Links (series)

Last updated
Links
Genre(s) Sports
First release Links: The Challenge of Golf
1990
Latest release Links 2004
2003

Links is a series of golf simulation video games, first developed by Access Software, and then later by Microsoft after it acquired Access Software in 1999. Microsoft also produced its own series of golf games based on Links, under the title Microsoft Golf. The Links series was a flagship brand for Access, and was continued from 1990 to 2003. The first game in the series, Links: The Challenge of Golf , won Computer Gaming World's 1991 Action Game of the Year award. [1]

Contents

Several versions of the game and expansion packs (containing new courses [2] and golfers [3] mainly) were created for the Mac and PC over the years. In 1996, Access Software introduced Links LS 1997 , the first of several Links games to use the LS (Legends in Sports) title. [4] A version for the Xbox named Links 2004 was released in November 2003. It would be the final game in the series. In March 2004, Microsoft announced the cancellation of its 2004 lineup of sports games, allowing the company to focus on improving such games. The company stated, "Links is something that we're taking a hard look at what we need to do." [5] At the end of 2004, Microsoft sold Indie Built (formerly Access Software) to Take-Two Interactive. [6] [7] Indie Built was later shut down in 2006.

Many members of the development team now work for TruGolf, a golf simulator company based out of Centerville, Utah. [8] In 2021, TruGolf re-acquired the rights to the Links series, re-releasing classic editions on GOG, as well as a new title, Links E6, the first in 17 years.

List of games

The following games were developed by Access Software

Microsoft produced the following games after its purchase of Access Software in 1999.

Course disks

The following disks add additional courses to the main Links games.

Microsoft Golf

Before its purchase of Access Software, Microsoft published a series of golf games similar to Links, under the title Microsoft Golf. The first three games in the series are Windows-compatible versions of the early Links games, which were published for DOS. The first three entries in the Microsoft Golf series were developed by Access Software for Microsoft, and were sometimes labeled by publications as Links Lite. [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] Microsoft subsequently published Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition and 1999 Edition , which were developed by Friendly Software as separate games not based on Links. [17] [21] [22] After Access Software was acquired by Microsoft in 1999, Microsoft produced Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition , which was based on Links, and then discontinued the Microsoft Golf series to continue with the Links series. The following games were produced in the Microsoft Golf series:

Reception

Aggregate review scores
Game GameRankings Metacritic
Links LS 1999 85% [23]
Links Extreme 51% [24]
Links LS 2000 79% [25]
Links 2001 86/100 [26]
Links 2003 82/100 [27]
Links 2004 80/100 [28]

Computer Gaming World in 1996 ranked the 1990 version of Links fifth on the magazine's list of the most innovative computer games, stating that the game "may have inspired more 'business machine upgrades' than any other game". [29] In 1996 Next Generation ranked it 69th on their "Top 100 Games of All Time", contending that "many prefer EA's PGA series, but Links takes the title by a hair's breadth. With real life courses, and enough stats, sliders, and options to choke a horse, Links re-creates everything but the swing (which is still accomplished with a 'three click' power bar)." [30]

During 1999, Links LS 2000 sold 104,225 copies and earned $4.6 million in the United States. [31] Links 2001 rose to 240,000 copies and $8.2 million in the United States by August 2006, which made it the 84th-best-selling computer game released between January 2000 and August 2006 in the region. Combined sales of all Links games released in the 2000s reached 720,000 copies in the United States by August 2006. [32]

In the United States, Links Championship Edition sold over 100,000 copies by August 2006. [32]

Links 2003 was a nominee for PC Gamer US 's "2002 Best Sports Game" award, which ultimately went to Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 . The magazine's Dan Morris called Links 2003 "a terrific game". [33]

See also

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<i>Links 2001</i> Golf video game by Microsoft

Links 2001 is a golf-based sports simulation game developed by Access Software and Microsoft Games Group and published by Microsoft. It is part of the Links series and follows Links LS 2000. It is the first game in the series to include a golf course designer, allowing the player to create custom courses. It also features Arnold Palmer, Sergio García, and Annika Sörenstam as playable golfers.

<i>Links LS 1997</i> 1996 sports video game

Links LS 1997 is a golf video game developed and published by Access Software for DOS. It was released in 1996, and is part of the Links video game series, following Links 386 Pro (1992). It was followed by Links LS 1998.

<i>Links 386 Pro</i> 1992 video game

Links 386 Pro is a golf simulation sports game for MS-DOS released in 1992. It is part of the Links series, and was developed by Access Software as the follow-up to Links: The Challenge of Golf (1990). A Macintosh version, Links Pro, was released in 1994. An enhanced version called Links 386 CD was released for PC in 1995 that included audio comments by comedian Bobcat Goldthwait acting as the player's caddie, and an aerial flyby of each hole streamed from the game's CD-ROM. Re-branded versions of the game were also released for Microsoft Windows under the titles Microsoft Golf 2.0 (1994) and Microsoft Golf 3.0 (1996), part of the Microsoft Golf series.

<i>Links LS 1998</i> 1997 sports video game

Links LS 1998 is a golf video game developed and published by Access Software. It is part of the Links video game series, following Links LS (1996). It was released in 1997, and is the first game in the series to be published for Microsoft Windows. The game was well received, and was followed by Links LS 1999.

<i>Links LS 1999</i> 1998 sports video game

Links LS 1999 is a video game developed and published by Access Software for Microsoft Windows in 1998, and is part of the Links video game series.

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<i>Links: The Challenge of Golf</i> 1990 video game

Links: The Challenge of Golf is a golf video game developed by Access Software. It was published for MS-DOS in 1990, followed by the Amiga in 1992. A Sega CD version, developed by Papyrus Design Group, was released in 1994. It is the first game in the Links series, and was followed by Links 386 Pro (1992). A Microsoft Windows version, titled Microsoft Golf, was released in 1992 as the first game in the Microsoft Golf series.

<i>Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition</i> 2000 video game

Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition is a 2000 golf video game developed and published by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows. It is the final game in the Microsoft Golf series, and the successor to Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition. It uses the same game engine as Links LS 2000 (1999), part of Microsoft's Links series of golf games.

<i>Links LS 2000</i> 1999 video game

Links LS 2000 is a golf video game developed by Access Software and published by Microsoft. It is part of the Links series and was released in 1999 for Microsoft Windows, and in 2000 for Macintosh. It was followed by Links 2001.

<i>Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition</i> 1998 video game

Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition is a 1998 golf video game developed by American studio Friendly Software and published by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows. It is the fourth game in the Microsoft Golf series, following Microsoft Golf 3.0. The game uses a revamped design that is substantially different from its predecessors.

<i>Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition</i> Developed by American studio Friendly Software

Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition is a golf video game developed by American studio Friendly Software and published by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows. It was released in the United States in late 1998. It is the fifth game in the Microsoft Golf series, following Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition, which was also developed by Friendly Software.

<i>Links Extreme</i> 1999 video game

Links Extreme is a 1999 golf video game developed by Access Software and published by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows. It is the first game in the Links series to be published by Microsoft, which purchased Access Software a month prior to the game's release.

<i>PGA Championship Golf 1999 Edition</i> 1999 video game

PGA Championship Golf 1999 Edition is a 1999 golf video game developed by Headgate Studios and published by Sierra Sports for Microsoft Windows. The game includes eight golf courses and a golf swing method known as TrueSwing, which uses the movement of the computer mouse to simulate a golf swing in real-time as the player makes the shot. Also included is the ReadyPlay feature, allowing golfers in a multiplayer group to play at their own pace without waiting for others to finish their turn. The game was praised for its variety, including its TrueSwing and ReadyPlay features, although its golf commentary was criticized. The game was followed by a sequel, PGA Championship Golf 2000.

References

  1. ↑ Staff (November 1991). "Computer Gaming World's 1991 Games of the Year Awards". Computer Gaming World. No. 88. Golden Empire Publications, Inc. pp. 38–40, 58.
  2. ↑ Devil's island course expansion on GameSpot
  3. ↑ Davis Love III golfer expansion from TheComputerShow.com
  4. ↑ Sengstack, Jeff (August 15, 1996). "Links LS". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 12, 2004.
  5. ↑ Robinson, Jon (March 29, 2004). "Game Over". IGN. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on June 5, 2004.
  6. ↑ Feldman, Curt (December 17, 2004). "Take-Two helps Microsoft get out of sports game". GameSpot . Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  7. ↑ GamesIndustry International (December 17, 2004). "Microsoft sells off sports game studio to Take Two". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on December 4, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Golf Simulators - Indoor Virtual Golf & Software - TruGolf". TruGolf.
  9. ↑ Links: The Challenge of Golf at MobyGames
  10. ↑ Links Extreme comment at Games.net
  11. ↑ Microsoft LPGA Press Release Archived 2009-03-26 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Links 2003 comment Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine at GameNationTV.com
  13. ↑ Links 2003 Championship Edition Press Release Archived 2009-03-26 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ Links 2004 review Archived 2007-10-12 at the Wayback Machine at ArmChairEmpire.com
  15. ↑ Links Golf Courses Library at LangKong.com Archived July 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ May, Scott A. (April 1997). "Links Lite: Microsoft Golf 3.0 Levels the Field for Win 95 Golfers". Computer Gaming World. p. 112.
  17. 1 2 Lackey, Jeff (June 19, 1998). "Microsoft Golf: 1998 Edition". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on April 18, 2003. Microsoft's golf sims in the past could be best described as "Links Lite": they were basically slightly modified versions of the venerable Links series.
  18. ↑ May, Scott A. (October 1998). "Swing Time! Microsoft Steps Out of LINKS Shadow With a Decent New Golf Game". Computer Gaming World. p. 260. Licensed from Access Software, versions 1-3 were essentially LINKS LITE [...]
  19. ↑ Rosano, Paul (July 12, 1998). "Microsoft's 'Golf' Has Handicaps". Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  20. ↑ House, Michael L. "Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  21. 1 2 McDonald, T. Liam (February 17, 1999). "Golf 1999". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 5, 2003. [...] previous incarnations of Microsoft Golf were essentially Links Lite for Windows.
  22. ↑ Products Archived 2009-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ "Links LS 1999". GameRankings. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Links Extreme". GameRankings. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Links LS 2000". GameRankings. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Links 2001". Metacritic. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Links 2003". Metacritic. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Links 2004". Metacritic. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  29. ↑ "The 15 Most Innovative Computer Games". Computer Gaming World. November 1996. p. 102. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  30. ↑ "Top 100 Games of All Time". Next Generation . No. 21. Imagine Media. September 1996. p. 47.
  31. ↑ Rosano, Paul (February 13, 2000). "The Best Don't Always Sell". Hartford Courant . Archived from the original on April 2, 2018.
  32. 1 2 Edge Staff (August 25, 2006). "The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century". Edge . Archived from the original on October 17, 2012.
  33. ↑ Morris, Dan (March 2003). "The Ninth Annual PC Gamer Awards". PC Gamer US . 10 (3): 48–50, 54, 58, 60, 66, 68, 70.
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