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puzzle player

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 43
Date: September 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I dont like it because I must to use CD ROM to play the games that it don't have MAC on it for year 2004.

Newest revision of Hoyle Casino is the worst yet

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 32 / 53
Date: September 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Part of the problem with Hoyle Casino has always been that the odds have been heavly weighted toward the computer players. With this new version, it is even worse. Playing in a poker tournament, the computer players are constantly getting 3 of a kind, full house, straights and flushes, while you never seem to be able to catch these. And when you do get a good hand, they somehow end up with a better one. Also, if I was playing at a blackjack table in Vegas where the dealer was continuously getting 20 and 21 every single hand, I would leave that table. I would recommend that you go somewhere else for a casino game, this one is terrible.

I wish that I had been able to play the game somewhere before I bought it, I never would have!!!

Two thumbs down

Cheaper than Losing in Vegas

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 30 / 32
Date: October 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I find the Hoyle Casino 2004 game remarkably diverse and charmingly addicting. Yes, the CD must be in the drive for the game to work. Pity the pirates.

The games seem very Vegas like and it's enjoyable to try out many of the options I would never have the guts to play in a real casino. The computer players can be amusing, but unlike other reviewers I find them dumb and unlucky. I can routinely beat them in Poker (and that's the best way to rack up lots of money quickly). To the other reviewer who felt the computer players were biased: Pal, learn when to fold!

I did find the "talking" feature to be really insipid. Hoyle needs to hire someone with talent to script the other players, so I think for the future talking computer players could be a real riot. (The drunk, the flirt, the unintelligible foreigner, etc.) And the silly "Dealer" makes comments no real deal ever would, "Player loses!" Fortunately you can turn that nonsense off.

Overall: Very fun, well worth the price. Recommended.

Very Good Value for the Money

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 27, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is the second game set I've bought from Hoyle and I am once again very satisfied with it. This particular set gives you 18 games (plus a bonus poker game), so you're bound to found at least a few that you'll want to play from time to time.

The graphics are really nice and the interactive players are a nice touch. On the downside, I wish the game would allow playing against other players on the Web.

Table Games is fun

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 12
Date: December 21, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This set of games is addictive, especially if you are competitive and you enjoy playing pool. The games are cool to play and the talk back feature is great, I think. You can throw a pie in one of the characters faces. lol. The maximum pool has several versions of pool, like cutthroat or snooker, which I haven't seen in many games. Plus, if you think your good at chess, this will make you really think before you move.

CD must be in drive after full installation to play!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 14 / 23
Date: December 31, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Even after full installation of this game, the CD must be inserted in the drive to play it. I hope this new form of "corporate greed" backfires in a big way. Stay away, don't buy any Sierra Product!

Must have CD in drive to play game!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 8 / 15
Date: December 31, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I purchased this and Hoyle Casino 2004 for my sons for Christmas and was very disappointed to see the CD must be in the drive to play this game, even after full installation. Corporate greed is alive and well at Sierra!!!

Stick with 2003

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 148 / 158
Date: January 02, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Each year, Sierra and Hoyle have released a new version of Hoyle Casino. Each year, they have added additional casino games or new modes of play. The 2004 release of Hoyle Casino breaks this trend. Hoyle Casino 2004 adds no new games into the mix, and offers little value compared to the 2003 edition.

Other changes from the 2003 to 2004 edition include not being able to play the game without the CD in the drive. This is highly annoying for those who may wish to play the game on multiple machines that they own. Previous versions allowed you to play the game without the CD in the drive (internet play and player voices were disabled.) Sierra would have been wise to pay attention to the furor of the customers for Intuit's 2003 TurboTax release and their complaints about copy protection methods.

An additional change that I find particularly annoying is that the game pauses itself if you open a different window during play. While playing poker in Hoyle Casino 2003, I would often open a web browser and switch to it while the computer plays out a hand I folded out of. In Hoyle Casino 2004, the AI players do not play while the program window does not have focus.

While the gameplay is still the same great gameplay that one would expect from Sierra and their Hoyle Games line, the 2004 edition does not present enough value to make another purchase worthwhile.

Have they added passing to pinochle yet?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: January 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I have Hoyle Card Games 5, and enjoy it, but the Pinochle implementation does not include passing cards. That's the only reason I see to upgrade, so it would be a waste of money if it doesn't add that...

Something's Wrong Here..

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 54 / 58
Date: January 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Shortly after installing the game, I start up a $1000, 14 hand Draw Poker tournament, with 8 players.

I lost profoundly. Those eight players managed to come up with SEVEN four of a kinds. Over 14 hands.

In all years of real poker playing I probably see a 5-card draw poker four of a kind one in every 100 or maybe 200 hands. Not 50% of the time.

Next tournament, first hand, I managed a three of a kind, and lost to a flush and two full houses. Just how many cards are in this deck anyway?

The graphics, sound, game choices, and presentation are nice, but with such a skewed random number generator, who needs it?

Find the 2003 version in the bargain bin instead, which looks and sounds almost identical and at least played a fair, fun game.

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