Hoyle Card Games (Jewel Case) [Old Version]

by Encore

Product Features

• 30+ classic card games including everything from solitaire to 7-card stud
• Tutorial mode and in-game strategy and rule book
• Adjustable skill levels so you can start as amateur and play like a pro
• 10 interactive characters; customize your character with facemaker feature
• Earn Hoyle Bucks that allow you to earn new content

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0009SUW4W
• Item model number: 10025
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 26, 2005
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,146 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #13 in Video Games > PC Games > Cards

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Bridge, hearts, gin--whatever your game, Hoyle Card Games will put you right in the middle of the action with over 30 classic card games, including everything from solitaire to seven-card stud. And with Hoyle in-game tutorials and strategies, you’ll learn to hold ‘em and fold ‘em like a pro in no time. So deal yourself in for hours of fun!

Features:

• Over 30 card games
• Tutorial mode and in-game strategy and rule book
• 10 interactive characters
• Facemaker feature allows you to customize your very own character
• Adjustable skill levels so you can start as amateur and play like a pro
• New card games--Rummy 500, Spite, and Malice
• Earn Hoyle Bucks that allow you to earn new content

Product Description

Deal yourself in! Whatever your favorite card game, Hoyle puts you right in the middle of the action. With Hoyle Card Games, you'll learn to hold'em and fold'em like a pro with insightful in-game tutorials and strategy guides. So shuffle the cards and deal yourself in for hours of fun. Hoyle Card Games contains 18 classic card games and teaches you the official rules "according to Hoyle."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of fun, July 12, 2007

By 

L. Korff - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Hoyle Card Games (Jewel Case) [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

This game cd is well worth buying. I love playing cards and there are many choices of games available. I also liked the interaction features. I choose what "characters" to play with and even create my own persona. It's almost like playing cards with real people! I consider this to be the best card game cd on the market. Additionally, once it is on your computer, you can play without inserting the cd. This is great!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My computer is fun now., June 28, 2007

By 

C. Throckmorton (CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Hoyle Card Games (Jewel Case) [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

This software is great. Microsoft only gives you one version of Solitaire. I now have 50 versions, plus many other card games. I am afraid I have become addicted to playing the games. Hours pass without notice. I definitely recommend this product.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Deck Is Stacked, June 21, 2008

By 

C B (Oregon USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Hoyle Card Games (Jewel Case) [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

This is a neat tool to hone your skills but does not duplicate playing conditions.

Luck and skill are main ingredients to any card game. The problem the software makers had was that, unlike in chess software, the computer card player in this software is not smarter than the average human player. So, the software creates an "equal" playing field by stacking the deck in favor of the computer opponent(s). In the case of partner playing, the human partner's computer partner plays a notch or two under the skill level of the computer opponents. So, the software "levels the playing field" by giving the opposing team better cards and a less skillful computer opponent.

I used this software primarily to play Canasta. What I found was that at the highest opening meld level (120 points), the computer team had little or no problem coming up with the opening meld 50% or more of the time. In contrast, the human-computer team came in easily about 10% of the time. So, based on the luck of the initial deal the computer team had a 5 to 1 advantage.

Also, as the game progresses the human led team gets far fewer wildcards (about 20% vs. 80% for the computer team). At the end of each hand the computer team rarely had wildcards left in their hand, the human players' computer partner often did and thus did not play as "smart" as the other computer players.

The bottom line is:

1. This is a fine tool to hone your thinking/strategy skills because you play with the deck stacked against you (especially as the hands proceed toward the end of each game).

2. It does not duplicate real playing conditions. If you would get frustrated by the luck of the draw being mostly against you and having a computer partner who plays dumber than the computer opponents, you might want to think twice about getting this software.