Overview
Sour Pines Golf was a mobile crazy golf game developed in Unity, featuring a custom backend for multiplayer functionality and player progression. With a vibrant cast of characters, extensive customization options, and 30 uniquely designed courses, the game quickly attracted a substantial player base, surpassing 10,000 players.
Objectives
- Develop a fun and engaging crazy golf game with a unique art style
- Implement a robust multiplayer experience with real-time and asynchronous play
- Create an extensive player progression system to encourage long-term engagement
- Offer deep customization options for characters and items
- Ensure smooth performance across mobile devices
Features
Gameplay & Courses
- 30 meticulously designed crazy golf courses, each featuring unique obstacles and mechanics
- Dynamic physics-based gameplay, ensuring a challenging and rewarding experience
- Various game modes, including solo challenges, multiplayer matches, and daily tournaments
Multiplayer & Backend
- A custom backend system to handle matchmaking, real-time multiplayer, and player progression
- Leaderboards and rankings to foster competition among players
- Cloud-based data storage, ensuring seamless cross-device progression
Customization & Progression
- Multiple playable characters with distinct personalities and animations
- A vast selection of clothing, accessories, and golf club customizations
- Unlockable content through progression, achievements, and in-game currency
- Regular updates introducing new items and customization options
Development Process
Design & Planning
The project started with conceptualizing a visually distinct and engaging crazy golf experience. The team focused on designing courses that provided both fun and challenge while ensuring accessibility for casual players.
Building the Game in Unity
Unity was chosen for its flexibility in handling physics-based gameplay and multiplayer capabilities. Key development tasks included:
- Implementing smooth and precise ball physics
- Designing intuitive touch-based controls for mobile platforms
- Creating detailed course environments with interactive elements
Backend Development
To support multiplayer and progression systems, a custom backend was built. This system handled:
- Player authentication and data storage
- Real-time multiplayer matchmaking
- Progression tracking and rewards distribution
Testing & Optimization
Extensive testing was conducted to ensure:
- Stable multiplayer performance with minimal lag
- A balanced difficulty curve across courses
- Optimized rendering and asset management for smooth gameplay on various mobile devices
Results & Impact
Sour Pines Golf successfully carved a niche in the mobile gaming market, reaching over 10,000 players. The game’s engaging mechanics, multiplayer features, and extensive customization contributed to strong player retention. The combination of skill-based gameplay and social competition helped foster a dedicated community.
Conclusion
By offering an engaging crazy golf experience with deep customization and multiplayer functionality, the game delivered lasting enjoyment to players while proving the effectiveness of Unity and backend integration in mobile gaming. Unfortunatley the service that operated the backend server was grandfathered out in 2023 meaning the game was taken offline, but Sour Pines Golf 2 is currently in development and hopefully I can release more information soon…