Links (series)#Course disks

{{Infobox video game series

| image =

| genre = Sports

| developer =

| publisher =

| creator =

| platforms =

| first release version = Links: The Challenge of Golf

| first release date = 1990

| latest release version = Links 2004

| latest release date = 2003

| spinoffs =

}}

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.{{cite magazine | author=Staff | title=Computer Gaming World's 1991 Games of the Year Awards | magazine=Computer Gaming World | issue=88 | publisher=Golden Empire Publications, Inc |date=November 1991 | pages=38–40, 58 }}

Several versions of the game and expansion packs (containing new courses[http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/linksfantasycoursedevilsisland/index.html Devil's island course expansion] on GameSpot and golfers[http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/previews/digitaldavislove3.htm Davis Love III golfer expansion] from TheComputerShow.com 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.{{cite web |last=Sengstack |first=Jeff |title=Links LS |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/linksls/review.html |website=GameSpot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041212204434/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/linksls/review.html |archive-date=December 12, 2004 |date=August 15, 1996}} 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."{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Jon |title=Game Over |url=http://sports.ign.com/articles/502/502713p1.html |website=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040605200500/http://sports.ign.com/articles/502/502713p1.html |archive-date=June 5, 2004 |pages=1–2 |date=March 29, 2004}} At the end of 2004, Microsoft sold Indie Built (formerly Access Software) to Take-Two Interactive.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-helps-microsoft-get-out-of-sports-game/1100-6115224/ |title=Take-Two helps Microsoft get out of sports game |first=Curt |last=Feldman |date=December 17, 2004 |website=GameSpot |accessdate=July 19, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news171204taketwosports |title=Microsoft sells off sports game studio to Take Two |author=GamesIndustry International |date=December 17, 2004 |website=Eurogamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204200012/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news171204taketwosports |archive-date=December 4, 2011}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://trugolf.com|title=Golf Simulators - Indoor Virtual Golf & Software - TruGolf|website=TruGolf}} 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

Links: The Challenge of Golf (1990) Amiga, DOS, Sega CD{{MobyGames|id=/links-the-challenge-of-golf|name=Links: The Challenge of Golf}}
Links 386 Pro (1992) DOS
Links Pro (1993), the Macintosh version of Links 386 Pro
Links LS 1997 (1996) DOS
Links LS 1998 (1997) Microsoft Windows 95
Links LS 1999 (1998) Windows

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

Links Extreme (1999) Windows[http://www.games.net/video-game/pc/103541/links-extreme/ Links Extreme comment] at Games.net
Links LS 2000 (1999) Windows
Links 2001 (2000) Windows
Links Championship Edition (2001) Windows (includes Links 2001, Links Expansion Pack, a course designer, a course converter and 4 new courses)[http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/oct01/10-23vgatourpr.mspx Microsoft LPGA Press Release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326005040/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/oct01/10-23vgatourpr.mspx |date=2009-03-26 }}
Links 2003 (2002) Windows Microsoft Game Studios[http://www.gamenationtv.com/reviews/links2003.shtml Links 2003 comment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011064207/http://gamenationtv.com/reviews/links2003.shtml |date=2007-10-11 }} at GameNationTV.com
Links 2003 Championship Edition (2003) Windows (includes Links 2003 and Links 2003 Championship Courses)[http://www.microsoft.com/games/press/default.aspx?no=links2003ce_20030930001 Links 2003 Championship Edition Press Release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326003844/http://www.microsoft.com/games/press/default.aspx?no=links2003ce_20030930001 |date=2009-03-26 }}
Links 2004 (2003) Xbox[http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/XBox/links-2004.htm Links 2004 review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012223905/http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/XBox/links-2004.htm |date=2007-10-12 }} at ArmChairEmpire.com

=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 (1992) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Troon North (1992) DOS
Links: Championship Course: Banff Springs (1992) DOS
Links: Championship Course: The Belfry (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 (1997) Windows
Links: Championship Course: Valhalla (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)[http://www.langkong.com/us/1225/B00002S78R/Links_Golf_Courses_Library_10_Volume_2/ Links Golf Courses Library] at LangKong.com {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713183427/http://www.langkong.com/us/1225/B00002S78R/Links_Golf_Courses_Library_10_Volume_2/ |date=July 13, 2011 }}

=''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.{{cite magazine |last=May |first=Scott A. |date=April 1997 |title=Links Lite: Microsoft Golf 3.0 Levels the Field for Win 95 Golfers |magazine=Computer Gaming World |page=112}}{{cite web |last=Lackey |first=Jeff |title=Microsoft Golf: 1998 Edition |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/012/146/microsoft_golf_review.html |work=Computer Games Strategy Plus |date=June 19, 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030418203339/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/012/146/microsoft_golf_review.html |archive-date=April 18, 2003 |quote=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.}}{{cite magazine |last=May |first=Scott A. |date=October 1998 |title=Swing Time! Microsoft Steps Out of LINKS Shadow With a Decent New Golf Game |magazine=Computer Gaming World |page=260 |quote=Licensed from Access Software, versions 1-3 were essentially LINKS LITE [...]}}{{cite news |last=Rosano |first=Paul |title=Microsoft's 'Golf' Has Handicaps |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1998-07-12-9807120262-story.html |accessdate=June 20, 2019 |work=Hartford Courant |date=July 12, 1998}}{{cite web |last=House |first=Michael L. |title=Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15576&tab=review |work=AllGame |accessdate=June 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115013259/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15576&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014}}{{cite web |last=McDonald |first=T. Liam |title=Golf 1999 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/golf1999/review.html |website=GameSpot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031005031139/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/golf1999/review.html |archive-date=October 5, 2003 |date=February 17, 1999 |quote= [...] previous incarnations of Microsoft Golf were essentially Links Lite for Windows.}} Microsoft subsequently published Microsoft Golf 1998 Edition and 1999 Edition, which were developed by Friendly Software as separate games not based on Links.[http://www.friendlysoftware.com/Products.htm Products] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325203339/http://www.friendlysoftware.com/Products.htm |date=2009-03-25 }} 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

{{Video game series reviews

| game1 = Links LS 1999

| gr1 = 85%{{cite web |title=Links LS 1999 |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/63521-links-ls-1999/index.html |website=GameRankings |accessdate=July 19, 2019}}

| game2 = Links Extreme

| gr2 = 51%{{cite web |title=Links Extreme |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/176300-links-extreme/index.html |website=GameRankings |accessdate=July 19, 2019}}

| game3 = Links LS 2000

| gr3 = 79%{{cite web |title=Links LS 2000 |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/188392-/ |website=GameRankings |accessdate=July 19, 2019}}

| game4 = Links 2001

| mc4 = 86/100{{cite web |title=Links 2001 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/links-2001/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |work=Metacritic |accessdate=July 19, 2019}}

| game5 = Links 2003

| mc5 = 82/100{{cite web |title=Links 2003 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/links-2003/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |work=Metacritic |accessdate=July 19, 2019}}

| game6 = Links 2004

| mc6 = 80/100{{cite web |title=Links 2004 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/links-2004/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox |website=Metacritic |accessdate=July 19, 2019}}

}}

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".{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148 | title=The 15 Most Innovative Computer Games | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=November 1996 | accessdate=25 March 2016 | pages=102}} 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)."{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Games of All Time |magazine=Next Generation|issue=21 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=September 1996|page=47}}

During 1999, Links LS 2000 sold 104,225 copies and earned $4.6 million in the United States.{{cite news | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402045951/http://articles.courant.com/2000-02-13/sports/0002130175_1_ea-sports-pc-data-microsoft-golf | url=https://www.courant.com/2000/02/13/the-best-dont-always-sell/ | title=The Best Don't Always Sell | author=Rosano, Paul | date=February 13, 2000 | archive-date=April 2, 2018 | url-status=live | newspaper=Hartford Courant }} 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.{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165955/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |title=The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century| author=Edge Staff | date=August 25, 2006 |magazine=Edge |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

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".{{cite journal |date=March 2003 | title=The Ninth Annual PC Gamer Awards | volume=10 | number=3 | pages=48–50, 54, 58, 60, 66, 68, 70 | journal=PC Gamer US | author=Morris, Dan }}