After starting up the game, you'll see the main menu.
Play Game: Go to the game selection screen.
Game Credits: Display the game credits
About Hoyle: displays the game version, promotes other Sierra titles and order info, and lists the core development team.
Tutorial: provides a tutorial on how to play Hoyle: Classic Card Games
Tech Help: provides order info, tech support info, FAQs, info on the Sierra no-risk guarantee and how to obtain replacement disks.
Quit: Quits the game
Game selection screen
After starting up the game and the intro credits, you'll see the game selection screen. Click on any of the games to start it.
Opponents / skill selection screen
When playing any game except Klondike, you'll need to select 1 to 3 opponents, with each opponent having a predefined skill level at each game.
You can swap between Sierra characters and classic characters (portraits of real people, mostly Sierra employees) by pressing the control in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
To select an opponent, click on his or her portrait. It is allowed to have a mix of both Sierra and classic characters. To know the opponent's skill level at the selected game, click on his or her name tag. Click the OK button after selecting your opponent(s) to start the game.
The skill levels are as follows:
Crazy Eights
Old Maid
Gin Rummy
Cribbage
Bridge
Hearts
Euchre
SIERRA CHARACTERS
Graham
Beginner
Beginner
Expert
Average
Average
Expert
Beginner
Pepper
Average
Expert
Expert
Beginner
Beginner
Average
Average
Willy
Expert
Expert
Beginner
Average
Beginner
Beginner
Expert
Larry
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Average
Average
Expert
Expert
Quarky
Average
Average
Expert
Beginner
Expert
Beginner
Average
Laura
Average
Beginner
Beginner
Expert
Expert
Average
Beginner
Adam
Beginner
Expert
Expert
Expert
Beginner
Average
Average
Roger
Expert
Expert
Average
Beginner
Average
Beginner
Beginner
Dr. Brain
Average
Average
Beginner
Average
Average
Beginner
Expert
CLASSIC CHARACTERS
Dinky
Expert
Average
Average
Average
Expert
Expert
Beginner
Scout
Expert
Expert
Average
Beginner
Beginner
Average
Beginner
Crazy Jack
Average
Beginner
Beginner
Expert
Average
Expert
Expert
Trudy
Beginner
Average
Expert
Beginner
Expert
Average
Average
Josephine
Beginner
Average
Average
Beginner
Expert
Expert
Expert
Billy Joe
Expert
Beginner
Average
Expert
Beginner
Average
Beginner
Chip
Expert
Expert
Average
Average
Beginner
Beginner
Average
Winthorp
Average
Average
Beginner
Expert
Average
Beginner
Expert
Fairbanks
Beginner
Beginner
Expert
Expert
Average
Expert
Average
Toolbar
At any point during the game bring your mouse to the top of the screen or press ESC to access the game's toolbar.
The toolbar provides the following options.
CONTROL: Click on this to access the control panel (see below).
OPTIONS: If clicked in the main menu or game selection screen, you can set whether or not to use standard opponents. If checked, you will skip the opponent selection screen when starting a game. If clicked while playing a certain game, you can set the options of the game you're currently playing.
SCORE: See the game score of the game you're currently playing.
RULES: Read the rules of the game you're currently playing.
DECK: Select a card deck and background (see below).
HELP: Click this button to turn the cursor into a question mark. Then click on any control on the screen to receive an explanation about its function.
Control panel
Click on 'CONTROL' in the game toolbar to access the control panel.
GAMES: Return to the game selection screen.
QUIT: Quit Hoyle 4 and return to DOS.
REPLAY: Restart the game you're currently playing from the beginning.
TIME: Displays the current time and date.
MUSIC: Choose the music option that you prefer.
- Music Is On - Critics Choice: Specific music will play based upon the game chosen.
- Music Is On - Random Selections: Music will be change so as to provide variety.
- Music Is Off: For those who prefer no music.
HELP: Click this button to turn the cursor into a question mark. Then click on any control on the screen to receive an explanation about its function.
OK: Accept the settings and return to the game.
VOLUME: The Volume slider adjusts the volume of the music and sound effects.
DETAIL: Unnecessary animation details may be turned off for players with slow systems.
PACE: You may adjust the reading speed and time between plays by using the Pace Slider.
Card deck and background selection
Click on 'DECK' in the game toolbar to access the deck and background selection window. Then use the buttons below the currently selected deck and background to browse through the available ones.
