''Links'' is a series of

golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...

simulation A simulation is an imitative representation of a process or system that could exist in the real world. In this broad sense, simulation can often be used interchangeably with model. Sometimes a clear distinction between the two terms is made, in ...

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

s, first developed by

Access Software Access Software, Inc. was an American video game developer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Founded in November 1982 by Bruce Carver and Chris Jones (Access Software), Chris Jones, the company created the ''Beach Head (video game), Beach Head'', ...

, and then later by

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...

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 Important events of 1990 include the Reunification of Germany and the unification of Yemen, the formal beginning of the Human Genome Project (finished in 2003), the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the separation of Namibia from South ...

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

. The first game in the series, '' Links: The Challenge of Golf'', won ''

Computer Gaming World ''Computer Gaming World'' (CGW) was an American Video game journalism, computer game magazine that was published between 1981 and 2006. One of the few magazines of the era to survive the video game crash of 1983, it was sold to Ziff Davis in 199 ...

s 1991 Action Game of the Year award. Several versions of the game and

expansion pack An expansion pack, expansion set, supplement, or simply expansion, is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game, video game, collectible card game or Miniature wargaming, miniature wargame. An expansion may introduce new rules ...

s (containing new courses and golfers 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. A version for the

Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...

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." At the end of 2004, Microsoft sold Indie Built (formerly Access Software) to

Take-Two Interactive Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is an American video game holding company based in New York City founded by Ryan Brant in September 1993. The company owns three major Imprint (trade name), publishing labels, Rockstar Games, Zynga and 2K ...

. 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. 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

* '' Links: The Challenge of Golf'' (1990)

Amiga Amiga is a family of personal computers produced by Commodore International, Commodore from 1985 until the company's bankruptcy in 1994, with production by others afterward. The original model is one of a number of mid-1980s computers with 16-b ...

DOS DOS (, ) is a family of disk-based operating systems for IBM PC compatible computers. The DOS family primarily consists of IBM PC DOS and a rebranded version, Microsoft's MS-DOS, both of which were introduced in 1981. Later compatible syste ...

Sega CD The Sega CD, known as in most regions outside North America and Brazil, is a CD-ROM accessory and format for the Sega Genesis produced by Sega as part of the fourth generation of video game consoles. Originally released in November 1991, it ca ...

* ''

Links 386 Pro ''Links 386 Pro'' is a golf Simulation video game, simulation sports game for MS-DOS released in 1992. It is part of the Links (series), ''Links'' series, and was developed by Access Software as the follow-up to ''Links: The Challenge of Golf'' ( ...

'' (1992) DOS ** ''Links Pro'' (1993), the

Macintosh Mac is a brand of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple since 1984. The name is short for Macintosh (its official name until 1999), a reference to the McIntosh (apple), McIntosh apple. The current product lineup inclu ...

version of ''Links 386 Pro'' * '' Links LS 1997'' (1996) DOS * ''

Links LS 1998 ''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 M ...

'' (1997)

Microsoft Windows 95 Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented operating system developed by Microsoft and the first of its Windows 9x family of operating systems, released to manufacturing on July 14, 1995, and generally to retail on August 24, 1995. Windows 95 merged ...

* ''

Links LS 1999 ''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. Reception The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation web ...

'' (1998)

Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

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

Links Extreme ''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 ...

'' (1999) Windows * ''

Links LS 2000 ''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''. ''Li ...

'' (1999) Windows * ''

Links 2001 ''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 i ...

'' (2000) Windows ** ''Links Championship Edition'' (2001) Windows (includes ''Links 2001'', ''Links Expansion Pack'', a course designer, a course converter and 4 new courses) * ''

Links 2003 ''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 ...

'' (2002) Windows Microsoft Game Studios ** ''Links 2003 Championship Edition'' (2003) Windows (includes ''Links 2003'' and ''Links 2003 Championship Courses'') * '' Links 2004'' (2003)

Course disks

The following disks add additional courses to the main ''Links'' games. * ''Links: Championship Course: Pinehurst Country Club (1991) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Firestone Country Club'' (1991) Amiga, DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort'' (1991) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Bay Hill Club & Lodge'' (1991) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Bountiful Golf Course'' (1991) Amiga, DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Barton Creek'' (1991) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course:

Mauna Kea Mauna Kea (, ; abbreviation for ''Mauna a Wākea''); is a dormant Shield volcano, shield volcano on the Hawaii (island), island of Hawaii. Its peak is above sea level, making it the List of U.S. states by elevation, highest point in Hawaii a ...

'' (1992) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Troon North'' (1992) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Banff Springs'' (1992) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course:

The Belfry The Belfry is a golf resort and hotel in Wishaw, Warwickshire, close to Sutton Coldfield, England, located approximately 8 miles from the centre of Birmingham. It was acquired by KSL Capital Partners in August 2012. The resort has three golf ...

'' (1992) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Innisbrook - Copperhead'' (1993) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Pebble Beach'' (1993) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Bighorn'' (1994) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Castle Pines'' (1994) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Prairie Dunes'' (1995) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Cog Hill'' (1995) DOS * ''Links: Championship Course: Riviera'' (1995) DOS * ''Links: Fantasy Course: Devils Island'' (1995) DOS * ''Links Championship Course: Pelican Hill'' (1996) DOS, Windows * ''Links Championship Course: Valderrama'' (1997) Windows * ''Links Championship Course:

Oakland Hills Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, California, Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major We ...

'' (1997) Windows * ''Links: Championship Course:

Valhalla In Norse mythology, Valhalla ( , ; , )Orchard (1997:171–172) is described as a majestic hall located in Asgard and presided over by the god Odin. There were five possible realms the soul could travel to after death. The first was Fólkvang ...

'' (1997) Windows * ''Links Championship Course: Congressional Country Club'' (1998) Windows * '' Links LS 2000 10-Course Pack'' (2000) Windows * ''Links Expansion Pack'' (2001) Windows (for ''Links 2001'') * '' Links 2003 Championship Courses'' (2002) Windows * ''Links Golf Courses Library'' (several versions)

''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''. Microsoft subsequently published '' Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition'' and '' 1999 Edition'', which were developed by ''Friendly Software'' as separate games not based on ''Links''. 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: * '' Microsoft Golf'' (1992) Windows 3.1 * '' Microsoft Golf: Multimedia Edition'' (1993) Windows 3.1 * '' Microsoft Golf 2.0'' (1994) Windows 3.1/95 * '' Microsoft Golf 3.0'' (1996) Windows 95 * '' Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition'' (1998) Windows 95 * '' Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition'' (1998) Windows 95 * '' Microsoft Golf 2001 Edition'' (2000) Windows 98

Reception

'' 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". 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)." During 1999, ''Links LS 2000'' sold 104,225 copies and earned $4.6 million in the United States. ''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. In the United States, '' Links Championship Edition'' sold over 100,000 copies by August 2006. ''Links 2003'' was a nominee for ''

PC Gamer US ''PC Gamer'' is a magazine and website founded in the United Kingdom in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future plc. The magazine has several regional editions, with the UK and US editions becoming the best selling PC games ma ...

''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".

References

External links