Access Software
Access Software was an American video-game developer best known for the Links golf series and the Tex Murphy adventure games.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Access Software was an American video-game developer founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, in November 1982 by engineer Bruce Carver and programmer Chris Jones. The company began with small personal-computer products, including a sprite-editing utility, but developed into a notable independent studio during the growth of the home-computer market. Its early catalog included games such as Beach Head and Raid over Moscow, while its most enduring commercial identity came from two contrasting properties: the Links golf-simulation series and the Tex Murphy adventure series. Access's golf business was built around a design approach that differed from the top-down perspective common in many early golf games. The company's 1984 title Leader Board, generally regarded as the beginning of the Links line, presented the course from behind the golfer and emphasized shot control and visual presentation. The studio used frame-by-frame video reference of a golf swing to create sprites for the Commodore 64, an unusually hands-on production method for the period. The Links games subsequently became a major personal-computer golf brand and provided technology that later supported Access's work in golf-simulation hardware. The company also created Tex Murphy, a science-fiction detective-adventure series led by a private investigator navigating a dystopian future. The games combined exploration, inventory-based puzzles, detective storytelling, three-dimensional environments, and live-action video sequences. This mixture gave Access a distinctive position among computer-game developers and established Tex Murphy as a cult narrative property. Chris Jones performed the title role and later continued work connected with the character through Big Finish Games. Access expanded beyond conventional software through TruGolf, a subsidiary formed around golf-simulation and display technology associated with the Links games. TruGolf was separated from Access during Microsoft's acquisition and continued as an independent business. In April 1999, Microsoft acquired Access for an undisclosed amount, primarily to obtain the studio's golf expertise and Links technology. The company's Salt Lake City operations remained in place, but its identity changed several times: it became Salt Lake Games Studio in 2000 and Indie Games in 2003. Under Microsoft, the studio moved from a primarily personal-computer orientation toward Xbox development. It worked on console versions of Links and participated in Microsoft's sports-game strategy with projects associated with Amped snowboarding and Top Spin tennis. Microsoft later withdrew from a portion of the sports-development market as it faced strong competition from Electronic Arts' EA Sports business. Around 2004, Microsoft sold the studio to Take-Two Interactive, which renamed it Indie Built. In early 2005, Indie Built became part of Take-Two's newly established 2K label and developed additional Amped and Top Spin titles. The Take-Two period was short-lived. The studio's sequel projects did not achieve the desired commercial impact, and Take-Two closed Indie Built in May 2006 during a broader strategic realignment. The closure ended the company's operation as a game-development studio under the Access lineage. Many former employees moved to TruGolf, while Chris Jones and other collaborators later formed Big Finish Games to pursue narrative projects and continue the Tex Murphy tradition. Access Software therefore survives primarily through its historical influence on computer golf simulations, its Links catalog, and Tex Murphy's place in adventure-game history.
History
Access Software originated in Salt Lake City in 1982. Bruce Carver, an engineer at Redd Engineering, created a sprite-editing program called Spritemaster and received product suggestions from Steve Witzel, operator of the Computers Plus retail store. Carver sold the improved utility through the store under the Access Software name. In November 1982, Carver and Chris Jones incorporated the business with reported starting capital of $25,000 and initially operated from Carver's basement. The studio's first important game products included Beach Head and Raid over Moscow, but its strongest early identity came from golf. In 1984, Carver pursued a behind-the-golfer perspective at a time when many competing golf games used top-down views. The development team traced frame-by-frame footage of Roger Carver's golf swing projected onto a transparent sheet and converted the resulting outlines into Commodore 64 sprites. The resulting Leader Board established the visual and mechanical direction associated with Links. Access continued refining golf simulations for personal computers, building a reputation around course depiction, shot control, and technical presentation. The company later broadened its portfolio with the Tex Murphy adventure games. These titles placed Chris Jones in the role of a private investigator in a futuristic setting and combined detective fiction with environmental exploration, puzzles, three-dimensional presentation, and filmed live-action sequences. Tex Murphy became Access's most distinctive narrative property and developed a long-term cult following. Access also created TruGolf as a subsidiary focused on indoor golf simulators and related display technology derived from work on Links. Microsoft separated TruGolf from Access as part of its 1999 acquisition, allowing the simulator business to continue independently. Microsoft acquired Access Software in April 1999. The strategic attraction was largely the Links franchise and the studio's ability to produce sophisticated golf games. Access had previously supplied the foundation for Microsoft Golf, and comparative critical reception reportedly helped convince Microsoft that acquiring the developer was preferable to competing directly with it. The Salt Lake City operation remained active after the acquisition. When Microsoft organized Microsoft Games in 2000, Access was renamed Salt Lake Games Studio. It initially continued personal-computer work, then moved toward Xbox products after the console launched in 2001, including Links-related development and sports properties connected with Amped and Top Spin. In 2003, Microsoft changed the name again to Indie Games. Microsoft later reduced its commitment to internally developed sports games in the face of Electronic Arts' strong EA Sports portfolio. Around 2004, the former Access studio was sold to Take-Two Interactive and renamed Indie Built. Take-Two wanted to strengthen its position in sports software, and the studio became associated with the company's 2K label after that label was created in early 2005. Indie Built worked on sequels and related projects for Amped and Top Spin, but the releases did not produce sufficiently strong results. Take-Two closed the studio in May 2006 as part of a wider business realignment. The closure dispersed the studio's personnel and ended Access Software's direct corporate existence. Many former developers joined TruGolf, while Chris Jones and collaborators later established Big Finish Games in 2007 with an interest in narrative games and further Tex Murphy projects. Access's historical legacy rests on its early computer-game experimentation, the behind-the-golfer design associated with Links, the use of live-action video in Tex Murphy, and the movement of a small independent studio through successive ownership and name changes.
- 2006
Indie Built closed
[1]Take-Two shut the studio in May after weak performance and a change in corporate strategy.
- 2005
Indie Built became part of 2K
[1]The studio was incorporated into Take-Two's new 2K label and its sports-development structure.
- 2004
Take-Two acquired the studio and created Indie Built
[1]Take-Two Interactive purchased the former Indie Games operation and renamed it Indie Built.
- 2003
The company became Indie Games
[1]Microsoft changed the studio's name again while it continued working on console-oriented sports projects.
- 2000
The company became Salt Lake Games Studio
[1]Microsoft rebranded the studio and began shifting its work toward Xbox and broader sports-game development.
- 1999
Microsoft acquired Access Software
[1]Microsoft bought Access in April and separated the TruGolf simulator division during the transaction.
- 1984
Leader Board established the Links direction
[1]Access released Leader Board, a golf game built around a behind-the-golfer viewpoint that became the foundation of the Links identity.
- 1982
Access Software was founded
[1]Bruce Carver and Chris Jones incorporated Access Software in November after beginning with small personal-computer software products.
Products and positioning
A technology-oriented independent game developer focused on personal-computer sports simulations and cinematic adventure games, later redirected toward console sports development.
Golf simulation · 1984
Links
Links was Access Software's signature golf-simulation franchise. Its design emphasized a behind-the-golfer viewpoint, detailed course presentation, and controlled shot execution rather than the overhead perspective common in earlier golf games. The series helped establish Access as a leading personal-computer sports developer and later supplied technology and design concepts for golf-simulation hardware. Links remained central to Microsoft's rationale for acquiring the studio in 1999.
Adventure and puzzle game
Tex Murphy
Tex Murphy was a science-fiction detective-adventure series centered on a private investigator portrayed by co-founder Chris Jones. The games combined investigative storytelling, environmental exploration, inventory and logic puzzles, three-dimensional scenes, and live-action video. Its tone and production approach distinguished Access from more conventional sports-game developers, while the character later became the basis for continuation efforts associated with Big Finish Games.
Golf simulation · 1984
Leader Board
Leader Board was an early Access golf game and the principal predecessor to the Links series. Its behind-the-golfer presentation was produced using traced video reference of a golf swing converted into computer sprites. The game demonstrated the visual direction that would become a defining feature of Access's golf products.
Action game
Beach Head
Beach Head was one of Access Software's early game properties. It formed part of the company's initial personal-computer catalog before the Links and Tex Murphy lines became its most recognizable franchises.
Action and strategy game
Raid over Moscow
Raid over Moscow was an early Access title released during the company's personal-computer period. It contributed to the studio's initial reputation before Access concentrated more heavily on golf simulation and adventure games.
Snowboarding sports game
Amped
Amped was a snowboarding game associated with the studio's Microsoft and later Indie Built period. Access's successor organizations worked on Xbox-oriented sports development as Microsoft expanded beyond personal-computer products.
Tennis sports game
Top Spin
Top Spin was a tennis franchise developed in the studio's transition toward console sports games. Its development reflected Microsoft's Xbox strategy and Take-Two's subsequent effort to compete in sports software after acquiring the studio.
Brand decisions
2006
Take-Two closed Indie BuiltStrategyBackground
The studio's projects had not delivered strong results, and Take-Two was restructuring after a difficult financial period.
Action taken
Take-Two shut the studio in May 2006.
Aftermath
Many employees moved to TruGolf, and later narrative-game work connected with Tex Murphy was pursued through Big Finish Games.
2004
Take-Two acquired the former Access studioM&ABackground
Microsoft reduced its involvement in sports-game development amid strong competition from Electronic Arts' EA Sports label.
Action taken
Take-Two purchased the studio and renamed it Indie Built.
Aftermath
Indie Built was placed within Take-Two's sports-development plans and later associated with the 2K label.
2000
Microsoft shifted the studio toward Xbox and sports developmentStrategyBackground
Microsoft's console strategy expanded after the introduction of Xbox, while Access had previously been strongest in personal-computer games.
Action taken
The renamed Salt Lake Games Studio worked on Xbox versions of Links and projects associated with Amped and Top Spin.
Aftermath
The studio became less centered on its earlier independent PC identity and more integrated into Microsoft's console sports portfolio.
1999
Microsoft acquired Access SoftwareM&ABackground
Microsoft wanted stronger golf-game capabilities and viewed Access's Links technology and reputation as strategically valuable.
Action taken
Microsoft acquired the company in April 1999 while retaining its principal Salt Lake City operations and separating TruGolf.
Aftermath
The studio became part of Microsoft's game organization, changed names twice, and moved increasingly toward Xbox sports development.
Recent events
- 2006
Take-Two closed Indie Built[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Take-Two shut down Indie Built in May 2006 during a strategic realignment following weak performance by the studio's projects and a difficult period for the parent company.
- 2005
Indie Built joined Take-Two's 2K label[1]
M&A · Other
After Take-Two established the 2K publishing label, Indie Built became part of the group of studios supporting its sports-game business.
- 2004
Take-Two Interactive acquired and renamed the studio Indie Built[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Microsoft sold the former Access organization to Take-Two Interactive around 2004. Take-Two renamed it Indie Built and placed it within its sports-development activities.
- 2003
The studio was renamed Indie Games[1]
Other
Microsoft changed the Salt Lake Games Studio name to Indie Games as the organization continued its transition toward console sports development.
- 2000
Access Software was renamed Salt Lake Games Studio[1]
Other
Following the formation of Microsoft Games, the former Access organization was rebranded Salt Lake Games Studio and began expanding its work toward Xbox products.
- 1999
Microsoft acquired Access Software[1]
M&A
Microsoft acquired Access Software in April 1999, seeking the studio's Links golf technology and development expertise. The acquisition amount was not publicly specified in the cited reference.
Sources1 sources
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