Links (series)

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Golfing video game series

title: "Links (series)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["links-(series)", "golf-video-games", "amiga-games", "dos-games", "classic-mac-os-games", "microsoft-franchises", "video-game-franchises-introduced-in-1990", "video-games-developed-in-the-united-states", "windows-games", "xbox-games"] description: "Golfing video game series" topic_path: "technology/operating-systems" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Links_(series)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Golfing video game series ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox video game series"]

FieldValue
genreSports
first release versionLinks: The Challenge of Golf
first release date1990
latest release versionLinks 2004
latest release date2003
::

| 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.

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. 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

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

  • Links Extreme (1999) Windows
  • 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)
  • Links 2003 (2002) Windows Microsoft Game Studios
    • Links 2003 Championship Edition (2003) Windows (includes Links 2003 and Links 2003 Championship Courses)
  • Links 2004 (2003) Xbox

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

| game1 = Links LS 1999 | gr1 = 85% | game2 = Links Extreme | gr2 = 51% | game3 = Links LS 2000 | gr3 = 79% | game4 = Links 2001 | mc4 = 86/100 | game5 = Links 2003 | mc5 = 82/100 | game6 = Links 2004 | mc6 = 80/100 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".

References

References

  1. Staff. (November 1991). "Computer Gaming World's 1991 Games of the Year Awards". Golden Empire Publications, Inc.
  2. [http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sports/linksfantasycoursedevilsisland/index.html Devil's island course expansion] on ''[[GameSpot]]''
  3. [http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/previews/digitaldavislove3.htm Davis Love III golfer expansion] from TheComputerShow.com
  4. Sengstack, Jeff. (August 15, 1996). "Links LS".
  5. Robinson, Jon. (March 29, 2004). "Game Over".
  6. Feldman, Curt. (December 17, 2004). "Take-Two helps Microsoft get out of sports game".
  7. GamesIndustry International. (December 17, 2004). "Microsoft sells off sports game studio to Take Two".
  8. "Golf Simulators - Indoor Virtual Golf & Software - TruGolf".
  9. {{MobyGames
  10. [http://www.games.net/video-game/pc/103541/links-extreme/ ''Links Extreme'' comment] at Games.net
  11. [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/oct01/10-23vgatourpr.mspx Microsoft LPGA Press Release] {{webarchive. link. (2009-03-26)
  12. [http://www.gamenationtv.com/reviews/links2003.shtml ''Links 2003'' comment] {{Webarchive. link. (2007-10-11 at GameNationTV.com)
  13. link. (2009-03-26)
  14. [http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/XBox/links-2004.htm ''Links 2004'' review] {{Webarchive. link. (2007-10-12 at ArmChairEmpire.com)
  15. [http://www.langkong.com/us/1225/B00002S78R/Links_Golf_Courses_Library_10_Volume_2/ Links Golf Courses Library] at LangKong.com {{webarchive. link. (July 13, 2011)
  16. May, Scott A.. (April 1997). "Links Lite: Microsoft Golf 3.0 Levels the Field for Win 95 Golfers".
  17. Lackey, Jeff. (June 19, 1998). "Microsoft Golf: 1998 Edition". Computer Games Strategy Plus.
  18. May, Scott A.. (October 1998). "Swing Time! Microsoft Steps Out of LINKS Shadow With a Decent New Golf Game".
  19. Rosano, Paul. (July 12, 1998). "Microsoft's 'Golf' Has Handicaps". Hartford Courant.
  20. House, Michael L.. "Microsoft Golf 1999 Edition review". AllGame.
  21. McDonald, T. Liam. (February 17, 1999). "Golf 1999".
  22. link. (2009-03-25)
  23. "Links LS 1999".
  24. "Links Extreme".
  25. "Links LS 2000".
  26. "Links 2001". Metacritic.
  27. "Links 2003". Metacritic.
  28. "Links 2004".
  29. (November 1996). "The 15 Most Innovative Computer Games".
  30. (September 1996). "Top 100 Games of All Time". [[Imagine Media]].
  31. Rosano, Paul. (February 13, 2000). "The Best Don't Always Sell". [[Hartford Courant]].
  32. ''Edge'' Staff. (August 25, 2006). "The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century".
  33. Morris, Dan. (March 2003). "The Ninth Annual ''PC Gamer'' Awards". [[PC Gamer US]].

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links-(series)golf-video-gamesamiga-gamesdos-gamesclassic-mac-os-gamesmicrosoft-franchisesvideo-game-franchises-introduced-in-1990video-games-developed-in-the-united-stateswindows-gamesxbox-games