Advertising Kit Pro

Training Manual

1500 Series - March 2019

Advertising Kit Professional Overview

Advertising is available for both game/range play and for Classic events.  You have the option to display ads at various areas in the game including:

• For game/range play, setup ads to display at the following areas:
  

• Overlaying the ground in front of the tees.
  

• Note:  The tee overlay ad only displays at specific game screens.
  

• Review the Ad Slot section for more information.
  

• Top center of most setup screens
  
• Lower right of the post shot screen
  
• Upper right of the main game and range screens
  
• Bottom middle of the scorecard
  
• Center of the main game screen after loading a new course hole
  
• To the right of the tees
  

• For Classic events, setup ads to display at the following areas:
  

•  Top center of the Leaderboard screen
  
• Overlaying the ground in front of the tees
  
• Upper right of the main event screen
  
• To the right of the tees
  

To setup ads for game/range play, choose the Ad Editor button at the Utilities screen to upload your ad images. All images must exist in the World Tours Golf/PGA Tour Simulator/Sponsors folder to be available for upload.

To setup ads for a Classic event, choose the Ad Editor button at the Classic event setup screen to upload your ad images. All images must exist in the World Tours Golf/PGA Tour Simulator/Sponsors folder or the World Tours Golf/PGA Tour Simulator/Sponsors/<classic event name> folder to be available for upload.

Note:  Your license key must include the Advertising product to access the Ad Editor menu.

How to Setup Ads for Game/Range Play

At the Utilities screen, click on the Ad Editor button

The Ad Editor menu will display

Ad Sets

• At the top center of the screen, the name of the Current Ad Set will display. 
  
• The Ad Set defines the ad slots, image sizes, and other parameters for ad display in your simulator. 
  

• Note: The default Ad Set file is Ads.xml.
  

• To select a different Ad Set, click on the Change Ad Set button at the upper right of the screen to display the Ad Set Manager menu.
  
• Existing Ad Set files are located in the World Tours Golf/PGA Tour Simulator/Sponsors folder and must be named with an *.xml extension to display in the Ad Set Manager menu.
  
• At the Ad Set Manager menu you have the option to:
  

• Select a different Ad Set.
  
• Create a new Ad Set.
  
• Copy an existing Ad Set to a new one.
  
• Delete an Ad Set. Note:  The active Ad Set cannot be deleted.
  

• To select a different Ad Set:
  

• At the left of the menu, highlight the Ad Set you wish to use.
  
• Click Select to select it.
  
• Click OK to return to the Ad Editor screen.
  

• The new Ad Set name will display at the top center of the screen. 
  
• All the ad slots associated to the Ad Set selected will display in the list.
  

Ad Slots

• In general, the following image sizes work well for ad display:
  

• For 2:1 aspect ratio:  1000 x 500 pixels
  
• For 4:1 aspect ratio:  1000 x 250 pixels
  
• The maximum image size recommended is:  1500 x 750 pixels
  

• There are eight different ad slots available for game/range play including:
  

• CTP/LD Tee Overlay
  

• This ad displays overlaying the ground in front of the tee for Online/aG Compete closest to pin and long drive events.
  
• Image size aspect ratio = 2:1
  

• Range Tee Overlay
  

• This ad displays overlaying the ground in front of the ball location for the following venues:
  

• Mountains, Tropical, Canyon, Waterfall, and Target Green.
  

• Image size aspect ratio = 2:1
  

• Range Fairway Overlay
  

• This ad displays overlaying the ground 125 yards in front of the ball location for the following venues:
  

• Mountains, World Long Drive, Tropical, Canyon, Waterfall, and Target Green.
  

• Image size aspect ratio = 2:1
  

• SponsorAd1
  

• This ad displays at the top center of most front end setup screens.
  
• Image size aspect ratio = 4:1
  

• SponsorAd2
  

• This ad displays at the lower right of the post shot menu.
  
• Image size aspect ratio = 4:1
  

• SponsorAd3
  

• This ad displays at the upper right of the screen during round or range play.
  
• Image size aspect ratio = 2:1
  

How to Setup Ads for Game/Range Play

Ad Slots

• SponsorAdScorecard
  

• This ad displays at the bottom middle of the scorecard.
  
• Image size aspect ratio = 4:1
  

• HoleloadAd
  

• This ad displays at the center of the main game screen and fades in and out at the beginning of each hole.
  
• Image size aspect ratio = 2:1
  
• Note: : Set the fade in, display, and fade out time in the HoleLoadAd.xml file located at the World Tours Golf/PGA Tour Simulator/Sponsors folder.
  

• 3DTeeSign
  

• This ad displays as a 3D tee sign that is dynamically placed to the right of the tee.
  
• Image size aspect ratio = 2:1
  

Best Practices Tips for TeeOverlay Ads

• Set Ball on Screen to putting only in the Utilities screen. This will ensure the camera is closer to the tee overlay image during game play.
  
• Use a 4:1 aspect ratio image instead of the 2:1 aspect ratio specified.  This is a useful technique because the camera is at the point of view of the eye of the golfer (about 6 feet above the ground) resulting in a low viewing angle.  When using a 4:1 aspect ratio image, the game will compress horizontally and stretch vertically when rendering at the tee.  This results in a better looking image.
  

How to Setup Ads for Game/Range Play

Select Ad Image

To select an ad image to display during game play:

• Next to the ad slot you wish to setup, choose Click to Add Image.
  

Table of Contents

How to Setup Ads for Game/Range Play

Select Ad Image

• Ad images that you have copied to the World Tours Golf/PGA Tour Simulator/Sponsors folder will display in the Select Image menu list.
  
•  Choose the ad image that corresponds to the ad slot you are creating. For best results, create your ad with the recommended image size aspect ratio. 
  

• For Example:  If you are setting up SponsorAd1, choose an image that has been created with a 4:1 aspect ratio.
  

Set Holes

• Choose the Set Holes option at the upper right of the Ad Editor menu to select which holes you would like your ads to display at.
  
• By default, all 18 holes will be selected.
  
• You have the option to set holes for the following ad slots:
  

• SponsorAd2
  
• SponsorAd3
  
• SponsorAdScorecard
  
• HoleloadAd
  
• 3DTeeSign
  

• Note:  The Set Holes option does not affect ad display at the Range.
  

Rotating Ads 

• To create a rotating ad, select two or more images for your ad slot. 
  
• The UI ads will cycle on a timer (every 10 seconds) when there is more than one ad associated to that ad slot. UI ad slots include:
  

• SponsorAd1 - This ad displays at the top center of most front end setup screens.
  
• SponsorAd3 - This ad displays at the upper right of the screen during round or range play.
  

• The in game ads will cycle during the course of game play. In game ad slots include:
  

• CTP/LD Tee Overlay - This ad displays overlaying the ground in front of the tee and rotates after each shot.
  
• Range Tee Overlay - This ad displays overlaying the ground in front of the ball location and rotates after each shot.
  

• SponsorAd2 - This ad displays at the lower right of the post shot menu and rotates each time the post shot menu is displayed.
  

• SponsorAdScorecard - This ad displays at the bottom middle of the scorecard and rotates each time the scorecard is displayed.
  

• HoleloadAd - This ad displays at the center of the main game screen and rotates for each new course hole.
  

• 3D Tee Sign - This ad displays as a 3D tee sign that is dynamically placed to the right of the tee.
  

• For game play, this ad will rotate for each new player up, or for each new course hole.
  
• For range play, this ad will rotate after each shot. 
  

• Ads will display in the order they are defined in the Ad Editor screen.  
  
• Once the last ad has been displayed, the sequence will automatically repeat starting with the first ad.
  

How to Setup Ads for Game/Range Play

Display Ad 

• Once you have defined your ad slots and set the holes that will display your ads, click OK - Exit, to exit the Ad Editor menu.
  
• Then click OK to exit the Utilities screen.
  
• The ad slots you have created will display in your Simulator.
  

SponsorAd1 Ad Slot - Player List

How to Setup Ads for Game/Range Play

Range Tee Overlay, SponsorAd3, and 3DTeeSign Ad Slots at Range 

SponsorAd2 Ad Slot 

on the Post Shot Screen

Delete Ad 

• To delete an ad:
  

• Click the Delete button next to the ad you wish to delete.
  
• Or click the Delete All button at the upper left of the screen to delete all ads.
  

How to Setup Ads for Classic Events

At the Classic Event setup screen click Ad Editor 

The Classic Ad Editor menu displays

Ad Slots

• In general, the following image sizes work well for ad display:
  

• For 2:1 aspect ratio:  1000 x 500 pixels
  
• For 4:1 aspect ratio:  1000 x 250 pixels
  
• The maximum image size recommended is:  1500 x 750 pixels
  

•  There are four different ad slots available for Classic events including:
  

• LeaderboardSponsor
  

• This ad displays at the top center of the leaderboard for your event.
  
• Image size aspect ratio = 3.3:1
  

Ad Slots

• CTP/LD TeeOverlay
  

• This ad displays overlaying the ground in front of the tees.
  
• Image size aspect ratio = 4:1
  

• SponsorAd3
  

• This ad displays at the upper right of the event screen..
  
• Image size aspect ratio = 2:1
  

• 3DTeeSign
  

• This ad displays as a 3D tee sign that is dynamically placed to the right of the tee.
  
• Image size aspect ratio = 2:1
  

Best Practices Tips for TeeOverlay Ads

• Set Ball on Screen to putting only in the Utilities screen. This will ensure the camera is closer to the tee overlay image during game play.
  
• Use a 4:1 aspect ratio image instead of the 2:1 aspect ratio specified.  This is a useful technique because the camera is at the point of view of the eye of the golfer (about 6 feet above the ground) resulting in a low viewing angle.  When using a 4:1 aspect ratio image, the game will compress horizontally and stretch vertically when rendering at the tee.  This results in a better looking image.
  

How to Setup Ads for Classic Events

Select Ad Image

• Next to the ad slot you wish to setup, choose Click to Add Image.
  
• Ad images that you have copied to the World Tours Golf/PGA Tour Simulator/Sponsors folder or the World Tours Golf/PGA Tour Simulator/Sponsors/<classic event name> folder will display in the menu list.
  

• Choose the ad image that corresponds to the ad slot you are creating. For best results, create your ad with the recommended image size aspect ratio. 
  

• For Example:  If you are setting up SponsorAd3, choose an image that has been created with a 2:1 aspect ratio.
  

T

How to Setup Ads for Classic Events

Rotating Ads 

• To create a rotating ad, select two or more images for your ad slot. 
  

• LeaderboardSponsor - This ad displays at the top center of the leaderboard and rotates each time the leaderboard is displayed. 
  

• CTP/LD Tee Overlay - This ad displays overlaying the ground in front of the tee and rotates after each shot.
  

• SponsorAd3 - This ad displays at the upper right of the screen and will cycle on a timer (every 10 seconds) if there is more than one ad associated to the ad slot.  
  
• 3D Tee Sign - This ad displays as a 3D tee sign that is dynamically placed to the right of the tee and will rotate after each shot. 
  

• Ads will display in the order they are defined in the Classic Ad Editor screen.  
  
• Once the last ad has been displayed, the sequence will automatically repeat starting with the first ad.

How to Setup Ads for Classic Events

Display Ad 

• Once you have defined your ad slots, click OK - Exit. 
  
• Click Next to start your classic event.
  
• The ad slots you have created will display for your event with the ad image you have selected.
  

CTP/LD TeeOverlay, SponsorAd3 and 3DTeeSign Ad Slots at Classic Event

How to Setup Ads for Classic Events

Delete Ad 

• To delete an ad:
  

• Click the Delete button next to the ad you wish to delete.
  
• Or click the Delete All button at the upper left of the screen to delete all ads.
  

Advertising Supports Corporate Events

Traditional advertising opportunities include Simulator sponsorship for a period of time or for specific events.

However, there is more to advertising and how it can help an IGC expand their business.   IGCs are encouraged to market the advertising features in support of their Corporate Events business, such as Training or Team Building.

Here's an example: 

• A local business rents the IGC for several hours for a Corporate Team Building event.
  
• Ads are placed on each hole with trivia questions focused on their business.  Ads can be used to communicate any message determined by their management. (e.g. goals for the year, key messaging, key markets, strategy).
  
• Teams play a fun round of golf, and record answers to the trivia question that appears at the start of each hole.
  
• Prizes won are based upon which team has the most/best answers. 
  

• Optionally:  Scramble score reduced by number of correct answers.
  

• Questions are placed on image files (png or jpg) similar to traditional ads and placed as Hole Load ads at the beginning of each hole.  The team needs to pay attention and read/understand the question before it disappears.
  

Don't forget to use the Boost feature (a.k.a. Skill Level) so non-golfers can have fun participating.   This approach has been very successful with previous Corporate Events.    

Why is Boost an advantage?

A Corporate sponsor can't have all employees participate in a traditional outdoor event because some employees simply don't know how to golf.   An aboutGOLF IGC solves that problem with Boost (a.k.a. Skill Level) so even the non-golfers can have fun participating in the event.  

Tracking Ad Impressions

• A monthly report will be provided summarizing: 
  

• Ad Sets used during the month.
  
• Specific Ads used during the month.
  
• Number of impressions for each Ad.
  
• Number of unique golfers in the sim when Ad impressions displayed.
  

Demo Videos

• Demo videos allow you to play pre-recorded videos on your simulator at the Main Menu screen.
  
• All the videos in the DemoVideos folder (located at Program Files\Friendly Software\World Tours Golf) will play unattended.
  
• To start video play, type DEMO at the Main Menu.
  
• To stop play, click anywhere on the video window and answer Yes to the “End demo video loop” message. 
  
• When all the videos have played in the loop, the program will start over to play the first video again.
  
• In addition, the DemoVideos.xml file (in the World Tours Golf folder) allows you to set the following options:
  

• AutoStartSeconds - Enter the number of seconds before videos start playing at the Main Menu automatically.  
  
• Muted - Enter 1 to mute audio for all videos in the loop.
  

• Note:  Your license key must include the Advertising product to enable the Demo Video option.