Links (computer game)
Encyclopedia
Links was the name of a series of golf
simulation
computer games, first developed by Access Software
, and then later by Microsoft Game Studios
after Microsoft
acquired Access Software. The line of golf games was a flagship brand for Access, and the series spanned several years: from 1990
to 2003
. Several versions of the game and expansion pack
s (containing new courses and golfers mainly) were created for the Mac
and PC
over the years. A version for the Xbox
named Links 2004
was released in November 2003. In 1991, Links won Computer Gaming World
s 1991 Action Game of the Year award.
In 2004, Microsoft sold the Salt Lake City studio to Take-Two Interactive
, where it was renamed Indie Built
. Indie Built was subsequently shut down in 2006. It is therefore unlikely that Take-Two will produce any additional versions of Links.
Although Microsoft no longer produces the Links series, there are several Links community websites offering multiplayer gameplay plus access to hundreds of freely available add on golf courses.
Note: Microsoft Golf 1.0-3.0 are just Access' Links 386 redesigned to run natively under Microsoft Windows. Golf 1998 Edition and 1999 Editions were produced by Friendly Software. After Access Software was acquired by Microsoft in 1999, Microsoft produced Golf 2001, which was based on Links, and then discontinued the Golf series to continue with the Links series.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
simulation
Simulation
Simulation is the imitation of some real thing available, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system....
computer games, first developed by Access Software
Indie Built
Indie Built, Inc. was a Salt Lake City, Utah based video game developer founded in 1982 by Bruce Carver as Access Software.They are popular for creating the golfing Links series and also for creating the video game detective series based on the character Tex Murphy.In 1987, Access announced The...
, and then later by Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
after Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
acquired Access Software. The line of golf games was a flagship brand for Access, and the series spanned several years: from 1990
1990 in video gaming
-Notable releases:*Bonk's Adventure is released for NEC's TurboGrafx-16 and is the first US appearance of Bonk, the mascot of the TurboGrafx-16.*February 12 — Nintendo releases the NES game Super Mario Bros. 3 in North America...
to 2003
2003 in video gaming
-Events:*February 27 — Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts Yu Suzuki of Sega to the AIAS Hall of Fame....
. Several versions of the game and expansion pack
Expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
s (containing new courses and golfers mainly) were created for the Mac
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
and PC
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
over the years. A version for the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
named Links 2004
Links 2004
Links 2004 is a golf simulation computer game by Microsoft for the Xbox. It was part of the XSN Sports, which also included sports games such as Amped, Top Spin, NBA Inside Drive, NFL Fever and Rallisport Challenge....
was released in November 2003. In 1991, Links won Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World was a computer game magazine founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly publication. Early issues were typically 40-50 pages in length, written in a newsletter style, including submissions by game designers such as Joel Billings , Dan Bunten , and Chris Crawford...
s 1991 Action Game of the Year award.
In 2004, Microsoft sold the Salt Lake City studio to Take-Two Interactive
Take-Two Interactive
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a major American publisher, developer, and distributor of video games and video game peripherals. Take-Two wholly owns 2K Games and Rockstar Games. The company's headquarters are in New York City, with international headquarters in Windsor, United Kingdom...
, where it was renamed Indie Built
Indie Built
Indie Built, Inc. was a Salt Lake City, Utah based video game developer founded in 1982 by Bruce Carver as Access Software.They are popular for creating the golfing Links series and also for creating the video game detective series based on the character Tex Murphy.In 1987, Access announced The...
. Indie Built was subsequently shut down in 2006. It is therefore unlikely that Take-Two will produce any additional versions of Links.
Although Microsoft no longer produces the Links series, there are several Links community websites offering multiplayer gameplay plus access to hundreds of freely available add on golf courses.
Access Software
- Leaderboard Golf (1984) Commodore 64
- World Class Leader Board (1987) DOS
- Links: The Challenge of Golf (1990) AmigaAmigaThe Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, DOSDOSDOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related... - Links: Championship Course: Pinehurst Country Club (1991) DOS
- Links: Championship Course: Firestone Country ClubFirestone Country ClubThe Firestone Country Club is a private golf club located in Akron, Ohio, United States.The Club comprises three courses—those of the North, South, and West—each of which hosted a televised golf event, respectively the American Golf Classic, the CBS Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf, in...
(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 386 Pro (1992) DOS
- Links: Championship Course: Banff SpringsBanff Springs HotelThe Fairmont Banff Springs or simply the Banff Springs Hotel is a former railway hotel constructed in Scottish Baronial style located in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The original hotel, designed by American architect Bruce Price, was built between spring of 1887 and 1888 by the Canadian...
(1992) DOS - Links: Championship Course: The BelfryThe BelfryThe Belfry is a golf resort in Wishaw, Warwickshire, England, very near the Sutton Coldfield district of Birmingham, and owned since 2005 by Irish businessman Sean Quinn....
(1992) DOS - Links: Championship Course: Innisbrook - CopperheadInnisbrook Resort and Golf ClubInnisbrook Resort and Golf Club is a hotel and country club resort in Palm Harbor, in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida, United States. The complex consists of a 620 room hotel, four golf courses, spa, three restaurants, and conference facilities....
(1993) DOS - Links: Championship Course: Pebble BeachPebble Beach Golf LinksPebble Beach Golf Links is a golf course located in Pebble Beach, California, on the west coast of the United States.Pebble Beach is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful courses in the world. It hugs the rugged coastline and has wide open views of Carmel Bay, opening to the Pacific Ocean,...
(1993) DOS - Links Pro (1993) Macintosh
- Links: Championship Course: Bighorn (1994) DOS
- Links: Championship Course: Castlepines (1994) DOS
- Links: Championship Course: Prairie DunesPrairie Dunes Country ClubPrairie Dunes Country Club is a golf course located just outside Hutchinson, Kansas. It is frequently ranked among the best golf courses in the United States, and has hosted several United States Golf Association national championship tournaments....
(1995) DOS - Links: Championship Course: Cog HillCog Hill Golf & Country ClubCog Hill Golf & Country Club is a public golf complex located southwest of Chicago. Cog Hill hosts the PGA Tour's BMW Championship from 2009 to 2011 on its championship course Dubsdread.-History:...
(1995) DOS - Links: Championship Course: RivieraRiviera Country ClubThe Riviera Country Club is a country club with a championship golf course. It is located in Pacific Palisades, California, a community within the city limits of Los Angeles. The country club opened in 1926, with George C. Thomas, Jr. as the course architect. The course has been the primary host...
(1995) DOS - Links: Fantasy Course: Devils Island (1995) DOS
- Links LS 1997 (1996) DOS
- Links Championship Course: Pelican Hill (1996) DOS, Windows
- Links LS 1998 (1997) Microsoft Windows 95
- Links Championship Course: ValderramaValderrama Golf ClubThe Valderrama Golf Club is one of the best known golf clubs in Europe. It is located in the resort of Sotogrande, San Roque in the Andalusia region of Southern Spain, a few miles from Gibraltar, and has a single 18 hole course, along with a 9 hole par 3 course.Valderrama was constructed in 1974...
(1997) Windows - Links Championship Course: Oakland HillsOakland Hills Country ClubOakland Hills Country Club is a private golf club in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan. It has hosted many prestigious professional golf tournaments throughout its history. The club consists of two 18 hole courses: the South Course and the North Course. The South Course has hosted all...
(1997) Windows - Links: Championship Course: ValhallaValhalla Golf ClubValhalla Golf Club, located east of Louisville, Kentucky, USA, is a private golf club designed by professional golfer Jack Nicklaus. The course, which sits on a property on Shelbyville Road in the eastern portion of Louisville just outside the Gene Snyder Freeway, was envisioned by local business...
(1997) Windows - Links LS 1999 (1998) WindowsMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
- Links Championship Course: Congressional Country ClubCongressional Country ClubThe Congressional Country Club is a country club and golf course in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Congressional opened in 1924 and has hosted three U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship, and is an annual stop on the PGA Tour, with the AT&T National, hosted by Tiger Woods. The tournament was first...
(1998) Windows
Microsoft Game Studios
- Golf (1994) Windows 3.1
- Golf 2.0 (1995) Windows 3.1/95
- Golf 3.0 (1996) Windows 95
- Golf 1998 Edition (1998) Windows 95
- Golf 1999 Edition (1999) Windows 95
- Golf 2001 Edition (2000)
- Links Extreme (1999) Windows
- Links LS 2000 (2000) Windows
- Links LS 2000 10 Course Pack (2000) Windows
- Links Championship Edition (2001) Windows (Includes Links 2001, Links Expansion Pack 1, a Course Designer, a Course Converter and 4 new courses)
- Links 2001 (2001) Windows Microsoft Game Studios
- Links Expansion Pack (2001) Windows
- Links 2003 (2002) Windows Microsoft Game Studios
- Links 2003: Championship Courses (2002) Windows
- Links 2004Links 2004Links 2004 is a golf simulation computer game by Microsoft for the Xbox. It was part of the XSN Sports, which also included sports games such as Amped, Top Spin, NBA Inside Drive, NFL Fever and Rallisport Challenge....
(2003) XboxXboxThe Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console... - Links 2003: Championship Edition (2003) Windows (Includes Links 2003 and Links 2003: Championship Courses)
- Links Golf Courses Library (several versions)
Note: Microsoft Golf 1.0-3.0 are just Access' Links 386 redesigned to run natively under Microsoft Windows. Golf 1998 Edition and 1999 Editions were produced by Friendly Software. After Access Software was acquired by Microsoft in 1999, Microsoft produced Golf 2001, which was based on Links, and then discontinued the Golf series to continue with the Links series.
External links
- Master List of Available Courses at Microsoft.com
- Online golf games, updates for Links 2003, and addon courses at LinksCountryClub.com
- Links Extreme free demo
- List of free available courses at LinksCorner.org