IGF 2002: Hands-onLinks 2003
We take a few swings at Microsoft's newest golf game.
On hand at Microsoft's International Games Festival was Links 2003, the latest installment in the long-running series of golf games that Access Software started more than a decade ago. The basic gameplay formula of the Links series has remained largely unchanged since the original, yet each version of Links has always had a handful of new features along with updated graphics. The same is true of Links 2003.
The visual upgrades in Links 2003 include the addition of shadows to all the course objects such as trees and light posts. Naturally, the shadows add a believable look to a game that's already quite photo-realistic, but what's really interesting about this addition is that the game will automatically add shadows to objects in any course from previous Links games--that comes out to 50 official courses and hundreds of user-created courses.
High-resolution textures are also new to Links 2003. You can now see details like individual rake marks in the sand bunkers. Links 2003 also adds fully 3D golf models. These polygonal characters appear very lifelike. Hit your ball into a sand trip, and your golfer might shake his head in frustration. Land the ball on the putting green with one stroke, however, and you'll see your golfer pump his fist in excitement or, at the very least, nod approvingly. What's more, Links 2003 will include four PGA golfers, such as Sergio Garcia, and their animations in the game will mimic their real-world skills. The game will also let you choose from and customize five other generic golfer models.
While the courses themselves are still represented as static screens--you cannot scroll around the courses in real time--Links 2003 will be introducing a feature called the green analyzer, which will render the putting green of every course in 3D. You'll be able to zoom in and out of and rotate around this 3D representation of the green to find the optimal putting trajectory.
Links 2003 will also feature several new multiplayer options, including a "tournament by e-mail" mode. As the name suggests, here you'll be able to play a round of golf with any number of friends over e-mail. You'll play your round, and then the game will generate a small file that can be attached to a message and then e-mailed around to the other participants. The game will also have a new contact list that works a lot like ICQ or AOL's Instant Messenger, which should make finding any friends who might be online playing Links a snap.
Courses from Mexico, Scotland, New Zealand, and the United States will be included in Links 2003, along with a fantasy course. As mentioned, the game will also support Links 2001 and Links LS courses. Links 2003 is expected to release in the fall of this year.
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