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Hoyle Word Games By Pam Gleichman Tribune Media Services Hoyle Word Games is a new collection of eight word games. There are familiar favorites such as crossword puzzles, word searches, anagrams, and Hangman and innovative new games, including Enigma, Word Yacht, Speedy Racer and DoubleCross. Enigma is a cryptogram game where you try to unscramble a famous quote or phrase. There are over 1,300 quotes and proverbs to decode. Word Yacht is similar to the dice game Yahtzee. You�ll race against the clock to rearrange 10 scrambled letters into words. With each turn, you complete a category on the scorecard. With DoubleCross, you arrange letters on a grid (similar to a Scrabble board) to make words, partial words or complete fragments left by others. Fragments provide opportunities for your opponents to gain advantages, so quick thinking is important. There are over 500 interactive crossword puzzles and 450 word searches and you can compete against the computer, a friend or over the Internet. There are three levels of difficulty and games can be saved to finish at a later time. With the Facemaker feature, you can create a personalized icon to represent you in the game or on the Internet. The Webster�s New World College Dictionary (included on the CD) provides you with word definitions. Another added bonus is three popular games from the Hoyle Board Game program. They include Placer Racer, Backgammon and Zen Bones. Also included are many demo games, including After Dark Games, Hoyle Card Games, Hoyle Casino, You Don�t Know Jack Offline, Head Rush, Cosmic Consensus, and Archophobia. Hoyle Word Games is a great game for the entire family to enjoy. The games provide many hours of fun and challenge. DoubleCross, Speedy Racer and the word searches were our testers� favorite games. They loved competing against the computer characters. My personal favorite is the Word Yacht. It is a great game to play by yourself or with your children. Children loved making words out of letters and, challenged by the computer opponent, they loved scoring. Publisher : Sierra Attractions, 3380 146th Place SE, Suite 300, Bellevue, Wash. 98007, (800) 757-7707, http://www.sierra.com . Category : Puzzles. Age : 10 to adult. Installation : Easy. Once installed, the program can be played with or without the CD. Without the CD, however, you will not have sound or animations. Use : Easy. Graphics : Good. Written Materials : A user�s and strategy guide is included. It also contains 35 pages of crosswords, word searches and anagrams to play when your computer is not available. System Requirements : Windows 95/98, Pentium 90 MHz or higher, 16 MB RAM, SVGA 640 X 480, 256 colors, 2X CD-ROM drive, Mouse. Macintosh Power PC or PowerMac G3, including iMac System version 7.5.3 or higher, 16 MB of free RAM, 640 X 480 256 colors, 2x CD ROM drive or faster. Tested Version : Windows 95/98/Macintosh CD-ROM. Cost : $29.95. Rating : Four stars. Hoyle Word Games is a great game for the whole family to get in on the fun and competition. DEAR PAM : I would like to purchase a golf program for my husband as a Christmas gift. Do you have any suggestions? DEAR READER : Microsoft Links LS 2000 is a great golf program. The new PC version has six golf courses, 35 modes of play and super graphics. WEB SITE OF THE WEEK POPULAR SCIENCE 1999 BEST OF WHAT�S NEW http://www.popsci.com/features/bown/bown99/ 100 of the Year�s Best Achievements in Science & Technology. RATING KEY : ***** � Outstanding; **** � Very Good; *** � Good; ** � Fair; * � Not Worth Purchasing. Pam Gleichman welcomes questions/comments from readers. Write to Pam at Tribune Media Services, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1400, Chicago, Ill. 60611. Send e-mail to [email protected] . © 1999 Tribune Media Services, Inc. Techno file index Mail Tribune Copyright © The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA