Hoyle Board Games

By Pam Gleichman

Tribune Media Services

Hoyle Board Games offers a collection of 14 classic board games. Games include Chess, Mancala, Yacht, Dominos, Pachisi, Snakes & Ladders, Chinese Checkers, Zen Bones, Checkers, Reversi, Line ’em Up, Battling Ships and Placer Racer. Choosing backgrounds can customize the games, music, animated opponents and skill levels. You can play with up to four players (for 13 of the games) on the same computer, by yourself or over the Internet (for 11 of the games). Also included on the CD are three bonus card games from Hoyle Card Games. The games include Solitaire, Gin Rummy and Cribbage.

Hoyle Board Games engaged everyone. With such a variety of games to choose from, everyone found something they enjoyed. Although some of the game names have been changed, we quickly recognized most of them. For example Yacht is played just like Yatzee. Placer Racer resembles Tetris, Breakout and other video arcade games. Pachisi is the same as Parchisi, Zen Bones is played like Mah-jongg or Taipei and Battling Ships is really Battleship.

Having 14 games on one disk saves you a lot of shelf space, avoids lost pieces and clean up time, and it lets you play a game when you are alone and don’t have anyone to play with.

My one criticism of the program involves the computer opponents. Standup comedians provide the voices, humor and attitude. A few of their comments are inappropriate for children. While playing backgammon, Bart, my opponent, said, "I haven’t been this unlucky with numbers since I saw my first wife step on the bathroom scale." While playing against Elayne, I was called a lucky jerk for rolling doubles. Jasper, however, was a gentleman. You do have the option of choosing how talkative your opponent will be, and can turn off the noise entirely on those games with chatter. I liked the games so much and found them so challenging, that I just lowered the volume to avoid hearing the comments.

Publisher: Sierra Attractions, 3380 146th Place SE, Suite 300, Bellevue, Wash. 98007, (800) 757-7707, http://www.sierra.com .

Category: Family Games.

Age: 8 to adult .

Installation: Easy.

Use: Easy. Rules can be read and tutorials are available for games you don't know how to play.

Graphics: Good.

Written Materials: A 100-page book is included with rules, strategies and how each game evolved. I found it interesting to read about each game.

Tested Version: Windows 3.1/95/98 CD.

System Requirements: Windows 3.1, Windows 95 or Windows 98, 486/66 processor, 8 MB RAM, SVGA 640 X 480, 256 colors, mouse, Dual speed CD-ROM drive.

Cost: $29.95.

Rating: Four stars.

Hoyle Board Games is an engaging set of games that will provide hours of entertainment for whole family.

DEAR PAM: I am a grandmother of four with absolutely no computer experience. I recently purchased a computer for my grandchildren to use when they visit. Could you recommend a few programs? Their ages are 6, 7, 10 and 11.

DEAR READER: I Spy CD-ROM by Scholastic (800) 5415513, Monopoly by Hasbro (800) 683-5847, Hoyle Board Games by Sierra Attractions (800) 757-7707, Backyard Soccer Humongous (800) 499-8386 and Make a Masterpiece by IBM (800) 426-7235 are all good programs your grandchildren will enjoy playing together.

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