Reviews (14)

Better
I enjoy Hoyle Board Games 2004 better than previous versions.Would recommend it to anyone (if you can find this version anymore).

Rigged games
The programmers for Sierra Entertainment which produced this game, have a warped sense of "sadistic" humor. Many of the games are rigged, especially the backgammon game. The dice does not generate "random" numbers, but is coded to ensure the computer "opponent" always wins under certain configurations. My advice: Look elsewhere. DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK.

Fun to the last piece
Overall I've been very amused by this game. Games included were chess, checkers, chinese checkers, pachsi, dominoes, backgammon, mancala, snakes & ladders, zen bones, reversi, line 'em up, plane racer, and battling ships (AKA battleship with awesome screen effects). Some characters were annoying but I liked the T-Rex a lot. The ability levels were pretty good. Great screen effects and nice background music.

Awesome and lots of fun
I just got the game today and my 8 yr old son and I are having a ball.This is exactly what I was looking for.Had I known about it sooner, I would've ordered it.The main reason I bought this was because members of my family (up to 4 people) can play the games against each other instead of always playing against the computer like other board games cd-roms.Of course you still have the option of playing against the computer too.I don't know if Hoyle Table Games 2004 has the same capability.The graphics are sensational. They really look like the real board games. My son got a kick out of the noises it makes.Before purchasing, I tried desperately to find out exactly what games were on it and couldn't. So for those interested some of the games it has are Backgammon, Battling Ships, Checkers, Chess, Chinese Checkers, Dominoes, Double Cross, Mahjong, Mancala, Pachisi, Reversi, Rummy Squares, and Yacht, all are my favorites.Installation is simple and the Face Creator is so cool.No regrets here.

Delivered as Promised
Received in mint condition & delivered on time! Thanks ... Read more

Features

• 2 New Games - Rays & Word Searches - A newly created mind-bending game of logic and deduction, Rays will make its first appearance in Hoyle Puzzle Games. The long-time favorite - Word Searches, will also be included.
• High Score Board tracks top scores for proof that you're a pro - See your name in lights for the ultimate bragging rights. Do well enough in a game and you'll be offered the opportunity to put your name on the leader board.
• PDA Content - Backgammon & Mahjong Tiles - New PDA content to be included in Hoyle Puzzle Games, for both the Palm OS and Windows CE handheld devices.

Reviews (37)

It knows what you have in your hand!
This game is OK for the basics, but don't expect anywhere near a real experience here. I can't tell you how many times I get beat on the last card, with just one higher card, say a 9 high to my 8 high. Always with only one card higher! That's not real. Plus, too many of the players are idiots, while a few are otherworldly lucky. It's nothing close to a random draw, and that's what you need for a real experience.

This toy is so fun!
I first played this toy at my friends house and thought, "How fun!"Of course then I wanted the game for myself.When I bought it, I played every game and loved it right away.This game rocks!

Card Games is Great !It's from the experts.
Hoyle Card Games is a great way to learn the finer points or learn a new game all together.This CD is free of bugs; the graphics and audio are very good.Hoyle are well-known rules experts.

have to learn all over again
It takes some time to get used to the fact that you have to play it with the CD in.

Puzzle Game
I read the reviews and was thrown for a loop because 99% of the complaints were talking about card games.I was looking for review of the puzzle games and I found only a few.Puzzle is outstanding, addictive, fun, relaxing and frustrating.What more can you want? ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Play the sequel to 3-D Ultra Pinball with all-new additions. There are multiple bonuses, hidden levels, moving targets, and lots of surprises--from goblins and spiders to pinball-snatching ghosts. The realistic pinball physics, including a true-to-life incline of the four playing tables, creates the ultimate pinball experience. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great Pinball !!!!
I only have the demo and I love it! I am surprised everytime I play it and it's to bad it has been removed from the market as it is the coolest pinball game I have played. You never really play the same game twice. Although the demo has point or time limits it does play over and over but after so many points cuts you off but still worth a try till you get the real thing which is what I am getting ready to do.

Take a creepy pinball machine into your home..
and stuff it into your computer. This game is really creepy for those of yall wicked people out there. I am a real pinball fan and I now have the ability to have arcade fun in my own home. So what are you gonna do? Take the arcade into your home!

Really love this game. I been playing it for years.
I have played other pinball games but after awhile they get boring. I play this game for hours and still don't want to quit. The only thing that would make it better for me anyway, would be to find a joystick or gamepad to use with it. I type all day and would love to be able to sit back and play without the keyboard.[...] But with or without it is a great game.shellady

Creepy Fun!
This is scary and fun.There are ghosts,goblins,gargoyles,bats and zombies.That is the greatest part.

A Non-Stop Pinball Creepshow!
Pinball fans will love 3-D Ultra Pinball: Creep Night, a classic pinball game with three main tables and a challenging (and hard to get to) bonus table. To 3-D Ultra Pinball, a fast-paced computer game that precisely simulates the action of real arcade pinball, Sierra has added a non-stop creepshow of multiple bonuses, surprises, hidden levels, moving targets, and reward animations. Action is simple, with left mouse button controlling left flippers and right mouse button controlling right flippers. Every game is a bit different than the last, and special features include rats and skeletons that you can smash with your balls, gargoyles that will pick them up and deposit them elsewhere on the table, and wraiths and vortexes that will eat them. A non-stop-fun pinball simulator. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Feel the fun with every turn! Featuring the colors of NASCAR greats Bobby LaBonte, Bill Elliot, Dale Earnhardt, and Terry LaBonte. Your mind is clear and your fingers are twitching. The action is intense. Face all the challenges that your nimble fingers can handle as you take the ramps, hit the targets, and rack up the points. Three cleverly interlocked pinball tables give strategy a whole new meaning as you navigate through the Garage, the Speedway, and the Pits on your way to Victory Lane. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Boring after a few minutes!!!!
I bought the nascar pinball game so I could have all five of the sierra pinball games. I was very disappointed in it. It's very boring after a few minutes and not even near as good as any of the other four games. The best one out of the 3-D sierra pinball games is Creepnight the second pinball game.

Creative, but very limited.
Although the tables are very creative, and the graphics are very good, it can be very limited, and sometimes difficult at some points.

The main table (Speedway) is basically the same thing for every track, the only thing that changes is the track logos on the position tower change to the track that you're playing, or "racing", on.

I was always a pinball fanatic since I was young, and I was not too pleased with it.

The movements are basically the same thing every time. There isn't much variety at all.

And I also think that 3-D Ultra Nascar Pinball is sometimes too difficult, and can really get on your nerves and can also be very annoying.

3-D Ultra Nascar Pinball has creative tables and very good graphics, but the gameplay is below average. In the end, I just wouldn't buy it. It just isn't worth it what it comes with.

Nascar Pinball
Being a pinball fanatic I found this one of little challenge.The same movements for the ball over and over again. Very limited.Maybe interesting to a small child for a limited time.Could not hold your interest for any extended time period.

What a game!
This game is awesome.It allows you to choose one of four drivers in which you equip the car, qualify, and race all on a creatively designed pinball "table". ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Play 16 board games against the computer or challenge up to four friends on the same machine or over the Internet. Games include: Backgammon, Battling Ships, Checkers, Chess, Chinese Checkers, Dominoes, Line 'Em Up, Mahjong Tiles, Mancala, Master Match, Parchisi, Placer Racer, Reversi, Rummy Squares, Snakes and Ladders, and Yacht, plus three card games. Create your own character with Facemaker, and then challenge a cast of 10 characters, including a dog, a dinosaur, and an alien. Rules, hints, and tips are available; players can choose the music, background, and skill level. Hoyle rule book and strategy guide is included. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Hoyle Board Games and Xp
I am a proud new owner of a Pen 4 that came with the new Xp Home Edition, and I am sad to say that my favorite Game in the whole world only partially worked for 10 days from purchase. Though my Xp has a compatability wizard for Windows 95, 98, Me, Nt, 2000, I can not keep the color bit from dropping to 8 from 32 bits. There is no support for Xp in reality, though much lip service is given to it by the Co. I purchased it from and Microsoft. It is a real kicker that Microsoft actually wrote the Hoyle Games. Though in the read me file Hoyle promises it is Xp compatable. However, what few days I could play Hoyle Games 5, I feel in Love with it. I love Harley the beautiful and friendly Bear, Rosewell the Alien that retired from area 51, Maurice that was abducted by aliens 150 years ago, that has returned to play games with his Beaver puppet, just to name a few. Their sympathy when your game doesn't go well coupled with friendly competition is a wonderful respite from the challeges that I as a handicapped person in the Alaskian Bush with long nights (6 months long) and long winters (6 months) long really fight over and find whelming sometimes. Since, our mail services and Delivery services such as Fed X, UPS, and the US Postal Services offer such challenges to getting anything from the Lower 48, I will be with out my favorite Gaming companions for quite a while, and then I don't know if it will run even then. However, those of you that can run it, please do it is funny, charming, and engaging with beautiful graphic, and quality unsurpassed in this era of gaming, these games are not stressful, harsh, coarse and is non-violent, and so user friendly, a five year old could play them. So, go play, and enjoy as I have Hoyle Games, they'll keep you coming back.

This is a super collection of games!
My first purchase of a Sierra Board Game collection was the previous version of Hoyle Board Games. Backgammon was all I was interested in and it was fine except for the erroneous layout of the pieces on the board when you start. I sent it back writing a letter to Sierra explaining why I didn't like it. I bought this new Hoyle Board Games again, mainly for the Backgammon. I was pleased to see the correct piece layout and was more open to the other games. WOW! I never knew about Yacht, but once I played it I was HOOKED. Discovering that Yahtzee came from Yacht, I ran out and bought Yahtzee and Deluxe Edition Yahtzee and became HOOKED to Yahtzee!!! The Pachisi is great, I learned to play great games I never played before (Dominoes, Master Mind, Mancala and Battling Ships). I liked that they told you the history of the games and the more well-known names of some of them. I even like Snakes and Ladders. I like the angle of the Backgammon board, but would have liked an alternate topside view like they have for Chess. I hope they incorporate that in their next Hoyle Board Games and add Chinese Chess. Yacht's rules from Hoyle state that a 4-straight scores 30 and in this program it scores only 25; they also need to fix this, unless it is a variation of it. This is a splendid program, and if you are considering it, please treat yourself to it; if you don't know the rules to most of these games, you will after reading the easy-to-understand rules and will get hooked like me.

Hoyle Board Games has turned the family into addicts!
Hoyle Board games 2001 is a fabulous collection of thoroughly enjoyable and addicting family board games.These great games include beautiful graphic versions of Backgammon, Mancala, Chinese Checkers, Chess, Dominoes, Pachisi, Mah Jong Tiles and the addicting Mah Jong Gravity.Also, there are great versions of Battle Ships, Master Mind, Connect Four, Yahtzee and Chutes and Ladders--all disquised by easily identified title variations.A fun game called Placer Racer is a family favorite.It isn't really a board game - more of an arcade game--shooting colored balls trying to make matches of three while you race against a steadily decreasing game area.This collection of board games is great and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who wants fun, wholesome, clean fun for the family. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This parody includes a game-show-style atmosphere and a wide variety of trivia questions. But rather than win money for correct answers, contestants in Who Wants to Beat Up a Millionaire win time in a one-sided boxing match against one of five millionaires: a geeky Internet tycoon, a sheik oil tycoon, a trust-fund momma's boy, a flamboyant Texas millionaire, and a 22-year-old bimbo who inherited millions from her elderly husband. As the millionaires get beat up, they lose their money until they are finally knocked out of the game, penniless and bruised. It features virtual host Egregious Phillin and more than 750 trivia questions on such topics as movies, pop culture, history, and more. Up to five players. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A few laughs, but soon repetitive and boring
This sounded like it'd be fun.It's funny for a little while, but it's not a fun game.We only played for a few days, and now it's sitting on the shelf.You might want to get it if it's in the bargain bin (<$5) but otherwise, save your money.

NOT THE BEST,NOT THE WORST
THIS GAME HAS CHEAP 2-D GRAPHICS,POOR GAMEPLAY. BUT IF YOU LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW JACK YOU WILL LIKE THIS GAME. THE BIGGEST REASON WHY I DON'T LIKE THIS GAME IS BECAUSE THE GAME IS TO FAST. AND IT'S NONE LIKE WHO WANT'S TO BE A MILLONARE. TAKE MY ADVICE AND DON'T BUY THIS GAME.

FUNNY GAME!
WELL,THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE MILLIONAIRE SERIES...YOU CAN TAKE TURNS BEATING MONEY OUT OF MILLIONAIRES,THE HARDER THE QUESTIONS ARE,THE HARDER THE PUNCH,BUT MAN! SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE TOUGH,TOUGH,TOUGH! AND OCASIONALLY,IT THROWS IN A QUESTION THAT MAKES ZERO SENSE,BUT MAKES YOU LAUGH! FUNNY GAME,VERY INSULTING HOST. NEEDS A SCOREBOARD.

A VERY FUNNY GAME!!!
This is hilarious. And the game is MUCH more fun than the real Millionairegame. Egregious Phillin, this game's host, is a great parody of Reeeg!

A VERY FUNNY GAME!!!
This is hilarious. And the game is MUCH more fun than the real Millionairegame. Egregious Phillin, this game's host, is a great parody of Reeeg! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Turn your computer into a pinball machine with 3-D Ultra Pinball: Thrill Ride. There are 15 different amusement park rides, including two minitables and Nighttime Fantasy. Three levels of play allow you to simulate authentic pinball or defy the laws of physics. Multiball action and interactive animations are just some of the features. Up to four players can get in on the action. When you are finished, post and compare high scores over the Internet. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

3D ultra pinball : thrillride
this game is exciting to young and old a like. Being limited in
doing much walking or physical activities, my family and I spend hours trying to out score each other.

Great game for pinball fans!
When I got this game I was so amazed! This isn't the normol pin ball thingy!
It has Pin Ball mini games and (In the main feiled) 4 plungers!
Your Pin Ball can even go on roller costers!
There's the Fun Zone Thril Zone and Main Zone!
The Fun Zone can take you to a nother Pin Ball world to play a game, or just put some stuff on the Main Feild.
The Thrill Zone is were you try and put you Pin Ball on a ride the more you get it on, the more points you get!
A hole lot of modes like the Night Time Fantisy and the Rappids mode!

One of the most importint rules of the game is haveing fun!

Preciousmoment figurine club kit of 2003
This is a great item for collector and gift ideas.
It comes with a whole year of tid bid extras, like a newletters
acess to Enesco club web site that all kinds of treats.
A figurine for the year and much more.
Every year has some extrawhen we join.
So to join up ... call 1-800- near you

My families 1st computer pinball experience
Being the only computer pinball experience my sons and I have-its absolutely fantastic.We've spent hours going against each other for the highest score, most thrill points, brass rings, photo shots and bonus multipliers ect...but as we've gotten better, the faster we get that table moving the more it jams up on us and kicks us off in the middle of a game. I guess the high score now is the highest it goes, because anytime we start to pass it--its gone!I thought it was just the cd worn out but after reading other reviews I'm not so sure anymore and am anxious to try something new now instead of replacing this one as orginally planned.

Great
Living near Hershey Park and liking computer pinball, this is a natural.Sierra does a great job with all of their games.

Cheaper than a trip to the park, and just as much fun. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Backstage Pass: The Ultimate Rock & Roll Trivia Game puts your ears and that stuff between your ears to the test. From Fats Domino to Fatboy Slim, from doo-wop to hip-hop, Backstage Pass will test your "heavy mettle" with hundreds of hard rockin' questions covering the entire history of rock & roll, from its origins in the 1950s to today. It features the music of Blink 182, Cheap Trick, Squeeze, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Supremes, and many other artists. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

AWESOME GAME !!!!!!!
This game is excellent ! It truly is the ultimate music trivia game !

YOU DON'T KNOW JACK visits The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame!
Sierra has done it again!They've takes the fun and ease of their ever-popular You Don't Know Jack series less the sarcasm, given it a hot look, paid through the nose for the licensing of many popular songs, rolled it all up and made it into "Backstage Pass", subtitled "The Ultimate Rock & Roll Trivia Game".This may be one of the few times in consumer history where such an ambitious claim is true!The game is tons of fun!It literally plays like YDKJ! with the 3 category selections and multiple choice questions as well as a few special type questions, yet they've added tons more graphics to make this as appealing to the eyes as well as the ears.They have included 600 questions, which should last a decent amount of time since I believe the maximum amount of questions per game is 21.Sure, if you play non-stop for days on end, you'll get repeats faster than some but there's a way to avoid that...DON'T PLAY NON-STOP FOR DAYS ON END!GET OUTSIDE AND TAKE IN SOME OXYGEN!hehehe...sorry about that.Anyway, they've included a lot of music clips by the ORIGINAL ARTISTS and in FULL STEREO!I hope this is just the beginning of this series and hope that Sierra branches out to more areas.Hey, why not team up with TV LAND and produce the CDROM version of "ULTIMATE FAN SEARCH" for the fans of TV trivia but find the YDKJ sarcasm not quite to their tastes.Hey, I heard that Chuck Woolery could use the work...:) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A funny parody of the hit game show
This is probably one of the better (if not insanely dumb) parodies I've played.The game has the irreverence of "You Don't Know Jack" and plays on everyone's secret wish to beat the *#%$( out of those people who win the millions on TV.The trivia is challenging the further you get.Note, however, it tends to crash in Windows XP.

Bad!!
This game is an insult to your intelligence.I played once and put it away for good.Worst game I've ever played.

Worse than bad
Although you may be tempted to pick this up as a gag gift for a "Millionaire" or Regis fan, don't!The cartoonish characters are annoying, but the whole "beat up a millionaire" concept isn't even funny.The only thing you'll want to beat up is yourself for buying this game.

The only game I've seen that's worse than this is Survivor. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Hoyle Board Games provides hours of PC game play with imaginative graphics and hilarious computer-animated opponents. Skill levels range from beginner to expert, offering fun for children and adults alike. While there may be problems with the installation, the games provide good, clean entertainment.

Hoyle Board Games caused a standard installation error to occur when we tested it on an updated Windows 95 machine with newer hardware. To avoid this problem, close all your programs and when the program asks to check your system, choose "no." If you still experience the problem, reboot your computer and find the file "SIERRA.INI." When this file is found, delete it, restart your computer, and try the installation again. This should put a stop to the installation hassle and let you enjoy your games.

Once you have made it in, choose to play Snakes and Ladders, Mancala, or Chinese checkers with computer opponents or through the Internet with friends. Games like Battling Ships give you great animation and sound, such as ships catching on fire and booming explosions. Chess, Zen Bones--similar to Shanghai--and dominoes all provide great challenges for the solitary player. One of the best features of Hoyle Board Games is the Facemaker option, where you can customize your character and your opponents.

Hoyle Board Games can be played alone, with friends, or over the Internet. With the wide range of game options, the whole family can take advantage of the program. i>Hoyle Board Games includes an instruction manual with a history of the games, access to the Hoyle and Sierra Web sites, and Hoyle Games Online. --Madeleine Miller ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Gamer for Board Game Lovers !!!!
I just love this game !!!! If you're a board game lover, this is the game for you. There's alot to choose from. They need to make more games like this. You won't be dissatisfied with this one.

Family fun!
I have every Hoyle computer game they make and this one is as equally as good as the others.My husband and son are not big board game fans.So naturally I loved this when I bought it.It's nice to be able to play against the computer.My family can barely sit through one round of a board game.This I can play all night.If you really like board games then this is for you!

I Can't Stop Playing!
I have played these games over and over and over again.It's a great collection of games - a really good variety of games for players of all ages.Zen Bones and Placer Racer are my favorites.I think I've won atZen Bones about 5 times out of 200 - but it's fascinating.

What's greatis that you can play by yourself against the computer, or you can play withreal opponents.It's great fun for a rainy day or when you're home sick. Who am I kidding - there's no reason not to play these games every day.

The sound effects are fun and the variety of characters will keep youentertained.You can change background colors, characters, determine howtalkative the players will be, how fast the game should go, and much, muchmore.

I would recommend this game to ANYONE who wants to be entertained. If you're getting this for a gift, don't open the box or you'll never beable to part with it.Got kids?Give a copy to your parents or in-laws. It will be a hit with the grandkids when they come over.Need a break? Play a game or two yourself in between chores.Believe me - there'ssomething for everyone in this package.

I've got lots of software and Iconsider this to be one of my top three.I can entertain myself for hours. You won't be sorry that you bought this.And it won't go out of style.

Opponents Too Easyto Beat
This game package has some good features: a wide selection of games, ease of use, and good special effects (although the opponent's dialog tends to be repetitive after a while).The main problem is that the playing abilityof the computer opponents is only fair to poor, even at the"expert" level.

This seems to be a common problem of games ofthis type.Special effects are becoming more and more spectacular, butcomputer opponent playing ability is not much better than in early DOS (andApple II) games.

Great Board Games
This collection of board games is very impressive.My family enjoyed everything from the facemaker (my husband made about 10 different characters just for the fun of it)to the interaction with the computerplayers.Some highlights were the facemaker program, which is extensiveand suprisingly good, the animation in the games themselves, the computercharacters, and the visual presentation of the games. A few games werenot up to the standard of the others -- or at least I found them lessenjoyable, specifically Snakes and Ladders (You always loose!)and theYatzi spin off, which was very limited.OTherwise, the other games arevery good and comprehensive -- you can even turn off the computer playersif their comments get on your nerves!And there are a wide variety ofcustomizable options, from backgrounds, to the computer player moods, tooptions with individual games.Our 6 and 10 year old children werefacinated with some of the special effects! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

When the original Austin Powers movie became a runaway cult hit, there was nary a product in sight for fans to buy. The movie's makers wouldn't miss their second chance, though, and so the sequel came with an unstoppable merchandising force behind it. Austin Powers: Operation Trivia is part of that bandwagon, a thinly veiled rehashing of You Don't Know Jack.

The best part of the game is Dr. Evil's introduction and explanation of the game as a "pointlessly intricate scheme" to determine when to kill Austin Powers. The graphics, too, have the same spark as the movie, but the relentlessly slow pace of the game makes the graphics and content an uneven match. Disappointing, too, are the voiceovers--the voices of the "hostbot," Austin, and Dr. Evil are all read by the same person, robbing the game of Mike Myers's spark.

Clearly intended as a quick cash-in, Operation Trivia will hold appeal for the diehard Austin Powers fan, but not for a PC gamer. As Dr. Evil himself would say: "Go capitalism." --Jennifer Buckendorff ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Truly a hidden treasure!
How did this game go under the radar?I never heard about it until recently, and since it was so cheap I thought 'What can I lose?'Well, I lost nothing and gained a great game!The questions are hilarious, the art is astounding, and even though it's not Mike Myers, the voice guy rocks!This will be a collectors item, no doubt about it.

Any possibility of a sequel?
The title of my review says it all. Leave responses on this board and I'll check it every couple of weeks. Thanks!

It's Shagariffic Baby!
"People of Earth, or whoever's listening anyway, Dr. Evil here" your computer has been taken over.Austin Powers is "in a bit of a pickle", it seems Dr. Evil has him imprisoned in the ElectricPsychadelic Pussycat Swingers Club while he hatches his evil plot for worlddomination.The trivia match - Win Lose or Die is Groovy Baby - totallyentertaining graphics and sound -even for adults.Highly recommend it. Too bad there aren't more questions - upgrade perhaps?Buy this one NOW!Oh, Behave! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Crossword puzzles, word searches, and anagrams are just a small portion of what you can find in Hoyle Word Games. For the letter lover, it provides hours of challenges for every skill level. Plus, the software gives you the option to print your word game so you can continue solving your puzzle while you're away from your PC.

You begin by using the Facemaker feature to create your persona for challenging friends, family, or computer-generated players. This is a fun step and you could get stuck here if the games weren't so enticing. Next, you start playing. Games include Word Yacht, which is similar to Boggle; Speedy Racer, which helps develop typing skills; Hangman; anagrams; and more. Each game puts you up against challenging computer-animated opponents. The playful and interesting graphics provide a great backdrop to some of your favorite word games.

You can play Hoyle Word Games alone, with friends, or over the Internet. The program includes an instruction manual with sample games, access to the Hoyle and Sierra Web sites, Hoyle Games Online, and Webster's Interactive Dictionary--an easy reference for those complicated crosswords. You won't get tired of this program; it provides entertainment for all skill and age levels. --Madeleine Miller ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great game!! Buying the next one!
I actually stole this from my father-in-law to play for a couple of days. That was almost 3 years ago. FAb games! You can actually play scrabble my yourself or someone else. Great for word game enthusiast! Highly recommend.. I am buying the 2003 soon!!!

Seirra Does it again!
I have all the sierra hoyle games.I like them all.Word Yacht is by far my favorite on this program.It is really fun to play against others on the web.Or if you prefer you can go to the web and watch others play as well as go to your private table and practice before you join in.I would definately recommend this program!

Best of the Word Games
I got this based on the previous reviews and they are right on target.This is by far one of the best I've played so far. I like the fact that you have several computer personalities which range from easy to tough, and you can also control the level of play for each game. I usually tire of games after a while, but I think this will keep me challenged longer than most.If you like word games, you'll love this!

Very Addicting
I have been a long-time fan of Hoyle games.This one has the typical features you would expect, except they've added a face making feature.This is really cool.You can create some really outlandish characters withthis game.The only thing I found disappointing was the narrow list ofplayers.Hoyle Board Games has ten characters you can play with.Thisversion only has five.Enigma was the first game I tried out.For those ofyou who are familiar with cryptograms, this is pretty straightforward.Forthose that aren't, this is a game of code-breaking.Next, I tried anagrams. This was especially hard for me because the game was timed and those stupidmonkeys really annoyed me.Turn their voices off, if you're easilydistracted. Crosswords is just that, a crossword puzzle.An enjoyable gamewith a solve letter feature that won't give away the whole word.You can,of course, solve the word or the entire puzzle if you're stumped or tiredof it.Double Cross is fun and frustrating.It's a two-player Scrabblegame.You'll win or lose points based upon where you put your tiles.And,you have to out-think your opponent.I beat the computer once with thisgame.Speedy Racer will test your typing skills.This game is especiallygood for kids who are learning to use the computer.Word Searches isn't verychallenging, but it's a good way to relax.I haven't played Hangman yet,so I can't rate this one.Enigma was the second game I played.Once I gotthe hang of how to work the codes, it was a lot of fun.There aremessages, proverbs, and sayings you have to solve.Word Yacht is my ultimatefavorite.I beat the pants off the computer eight out of eleven times andreally enjoyed doing it.The object of the game is to type in as manywords as you can from the lettered dice.The trick is to use as manyplurals as you can.The graphics are very good.The sound effects and musicare good.The levels of difficulties are the same as the previous Hoylegames.Overall, I think this game is their best.I would recommend thisfor both children and adults.

Great Game!
I got Hoyle Word Games from Amazon.com a month ago and haven't gotten tired of all the games in the CD-rom. Threre are 8 different games in a CD-rom and all of them are awesome!

My favorite is "Hangman",which provides you several different formates like classic, playing againsta player or two different players. You will be able to guess a ramdom word,a word under cerain category or a proverb. I enjoy having different crazyand funny opponents playing "Hangman" with me! Plus, the settingsfor Hangman are really delightful!

Also, "DoubleCross" isanother great game in this CD-rom. This game is more like a scrabble game,but even more interesting. I learn a lot of new words from the game andalso have a great time playing with my friends.

I think this game is bothfor kids and adults. If you like word games, "Hoyle Word Grame"is something that you won't want to miss! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Are the Tiles Supposed To Be This Smasll?
I am hopelessly addicted to Mahjongg.It is one of my favorite games, both on my PC and on a beautiful board with my friends. I had a mahjongg game for my PC that my youngest loved to rearrange the format of the tiles and forever lost the classic mode (my favorite).So I sent off for this version.

My first words were, "are the tiles supposed to be this small"? I am 47 and 30 minutes of this game will ruin my eyes for the rest of the evening.

It does have Chinese and Egyptian tiles, which are pretty neat, but who can see them?I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS GAME.

Gravity Tile Addict Speaks
OK-the tiles are lovely in either the Egyptian or Chinese versions and the graphics are great(fireworks,sandstorms,flowers and seasons)and you can make your own layouts or choose from a bazillion layouts, for mahjongsolitare. Memory tiles basically "Concentration" but again youhave those lovely graphics. And then you have Gravity Tiles-instantaddiction. and it keeps changing because you change the way you play thegame, and because you can choose from 3 different settings-from 3 to 5different colors of tiles. Very enjoyable.

Jordan's Pick
I believe that the Mahjong tile game is the best of it's kind! It not only lets your mind work and figure out what tiles are where and what match.It also gives very good hand and eye coordination, because theclock is on you once you start and if you make a mistake it just might costyou the game.So be careful when playing this well designed game ofconcentration. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This package includes two favorite games--backgammon and cribbage--with a customizable and easy-to-use interface. Play against the computer, against another user on the same PC, or against another user on the Internet. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Play nine word games against the computer or challenge up to four friends on the same machine or over the Internet. Games include: Anagrams, Crosswords, Double Cross, Enigma, Hangman, Speedy Racer, Word Searches, Word Yacht, and Wordox, plus three board games and three card games. Create your own character with Facemaker, and then challenge a cast of 10 characters, including a dinosaur, and an alien. Rules, hints, and tips are available; players can choose the music, background, and skill level. The CD-ROM contains definitions from Webster's New World College Dictionary. Hoyle rule book and strategy guide is included, along with Dell Crossword's crossword puzzles ... Read more

Reviews (6)

dealing with a fixed deck
I think the title is applicable to most of Hoyle's games (card games or not).I have noticed in some of the games that when there is more than one computer player, they gang up on you.In some of the other multiplayer games you immediately start behind. The game feels like it's rigged to keep you losing in an attempt to keep you playing.They are applying casino logic to a word game.With all this said, I still highly recommend the game for those of you (like me) who really enjoy these types of games.

disappointed
YOU ADVERTISE 10 CHARACTERS ON THE GAME DOUBLECROSS
BUT THERE ARE NOT. YOU ADVERTISE A DOG AND AN
DINOSAUR ON THE GAME. I HAVE AN IDEA WHY NOT
ACTUALLY MAKE THE DOUBLECROSS GAME WITH ALL THE
CHARACTERS YOU ADVERTISE. THE GAME IS A LOT OF FUN.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT THE CHARACTERS TALK. I WOULD
ENJOY IT MORE IF ALL THE CHARACTERS YOU ADVERTISE
WERE ON THE GAME.

Love it!
This game is loads of fun, especially the Word Yacht game.Almost everyone in my family rushes to the computer to play one another when we get together at my parents' house.It's totally addictive!

Fabulous fun!
This is a super CD for people addicted to word games.WORD YACHT is my favorite; it's a word version of Yahtzee, and is great fun. I love the way you can bump up the level of play from beginniner-to-expert.Although the games have a set up of four players, I remove two soo that my opponent is but one.Great software!

Even Better Than Its Predecessor
Hoyle Word Games 2001 has added a new game to its collection--Wordox.This is an exciting game similar to DoubleCross.There are four players in the game.The object of the game is to place your word on the board and outwit your opponent before the timer stops.What's especially fun about this game is that you can steal your opponent's entire word instead of a few measley letters.Or, you can place a letter on a pink tile and clear the board.Wordox is quite a challenge.

Hangman, Enigma, Anagrams, and Speedy Racer are the same.In DoubleCross, you play with three other characters.At first, I thought, "Ugh!Why did they have to change this?"Then I started playing and found myself totally addicted.I play this game more than the others.There are still the mystery squares, the bombs in the corners, and points galore.After an hour, I went back to the older version of Word Games and got bored.Word Yacht has the four-player mode as well. With Crosswords, you can either play by yourself or with an opponent.The same goes with Word Search.The difference between the single and double-player games is that with the double-player, you have to solve the clues or find the word in a certain amount of time.Once your time is up, it's the other player's turn. Hoyle still kept the Face Maker feature, which my whole family loves.Like one reviewer said, you can make a character that is either conservative, funny, or outright weird.This game is the perfect gift for any word or puzzle enthusiast. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

3-D Ultra Pinball Power provides the best in 3-D pinball action. Explore vast stellar reaches in the original 3-D Ultra Pinball, ghoulish haunts in Pinball 2: Creep Night, or prehistoric jungles in Pinball 3: Lost Continent. It's the bestselling pinball series of all time from some of the most creative pinball designers around. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Windows 98 incompatible
Could not get the system loaded and although the add says 95/98, we called the distributor and we were told it is not compatiable with windows '98.

I love Pinball
I love Pinball and since the real pinball machines are hard to find these days Sierra pin ball series fills that void. The computer version of the game has different zone to go into based on a general theme and different tests you have to get through to get to the next level. Its thoroughly addictive.

Awesome Pinball!!!!!
If you like to play pinball, and love a challenge, then this game is a MUST!Sierra makes some of the greatest games for families.Graphics are super, and the fun never ends!!

Incredibly Less Than What I Expected
I have Windows ME and have no problems with the software. It runs best in 256 color mode. There are four games in this "pack." "The Incredible Machine" is a total children's game. It is dealing with Science and experiments. "The Lost Continent" is okay. It has about 7 different tables, but only the first one is even remotely extensive. The "Creep Night" is fairly extensive. It contains 3 tables, each of which consists of 3 areas of play. It is chaotic and cartoonish. The "3D Ultra Pinball" itself, which is on the first disk, is great!! It consists of 3 tables, each having 3 areas of play, but it isn't chaotic. It is well organized and clear.

With all three actual pinball games, there is a final goal to achieve. "The Lost Continent" is something that my kids enjoy. I feel that the age range this was aiming for must have been 7-13 years old. The "Creep Night" seems to be geared toward 10-20 years old. The "3D Ultra Pinball" is seemingly geared toward 12-adult. I am basing these estimates on appearance, difficulty, and appeal.

Windows Me
It says on this page that the game works on Windows Me, but when I got the software in the mail it said it was for Windows 95 and 3.1.It would not work on my Windows Me.We do have a computer in the house with Windows 95 on it and it works just fine on that computer. So if you have Windows Me, I would not recommend this game. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Friday Game Night is the answer for fun and games for everyone in the family. Grab the snacks and play programmed characters or that uncle who likes to cheat. He has to obey all the rules here and no one has to worry about keeping score--everything is automatic, easy, and pure fun. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Exercise your verbal skills in between work assignments with this comprehensive crossword program from Sierra. Five hundred puzzles, spanning a wide range of skill levels, will keep you busy for a good long time, and the lush interface is easy on the ears and eyes--a welcome relief from the newsprint-stained paper shaking in your hands on the subway.

Installation is easy, and you can start playing right away, though you might get sidetracked for a bit by the engaging FaceMaker utility that personalizes your player interface. Once you've got your face and name set up, you can solve puzzles alone, compete with a nearby friend, or challenge a total stranger over the Internet. The competitive option is structured much like traditional tournament: time and accuracy are both important. The many MIDI music choices are unobtrusive, the three backgrounds are gorgeous but not distracting, and the solving interface is clever and simple to master.

The puzzles themselves are challenging in a straightforward way--no tricky New York Times stuff here! If a clue baffles you, it's easy (some would say too easy) to get a hint or even to have the whole word filled in for you. Then, if a word is still unfamiliar, you can open up the online Webster's New World College Dictionary provided and improve your vocabulary for next time. Though it may seem strange at first for crossword puzzles to migrate to your computer monitor, you'll soon find yourself thinking of "paper" as just a five-letter word for "obsolete." --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fun For Young And Old
Whether you are young or old; beginner or hardcore crosswords enthusiast,you're going to be entertained by this game. I play a game a couple times aweek. My mother, 83, will actually touch the computer in order to play. Andwhen my grandchildren were here for a week, one or the other was playingcrosswords the whole time.It helps excercise the thinking processes, it'seducational and, above all, it's fun. ... Read more