History of Links
Part 3: Links 386 Pro
 |
Each new release of the Links series broke
new ground, and Links 386 Pro was no exception.
However, this release caused computer users to
upgrade their systems like no game before. Links 386
Pro made the leap from VGA graphics, a resolution
of 320 x 200 pixels, to Super VGA, 640 x 480 pixels.
This leap required special video cards that were just
starting to come onto the market. Links 386 Pro
made those cards the standard. |
|
Back in the old Access Software days I was working
in Technical Support. I'll never forget the day
Links 386 Pro hit the stores. Phones rang
off the hook with people asking about something called a
VESA driver. A VESA driver was special software needed
to play games at Super VGA resolutions. Now, most cards
in those days didn't even support VESA and Super VGA. So
people were asking which cards to buy, where to buy
them, or if they should just upgrade their whole
computer. |
 |
I remember hundreds of people making the jump from 286
machines to 386 and 486 computers — the powerhouse PCs of the
day — just so they could play Links!
After the success of Links 386 Pro we noticed
other game developers started to follow suit by making use of
VESA and Super VGA. In my eyes, Links 386 Pro started
a new revolution in PC gaming.
 |
Links 386 Pro came with the Harbour Town
Golf Links of South Carolina, allowed the use of
multiple cameras, added a new feature called Recorded
Players, was the first version to keep track of
extensive statistics, and had an online tournament.
Subsequent versions of 386 Pro, called
Links 386 CD, and Links Pro, were
available only on CD and added fly-bys to the courses.
Fly-bys would display a helicopter view of the course
that would allow players to essentially "walk the
course" before taking a shot. |
Another big improvement to the Links series was
the sound. The quality of crowd sounds and the addition of
commentary made the golfing experience that much more
realistic. With Links 386 CD golfers were treated to
the comic caddy — a sound script using the vocal talents of
comedian Bobcat Goldthwait.
|
One of the coolest features of Links 386
Pro was the ability to make use of the courses
players had already bought for Links: The Challenge
of Golf. Cyber-golfers could take their old VGA
courses - yuck — and convert them to Super VGA splendor
for use in Links 386! This made a lot of people
very happy! |
 |
It took a couple of years before any other golf game even
came close to the graphical capabilities of Links 386. But it
took another four years until
Links made the
transition from great graphics to photo-realism. This is
our focus in the next segment of the History of
Links, Part
4: Links LS.
