I'm pleased to say the latest update to VGA Golf is here! Here's a summary of what's new:

• New Pitch n Putt course - Old Stemmer’s Lane
• Shoulder buttons now cycle options menu tab
• Options menu now has tool tips
• Options menu allows disabling pixel scaling
• Added sound effects to tutorial
• Unlock mouse cursor on mouse move in tutorial
• Mouse click applies current text edit in main menu
• Minimap now has direction indicator
• Avatars are now 3D models
• Avatar shadows are now shadow mapped
• Avatar preview now includes audio
• Avatars can now have custom hair
• Reeds are spawned at the edge of water features
• Fix missing player menu if window was resized while editing an avatar
• Fix resetting player list if host quits the lobby then creates a new one
• Fix crash if failing to load hole data

Many of these are quality of life changes such as the navigation in the options menu with a controller, or the direction indicator which now appears on the mini map. There is also a new course designed to be played as Pitch 'n' Putt. As such the holes are smaller and more compact, but they are designed to be played with just wedge clubs and a putter. To that end there is also a new wedge club included which extends the existing range from 30m to 70m.

Avatars have been overhauled and replaced with 3D models, a potentially contraversial change (I wanted to be able to support both types of avatar, but this was technically unfeasible), however this was required for another new feature - being able to disable the pixel scaling. This is also a little contraversial (it loses some of the charm that gives the game its style in my opinion) but it helps make the game more viewable on UHD resolutions greater than 1080p, where previously the the chunky pixels would become just too large. Fortunately this is optional and can be toggled to taste, either via the options menu or by pressing + or - on the keypad.

Notably the linux build of 1.3.0 is currently missing - linux versions are always experimental as, although they build and run fine, they are just so darned difficult to make redistributable. There are investigations under way as to the possibility of adding VGA Golf to the AUR so at least arch users will be able to install it via a package manager.

As always, thanks for playing, and do share any comments or feedback!