Nicklaus Productions' [[computer-aided design]] system.<ref name=CGW/>
==Development==
Before contracting with [[Cinematronics, LLC|Cinematronics]] (not to be confused with the [[arcade game]] developer also named [[Cinematronics]]) to develop the game, early development of ''Jack Nicklaus 4'' floated aimlessly around Accolade for years. Accolade had fairly good success with its Jack Nicklaus line of [[golf]] games (which itself followed Accolade's popular ''[[Mean 18]]'' series of games), but hadn't released a game in the line since [[1990 in video gaming|1990]]. Instead of upgrading its existing game's [[source code|code base]], Accolade decided to start [[video game development|development]] anew. Their previous games were all [[DOS]]-based, and Accolade wanted their next Jack Nicklaus game to run on the emergingly popular [[Windows 3.1]] [[operating system]].


Accolade began shipping the Microsoft Windows version on March 25, 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=Accolade's Jack Nicklaus Series Returns with a Vengeance! |url=http://www.accolade.com/press/nws032697_01.htm |publisher=Accolade |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103139/http://www.accolade.com/press/nws032697_01.htm |archivedate=February 1, 1998 |date=March 25, 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 Shipping |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-03-24.html |author=Staff |website=PC Gamer |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980218070742/http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-03-24.html |archivedate=February 18, 1998 |url-status=dead |date=March 25, 1997 |accessdate=December 5, 2019}}</ref> In May 1997, Accolade announced that it would release the game on [[Macintosh]] later in the summer.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Helen |title=Accolade Releases Mac Versions of Three Popular Titles |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_05/15_mac/index.html |website=GameSpot |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000312210155/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_05/15_mac/index.html |archivedate=March 12, 2000 |date=May 15, 1997}}</ref> A free upgrade with several new features was released online in June 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=Accolade Releases Free Feature Upgrade for Jack Nicklaus 4 |url=http://www.accolade.com/press/jn4pat060997.htm |publisher=Accolade |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103115/http://www.accolade.com/press/jn4pat060997.htm |archivedate=February 1, 1998 |date=June 9, 1997 |access-date=February 28, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> That month, Accolade announced it would release the game on DVD in the summer, to take advantage of the format's increasing popularity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Accolade Brings Jack Nicklaus 4 to DVD This Summer |url=http://www.accolade.com/press/6.19.jn4dvd.htm |publisher=Accolade |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103103/http://www.accolade.com/press/6.19.jn4dvd.htm |archivedate=February 1, 1998 |date=June 19, 1997 |access-date=February 28, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Lee>{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Helen |title=Accolade's E3 Lineup |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_06/13_acco/index.html |website=GameSpot |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000527170128/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_06/13_acco/index.html |archivedate=May 27, 2000 |date=June 13, 1997}}</ref> A PlayStation version, titled ''Jack Nicklaus '98'' and featuring the same courses as ''Jack Nicklaus 4'', had been scheduled for release in late 1997,<ref name=Lee/><ref>{{cite web |title=Huge Sports Extravaganza |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/08/22/huge-sports-extravaganza |website=IGN |accessdate=February 28, 2019 |date=August 21, 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jack Nicklaus '98 Tees Off on the Sony PlayStation |url=http://www.accolade.com/press/6.19.jn4psx.htm |publisher=Accolade |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103057/http://www.accolade.com/press/6.19.jn4psx.htm |archivedate=February 1, 1998 |date=June 19, 1997 |access-date=February 28, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> although it was never released. The Macintosh version was published by [[MacSoft]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Mac games aim for high visibility |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGeneration37Jan1998/page/n21 |work=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |date=January 1998 |accessdate=February 28, 2019|page=20}}</ref> An online game, ''[[Jack Nicklaus (series)#Jack Nicklaus Online Golf Tour (1998)|Jack Nicklaus Online Golf Tour]]'', was released in 1998.<ref name=Poole/> It was based on the ''Jack Nicklaus 4'' [[game engine]],<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Jack Nicklaus Online Golf Tour |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_158/page/n121 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |accessdate=March 11, 2019 |page=118 |date=September 1997}}</ref> and online courses created with ''Jack Nicklaus 4'' were playable through ''Jack Nicklaus Online Golf Tour''.<ref name=Poole>{{cite web |last=Poole |first=Stephen |title=Jack Nicklaus Online Golf Tour |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/jacknicklausonlinegolftour/review.html |work=GameSpot |date=June 22, 1998 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030707222225/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/jacknicklausonlinegolftour/review.html |archivedate=July 7, 2003}}</ref>
The game, like its predecessors, would consist of two applications: the game itself and an [[level editor|editor]], with which users could build their own courses or modify the courses delivered with the game.

In [[1993 in video gaming|1993]], Accolade had one in-house [[game programmer|programmer]] who knew how to program for the then-new Windows operating system, a [[game development tool|tools]] programmer, Gary Strawn. They selected Strawn to develop the course editor and another off-site programmer, an avid golfer himself, to develop the game. Incidentally, Strawn was also the only Accolade programmer who knew [[C++]] and understood [[object oriented programming|OO]] methodologies.

Despite the effort of the two programmers, the project lacked direction. The project was bandied about from [[game producer|producer]] to producer, all the while the game made little progress. Strawn worked on making the editor import the old DOS-based courses, but lacked direction on a feature set to implement. The limited communication he had with the off-site programmer of the main game portion didn't help matters.

Eventually, Strawn was joined by another programmer to handle the load of the course editor work. Strawn recruited a [[game tester|tester]], Chris Nash, from the QA department. Nash was at the time a [[software engineering]] [[college]] student and his knowledge of the Windows programming environment and OO methodologies made him a prime candidate for the job. It was decided that Nash would do the [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] work for the editor while Strawn continued to handle the back-end work (such as [[computer file|file]] reading and course construction).

Though they still lacked a clear design, work on the course editor progressed. However, the state of the actual game was in question. The off-site programmer made infrequent trips to the office and, when he did, the "game" he demoed looked exactly the same each time. While it looked fine for an early [[Technology demo|prototype]], none of the [[software bug|bugs]] (such as rendering rocks in red, instead of gray) were ever corrected.

Eventually it was determined that the code base for the game had to be scrapped and the off-site programmer terminated. Because of speed considerations, the programmer had developed the game in [[assembly language|assembly]] from the beginning. However, the complexity of the assembly language code eventually overwhelmed him and he was unable to determine the cause of bugs, nor how to fix them. It was evident that it would be impossible for him to ever make significant progress on the game, much less finish it.

About this time, in [[1995 in video gaming|1995]], the game's current producer, [[George MacDonald (gaming figure)|George MacDonald]], started searching for an outside developer. He eventually determined Cinematronics would be a prime developer for the golf game. Not only did they have a good track-record and a knowledgeable staff, they were located in [[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]], fairly near Accolade's [[San Jose, California]] main office.

Originally, it was determined that Strawn and Nash would continue to develop the golf editor while Cinematronics would develop the main game. Eventually, however, Accolade requested Cinematronics develop both portions of the product and development of the editor was also assigned to them.

Shortly after Cinematronics took over the development of the game, Accolade brought in [[Mike Franco]] to be the in-house producer. Meanwhile, Cinematronics had moved from [[Santa Cruz, California]] to [[Austin, Texas]] and the close proximity advantage was lost. In addition, feature requests by Accolade greatly extended the development scope of the project and pushed out the completion date. In the meantime, Cinematronics had been purchased by [[Maxis]], which meant that one of Accolade's major competitors was now developing one of their products. This did not, however, prevent Cinematronics from delivering the product on time—indeed, Accolade's test team was unprepared to receive the product at the end of [[1996 in video gaming|1996]], delaying code release and putting the developers in a holding pattern for a couple months.

None of the [[source code]] from the original game was used in the final Cinematronics-produced product.

===Physics===

One of the issues that had to be dealt with early on was the desire by Cinematronics to create a more realistic physics model than the competing products of the day. In Cinematronics' view, better physics meant a game that felt more like real golf. While this was ultimately borne out, it took weeks of research, as there was very little information available concerning how the golf ball would fly under different weather conditions, swings, etc.

Just when they thought they had it solved, they ran into a major problem: with short putts the ball would bounce out of the cup. Nothing seemed to solve the problem. Finally, in frustration, [[Brad Fregger]], the Cinematronics producer, suggested that, with short putts, they "Just put the ball into the hole ... this is, after all, a computer program." The programmer rolled his eyes and left the room. The next day the programmer announced, "I've solved the problem! I just moved the metal cup down one inch below the top of the hole and now the balls go in properly. And, I didn't have to fudge the physics to make it work!"

Brad immediately called Franco to announce that the "short putt" problem had finally been solved, "He moved the metal cup down an inch from the top of the hole... sure hope that's okay." There was silence on the other end of the line. Finally he said, "Sorry, Brad, I forgot to tell you that that's what they do on real golf courses."{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}

===Afterward===

''Jack Nicklaus 4'' for Windows was completed and released in [[1997 in video gaming|1997]]. Immediately after being relinquished of the duties of programming the editor for the game, Strawn was recruited by the ''[[Deadlock: Planetary Conquest|Deadlock]]'' team to help program for their game. Eventually Strawn would go on to be [[lead programmer]] on some of Accolade's subsequent titles.

Nash stayed in the tools department, by now a college graduate. After developing some marketing tools, Nash left Accolade for the ill-fated game developer [[Morpheus (video game developer)|Morpheus]]. Eventually, however, he landed at [[Engineering Animation, Inc.]] where he became lead programmer on two titles.


==Reception==
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
{{Video game reviews
| Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}} (Windows)<ref name=AG>{{cite web |last=Anthony |first=Baize |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25810&tab=review |work=AllGame |accessdate=February 26, 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116015459/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25810&tab=review |archivedate=November 16, 2014}}</ref><br/>{{Rating|3.5|5}} (DVD)<ref name=DVD-review>{{cite web |last=Sutyak |first=Jonathan |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 (DVD) |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=5686&tab=review |work=AllGame |accessdate=February 26, 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114221742/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=5686&tab=review |archivedate=November 14, 2014}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Macworld]]''
| CGW = {{Rating|5|5}} (Windows)<ref name=CGW>{{cite magazine |last=May |first=Scott A. |title=Double Eagle: Accolade Drives to Perfection With the Stunning, Deep Jack Nicklaus 4 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_158/page/n5 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=September 1997 |accessdate=February 26, 2019}}</ref>
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=macworldreviews />
| GSpot = 8.4/10 (Windows)<ref name=GS>{{cite web |last=McDonald |first=T. Liam |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/jacknicklaus4/review.html |work=GameSpot |date=April 11, 1997 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030707160907/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/jacknicklaus4/review.html |archivedate=July 7, 2003}}</ref>
| PCZone = 73/100 (Windows)<ref name=PCZ>{{cite web |last=Presley |first=Paul |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 |url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_51_June_1997/page/n101 |work=PC Zone |date=June 1997 |accessdate=February 28, 2019|page=101}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''Coming Soon Magazine''
| rev1Score = 89% (Windows)<ref name=CS>{{cite web |last=Millward |first=Brian |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 |url=http://www.csoon.com/issue29/jack4.htm |work=Coming Soon Magazine |accessdate=February 26, 2019}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[MacAddict]]''
| rev2Score = 2/5 (Mac)<ref name=MacAddict>{{cite web |last=Renninger |first=Dean |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 |url=http://macaddict.com/issues/9804/rev.jacknicklaus.html |work=MacAddict |date=April 1998 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040925014819/http://macaddict.com/issues/9804/rev.jacknicklaus.html |archivedate=September 25, 2004}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Macworld]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}} (Mac)<ref name=macworldreviews />
| rev4 = ''[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref>{{cite news |last=La Rue |first=Steve |title=These golf simulation games offer chance to link up to some real fun |url=http://www.newslibrary.com/sites/sdub/ |accessdate=March 11, 2019 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=July 1, 1997 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
}}
}}
''Jack Nicklaus 4'' received positive reviews, but sold poorly.<ref>{{cite web |last=McDonald |first=Tim |title=Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/jack-nicklaus-6-golden-bear-challenge-review/1900-2535562/ |website=GameSpot |accessdate=February 26, 2019 |date=May 7, 1999}}</ref> The game was praised for its graphics, its multitude of online courses, and its course designer,{{efn|According to multiple sources:<ref name=AG/><ref name=CGW/><ref name=GS/><ref name=PCZ/><ref name=CS/><ref name=Advocate/><ref name=PBP/><ref name=Edmon/><ref>{{cite web |last=Goble |first=Gordon |title=Fore! |url=https://archive.org/details/issuu_dougalder_1997-08_the_computer_paper_bc-ocr/page/n105 |work=[[The Computer Paper]] |date=August 1997 |accessdate=February 28, 2019|pages=106, 109}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Playing Golf With the Pros |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/455000235/ |work=[[The Daily Oklahoman]] |date=August 11, 1997 |accessdate=February 28, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription }}</ref>}} although some reviewers were critical of the inability to create custom objects with the designer.<ref name=CGW/><ref name=GS/> Some praised the golf ball animations for their realism when hitting different terrains.<ref name=AG/><ref name=CGW/><ref name=MacAddict/>


Scott A. May of ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' called it "the preeminent golf simulation of our time" and an "absolute model of perfection" with nearly "everything you could ever hope for" in a golfing video game.<ref name=CGW/> Anthony Baize of [[AllGame]] praised the game for its realism, options, and sound effects, but criticized the golfers for looking noticeably different against the game's backgrounds.<ref name=AG/> T. Liam McDonald of [[GameSpot]] called it "a fine piece of work with only a couple minor flaws," which included a lack of certain ideas that McDonald hoped to see in a future ''Jack Nicklaus'' game.<ref name=GS/>
''[[Macworld]]''{{'}}s Michael Gowan wrote, "Featuring five courses, network play, a convincing physics model, and the ability to create your own courses from scratch, this golf simulation has only one bogey: the delay between swinging the club and the corresponding animation."<ref name=macworldreviews>{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010810062339/http://www.macworld.com/1999/02/games/games.html |url=http://www.macworld.com:80/1999/02/games/games.html |title=Name Your Game; From Goofy to Gory, ''Macworld'' Reviews 48 Ways to Play |author=Gowan, Michael |work=[[Macworld]] |date=February 1999 |archivedate=August 10, 2001 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref>


''Computer Gaming World'' and GameSpot noted that self-made golf courses could take up to 10 megabytes of space, considered high at the time.<ref name=CGW/><ref name=GS/> ''Computer Gaming World'' further noted that the game took approximately 171 megabytes of hard drive space to download, and wrote, "As if anticipating consumer resistance, Accolade makes absolutely no mention of this fact on the box or in the manual."<ref name=CGW/> The ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'' also mentioned the high installation requirements and noted that such requirements were not specified on the game's box.<ref name=Edmon>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Head out on the cyberfairway and play in Hawaii, St. Andrews and Idaho in one glorious day |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/474562743/ |work=Edmonton Journal |date=July 24, 1997 |accessdate=February 28, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription }}</ref> ''[[PC Zone]]'' criticized the game for difficult aiming and putting.<ref name=PCZ/> ''[[The Palm Beach Post]]'' praised the course designer but considered it difficult to use. The newspaper praised the game's swing meter as "greatly improved" over previous games.<ref name=PBP>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Hacker's Heaven |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/133341149/ |work=The Palm Beach Post |date=July 20, 1997 |accessdate=February 28, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==Credits==
The physics engine for ''Jack Nicklaus 4'' was written by Dennis Clark. Mike Sandige wrote the 3D engine. Jim Mischel created the editor. Brad Fregger joined Cinemtronics in [[1996 in video gaming|1996]] as a senior producer and managed the project. The ''Jack Nicklaus 4'' design was written by Kevin Gliner, with later additions by Fregger.


''[[Macworld]]''{{'}}s Michael Gowan wrote about the Macintosh version, "Featuring five courses, network play, a convincing physics model, and the ability to create your own courses from scratch, this golf simulation has only one bogey: the delay between swinging the club and the corresponding animation."<ref name=macworldreviews>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010810062339/http://www.macworld.com/1999/02/games/games.html |url=http://www.macworld.com:80/1999/02/games/games.html |title=Name Your Game; From Goofy to Gory, ''Macworld'' Reviews 48 Ways to Play |author=Gowan, Michael |work=[[Macworld]] |date=February 1999 |archive-date=August 10, 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Dean Renninger of ''[[MacAddict]]'' stated that while some of the game's graphical details were good, they were "a far cry from photorealistic." Renninger considered the game too easy, and believed that the [[Links (series)|''Links'' series]] was superior.<ref name=MacAddict/>
==Legacy==


AllGame's Jonathan Sutyak reviewed the DVD version and criticized it for not taking advantage of the DVD format. In addition, Sutyak criticized the graphics and sound for not being improved over the computer version, and criticized the in-game instructions for being erroneous. He praised the gameplay and called the game "very good," but "not enough of an improvement" over the computer version, stating that people who owned the original version would have no reason to buy the DVD version.<ref name=DVD-review/>
''Jack Nicklaus 4'' was [[porting|ported]] to the Apple Macintosh by Eclipse Entertainment. This version of the game was produced by Brad Fregger, who also produced [[1998 in video gaming|1998's]] ''[[Jack Nicklaus 5]]''.


==Notes==
''Jack Nicklaus 5'' would turn out to be the last Jack Nicklaus golf game developed or published by Accolade. The next installment of the series, ''[[Jack Nicklaus 6]]'', was released by [[Activision]].<ref>{{moby game|id=/jack-nicklaus-4}}</ref>
{{noteslist}}


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19970221232202/http://www.accolade.com/products/jack4/home.htm Official website] (archived)
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/jack-nicklaus-4 ''Jack Nicklaus 4''] at [[MobyGames]]

{{Jack Nicklaus games}}


[[Category:1997 video games]]
[[Category:1997 video games]]
[[Category:Accolade, Inc. games]]
[[Category:Cancelled PlayStation (console) games]]
[[Category:Cinematronics, LLC games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Golf video games]]
[[Category:Golf video games]]
[[Category:Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Jack Nicklaus video games]]
[[Category:MacSoft games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games based on real people]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Jack Nicklaus]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of American people|Nicklaus]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of sportspeople|Nicklaus]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of men|Nicklaus]]
[[Category:Video games based on real people]]

Latest revision as of 09:24, 22 December 2024

Jack Nicklaus 4
Windows cover art
Developer(s)Cinematronics
Publisher(s)Accolade
MacSoft (Macintosh version only)
Producer(s)Michael Franco
Brad Fregger
Designer(s)Michael Franco
Brad Fregger
SeriesJack Nicklaus
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Macintosh
DVD-ROM
ReleaseMarch 25, 1997 (Windows)[1]
Q2 1997 (Machintosh)[2]
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Jack Nicklaus 4 is a 1997 sports golf video game. It was published by Accolade, and is the fourth in a series of video games named after golfer Jack Nicklaus, following Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design: Signature Edition (1992). The original Microsoft Windows version was developed by Cinematronics. Versions were also released for Macintosh and DVD. A PlayStation version titled Jack Nicklaus '98 was also in development.[3] The game was followed by Jack Nicklaus 5, released later in 1997.

Gameplay

[edit]

Jack Nicklaus 4 includes eight different game modes.[4] The game features five 18-hole courses, including four real-life courses: Muirfield Village, Colleton River Plantation, Country Club of the South and Cabo del Sol. The fifth course is Winding Springs, a fictional location created by the developers using a golf course designer program that comes with the game.[5][6] The course designer allows the player to create a custom golf course, one hole at a time.[6] The course designer includes over 100 scalable objects, including bushes, trees, and rocks.[6] Approximately two-thirds of the game's instruction manual is devoted to the course designer, which also includes a built-in wizard program to aid the user.[5] The game includes the ability to import and convert online user-created golf courses from Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design: Signature Edition, which also featured a course designer.[5] Courses created in Jack Nicklaus 4 are compatible with the game's sequel, Jack Nicklaus 5.[7] The player competes against various opponents throughout the game, including Jack Nicklaus, who is not a playable character.[6] The game includes four multiplayer modes, via serial cable, modem, LAN, or the Internet.[8] While aiming, the player can get an overhead view that goes up to 150 feet high.[9]

The DVD version includes 10 game modes and an ABC Sports video titled Toughest 18 Holes. The DVD version also features four golf courses, as well as six others that were made with the course designer. In addition, the game offers three types of weather and five types of wind.[10]

Development and release

[edit]

Jack Nicklaus 4 was developed by Cinematronics, with Michael Franco as producer. The team's goal was to develop a game which would recreate the experience of playing real golf, partially through graphics and sounds. The game would also offer more viewing angles than other golf games, and more control over the swing profile.[11] During development, the game included the subtitle Golden Bear Edition.[12][13] Development was underway as of January 1995,[12] and the game was announced that month at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show.[14] The game was developed for Microsoft Windows due to the operating system's increased prevalence.[12]

Franco produced the game on behalf of Accolade, while Brad Fregger produced it for Cinematronics; they both also handled the game design.[15] Fregger joined the development team in 1996, when Cinematronics contacted him to help finish the game.[16] Dennis Clark programmed the physics, while Mike Sandige programmed the rendering. Jim Mischel programmed the course designer.[15] The game includes 16.7 million colors.[6] The game does not support 3D cards, as it already uses a fast rendering engine. Another factor was scheduling and the competitive market, prompting Accolade to release the game without 3D card support.[17] The game has 32 megabytes' worth of sound, which include regionally authentic bird sounds for the golf courses. The game uses DirectSound, and its multiplayer mode utilizes DirectPlay. The course designer was modeled after Nicklaus Productions' computer-aided design system.[5]

Accolade began shipping the Microsoft Windows version on March 25, 1997.[18][19] In May 1997, Accolade announced that it would release the game on Macintosh later in the summer.[20] A free upgrade with several new features was released online in June 1997.[21] That month, Accolade announced it would release the game on DVD in the summer, to take advantage of the format's increasing popularity.[22][23] A PlayStation version, titled Jack Nicklaus '98 and featuring the same courses as Jack Nicklaus 4, had been scheduled for release in late 1997,[23][24][25] although it was never released. The Macintosh version was published by MacSoft.[26] An online game, Jack Nicklaus Online Golf Tour, was released in 1998.[27] It was based on the Jack Nicklaus 4 game engine,[28] and online courses created with Jack Nicklaus 4 were playable through Jack Nicklaus Online Golf Tour.[27]

Reception

[edit]

Jack Nicklaus 4 received positive reviews, but sold poorly.[35] The game was praised for its graphics, its multitude of online courses, and its course designer,[a] although some reviewers were critical of the inability to create custom objects with the designer.[5][6] Some praised the golf ball animations for their realism when hitting different terrains.[29][5][32]

Scott A. May of Computer Gaming World called it "the preeminent golf simulation of our time" and an "absolute model of perfection" with nearly "everything you could ever hope for" in a golfing video game.[5] Anthony Baize of AllGame praised the game for its realism, options, and sound effects, but criticized the golfers for looking noticeably different against the game's backgrounds.[29] T. Liam McDonald of GameSpot called it "a fine piece of work with only a couple minor flaws," which included a lack of certain ideas that McDonald hoped to see in a future Jack Nicklaus game.[6]

Computer Gaming World and GameSpot noted that self-made golf courses could take up to 10 megabytes of space, considered high at the time.[5][6] Computer Gaming World further noted that the game took approximately 171 megabytes of hard drive space to download, and wrote, "As if anticipating consumer resistance, Accolade makes absolutely no mention of this fact on the box or in the manual."[5] The Edmonton Journal also mentioned the high installation requirements and noted that such requirements were not specified on the game's box.[37] PC Zone criticized the game for difficult aiming and putting.[31] The Palm Beach Post praised the course designer but considered it difficult to use. The newspaper praised the game's swing meter as "greatly improved" over previous games.[36]

Macworld's Michael Gowan wrote about the Macintosh version, "Featuring five courses, network play, a convincing physics model, and the ability to create your own courses from scratch, this golf simulation has only one bogey: the delay between swinging the club and the corresponding animation."[33] Dean Renninger of MacAddict stated that while some of the game's graphical details were good, they were "a far cry from photorealistic." Renninger considered the game too easy, and believed that the Links series was superior.[32]

AllGame's Jonathan Sutyak reviewed the DVD version and criticized it for not taking advantage of the DVD format. In addition, Sutyak criticized the graphics and sound for not being improved over the computer version, and criticized the in-game instructions for being erroneous. He praised the gameplay and called the game "very good," but "not enough of an improvement" over the computer version, stating that people who owned the original version would have no reason to buy the DVD version.[30]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ According to multiple sources:[29][5][6][31][4][9][36][37][38][39]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Accolade". Archived from the original on 1998-02-01.
  2. ^ "Accolade". Archived from the original on 1998-02-01.
  3. ^ "Accolade". Archived from the original on 1998-02-01.
  4. ^ a b c Millward, Brian. "Jack Nicklaus 4". Coming Soon Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k May, Scott A. (September 1997). "Double Eagle: Accolade Drives to Perfection With the Stunning, Deep Jack Nicklaus 4". Computer Gaming World. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j McDonald, T. Liam (April 11, 1997). "Jack Nicklaus 4". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 7, 2003.
  7. ^ Thomas, Chet (December 4, 1997). "Jack Nicklaus 5". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 7, 2003.
  8. ^ Anthony, Baize. "Jack Nicklaus 4 overview". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Design golf courses like Nicklaus with JN4". The Advocate. April 24, 1997. Retrieved February 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Sutyak, Jonathan. "Jack Nicklaus 4 (DVD)". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  11. ^ McDonald, T. Liam (January 1997). "Jack Nicklaus Four". PC Gamer. pp. 48–49. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  12. ^ a b c Buchanan, Lee (January 1995). "Tee Time". PC Gamer. p. 147. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  13. ^ "First Look – Jack Nicklaus Golf: Golden Bear Edition". Computer Gaming World. February 1997. p. 48. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  14. ^ "The 1995 Winter Consumer Electronic Show". Coming Soon Magazine. 1995. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Jack Nicklaus 4 credits". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  16. ^ "Jack Nicklaus 4 and 5". fregger.com. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  17. ^ McCauley, Dennis (June 1997). "3D or Not 3D?". Computer Gaming World. p. 177. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  18. ^ "Accolade's Jack Nicklaus Series Returns with a Vengeance!". Accolade. March 25, 1997. Archived from the original on February 1, 1998.
  19. ^ Staff (March 25, 1997). "Jack Nicklaus 4 Shipping". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on February 18, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  20. ^ Lee, Helen (May 15, 1997). "Accolade Releases Mac Versions of Three Popular Titles". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 12, 2000.
  21. ^ "Accolade Releases Free Feature Upgrade for Jack Nicklaus 4". Accolade. June 9, 1997. Archived from the original on February 1, 1998. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  22. ^ "Accolade Brings Jack Nicklaus 4 to DVD This Summer". Accolade. June 19, 1997. Archived from the original on February 1, 1998. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  23. ^ a b Lee, Helen (June 13, 1997). "Accolade's E3 Lineup". GameSpot. Archived from the original on May 27, 2000.
  24. ^ "Huge Sports Extravaganza". IGN. August 21, 1997. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  25. ^ "Jack Nicklaus '98 Tees Off on the Sony PlayStation". Accolade. June 19, 1997. Archived from the original on February 1, 1998. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  26. ^ "Mac games aim for high visibility". Next Generation. January 1998. p. 20. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  27. ^ a b Poole, Stephen (June 22, 1998). "Jack Nicklaus Online Golf Tour". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 7, 2003.
  28. ^ "Jack Nicklaus Online Golf Tour". Computer Gaming World. September 1997. p. 118. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  29. ^ a b c d Anthony, Baize. "Jack Nicklaus 4 review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  30. ^ a b Sutyak, Jonathan. "Jack Nicklaus 4 (DVD)". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  31. ^ a b c Presley, Paul (June 1997). "Jack Nicklaus 4". PC Zone. p. 101. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  32. ^ a b c Renninger, Dean (April 1998). "Jack Nicklaus 4". MacAddict. Archived from the original on September 25, 2004.
  33. ^ a b Gowan, Michael (February 1999). "Name Your Game; From Goofy to Gory, Macworld Reviews 48 Ways to Play". Macworld. Archived from the original on August 10, 2001.
  34. ^ La Rue, Steve (July 1, 1997). "These golf simulation games offer chance to link up to some real fun". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  35. ^ McDonald, Tim (May 7, 1999). "Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge Review". GameSpot. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  36. ^ a b "Hacker's Heaven". The Palm Beach Post. July 20, 1997. Retrieved February 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ a b "Head out on the cyberfairway and play in Hawaii, St. Andrews and Idaho in one glorious day". Edmonton Journal. July 24, 1997. Retrieved February 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ Goble, Gordon (August 1997). "Fore!". The Computer Paper. pp. 106, 109. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  39. ^ "Playing Golf With the Pros". The Daily Oklahoman. August 11, 1997. Retrieved February 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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