SEATTLE -- Microsoft Corp. announced it is buying Salt Lake-based Access Software, the leading maker of golf games for personal computers and the company that helped develop Microsoft's own golf software.
Privately held Access makes Links LS and related golf games, the best-selling PC golf line in both units and dollars since 1992. Terms for buying the 15-year-old company were not disclosed Monday."They're the undisputed kings of computer golf," said Ed Fries, general manager of the Microsoft Games Group. "They make the finest golf game in the world."
In addition to Links LS, other Access titles include Links Extreme, the Phoenix of Japan Add-On Course, the U.S. Open at Pinehurst and the 5-Course Libraries Volumes 1-4. It also makes the Tex Murphy series of adventure software.
Access employs about 150 people, including about 100 software developers, The operation will stay in Salt Lake City, Fries said, with the developers becoming part of Microsoft, while the company will try to find jobs either within Microsoft or the Salt Lake area for the other 50.
Bruce Carver, Access founder, president and chief executive officer, will join Microsoft, remaining in charge of product development for Access.
Microsoft hired Access in 1992 to develop its own golf game, Microsoft Golf, with the relationship continuing through 1996.
Up until then, Access' products had been aimed at computers running the DOS operating system, while Microsoft's golf game was made for Windows computers. The companies parted ways -- amicably, Fries said -- when Access began developing a Windows golf game that made it a direct competitor.
Microsoft has sought to produce game titles that sell well over the long term -- games like Flight Simulator, Age of Empires and Monster Truck Madness. Its Golf title, however, has lagged in recent years.
According to PC Data Inc. Microsoft Golf '98 ranked 232nd last year among all PC games, while Links LS '98 was 34th.
"The perception in the industry is that Access owns that category," said Roger Lanctot, PC Data's research director. "There certainly are other contenders, but Microsoft really hasn't been one of them. I guess this is a category where they've decided to buy their way in, basically."
Although a relatively small niche in game software, golf can be high profile, with tie-ins with celebrities and famous courses.
While Microsoft has just its corporate name on its package, "almost every other player in the category has a golfer or a golf course or both," Lanctot said. "I think Microsoft finally said 'uncle.' "
Fries said Links and MS Golf "are aimed at really two different crowds."
Links stresses accurate and often complex simulations, for "people who live for the game and want everything to be exactly the way things are in golf," he said. Microsoft's version aims for ease of use, for those who just want to sit down at the computer and play. For the time being, he said, Microsoft will continue to market both lines.
Fries said Microsoft wants Access' expertise in developing 3-D graphics, which would allow a player to virtually walk a golf course, rather than play a series of static scenes. Microsoft also wants to add Links to its Gaming Zone site on the Internet, to organize online golf tournaments.
Microsoft also has high hopes for Links Extreme, "a sort of rock 'n' roll of golf."