The Hoyle Games 2011 Collection for PC and Mac: An Overview

For centuries, the name Hoyle has been synonymous with card games. Born in 1672, Edmond Hoyle was an Englishman who wrote the most popular of the earliest game rulebooks, and eventually became well known as an authority on the subject. His earliest works concentrated on common card games, however, after his initial success he expanded his writings to include classics such as backgammon and chess. Today, hundreds of years later, the name Hoyle continues to live in the world of digital entertainment.

Hoyle, which is part of the United States Playing Card Company family of brands, is known as "The Official Name in Gaming," and for years, a variety of computer versions of common games have been released annually. These latest group of digital titles carrying the Hoyle name are published by Encore, and are available for both the PC and Apple (Mac) based platforms. Available individually, titles in the collection include Hoyle Card Games 2011, Hoyle Casino 2011, Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games 2011, and Hoyle Slots 2011.

Featuring a total of 23 different card games, including Gin, Hearts, Crazy 8's, Old Maid, and Poker; Hoyle Card Games 2011 continues in the steps of earlier versions, and brings new play to the table. Large easy-to-read playing cards, and the new slot based games video poker and video blackjack are just a few of the new improvements.

With Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games 2011, players can expect to find seemingly endless variations of gameplay with 30 varieties of games, such as, word games, board games, brain teasers, memory games, and more. The bonus game, Boonka, has over 60 fast paced levels, unique power-ups, bonuses, and 3 different game modes.

Hoyle Casino 2011 delivers a Vegas styled experience where gamers can get in on the action of Texas Hold 'Em Poker, Blackjack, Carps, Roulette, Keno, horse racing, and tournaments. An official Hoyle rulebook & strategy guide is also included as a bonus.

Players can hit the jackpot with Hoyle Slots 2011, where 23 video slot games featuring up to 20 paylines, and 12 mechanical slot machines can be played. Cupcake Cash, Magic Carpet, Robot Invasion, Comic Cash, and Rude Noises are just some of the slots that feature brilliant graphics and exciting sound effects. Denominations for play range from a penny to $500, and over 100 achievements and 100 trophies wait to be earned.

Common to the titles are features such as character selection/personalization, awards, and more.

Sources/Resources:

Hoyle: The Official Name in Gaming

Wikipedia.com: Edmond Hoyle