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| The Microsoft Hearts Network is an example of a multi-player game that you can play on your local network. The Hearts program is available in the Games screen of the Windows Components tab (start Add/Remove Programs from Control Panel). Network setup is simplified because the game uses NetBIOS for network accesses. All you need to know is the computer name of the dealer. Start Network Neighborhood, and notice the names of the other computers on your network. |
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| The dealer has special functions in the game: The dealer's computer must be ready for play, where it gives the message "waiting for others to join" before others can connect. And if there are less than four players, the names for the computer players are taken from the dealer's list. Wait until the dealer is ready, since the dealer always starts first. |
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| Start the Hearts program from the Games menu, located in Start / Programs / Accessories by default. On the opening screen, select "I want to connect to another game" and click OK. |
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| Next enter the computer name of the dealer. This is the name shown in Network Neighborhood, not the name of the character the dealer chooses at the start of the game. Clicking OK on this screen starts the attempt to connect with the named dealer, so this is the step that must wait until the dealer is ready. |
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| Play continues as in single-player games, except you might have to wait for other players to pass, and it takes longer for humans to decide what to play than it does for computer players. In the example, the name SnowBirdee was taken from the player list of the dealer's computer. |
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| If any player leaves the game other than the dealer, a computer player will step in and complete the game. The player's name will appear in brackets on the computer screens of the remaining players to show that player has left the game and a computer player is filling in. If the dealer leaves the game, it stops and the remaining players can start a new game if desired. |
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United States
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