Fairway Solitaire
Encyclopedia
Fairway Solitaire is a downloadable casual game, based on the Blitz programming environment, that provides a new twist on the classic card game, solitaire
. Considered to be within the casual game
genre of computer games
, Fairway Solitaire was developed by Grey Alien Games and distributed by Big Fish Games
.
card game
with a creative and occasionally funny theme of golf
. In the game, cards double as golf clubs
and playing cards. Much like a professional golfer, a player in Fairway Solitaire must play his way through a collection of courses (70 in all) with each course offering a different challenge. Once the challenge is met, the next course is unlocked and the player can advance in the tournament.
During game play, scores are recorded and ranked against all other players on the same computer. Additionally, statistics are kept for each players and trophies are awarded for pre-defined achievements.
hazards and sand
traps. Water hazards are special 'water cards' which must be cleared from the board before any cards to the right of said water cards are revealed. Sand traps are special 'sand cards' which are not revealed until the 'sand wedge' card is uncovered.
play, wild cards are randomly revealed. One may choose to randomly select an event or pay to skip the risk. The cost to skip is either two cards or $300. These wild cards offer varying opportunities and challenges including:
As well as two minigames:
game at the Big Fish Game's Online Games. However, due to the player response, Big Fish Games quickly released a full download version available for purchase.
Solitaire
Solitaire is any tabletop game which one can play by oneself or with other people. The solitaire card game Klondike is often known as simply Solitaire....
. Considered to be within the casual game
Casual game
A casual game is a video game targeted at or used by a mass audience of casual gamers. Casual games can have any type of gameplay, and fit in any genre. They are typically distinguished by their simple rules and lack of commitment required in contrast to more complex hardcore games...
genre of computer games
Computer Games
"Computer Games" is a single by New Zealand group, Mi-Sex released in 1979 in Australia and New Zealand and in 1981 throughout Europe. It was the single that launched the band, and was hugely popular, particularly in Australia and New Zealand...
, Fairway Solitaire was developed by Grey Alien Games and distributed by Big Fish Games
Big Fish Games
Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people...
.
Gameplay
Fairway Solitaire presents uses with a modified type of solitaireSolitaire
Solitaire is any tabletop game which one can play by oneself or with other people. The solitaire card game Klondike is often known as simply Solitaire....
card game
Card game
A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games...
with a creative and occasionally funny theme of golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
. In the game, cards double as golf clubs
Golf club (equipment)
A golf club is used to hit a golf ball in a game of golf. Each club is composed of a shaft with a grip and a clubhead. Woods are mainly used for long-distance fairway or tee shots; irons, the most versatile class, are used for a variety of shots; Hybrids that combine design elements of woods and...
and playing cards. Much like a professional golfer, a player in Fairway Solitaire must play his way through a collection of courses (70 in all) with each course offering a different challenge. Once the challenge is met, the next course is unlocked and the player can advance in the tournament.
During game play, scores are recorded and ranked against all other players on the same computer. Additionally, statistics are kept for each players and trophies are awarded for pre-defined achievements.
Hazards
Like golf, each Fairway Solitaire course offers waterWater
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
hazards and sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
traps. Water hazards are special 'water cards' which must be cleared from the board before any cards to the right of said water cards are revealed. Sand traps are special 'sand cards' which are not revealed until the 'sand wedge' card is uncovered.
Iron Cards
Occasionally, a player will reveal an "iron card". These cards have a specific golf club on them and double as playing cards and can be picked up at any time like any other special card (like the sand wedge) without cost or connecting card and without breaking the current drive. For example, if the play card is a 6 there is a stack of 7, 3 iron, 8, one may pick up all three cards. In addition a person may play a club at any time to continue adding to a long drive. The clubs are restricted to the 2-9 irons.Mulligans
Mulligans can be used to undo a player's very last action. may not play more than one in a row. Players are granted one mulligan for each hole during tournament play. A second mulligan is available to those individuals who purchase the special Mulligan Shirt from the golf shop.Wild Cards
During Fairway Solitaire gameGame
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
play, wild cards are randomly revealed. One may choose to randomly select an event or pay to skip the risk. The cost to skip is either two cards or $300. These wild cards offer varying opportunities and challenges including:
- Flush – The GopherGopher (animal)The term gopher as it is commonly used does not relate to any one species, but is a generic term used to describe any of several small burrowing rodents endemic to North America, including the pocket gopher , also called true gophers, and the ground squirrel , including Richardson's ground squirrel...
is flushed from his hole. One recovers all the money the Gopher has stolen. - The Gopher – The Gopher takes all of the money and drive multiplier for the hole, and the player loses 3 cards from the deck.
- Dizzy – All cards are shuffled
- Missed Ball Entirely – Lose an item purchased from the golf shop (which can be repurchased later)
- Broken Club – Lose an iron
- Slice – Lose two irons
- Bad Bounce – Lose a card from the deck.
- Lost BallBallA ball is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch, marbles and juggling...
– The ball is lost in the weeds. The player is given four chances to find it among eight possible locations or they lose two cards. - Hit the Club House – The player broke a window on the club house and has to pay $175 for damages.
- Hit a Spectator – A spectator was hit by the player's golf ball, and the player is sued for damages.
- Wormburner – Lose $100
- In a Ravine – Drive multiplier is decreased by .5
- Hit a TreeTreeA tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
– Drive multiplier is decreased by .4 - Heavy Rough – Drive multiplier is decreased by .3
- Unplayable Lie – Drive multiplier is decreased by .2
- In a Divot – Drive multiplier is decreased by .1
- Grabbed By a Bird – Increases drive multiplier by .3
- Hit the Cart Path – Increases drive multiplier by .2
- Sympathetic Marshall – Remove any face up card.
- Found a Club – Gain an iron
- Perfect – Get an automatic perfect score
- Heat Wave – All water hazard cards are removed from play.
- Whirlwind – All sand trap cards are removed from play.
- Boomerang Ball – Gain an extra mulligan for current hole.
- Sky Ball – 20 seconds are added to the timer.
- Lucky Shot – Win $250
As well as two minigames:
- Putting – Click at the right time to putt a ball into the hole for cash.
- Driving – Click at the right time to drive a ball for cash. Score depends on distance.
Golf Shop
The Fairway Solitaire Club House has a golf shop wherein players can purchase equipment to help them during tournament play. The equipment assists the player during actual game play or during wild card play. Items may vary depending on gender.- Mulligan Shirt/Blouse – $3,750 – Gives an extra mulligan on each hole.
- Extra Long Pants – $15,000 – Slows down the arrow in Long Drive contests.
- Flip Flop Golf Shoes – $15,000 – 25% of the face down cards will turn face up on each hole.
- X-Ray Sunglasses – $22,500 – Hold mouse over deck and next card will be revealed.
- Puttering Around Socks – $22500 – Slows down the arrow in Putting contests.
- Powershot Belt – $26250 – Starts the Long Drive Multiplier at 1.3X.
- Magnifying Glass – $26250 – Gives more tries when looking for Lost Balls.
- Time Control Watch – $18750 – Adds 30 seconds to the stopwatch on timed courses.
- Ring of Plenty – $11250 – Increases Course Purses by 15%.
- Moustache – $22500 – Lowers Course Fees by 15%.
- Super Grip Glove – $40000 – Turns the 5X multiplier into a 7X multiplier
- Lucky Hat – $30000 – Increases the odds of getting a good Wild Shot card by 25%
Trophies
Players may be awarded trophies for accomplishing various tasks. Each player may only win one of each trophy. Often they are rewarded with cash or prizes.- Duffer Cup – First 9 hole course score of 30 or more over par.
- Birdie Champ – First time one scores a birdie or better on each hole on a course.
- Eagle Champ – First time one scores an eagle or better on each hole on a course.
- Top Rookie – After winning three course purses.
- Long Drive Champ – After first long drive of 28 cards or more.
- Perfection Prize – After first time one scores 6 or more perfect scores on a course.
- Speed Champion – After first time one completes a timed hole in 30 seconds or less.
- Prolific Golfer – First time one completes 100 courses.
- Top Earner – After total career earnings $1,000,000 or more.
- No Irons Award – After finishing (course) under par with out using any irons.
- Big Hitter Prize – First time one scores a long drive on every hole on a course.
- Scoring Cup – First time one scores 9 or lower on a course (score, not score vs par).
- Grand Champion – Earned when one completes the game.
Initial Release
Initially, Fairway Solitaire was released as a free onlineONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
game at the Big Fish Game's Online Games. However, due to the player response, Big Fish Games quickly released a full download version available for purchase.