Hoyle Poker Series

Fads come and go. Look at Pokemon; it was so huge the little Game Boy game that could spawned more merchandise than George Foreman has grills. The Yo-Yo, Reebok Pumps, Inline Skating, and Michael Jordan - all of these things were fads that at some point or another looked indestructible.

Poker could be considered the fad of this generation, at least the popularisation of it. Truth is, in tiny, down below the rest of the world Australia, ideas like million dollar Poker Tournaments are lost on us. However, the proximity of communication is no longer an issue, and with the advent of cable television and ESPN's relentless coverage of every sport from Basketball to Midget Tossing, it was only a matter of time before Poker mattered to Australians.

Now, everyone and their mum is playing poker online, and as such there are a bevy of instruments available to sit down at a virtual table and ante up. Of these options comes the videogame format. Sure, you can play the flash versions of poker online for cash, but the elements so dear to the gaming industry such as character and presentation are nowhere to be found in such online options. So it is with vigour poker enthusiasts seek out a game that delivers a great poker experience, an easy online option and plenty of fun and accessibility, to boot. This search is a tough one as with most fads (that aren't specifically licensed or owned by huge corporations) everyone wants a piece of the pie.

Hoyle Poker Series for the PC offers just that: An accessible, character-driven romp through the world of poker. It's incredibly easy to play with a number of options that will keep all hardened poker players stuck at the keyboard. What is also great about this game is that it's not at all intrusive and therefore designed for those of use who sit at a computer, day in, day out.

There are 14 variations of poker available through Hoyle Poker Series, including Texas Hold'em, 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo, Omaha Hold'em, Cincinnati, 5 Card Stud and heaps more. You can also play online through the game's own servers, though I did have issues connecting (though this was a good thing as I'd probably end up losing my paycheque for the month). The presentation is incredibly simple - you have a table with seven other players around it, plus your silhouetted self. Each player has a personality to go along with the way they play and also a number of one-liners to attempt to keep things interesting and light-hearted. This is a welcome change to the aforementioned flash-style poker games as they tend to lack any real colour.

The game also dishes up a great tutorial mode for those of us who tend to lose all our cash at most sittings and for the single-player offline affair, you're given a virtual bankroll of $10,000. This is stored in the bank save for your initial betting amount of $1000. Once this runs out, however, you can hit the ATM and tap into your remaining $9000. You can change the game's rules between hands, and mix up the game as often as you'd like - there is even an option to change the table setting from your traditional green card table to red felt, a kitchen table and even a warehouse.

Hoyle Poker Series isn't going to win any awards for visuals, however it is an accessible poker option that will appeal to anyone keen on the card game. Having 14 different variations of poker will whet most poker appetites, while your colourful comrades at the table keep the atmosphere energetic and light-hearted. By no means should this game be held against real videogames, but as far as poker games go, its ease of play and character go a long way to making it one of the better options available.