Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition

Last updated
Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition
Microsoft Golf 1998 cover.jpg
Developer(s) Friendly Software
Publisher(s) Microsoft
Series Microsoft Golf
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Single-player
Multiplayer

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.

Contents

Some critics considered the game to be a significant improvement over its predecessors, with particular praise for its graphics. Sales were poor, with the game ranking 232nd for computer game sales during 1998. It was followed by Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition .

Gameplay

Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition features four golf courses: The Links, and Teeth of the Dog, both at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic; and Lake Michigan's Bay Harbor Golf Club, and The Preserve 9 at Bay Harbor. The latter is a 9-hole course, while the other three each contain 18 holes. [2] [3] [4] The game features five game modes: Bingo Bango Bongo, match, scramble, skins, and stroke. [2] [3] [4] Four golf swing methods are featured, including Natural Swing and Sim Swing; the former method uses the motion of a computer mouse to simulate the swing, while the latter option has the game take the swing for the player, who has no involvement in the process. [2] The game also features regular two-click and three-click swing methods that are common to golfing games. [5] [6] [3] [4]

The player can also choose pin placement, [2] and has a variety of camera angles and replay options. [4] Wind and weather can also be customized. [5] The game includes commentary from David Feherty, who reacts to the player's golfing. [3] Ten golfer models are featured, including males and females of varying skin tones, and the player can use a variety of options to customize the character. [6] [3] The game supports multiplayer for up to four players, with various options such as LAN and Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone. [2]

Development

The previous games in the Microsoft Golf series are basic versions of the early Links golfing games by Access Software. [2] [3] Microsoft's previous golf games are also Microsoft Windows versions of the Links games, which were being published for DOS at the time. Microsoft and Access Software ended their partnership in 1996, when the latter began developing Links for Windows, making their series a direct rival to Microsoft Golf. [7] For Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition, Microsoft chose Friendly Software to develop the game, which uses a revamped design that is substantially different from its predecessors. [4] Friendly Software previously developed Greg Norman Ultimate Challenge Golf, [4] and Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition uses the same game engine. [8] The game uses DirectDraw for graphics rendering. [9]

Release and marketing

The game was published by Microsoft in the United States in May 1998. [10] [11] [12] That month, Microsoft and company Eddie Bauer partnered to promote Microsoft Golf 1998 Special Edition, a basic version of the game featuring only the Preserve 9 course. It was created specifically for Eddie Bauer. The Eddie Bauer logo and website are featured in the game, which was given away to Eddie Bauer customers who purchased merchandise costing $75 or more. [13] [14] A basic demo version of the full game, titled Microsoft Golf 1998 Lite and featuring only the Preserve 9 course, was included with Microsoft Plus! 98 upon its release in June 1998. [15] [16] [17] [18]

In August 1998, Microsoft hosted a promotional media event at Washington's Museum of Flight, coinciding with the 1998 PGA Championship being held in the state, where Microsoft was headquartered. The event, titled "Battle in Seattle", was a three-hole matchup between professional golfers Craig Stadler and Michelle McGann, who competed against each other in the game. The event included a jumbo screen to watch the match, as well as 10 computers featuring demo versions of the game. The event garnered only about 80 people, below Microsoft's expectations. Media attendees included ESPN and Fox Sports, in addition to several PGA Tour players. [19] [20]

Reception

Some critics considered Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition to be a significant improvement over its predecessors. [2] [3] [4] [23] Stephen Poole of GameSpot wrote that "the only way you'd know it had anything to do with the previous versions is from the name." [3] Scott A. May of Computer Gaming World praised the game for retaining "the polished, user-friendly feel of the previous versions, but little else." He stated that veteran fans of the series would be surprised by Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition, while people who ignored its predecessors for their lack of depth "finally have a reason to take another look" at the series. [2] Gordon Goble of Gamecenter stated that nearly everything about the series had been changed for the better with the release of Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition. [4] Paul Rosano of Hartford Courant called it "a worthwhile and successful, albeit overdue, upgrade." [23]

The graphics were praised, [5] [6] [2] [3] [4] [21] although some critics still considered them inferior when compared to Links LS 1998 and Jack Nicklaus 5 . [6] [4] Poole considered the graphics to be "the biggest area of improvement," stating that they were nearly as good as the latest Links and Jack Nicklaus games. [3] May praised the video-captured golfers for being seamlessly blended into the foreground. [2] Other critics praised the golfer animations as well, but were disappointed by the golfers' lack of pre- and post-shot reactions. [6] [4] Goble particularly praised the aerial previews of each hole, considering them to be the best of any golf game. [4]

May called the sounds on the course "outstanding" but stated that some sounds "seem to be missing," such as the ball hitting the pin or splashing into water. [2] Nick Smith of AllGame considered the sounds to be "very realistic" and stated that they "do not get in the way of the gameplay as they sometimes do in other golf games." [5] Goble criticized the ambient audio for including "annoying, perpetually chirping birds and crickets". [4] Doug Pierce of Sports Gaming Network criticized the audio for its lack of variety and its repetitive sounds of birds and sprinklers. [22] Smith enjoyed the commentary and called it "relevant and even sympathetic at times". [5] May believed the commentary to be superfluous, [2] while Poole stated that the commentary "isn't particularly humorous or helpful". [3] Goble stated that the commentary was rarely accurate in its reaction to the player's golfing. [4]

Some criticized the game's click-swing methods for requiring fast responses from the player. [6] [4] May considered the array of swing methods to be "by far the most impressive" of the game's options. He also praised the pin placement option for significantly increasing the game's long-term playability. [2] Dennis Lynch of the Chicago Tribune considered the Natural Swing "anything but natural," although he praised the various game options and the Internet Gaming Zone feature. [21] Jeff Lackey of Computer Games Strategy Plus praised the multitude of game options, noting that some of them were not yet offered by rival golfing games. [2] May praised the "clean" interface, [2] while Poole praised it for providing quick access to parts of the game. [3]

Rosano praised the courses, including Teeth of the Dragon, as a "big plus," while stating they were all "expertly rendered." [23] May was disappointed that the game, unlike its predecessors, is not compatible with courses from the Links series or the earlier Microsoft Golf games. [2] Poole was also disappointed by the limited course selection, and the lack of an off-line tournament mode. [3] Goble believed that the four available courses provided adequate variety, although he criticized some gameplay inconsistencies and errors, and stated that the distance to the golf hole can be "extremely deceiving" at times. In comparison to rival golf games, Goble called Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition a "promising amateur in a world of seasoned veterans." He concluded that it was too flawed to "heartily recommend," stating that at best, it was an "interesting alternative" in the genre of computer golf. [4] Rosano concluded that the game was best for casual players, stating that there were better golf simulations available for hardcore players. [23] Sales of the game were poor; among computer games, Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition ranked 232nd for sales during 1998. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>PGA Tour Golf</i> 1990 video game

PGA Tour Golf is a golf video game and the first in the PGA Tour game series. It was developed by Sterling Silver Software and released in 1990, for MS-DOS. It was initially published by Electronic Arts, which subsequently released versions of the game for Sega Genesis and Amiga in 1991, followed by a version for the SNES in 1992. By 1994, Tengen had published versions for Sega's Master System and Game Gear consoles. PGA Tour Golf received generally positive reviews for its realism, sound, and camera. Several critics considered the computer versions to be the best golf game available at the time of its release. It was followed by PGA Tour Golf II.

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.

<i>Links 2003</i> 2002 video game

Links 2003 is a golf video game developed by Microsoft and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It is part of the Links series and was released for Windows in 2002. It follows Links 2001 and was followed by Links 2004. The game includes six courses, a course designer, and four professional golfers: David Toms, Jesper Parnevik, Sergio García, and Annika Sörenstam. Links 2003 introduces a golf swing method that works in real time as the player makes the shot.

<i>PGA Championship Golf 2000</i> 2000 video game

PGA Championship Golf 2000 is a golf simulation game for Windows. It was developed by Headgate Studios and released by Sierra Sports. It follows PGA Championship Golf 1999 Edition. An upgraded version was released in December 2000, under the title PGA Championship Golf Titanium Edition.

<i>Actua Golf 2</i> 1997 video game

Actua Golf 2 is a sports video game developed and published by Gremlin Interactive for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. Development of the game was underway as of August 1997, and it was released in September 1997 in Europe, and in June 1998 in North America. A Sega Saturn version was planned, but eventually cancelled.

<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 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>Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge</i> 1999 video game

Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge is a golf video game developed by Hypnos Entertainment and published by Activision for Microsoft Windows. It is part of a series of golfing games named after golfer Jack Nicklaus, and is the first in the series to feature him as a playable golfer. Producer and designer Mike Franco, who produced previous games in the series, began working on the game in November 1997, when Jack Nicklaus 5 was released.

Jack Nicklaus is a series of golf video games named after golfer Jack Nicklaus. The first game, Jack Nicklaus' Greatest 18 Holes of Major Championship Golf, was developed by Sculptured Software and published by Accolade. It was released for various platforms beginning in 1988. Accolade would publish subsequent games in the series for the next decade, before selling the rights to Activision in 1998. Activision published a sixth game in the series, Jack Nicklaus 6: Golden Bear Challenge, in 1999, but chose not to publish a sequel due to poor sales. The next game in the series, Jack Nicklaus Perfect Golf, was released by a new company in 2016.

<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 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>MicroProse Golf</i> 1991 video game

MicroProse Golf is a golf video game developed by The Thought Train and published by MicroProse. It was released in 1991 for Amiga and Atari ST. In 1992, an enhanced MS-DOS version, featuring golf instructor David Leadbetter, was released in the United States as David Leadbetter's Greens and in the United Kingdom as David Leadbetter's Golf. The game's variety was praised, and some critics considered it the best golf game available.

<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.

<i>The Golf Pro</i> 1998 video game

The Golf Pro is a 1998 golf video game developed and published by Empire Interactive for Microsoft Windows. The game features professional golfer Gary Player, as well as two golf courses and a mouse-controlled golf swing method known as Mouse Drive. The game was generally praised for its graphics, but criticized for its limited camera angles. By early 1999, The Golf Pro 2 had been released in the United Kingdom.

<i>Front Page Sports: Golf</i> 1997 video game

Front Page Sports: Golf is a golf simulation video game developed by Headgate Studios and published by Sierra On-Line for Microsoft Windows. The game was released in 1997, after nearly three years of development. It was particularly praised for its TrueSwing method, in which the player uses the computer mouse to simulate the golf swing.

<i>Microsoft Baseball 3D 1998 Edition</i> 1998 video game

Microsoft Baseball 3D 1998 Edition, also known as simply Microsoft Baseball 3D, is a sports video game developed by Microsoft and WizBang! Software Productions. It was released for Microsoft Windows in 1998. It received praise for its graphics, but criticism for numerous glitches and its varying difficulty. It was followed by Microsoft Baseball 2000 and Microsoft Baseball 2001.

References

  1. ↑ "Microsoft Golf 1998 Brings Foursomes Together Through Internet". Stories. 1998-05-11. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 May, Scott A. (October 1998). "Swing Time! Microsoft Steps Out of LINKS Shadow With a Decent New Golf Game". Computer Gaming World. p. 260.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Poole, Stephen (June 10, 1998). "Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 4, 2005.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Goble, Gordon (June 9, 1998). "Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition". Gamecenter. Archived from the original on November 9, 2000.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nick, Smith. "Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lackey, Jeff (June 19, 1998). "Microsoft Golf: 1998 Edition". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on April 18, 2003.
  7. 1 2 "Microsoft buying Access Software; S.L.-based firm is called the 'king of computer golf'". Deseret News . Associated Press. April 20, 1999. Archived from the original on May 19, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  8. ↑ McDonald, T. Liam (February 17, 1999). "Golf 1999". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 5, 2003.
  9. ↑ DirectX: Description of the DirectX Setup (Dxsetup.exe) Tool
  10. ↑ Ocampo, Jason (May 1, 1998). "Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition: Redmond says "Fore!"". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on April 18, 2003.
  11. ↑ Ocampo, Jason (May 5, 1998). "Microsoft Golf and Baseball make their way to stores". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on April 18, 2003.
  12. ↑ "Microsoft Golf 1998 Brings Foursomes Together Through Internet". Microsoft. May 11, 1998. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Gadgets, Gizmos & Gossip" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram. May 11, 1998. Retrieved June 18, 2019– via NewsLibrary.
  14. ↑ "Microsoft and Eddie Bauer Make Dad Look Good on and off the Course With Father's Day Promotion". Microsoft. June 1, 1998. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Desktop themes, games and maintenance tools among compelling features of Plus! 98". Microsoft. April 29, 1998. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Microsoft Releases Japanese Version of "Microsoft Plus! 98" on July 25(Sat)". Microsoft. June 17, 1998. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  17. ↑ Robinson, Phillip (June 25, 1998). "Windows 98 Plus Doesn't Add Enough To Make It Worthwhile" . San Jose Mercury News . Retrieved June 18, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Microsoft Plus! More, More, More" . The Daily Oklahoman . July 27, 1998. Retrieved June 18, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Gunsalus, James (August 24, 1998). "Microsoft, Sierra Online Also Played PGA" . Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Retrieved June 18, 2019– via NewsLibrary.
  20. ↑ "PGA Veteran Defeats LPGA Champ in "Battle in Seattle" Golf Tournament". Microsoft. August 12, 1998. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  21. 1 2 3 Lynch, Dennis (June 4, 1998). "It's Par for the Course for Microsoft". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  22. 1 2 Pierce, Doug (August 25, 1998). "Microsoft Golf (PC) Review". Sports Gaming Network. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Rosano, Paul (July 12, 1998). "Microsoft's 'Golf' Has Handicaps". Hartford Courant. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.