After launching the program, the main menu screen will appear. The main menu screen will allow you to select from "PLAY GAME", "GAME CREDITS", "ABOUT HOYLE", "TUTORIAL", "TECH SUPPORT", and "QUIT".
The "PLAY GAME" button places you into the game selection screen, or directly into the character selection screen (if you entered via an individual game icon).
The "GAME CREDITS" button displays the names of the development team of the game.
The "ABOUT HOYLE" button provides basic info on the game and it newest additions.
The "TUTORIAL" button provides general information on how the game is put together. It provides info on the character selection screen, game options, room settings and so on (more information on that below)
The "TECH SUPPORT" button provides contact information of Sierra's offices worldwide (no longer applicable)
The "QUIT" button of course leaves the game.
Game selection screen
After pressing the "PLAY GAME" button in the main menu, you will arrive in the game selection screen (unless you launched the game by clicking a single-game icon).
Click on any of these games to access the player selection screen (except for Solitaire since no opponents need to be selected for that single-player game).
Player selection screen
After selecting a game in the game selection screen (except for Solitaire since that is a one-player game), the player selection screen will appear. Depending on the game you selected, one to three opponents need to be selected here.
Random characters will automatically be selected for you when you enter this screen. Click on the picture/icon area to move them back and forth between the line-up and chosen player area. To view a player's skill level and personality text, click on the NAME TAG beneath their frame. See Opponents for details on each character.
The ANIMATED CHARACTERS offer the most interaction during game play. (You may also adjust the frequency and attitude of responses during game play with the "Attitude Meter" by selecting the "Control" button on the button bar.) To choose the animated character selection screen, click on the button labeled "ANIMATED" in the lower left portion of the screen. The game Old Maid can ONLY be played with animated opponents as the game uses animations on the character portraits to indicate the game progress.
The character represented ICONS utilize the same skill level of the represented characters, without the added voices and animation. To choose a character represented "icon" selection screen, click the button labeled "ICON". Old Maid cannot be played using the character icons.
The BUSINESS CHARACTER PHOTOS offer the most conservative interaction, with simple text game responses and serious game play. To activate this selection screen, click on the button labeled "BUSINESS" in the lower left portion of the screen.
If you click HELP, the mouse cursor changes to a question mark and you can click on any control on the screen to receive information about it.
If you click OKAY, you will enter the previously selected game. The games are:
- Solitaire (accessed directly from the game selection menu)
- Poker
- Cribbage
- Gin
- Backgammon
- Checkers
- Old Maid
- Hearts
- Bridge and
- Crazy Eights
Game toolbar
Each game has a toolbar to access various options. Some of those options apply to Hoyle 5 in general while others are specific to the particular game being played. The game-specific options are explained in the specific pages of those games, accessible through the combo-box above.
Control Panel
Click "CONTROL" in the game toolbar to access the main control panel for Hoyle Classic Games and set some global settings.
VOLUME SLIDER: Slide the button up or down to adjust sound and music volume.
PACE SLIDER: Slide the button up or down to adjust animation and general game play speed.
RESPONSE TIME: Slide the button up or down to adjust length of time players are allowed to "think" about their next move. In Poker, a slow decision period increases the intelligence of the decision!
REPLAY BUTTON: This button restarts the same game and resets the score.
TIME: Click on this button to see the time and date (perhaps it's built in for the all-night gamers?)
MUSIC BUTTON: You may toggle tis button to select whether or not the background music is played in various places within the game.
HELP BUTTON: This button activates a special cursor. Click on any button of the control panel to bring up help text on that item.
OKAY BUTTON: Select this button when you are satisfied with your choices and want to return to the game.
ANIMATED CHARACTER BUTTON: Click on this button to play against animated characters which offer the most interaction. The frequency and attitude of their responses can be adjusted with the "Attitude meter".
CHARACTER ICON BUTTON: Click on this button to play against icon representations of the animated characters without the voices or animations. Their skill levels are the same in this mode.
ATTITUDE METER: This slider button controls the frequency and attitude of the animated players. To hear only game play required responses, slide the button to "Serious". To increase the "temperament" and frequency of comments and responses, slide the button towards "Absurd" until you find a level you like.
Note: Strangely there is no Business Character Button, because their skills are exactly the same for each game as their animated counterpart. When playing against Business Opponents, the animated Character Button, Character Icon Button and Attitude Meter are not available in the Control Panel.
Options: Options are different for each specific game and are explained on their respective page (accessible via the combo-box above)
Score: Scores are counted and displayed differently for each specific game and are explained on their respective page (accessible via the combo-box above)
Rules: Rules are obviously different for each specific game and are explained on their respective page (accessible via the combo-box above)
Room:
Click "ROOM" in the game toolbar to access the Room Settings Panel for Hoyle Classic Games.
In this panel you can adjust the game background, music theme, card deck. Possible backgrounds are (click images to enlarge in new window):
Standard
Standard
Rain Forest
Urban
Suspense
Wild West
H2O
Magic Castle
When selecting a different background, the music and sound will change along with it. However, after selecting the background, you can still change the sounds independently.
VOLUME SLIDER: Slide the button up or down to adjust sound and music volume.
