{{short description|1986 golf video game}} {{about|the golf video game series||Leaderboard (disambiguation)}} {{Lead too short |date=May 2024}} {{Infobox video game |image = Leaderboard Coverart.png |caption = Commodore 64/128 cover art |developer = Access Software |publisher = {{vgrelease|NA|Access Software|EU|U.S. Gold}} |designer = Bruce Carver<br/>Roger Carver |released = 1986<br/>1987 (''World Class'') |genre = Sports |modes = Single-player, multiplayer |platforms = Commodore 64/128, Atari 8-bit, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, Atari ST, Apple II, MS-DOS, Mac, Master System, Game Gear, Genesis, Archimedes }}
'''''Leader Board''''' (sometimes '''''Leaderboard''''') is a series of golf simulation video games that was developed by Bruce Carver and Roger Carver, and published by Access Software.
==Summary== thumb|left|Teeing off on the first hole (Atari ST)
'''''Leader Board''''', the first game in the series, was released in 1986 and included four different water-based courses. It was well received, being rated as 97% overall by ''Zzap!64'' magazine and being prized with their "Gold Award".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=15&page=19 |title=Leaderboard |work=Zzap!64 |date=July 1986 |access-date=2009-11-12}}</ref> It was also highly rated by other magazines, with ''Your Sinclair'' rating it 9 out of 10,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/leaderboard.htm |title=Leaderboard |work=Your Sinclair |date=April 1987 |access-date=2009-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308041527/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/leaderboard.htm |archive-date=2013-03-08 }}</ref> ''Sinclair User'' giving it five stars,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=SinclairUser/Issue061/Pages/SinclairUser06100053.jpg |title=Leaderboard |magazine=Sinclair User |date=April 1987 |access-date=2009-11-12}}</ref> and ''Crash'' rating it 80%.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue39/Pages/Crash3900016.jpg |title=Leaderboard |magazine=Crash |date=April 1987 |access-date=2009-11-12}}</ref>
'''''Leaderboard Tournament''''', released the same year, was a series of expansion disks each containing four new courses.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/leaderboardtournament.htm |title=Leaderboard Tournament |magazine=Your Sinclair |date=August 1987 |access-date=2009-11-12}}</ref>
The second game in the series was '''''Leader Board: Executive Edition''''', which was released in 1987 and contained new landscape and course features, such as trees and bunkers. Despite these additions, the game was less well received than its predecessor, being given an overall rating of 72% by ''Zzap!64'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=24&page=36 |title=Leaderboard (Executive Edition) |work=Zzap 64 |date=April 1987 |access-date=2009-11-12}}</ref>
'''''World Class Leader Board''''' was the last game in the series and included four courses; Cypress Creek, Doral Country Club, St Andrews, and the fictional Gauntlet Country Club. Three course expansion disks were later released. Special features in this final version included a course overview (overhead view), the punch shot, a printable score card, the use of RealSound, and a course editor which allowed changes to be made to the existing courses. It was considered a vast improvement on Executive, being given a 94% overall rating by ''Zzap!64'' magazine,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=27&page=18 |title=World Class Leaderboard |work=Zzap!64 |date=July 1987 |access-date=2009-11-12}}</ref> and 9 out of 10 by ''Your Sinclair''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/worldclassleaderboard.htm |title=World Class Leaderboard |work=Your Sinclair |date=January 1988 |access-date=2009-11-12}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | Z64=97%<ref>Zzap!64 review, Newsfield Publications, issue 15, page 19</ref> | award1Pub = ''Sinclair User'' | award1 = SU Classic | award2Pub = ''Your Sinclair'' | award2 = Megagame }} ''Leaderboard'' was the best-selling Commodore 64 game of 1986 in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top 50 Games of 1986 |magazine=Commodore User |date=26 March 1987 |issue=43 (April 1987) |page=12 |url=https://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-43/page/n11}}</ref> ''Leader Board'' was Access' third best-selling Commodore game as of late 1987.<ref name="ferrell198712">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1987-12-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_54_1987_Dec#page/n17/mode/2up | title=The Commodore Games That Live On And On | work=Compute's Gazette | date=December 1987 | access-date=24 January 2015 | author=Ferrell, Keith | pages=18–22}}</ref>
Rick Teverbaugh of ''Computer Gaming World'' said of the Commodore 64 version that "Leader Board has the most realistic putting feel of any golf game I've ever tried. When the ball finally makes it into the cup, the sound of that success is also amazingly realistic".<ref name="CGW29">{{cite magazine |last=Teverbaugh |first=Rick |date=Jun–Jul 1986 |title=Sports Scoreboard |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_29/page/n31/mode/2up |access-date=February 23, 2026 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=32 |volume=1 |issue=29}}</ref> ''Compute!'s Gazette'' praised the Commodore 64 version's realism and amazing ("there is no other word for it") graphics. While noting ''Leader Board''{{'}}s use of only water hazards, and no difference in color between the fairway and green, the magazine concluded that it "is fun, a lot of fun, and as addicting as the real game".<ref name="keizer198606">{{Cite magazine |last=Keizer |first=Gregg |date=June 1986 |title=Leader Board: The Pro Golf Simulator |url=https://archive.org/details/1986-06-computegazette/page/n51 |magazine=Compute!'s Gazette |pages=50–51 |access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref>
''Computer Gaming World'' stated that ''Leader Board'' for the Amiga improved on the Commodore 64 version, and praised the graphics, but preferred the also-outstanding ''Mean 18''.<ref name="wagner198612">{{cite magazine |last=Wagner |first=Roy |date=December 1986 |title=Amiga Preferences |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_33/page/n43/mode/2up |access-date=24 April 2016 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |page=44 |issue=33}}</ref> ''Info'' gave the Amiga version four stars out of five, liking the gameplay and "nicely done graphics" but noting the absence of a practice green or course construction. The magazine concluded, "It's tough to choose between this and Mean 18".<ref name="info198701amiga">{{Cite magazine |last1=Dunnington |first1=Benn |last2=Brown |first2=Mark R. |last3=Malcolm |first3=Tom |date=January–February 1987 |title=Amiga Gallery |url=https://archive.org/stream/info-magazine-13/Info_Issue_13_1987_Jan-Feb#page/n89/mode/2up |magazine=Info |pages=90–95}}</ref>
''Antic'' wrote that the Atari ST version "will keep you happy for hours", praising its graphics. While noting deviations from the rules of golf, the reviewer concluded recommending ''Leader Board'' "as an entertaining game for anyone, regardless of skill and knowledge of golf".<ref name="weaver198706">{{Cite magazine |last=Weaver |first=Mark |date=June 1987 |title=Leader Board |url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/v6n2/STProductNews.html |magazine=Antic}}</ref> The magazine said that the Atari 8-bit version "was good enough to almost make you forget about the ST game" with "top-class" graphics, albeit lacking roughs, bunkers, or trees. ''Antic'' concluded that "Leader Board is a fun game whether or not you actually play golf", and that its only flaw was that it would keep players from being "outside in the fresh air".<ref name="pearlman198703">{{Cite magazine |last=Pearlman |first=Gregg |date=March 1987 |title=Leader Board (8-bit) |url=https://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n11/productreviews8.html |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=Antic |volume=5 |issue=11}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links == *[https://www.mobygames.com/game/leader-board ''Leader Board''] at MobyGames *{{lemon64 game|id=1500|name=Leaderboard Golf}} *{{WoS game|id=0002837|name=Leader Board}} *{{abime|id=843}}
{{Access Software}}
Category:1986 video games Category:Amiga games Category:Amstrad CPC games Category:Amstrad PCW games Category:Apple II games Category:Atari 8-bit computer games Category:Atari ST games Category:BBC Micro and Acorn Electron games Category:Commodore 64 games Category:Commodore 128 games Category:Game Gear games Category:Golf video games Category:Classic Mac OS games Category:Master System games Category:Sega Genesis games Category:Tiertex Design Studios games Category:U.S. Gold games Category:Video game franchises Category:Video games developed in the United States Category:ZX Spectrum games