Links (series)

Links is the name of a series of golf simulation computer 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.
Several versions of the game and expansion packs (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 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. 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.
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". 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:
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". 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"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".