Links 2003 Preview
The next Links game will have 3D golfers and let you make your strokes in real time. Get the details here.
Computerized golf games may seem like a quiet little hobby for a small group of enthusiasts, but they're actually more popular than you might think. For instance, fans of Microsoft's long-running Links golf series play the game regularly each year and even compete in online tournaments for cash prizes. In fact, the latest Links tournament will take place this summer and culminate in a final round in October that will net the winner a chance to sink a 60-yard putt for a million dollars--a tough shot for a hefty prize. And like many other sports game series, the Links series has tended to expand on previous games, rather than throw everything out and start from scratch each year. At a glance, Links 2003 may look very different, but it will have everything that fans of Microsoft's long-running Links golf series have come to enjoy, plus some new features that should help prolong the series' already successful career and even earn some new fans.
For starters, Links 2003 will look better than previous games in the series, judging from what we've seen from the beta version of the game. The new game will have fully 3D polygonal golfers (rather than the full-motion video golfers) with complete sets of animations--they'll have different swings, different putts, different gestures to express their satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) at the results of each swing, and even different idle animations. Links 2003's golfers will seem much more lifelike as a result, especially since you'll be able to choose the angle and height of your swing with each stroke, which will cause your golfers to rotate or keep their heads down accordingly. Golfers will also have various sound sets that will play voice samples when making good (or not-so-good) shots, though Links 2003 will also let you import your own photo and voice samples if you prefer. In addition, the game will include four modern-day professional golfers, including Sergio Garcia and Annika Sorenson. You'll also be able to create a custom golfer and change your golfer's appearance--you'll be able to change hats, shirts, pants, hair color, and whether your golfer is right-handed or left-handed.
Links 2003 will also use higher-resolution textures, especially on its six all-new courses (up from a resolution of 256x256 to 512x512). Each course will be carefully modeled after its real-world equivalent, and on some courses, you'll even be able to see individually rendered blades of grass. Links 2003 will also use texture blending to make the different types of terrain on the courses--sand traps, water traps, rough, green, and so on--blend together as they do in real life, rather than be stark patches of white, green, blue, and brown. For instance, the white sand of a bunker will blend into the dark green of the rough. Suffice it to say, a lot of the terrain on the game's courses will look more realistic, overall. Links 2003 will come with a green analyzer that will let you view your course with a grid to measure differences, as well as a full overhead view that will let you quickly check the lie of your course and choose your next club and your next swing accordingly.
The most notable new feature in Links 2003 will be the new real-time swing, which will let you control your windup and the amount of power and speed for each shot in real time, with your mouse. It may be a bit difficult to control at first, at least compared to the standard Links three-click method, which lets you line up your shot and simply click to choose the power and speed you want to apply to your swing, while the computer handles the actual motion. But according to the developers, actually using the mouse to swing your clubs in a single, smooth motion is much more realistic than a few terse clicks. You'll actually be able to move your mouse right or left to add fade or draw to your swing, and the game will accurately model ball physics accordingly. Still, the three-click swing will be included in the game, and most players will probably prefer to use it for sinking precise shots in competitive play, at least at first.
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