If all goes according to plan, we will be releasing version 12 of Pretty Good Solitaire later this week.
This is a major update. In fact, in terms of the number of new games (40), this is the largest update since version 9 was released on March 7, 2003. It's the biggest update in more than four and one half years.
This update is also major in that it will not be a free upgrade for people who originally purchased in the 2002-2004 time period. For that last few years, each version was a free update for everyone who purchased since 2001. Now it will only be a free update if you have purchased since 2004 (the exact cutoff date is April 20, 2004, the release date of version 10).
Whenever we put out a version that requires an upgrade for some past users, it causes a lot of work. We will have a lot of upgrade orders to process. We will get a lot of email from users asking why their codes don't work anymore. It's a bit of a hassle (of course, at least the upgrade orders will be bringing in more money, so don't take this as complaining). Especially the first week after the release is just really busy.
In addition to the 40 new games, this version adds 2 new larger card sizes. Version 12 has a total of 5 different card sizes (although exactly what sizes are available in a particular game depends on the size of that game's layout and the screen resolution). Here's an actual size image of the new largest card size:

This card is from the Medieval Card Set, which is a new card set that we are also releasing this week.
Of the 40 new games, my four favorites are all variations on popular games. There are some new games that aren't closely related to existing games, but it just happens that my favorites in this version are all simple changes on major games.
First is FreeCell Duplex, a new 2 deck variation of FreeCell. It's different from the existing and popular Double FreeCell.
Next is Greater Wheel, a 4 deck variation of the underrated Great Wheel.
And there is Quadruple Yukon, a 4 deck variation on the classic Yukon.
And finally there is Huge Spider, a 4 deck variation of Spider.
I think Huge Spider works much better than the 3 deck Big Spider. Huge Spider is better balanced and I can actually win it.
So that's a look at the first of our two big new releases. Look for it on our site later this week.
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