Microsoft came by the GameSpot offices today to show off recent builds of Links LS 2000, NFL Fever 2000, and NBA Inside Drive 2000. Here's our first impressions of each.

　　Links LS 2000Links LS 2000 needs no introduction. The title is now officially part of Microsoft, as the Microsoft Golf series takes a backseat to the popular and mature Links series. Players will have a choice of playing on six new courses, including the St. Andrews Old Course (the official site of the Millenium Open) and with support for the 25 add-on courses already on the market. Four new golfers, including Arnold Palmer (who brings the total to 12), will take position behind the virtual golf club. A new one-click golf-swing option will help new users get into the game quickly.

　　While the game hopes to add new players to its ranks, desktop golfers will still have access to the two-click, three-click, and power-stroke options. Players won't have to set which type of clicking method; instead the interface will actually figure out which clicking mode you want to use as you play.

　　So now that Microsoft owns Links, has it changed the way Links works? Yes. And it looks as though Microsoft has maintained its hands-off policy regarding the game, but it has also helped to refine several parts of the interface with an autohide menu on the bottom, online playability through the Links LS site or the MSN Gaming Zone, a right-click auto mulligan feature, and the addition of an agent that will help golfers play better. Much like the agents in Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, the agent watches golfers play, and if it notices something players may be doing wrong that it can help to correct, it will ask the players if they'd like to learn how to fix the problem. Hard-core users will still be able to control just about every aspect of their game with all the options from controlling the position of your feet to the height of your slice.

　　The latest addition to the 17-year-old series will get five new modes of play (for a total of 35) including Fuzzy Zoeller's Wolf Challenge and commentary from CBS golf analyst David Flaherty. Any deals in the works for more promotion or licensing in the game? When we asked Access' director of sales and marketing, Darren Steele, about licensing clubs or other golf equipment, he responded that the conversation is already going on but wouldn't comment on whose equipment may show up in the game.

　　Links LS 2000 will release on November 1 for US$54.95.

　　NBA Inside Drive 2000NBA Inside Drive 2000 is Microsoft's answer to basketball action, and Microsoft knows that many gamers haven't been all that drawn to PC-based basketball titles because of their slow speed and offense-heavy AI. "Players have always had the feeling that being on the defensive side is always the bad place to be," says John Rodman, product-marketing manager for Microsoft (no relation to Dennis). Looking at Inside Drive for the first time, players will notice the attention to graphics detail - floors reflect the lights high above, the running players, and the ball bouncing off the polyurethane surface. Basketball players look just as good, sporting 1,400 polygons each as they fight and shoot smoothly. The movements of the players were motion captured with the help of the Milwaukee Bucks' Ray Allen.

　　"We want to get people off the couch and into the game," says Rodman. Some of the details the development team has focused on is the AI. The goal is to make the game as realistic as possible without taking away the fun. First, the game plays fast - characters move lightning fast at times as they fight for possession. Rodman says that the game is still being worked on so the speed may change, but Microsoft's tests have shown that players preferred the faster mode over real-time speed. Secondly, the team is spacing out the players to make the game look more realistic. One example is that in most game, the players move in ant-like patterns with very little space between team. Because of the size of most basketball players, fans know that the players get close, but not as close as other games have depicted. To keep the feel of the game, seven camera angles help users catch all the hoop action from almost any direction.

　　The game is fully licensed by the NBA and the players' association with all the major arenas fully re-created for each team's home turf. The game will offer multiple modes of play starting with single player, season play, playoffs, practice, and tonight's game (which has a built-in list of all the games to be played through 2000).

　　Seattle Supersonics' commentator Kevin Calabro and Marques Johnson will provide commentary for the game along with helpful hints on how to make players' gameplay more successful.

　　NBA Inside Drive 2000 is expected in later August/early September for $19.99.

　　NFL Fever 2000PC users looking to grab the pigskin and head for the end zone should be more than happy with NFL Fever 2000. All 31 NFL teams, all its players and all its stadiums are on the roster with fully 3D gameplay. The title features NFL-style playbooks with a quick macro-like option to choose custom plays or skillfully plan out your attack or defense back in the locker room.

　　Microsoft is hoping to make a solid football title with realistic gameplay and with all the boos and cheers players and viewers expect. The game gives players multiple options for choosing plays, along with help from Millen's Call, which suggests the best play to use at any particular time. While the game doesn't have a multiplayer option, the it does features modes like playoff, practice, and season manager. Multiplayer will probably make it into the next version of the game though.

　　NFL Fever is expected to hit the field this September. No price has been determined for the title yet.