Links (series) explained

Genre:Sports
First Release Version:
First Release Date:1990
Latest Release Version:Links 2004
Latest Release Date: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, , won Computer Gaming Worlds 1991 Action Game of the Year award.[1]

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.[15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] Microsoft subsequently published Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition and 1999 Edition, which were developed by Friendly Software as separate games not based on Links.[16] [20] [21] 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

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".[22] 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)."[23]

During 1999, Links LS 2000 sold 104,225 copies and earned $4.6 million in the United States.[24] 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.[25]

In the United States, Links Championship Edition sold over 100,000 copies by August 2006.[25]

Links 2003 was a nominee for PC Gamer USs "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".[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Staff . Computer Gaming World's 1991 Games of the Year Awards . Computer Gaming World . 88 . Golden Empire Publications, Inc . November 1991 . 38 - 40, 58 .
  2. http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/linksfantasycoursedevilsisland/index.html Devil's island course expansion
  3. http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/previews/digitaldavislove3.htm Davis Love III golfer expansion
  4. Web site: Sengstack . Jeff . Links LS . GameSpot . https://web.archive.org/web/20041212204434/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/linksls/review.html . December 12, 2004 . August 15, 1996.
  5. Web site: Robinson . Jon . Game Over . IGN . https://web.archive.org/web/20040605200500/http://sports.ign.com/articles/502/502713p1.html . June 5, 2004 . 1–2 . March 29, 2004.
  6. Web site: Take-Two helps Microsoft get out of sports game . Curt . Feldman . December 17, 2004 . . July 19, 2019.
  7. Web site: Microsoft sells off sports game studio to Take Two . GamesIndustry International . December 17, 2004 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20111204200012/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news171204taketwosports . December 4, 2011.
  8. Web site: Golf Simulators - Indoor Virtual Golf & Software - TruGolf. TruGolf.
  9. http://www.games.net/video-game/pc/103541/links-extreme/ Links Extreme comment
  10. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/oct01/10-23vgatourpr.mspx Microsoft LPGA Press Release
  11. http://www.gamenationtv.com/reviews/links2003.shtml Links 2003 comment
  12. http://www.microsoft.com/games/press/default.aspx?no=links2003ce_20030930001 Links 2003 Championship Edition Press Release
  13. http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/XBox/links-2004.htm Links 2004 review
  14. http://www.langkong.com/us/1225/B00002S78R/Links_Golf_Courses_Library_10_Volume_2/ Links Golf Courses Library
  15. May . Scott A. . April 1997 . Links Lite: Microsoft Golf 3.0 Levels the Field for Win 95 Golfers . Computer Gaming World . 112.
  16. Web site: Lackey . Jeff . Microsoft Golf: 1998 Edition . Computer Games Strategy Plus . June 19, 1998 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030418203339/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/012/146/microsoft_golf_review.html . 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..
  17. May . Scott A. . October 1998 . Swing Time! Microsoft Steps Out of LINKS Shadow With a Decent New Golf Game . Computer Gaming World . 260 . Licensed from Access Software, versions 1-3 were essentially LINKS LITE [...].
  18. News: Rosano . Paul . Microsoft's 'Golf' Has Handicaps . June 20, 2019 . Hartford Courant . July 12, 1998.
  19. Web site: House . Michael L. . Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition review . AllGame . June 20, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141115013259/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15576&tab=review . November 15, 2014.
  20. Web site: McDonald . T. Liam . Golf 1999 . GameSpot . https://web.archive.org/web/20031005031139/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/golf1999/review.html . October 5, 2003 . February 17, 1999 . [...] previous incarnations of Microsoft Golf were essentially Links Lite for Windows..
  21. http://www.friendlysoftware.com/Products.htm Products
  22. News: The 15 Most Innovative Computer Games . Computer Gaming World . November 1996 . 25 March 2016 . 102.
  23. Top 100 Games of All Time . Next Generation. 21 . . September 1996. 47.
  24. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20180402045951/http://articles.courant.com/2000-02-13/sports/0002130175_1_ea-sports-pc-data-microsoft-golf . The Best Don't Always Sell . Rosano, Paul . February 13, 2000 . April 2, 2018 . live . .
  25. https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165955/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ . The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century. Edge Staff . August 25, 2006 . . October 17, 2012 . dead .
  26. March 2003 . The Ninth Annual PC Gamer Awards . 10 . 3 . 48–50, 54, 58, 60, 66, 68, 70 . . Morris, Dan .

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