Links is 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 packs (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.
Many members of the development team now work for TruGolf, a golf simulator company based out of Centerville, Utah.
Leaderboard Golf (1984) Commodore 64World Class Leader Board (1987) DOSLinks: The Challenge of Golf (1990) Amiga, DOSLinks: Championship Course: Pinehurst Country Club (1991) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Firestone Country Club (1991) Amiga, DOSLinks: Championship Course: Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort (1991) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Bay Hill Club & Lodge (1991) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Bountiful Golf Course (1991) Amiga, DOSLinks: Championship Course: Barton Creek (1991) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Mauna Kea (1992) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Troon North (1992) DOSLinks 386 Pro (1992) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Banff Springs (1992) DOSLinks: Championship Course: The Belfry (1992) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Innisbrook - Copperhead (1993) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Pebble Beach (1993) DOSLinks Pro (1993) MacintoshLinks: Championship Course: Bighorn (1994) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Castlepines (1994) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Prairie Dunes (1995) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Cog Hill (1995) DOSLinks: Championship Course: Riviera (1995) DOSLinks: Fantasy Course: Devils Island (1995) DOSLinks LS 1997 (1996) DOSLinks Championship Course: Pelican Hill (1996) DOS, WindowsLinks LS 1998 (1997) Microsoft Windows 95Links Championship Course: Valderrama (1997) WindowsLinks Championship Course: Oakland Hills (1997) WindowsLinks: Championship Course: Valhalla (1997) WindowsLinks LS 1999 (1998) WindowsLinks Championship Course: Congressional Country Club (1998) WindowsGolf (1994) Windows 3.1Golf 2.0 (1995) Windows 3.1/95Golf 3.0 (1996) Windows 95Golf 1998 Edition (1998) Windows 95Golf 1999 Edition (1999) Windows 95Golf 2001 Edition (2000)Links Extreme (1999) WindowsLinks LS 2000 (2000) WindowsLinks LS 2000 10 Course Pack (2000) WindowsLinks 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 StudiosLinks Expansion Pack (2001) WindowsLinks 2003 (2002) Windows Microsoft Game StudiosLinks 2003: Championship Courses (2002) WindowsLinks 2004 (2003) Xbox 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.
Computer Gaming World in 1992 stated "the final word in golf—for now, at least—is Links 386 Pro, praising the game's "stunning" Super VGA graphics and "dream come true" gameplay. The magazine predicted that "it is quite likely that the only thing to ever beat this game will be yet another version of Links. In 1993 the game received a Codie award from the Software Publishing Association for Best Sports Game, and Computer Gaming World named it the Overall Game of the Year, stating that doing so was "pretty obvious" given how long Links had been at the top of the magazine's Top 100 Games list.
