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| By Brad Cook Do you love golf? Wish you could play even when the temperature is below zero and there’s a foot of snow outside? Now you can, with Links Championship Edition 2002 from MacSoft. |
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 Golf does not get any more real (or beautiful) than this.
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How big? Let’s start with the revamped graphics and physics. Tamte says that Links “now displays graphics at a much higher resolution, plus it can show cliffs, arches and bunker overhangs.” And better ball physics means that your shots will behave more realistically than in the past. You can even try to bounce shots off trees or other hazards.
From long range drives to putting, it’s all here.
But That’s Not All
Links CE 2002 also sports 15 different golfers, including 6 professionals, such as Annika Sorenstam, Sergio Garcia, and the legendary Arnold Palmer.The other 9 are amateur golfers created specifically for the game. All 15 have unique personalities with specific quirks, such as a tendency to fidget before a shot or comment on the other players’ games.
You can play on one of 13 courses, including such prestigious courses as Oakmont Country Club, Chateau Whistler, and The Royal Melbourne Golf Club. And if you’d prefer to build your own exclusive course instead, you can do so with ease.
Links CE 2002 “includes the Arnold Palmer Course Designer for the first time ever,” notes Tamte. With more than 1,700 objects to choose from (you can also import custom-made trees, shrubs, and more) and powerful 3D graphics, the course designer features what Tamte calls a “Mac-in-tized” interface that “works just like you expect a Mac application to operate — it’s incredibly easy to use.”
Plenty of obstacles will keep you busy.
As a real bonus, when you play Links in Mac OS X, you’ll notice that the course designer takes advantage of the operating system’s refreshing Aqua interface. And all the action throughout the game utilizes OpenGL, a technology that makes the characters and their swings look more fluid and realistic.
A Storied History
Actually, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Links leverages the advanced capabilities of your Mac to deliver a superior gaming experience. Tamte says that the game “has a very rich Macintosh heritage.
“It’s remarkable how anxious the Links team has been to see this game back on the Macintosh,” he adds. “Since a lot of the Links designers and developers have been Mac users for a long time, I think Mac players will really appreciate the way the game works intuitively and responsively.
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Links Course Convertor Update Download the update for Links Championship Edition that adds the Links Course Convertor and various bug fixes. |
Links Golf Community (LGC) An online community for Mac golfers using Links. Find a golfing partner or engage in one of a full season of online tournaments.
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“And, because of the development team’s uncompromising focus on realism, there’s a part of me that just refuses to believe I’m not playing the real course.”
For more information about the courses in Links, head over to “The Putting Green,” on page two.
For Golfers and Non-Golfers
Ultimately, says Tamte, “Links has always been about creating the most realistic golf experience.” And he thinks it will appeal even to people who aren’t interested in getting out of bed for a 7:00 AM tee time on a Saturday morning, adding that “I think even people who have little interest in golf will love Links because, like other well-designed games, it’s great fun to explore the worlds the game offers and see how well you can play.”
Of course, if you are the type who would be willing to play golf in the middle of a snowstorm — as long as they plow the course a bit — then Tamte thinks you’ll appreciate how “Links lets you get a better handle on the strategies of golf and how the real world will interact with green conditions, weather and other factors.”
Build your dream green with the included
course designer.
course designer.
So load the game on your iBook or PowerBook and take it to work so you can play a few holes between meetings and improve your handicap. We won’t tell your boss.
You Don’t Have to Play Alone
If you enjoy golfing with your buddies, Links CE 2002 allows you to play friends and family online, through the Mac-only service GameRanger. Everyone can meet at the same virtual course and chat onscreen as they play.
According to Links software design engineer Russell Hunter, the game uses asynchronous game play for online competition. This means that you can play against other people online, but it’s always your turn. You can see the other person’s score and chat with them, without breaking the rhythm of your own game.
Check out the wide array of players and challenging courses available in Links CE 2002. 
  
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