What do you think, when you hear the name Access Software? Sports games? Golf simulations? Leading developer of golf simulations? Yes, you're on the right way. Of course this software company has a long tradition in creating the best "put a small ball into a far away hole" games, nevertheless many other exciting games were developed by them. Even their back catalogue for Amiga shows this.
Let's start in 1989, when Mean Streets was released. This thrilling game was the first one which introduced the well known Tex Murphy character. Mean Streets, a mixture of action and adventure elements, is settled in a post-nuclear holocaust future. Tex Murphy has to solve mysteries in a typical film noir-style set.
One year later Access created the gory arcade action game Crime Wave. This game really isn't a masterpiece, but if you're angry it's good enough to loose your aggressive feelings by blasting a way through dozens of criminals as a police officer. The Amiga version has been published under the US Gold label.
In the very same year Heavy Metal has been released. If you like simulation games, you should have a closer look at this game. Again it's not a highlight, but tank simulation games are rare and with this one you can spend a few, not too boring hours in front of the computer.
Much more successful were the other games which feature the detective Tex Murphy. Unfortunately they only came out for PCs. Especially Under a killing moon got great reviews and was highly anticipated by gamers. It's one of the best interactive movies ever released. The main character was played by designer Chris Jones and nobody could do that better! Martian Memorandum, The Pandora Directive and Tex Murphy: Overseer are the other games in the Tex Murphy series.
Nevertheless we must talk about golf simulations, because Access is the leading software developer for this kind of sports games. For Amiga everything started back in 1988. Leaderboard hit the shelves. Its simple, but competing mouse interface attracted golf players around the globe. Two mouse clicks and the little ball made its way through the greens. This control method became standard for the entire genre.
Later World Class Leaderboard followed, which was the very same game, but with new courses and better graphics. Then the time came for Links, a sports series which still exists. New modificated versions are released every year and an end is not in sight. If you want to play a golf sports game (on PC) today, you have to choose one of the Links titles.
What happened to Access today? Well, in 1999 the giant Microsoft empire aquired this company. Since that time all of their games have been released under the Microsoft games label. Unfortunately the name Access Software doesn't exist any longer. In mid 2001 they have been renamed to Salt Lake Games. Ok, this isn't a problem because for sure they will produce the best golf games in the future, too.
If you want to know more about the latest games from Access, you should browse around at the official games site of Bill Gates' company Microsoft. | 
Mean Streets
Crime Wave
Under a killing moon
Overseer
Pandora Directive
WC Leaderboard
Links CE
Links CE |