Links (series)
| Company type | Video game series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Access Software |
| Fate | Acquired by Microsoft in 1999; later IP acquired by TruGolf in 2021 |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Golf simulation video games |
Links is a collection of golf simulation video games originally created by Access Software and subsequently developed by Microsoft after it acquired Access in 1999. Alongside this, Microsoft also released its own golf titles under the Microsoft Golf' label. Serving as Access Software’s flagship franchise, the Links series spanned from 1990 through 2003. The inaugural game, Links: The Challenge of Golf, was honored with Computer Gaming World's 1991 Action Game of the Year award.
Numerous editions and expansion packs, primarily introducing additional courses and golfer options, were made available for both Mac and PC platforms. In 1996, Access unveiled Links LS 1997, which marked the beginning of the LS (Legends in Sports) subset within the series. The last release, Links 2004, debuted on the Xbox in November 2003. Microsoft discontinued its 2004 sports game lineup in March 2004 to redirect its development focus, commenting, "Links is something that we're taking a hard look at." Later that year, Microsoft sold Indie Built (formerly Access Software) to Take-Two Interactive, which ultimately closed the studio in 2006.
Several original team members have since joined TruGolf, a Utah-based company specializing in golf simulators. In 2021, TruGolf reacquired the Links intellectual property, reissuing classic versions on GOG and launching Links E6, marking the first new release in 17 years.
List of games
Created by Access Software:
- Links: The Challenge of Golf (1990) for Amiga, DOS, and Sega CD
- Links: The Challenge of Golf (1992) for the Tandy Video Information System
- Links 386 Pro (1992) for DOS
- Macintosh adaptation titled Links Pro (1993), based on Links 386 Pro
- Links LS 1997 (1996) for DOS
- Links LS 1998 (1997) for Windows 95
- Links LS 1999 (1998) for Windows
Published by Microsoft after acquiring Access:
- Links Extreme (1999) for Windows
- Links LS 2000 (1999) for Windows
- Links 2001 (2000) for Windows
- Links Championship Edition (2001) for Windows—includes the base game, an expansion pack, course designer tool, converter utility, and four additional courses
- Links 2003 (2002) for Windows
- Links 2003 Championship Edition (2003) for Windows—features the core game plus championship courses
- Links 2004 (2003) for Xbox
Course disks
Expansion packs provided extra courses to complement main titles:
- Various championship courses issued between 1991 and 1998 across DOS and Windows systems, including notable venues such as Pinehurst Country Club, Firestone Country Club, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Valderrama Golf Club, and Congressional Country Club.
- A fantasy-themed course: Devils Island (1995)
- Additional collections like the Links LS 2000 10-Course Pack, the Links Expansion Pack for Links 2001, and the Links 2003 Championship Courses
- Multiple editions of the Links Golf Courses Library.
Microsoft Golf
Prior to purchasing Access Software, Microsoft developed a series of golf games under the Microsoft Golf brand that resembled the style of Links. The initial three releases were Windows-compatible adaptations of early DOS-based Links titles created by Access Software; these were frequently regarded as simplified or "Lite" versions by reviewers. Subsequently, Microsoft published distinct products such as Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition and 1999 Edition, developed by Friendly Software and unrelated to the ‘’Links’’ franchise. Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Access Software in 1999, it produced Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition, which was based on the ‘’Links’’ engine before eventually discontinuing the ‘’Microsoft Golf’’ line to concentrate exclusively on ‘’Links’’.
Key entries in the ‘’Microsoft Golf’’ lineup include:
- Microsoft Golf (1992) for Windows 3.1
- Microsoft Golf: Multimedia Edition (1993) for Windows 3.1
- Microsoft Golf 2.0 (1994) compatible with Windows 3.1/95
- Microsoft Golf 3.0 (1996) designed for Windows 95
- Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition (1998) running on Windows 95
- Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition (1998) also for Windows 95
- Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition (2000) targeting Windows 98
Reception
In its 1996 rankings, Computer Gaming World placed the original 1990 version of ‘’Links’’ fifth among the most innovative computer games ever released, noting its significant influence on prompting hardware upgrades.[1] That same year, ‘’Next Generation’’ ranked it number 69 on their "Top 100 Games of All Time," commending its authentic course representations alongside comprehensive statistics and customization options despite a somewhat basic swing mechanism.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
By 1999, sales figures for ‘’Links LS 2000’’ reached approximately 104,225 units in the U.S., generating $4.6 million in revenue.[2] Sales improved with ‘’Links 2001’’, which sold around 240,000 copies and earned $8.2 million by August 2006, securing its position as the eighty-fourth best-selling PC title launched between January 2000 and August 2006 within the United States. Total domestic sales of all ‘’Links’’ games from that decade amounted to roughly 720,000 copies during this period.[3]
Additionally, ‘’Links Championship Edition’’ surpassed sales of over 100,000 units in the U.S. by August 2006.[3]
The title ‘’Links 2003’’ received a nomination from ‘’PC Gamer US’’ as "Best Sports Game" in their annual awards for 2002; however, that honor went to ‘’Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003’’. Reviewer Dan Morris described it as "a terrific game".[4]
Template:Video game series reviews
See also
External links
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