Goodsol Newsletter #113 - Vista

Goodsol Newsletter #113
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http://www.goodsol.com

Windows Vista Help Files
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Windows Vista is the new version of Microsoft Windows. If you are buying
a new computer now, it is likely that it comes with Windows Vista.

All of our games will run on Windows Vista. Many of our games have also
been updated specifically to run better on Vista:

Pretty Good Solitaire v11.0.1
download from http://www.goodsol.com/download.html

Pretty Good MahJongg v2.32
download from http://www.goodmj.com/download.html

Action Solitaire v1.12
download from http://www.actionsol.com/download.html

Most Popular Solitaire v1.12
download from http://www.moposol.com/download.html

The previous versions of these games, plus all of our other games will also
work in Vista. However, because of a change Microsoft made the help files
for previous versions will not work unless you download the WinHelp file
viewer from Microsoft. To view .hlp files on your Windows Vista computer,
you'll need to download the WinHelp viewer from Microsoft at
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6ebcfad9-d3f5-4365-8070-334cd175d4bb&displaylang=en

Note that you only need to download this if you are running Windows Vista
and you are trying to use an older version of one of our games or one of
the games that has not yet been updated for Vista. The latest versions of
the games above do not need this download, nor do you need it for
running the games in Windows XP or earlier versions of Windows. This is
only needed for Windows Vista to read .hlp style help files.


Beta Testers Needed
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We have a bunch of new versions and even some new games in
development. We need a small number of beta testers to help test them.
First will be a new version of Action Solitaire, then there will be a couple of
new games that will need testing. Finally, later in summer there will a new
version of Pretty Good Solitaire.

We need testers running Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and
Mac OS X. If you would like to be a tester, email me at
tom@goodsol.com. Be sure to give your name and what version of
Windows or Mac OS you have.


Featured Game - Zerline
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Zerline is a two deck Castle type game. At the start of the game 5 cards
each are dealt face up to 8 tableau piles. The remaining cards form a
stock, which is turned over one card at a time to a waste pile.

There are eight foundation piles, which begin with Kings and are then built
up in suit from the King to an Ace up to Queens. The object of the game is
to move all of the cards to the foundation piles.

Finally, there is also a reserve pile. This reserve pile can contain up to
four cards. Only the top card is available for play on the foundations or
tableau. Cards cannot be played from the waste pile to the reserve - only
cards from the tableau can be moved to the reserve.

In the tableau, building is down regardless of suit. Only one card may be
moved at a time. Spaces can be filled only by Queens.

Play consists of building sequences in the tableau and turning over cards
from the stock to the waste. You can use the reserve pile as storage to
bring buried cards into play. It is best to avoid putting too many cards in
the reserve that you cannot immediately move out of it, because if you fill
up the reserve you may get blocked.

There are no redeals.

Try to build long sequences in the tableau. A space is only useful if you
have a Queen available to put in it. Cards can be moved back from the
foundation piles to the tableau - this can be useful to get lower cards onto
the tableau.

Zerline is an easier version of Beleaguered Castle. Unlike Beleaguered
Castle, it is likely that nearly every game is winnable.

Zerline is one of the 660 games in Pretty Good Solitaire, which can be
downloaded from http://www.goodsol.com/download.html

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Thomas Warfield - Software Designer - support@goodsol.com
Anne Warfield - Order Fulfillment - orders@goodsol.com

©2007 Goodsol Development Inc.
PO Box 9155, Springfield IL 62791
Pretty Good Solitaire, Action Solitaire, Pretty Good MahJongg, FreeCell
Wizard, Spider Wizard, and more. Visit us at <http://www.goodsol.com>;.

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The Goodsol Newsletter contains news about our solitaire games, tips, and features details about a specific solitaire game in nearly every newsletter. The newsletter is sent about every 3-4 weeks.

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