Microsoft needed to convert people who were used to command lines into the era of 'drag and drop'Īccording to Mental Floss, the games not only taught people how to use the computer without realizing it, but they also saw users become familiar with the operating system. Who knew? The real purpose of Solitaire was to teach people how to use a mouse. Hearts, introduced on 1992's Windows for Workgroups 3.1 - the first version built for networks - was there to get people introduced in networking: you could communicate with other Hearts clients on a LAN. Microsoft say that Windows developers wanted users to develop speed and precision when using the mouse and making left and right clicks a natural habit. Minesweeper, the logic-based game, originally made its first appearance in the late 1960s but was introduced on the Windows 3.1 version in 1992. Solitaire is a card game that has existed since the late 1700s and is the oldest Windows game and dates back to the 3.0 version released in 1990. While many believe that Solitaire was designed to flaunt an interactive digital deck of cards, the game was actually created to familiarize computer users with the 'drag and drop' feature of the mouse. We also host an ad-free web-based version of Minesweeper (and Solitaire, too).Clicked off! Minesweeper was introduced to Windows 3.1-not to demonstrate that Windows was an adept gaming operating system, but to make the idea of left and right clicking second nature for Windows usersīefore Angry Birds and Candy Crush, there was Solitaire and Minesweeper.īut despite many people believing they were welcome little distractions from whatever task you were supposed to be doing, the makers of Microsoft Windows say they were actually developed to teach people how to use computers. If you want to try the original Windows 3.x version of Minesweeper, you can run an emulated version directly in your browser, thanks to the Internet Archive. It can also keep detailed statistics and export them into a spreadsheet if you’re a serious player. It includes both the classic Windows 3.x look and new skins that change the appearance of the game. One popular version among competitive players is Minesweeper X. If you prefer to play a classic free version of Minesweeper, there are several available online. ![]() ![]() RELATED: What Happened to Solitaire and Minesweeper in Windows 8 and 10? However, it includes Xbox Live tie-in features and a notable “Adventure” variation, set in a series of caves with gold, monsters, and arrows. The game is still available on Windows 10, but it’s now riddled with distracting in-game ads. Starting with Windows 8, Minesweeper (and Solitaire) became optional applications available in the Microsoft Store. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the fastest combined time for completing all three difficulties in Minesweeper is 38.65 seconds, set by Kamil Murański of Poland in 2014.The Windows Vista version of Minesweeper included the option to use flowers instead of mines in some regions, with the game defaulting to flowers in others.It featured flowers instead of mines due to pressure from an organization called The International Campaign to Ban Winmine. The Italian version of Windows 2000 included a version of Minesweeper called Prato Fiorito (“Field of Flowers”).A small dot will appear in the corner of the screen that turns black whenever you hover your mouse over a square with a mine. To cheat in the Windows 3.x version, type “xyzzy,” press Shift+Enter, and then press Enter again.In 1994, The Washington Post reported that Bill Gates was once so addicted to Minesweeper, he removed it from his computer, but then snuck into a colleague’s office to play it.īelow are a few fun facts and tips about this popular game: Minesweeper became the most popular in Microsoft’s offices (and in a collection that included Tetris, that’s quite an achievement). The pack included six games ( Cruel, Golf, Minesweeper, Pegged, Taipei, Tetris, TicTactics) and the screensaver IdleWild. At the time, Windows 3.0 was not quite 5 months old. RELATED: Windows 3.0 Is 30 Years Old: Here's What Made It SpecialĪs we mentioned above, Minesweeper debuted commercially in 1990 as part of the Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows. After some minor changes to the graphics, the renamed Minesweeper was born. ![]() Ryan put out a call among Microsoft employees, and Robert Donner submitted Mine. Shortly after the development of Windows 3.0, Microsoft product manager, Bruce Ryan, decided to put together a package of games that would encourage people with home PCs to purchase Windows. Donner based his game on Johnson’s earlier OS/2 game, and both were originally only distributed among friends. Microsoft’s Minesweeper was originally called Mine, and was created by Microsoft employees, Robert Donner and Curt Johnson. You’re now in Minesweeper’s addictive grasp.
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