Competitive Analysis and Positioning Golf Launchpad Tour is the sequel to Electric~Spin s award winning golf simulator family, Golf Launchpad Classic. With powerful new features, enhanced performance, a great new look and a convenient, wireless Remote Caddy, Golf Launchpad Tour dramatically raises the bar in golf simulation by introducing a simulator that offers unmatched realism and entertainment with more courses, games and platforms than any other golf system. Comparing Golf Launchpad to $50,000+ simulators, Robb Report Magazine stated that Golf Launchpad offers a unique level of realism. Platform highlights GolfLaunchpad s patented TruFeel technology incorporates a regulation Surlyn ball attached to a double ball-bearing mounted flexible tether to accurately reproduce the physics of free-ball impact, with complete convenience and safety. With the user s swing thus completely unaltered by any unnatural dynamics, Launchpad Tour s optical sensors read and process the club s trajectory tens of thousands of times per second, before and after impact, to accurately render each shot on the screen from driving to putting. Golf Launchpad s Micro Capture Net deploys like an airbag to bring the ball to rest safely even before the the club comes to rest, so the only shot Golf Launchpad Tour Whitepaper, (v 1.3) 1
the the user hears is the sound of the club striking the ball without any other distracting noises. Launchpad s advanced sensors don t need special clubs, reflective tape, fancy lighting or other fluff! They can read clubs in total darkness to full sunlight golfing on the patio has never been more fun! Total convenience, without compromise! The result: hear and feel the ping of your woods, the thwack of your irons, the click of your putter and experience unmatched, lifelike golf in the comfort of your living room or backyard on the world s greatest courses. Bring the game home! Design features The Golf Launchpad system is protected by US Patent 29/229584 (others pending). Proprietary materials and forming technology and processes cover the construction of the polymer base and the tethered golf ball arrangement. Golf Launchpad s high-speed optical sensors in a diamond grid configuration read the club s trajectory before and after impact to ascertain club-head speed, trajectory and rotation, the energy transferred to the ball and the imparted sidespin. Golf Launchpad Tour features a unique USB interface that presents HID data along with Electric~Spin s RealPhysics USB endpoint, thus enabling game developers to precisely render trajectory, flight and roll. Golf Launchpad Tour Whitepaper, (v 1.3) 2
ADVANCED Golf Launchpad features a tethered Surlyn ball in a dynamic, inertia-matched suspension system, so the sound and feel of the club-ball impact are identical to what happens on the course. The suspension system permits the ball to rotate (spin) and take on a wide range of spin and axes so the full range of golf shots from driving to putting feel right. Golf Launchpad s Micro-capture Net deploys like an airbag (but soundlessly) so that the sound of the club-ball impact is not masked by any other noises. The tethered ball system is safe and convenient and allows use in minimal space. The turf and the proprietary formulation of the shock and sound-absorbent crosslinked polymer base provides authentic iron play. All components that experience wear are user replaceable without tools. The base unit which includes the electronics is designed for a lifetime of play. With its low centre of gravity, Golf Launchpad is exceptionally stable. Golf Launchpad is compatible with the widest number of platforms and titles, offering the widest selection of golf courses to play on! play Pebble in your pj s Best simu lator for (PPE.P (PMG.BHB[JOF the mone y SOJOH "N FSJDB now this is real simulation! (BNJOH *MMVTUSBUFE Launchpad is terrific /FX :PSL 5JNFT I tested the Laun chpad and it was amazing &YUSFNF5FDI Golf Launchpad Tour Whitepaper, (v 1.3) 3
Competitive analysis Golf Launchpad occupies a unique position in the space of golf simulation and entertainment. Launchpad s competitors are either positioned at the commercial/professional end, with high cost and custom installation requirements, or at the low end where they offer little or no realism and value. Golf Launchpad offers a uniquely high-end golf experience in an affordable and accessible format. Commercial simulators: (Full Swing, Vector, Dead Solid; price-range: $1,500 55,000): High cost of ownership (purchase, installation, maintenance) Low accessibility (very large homes, custom installations) Limited or no gameplay, no on-line play Small course selection, no 3D graphics Limited or no short game Ball strikes screen with loud impact sound, drowning out shot sound Inconvenient (need to retrieve balls, no simultaneous left-/right-hand use) Low-end golf simulation/training/play: Low realism Poor construction Limited gameplay Golf Launchpad Tour : Widest software range and platforms best graphics, hundreds of courses playable, online/network play Very high realism Exceptional convenience small footprint, portable, full range of play Indoor and outdoor play High-quality build and construction, excellent durability Highest value-for-money Golf Launchpad Tour Whitepaper, (v 1.3) 4
Competitive grid Product Manufacturer Retail Price Compact Full game Multiplatform Game Titles Golf Launchpad Tour Electric~Spin $199 - $249 X X PC, Mac, PS3, XTV Tiger, Links, Hot Shots Mad Catz Golf Mad Catz $69.99 X X PS2, Xbox proprietary Xavix Golf Xavix $99.99 - - Xavix proprietary Qmotions* Club Champ* $129-$249 X X PC, Xbox Tiger Shot Analyser II Miya $349.99 - - - - DancinDogg Dancindogg Golf $289.99-419.99 - - PC Tiger P3Pro P3Pro Systems $899-$5000 - X PC proprietary Vector Accusport $4,200 - X PC - IST Golf IST $40,000 - X PC proprietary Full Swing Golf Full Swing $50,000 - X PC proprietary Dead Solid Golf Dead Solid Golf $15,000-50,000 - X PC proprietary Product Wireless remote Swing Analysis Realism* Comment Golf Launchpad Tour X X BGSCALUW Multiplatform, analysis, compact, real ball, left/right handed play Mad Catz Golf - U No club or ball Xavix Golf - L Poor realism, gameplay Qmotions* - CLU Low build quality, poor gameplay Shot Analyser II - - Full swing analysis only, LCD readout DancinDogg - X GSCA Big box format, small hitting pad P3Pro - X GSCA Big box format Vector - X FA Full swing training only IST Golf - CAS Big box, proprietary software Full Swing Golf - X CS Big box, proprietary software Dead Solid Golf - X CAS Big box, proprietary software B=indoor play with real ball G=full game-play with own clubs, W=wireless remote, S=swing analysis, C=large selection of real courses, A=accurate sensors and signal processing, L=compact, U=simultaneous left/right-handed play *Marketed under the brands PC Tour, Club Champ and Swing Groover/PC. Golf Launchpad Tour Whitepaper, (v 1.3) 5