List of games included with Windows explained

Video games have been included in versions of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting from Windows 1.0x, all published by Microsoft. Some games that have appeared in Microsoft Entertainment Pack and Microsoft Plus! have been included in subsequent versions of Windows as well. Microsoft Solitaire has been included in every version of Windows since Windows 3.0, except Windows 8 and 8.1. The latest version of Windows, Windows 11, includes Microsoft Solitaire Collection and Surf.

History

Microsoft planned to include games when developing Windows 1.0 in 1983–1984. Pre-release versions of Windows 1.0 initially included another game, Puzzle, but it was scrapped in favor of Reversi, based on the board game of the same name.[1] Reversi was included in Windows versions up to Windows 3.1. Solitaire was developed in 1988 by the intern Wes Cherry.[2] [3] [4] The card deck itself was designed by Susan Kare, who was known for her work on icon designs for the original Macintosh.[5]

Microsoft intended Solitaire to "soothe people intimidated by the operating system," and at a time where many users were still unfamiliar with graphical user interfaces, it proved useful in familiarizing them with the use of a mouse, such as the drag-and-drop technique required for moving cards.[6] According to Microsoft telemetry, Solitaire was among the three most-used Windows programs and FreeCell was seventh, ahead of productivity-based applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel.[7] Lost business productivity by employees playing Solitaire became a common concern since the game was included in Windows by default.[8]

The Microsoft Hearts Network was included with Windows for Workgroups 3.1, as a showcase of NetDDE technology by enabling multiple players to play simultaneously across a computer network.[9] The Microsoft Hearts Network would later be renamed Internet Hearts, and included in Windows Me and XP, alongside other online multiplayer-based titles. 3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet is a version of the "Space Cadet" pinball table from the 1995 video game Full Tilt! Pinball.[10]

In Minesweeper for Windows Vista and 7, the game comes with an alternate "Flower Garden" style, alongside the default "Minesweeper" style.[11] This is due to controversy over the original land mine theme of the game being potentially insensitive, and the "Flower Garden" style was used as the default theme in "sensitive areas".[12]

Support for Internet games for Windows Me and XP ended on July 31, 2019, and for Windows 7 on January 22, 2020.[13]

Several third party games, such as Candy Crush Saga and Disney Magic Kingdoms, have been included as advertisements on the Start menu in Windows 10, and may also be automatically installed by the operating system.[14] [15] Windows 11 includes the Xbox app, which allows users to access the PC Game Pass video game subscription service.[16] [17] Additionally, versions of the Microsoft Edge browser from 2020 onwards (bundled with Windows 10 and 11) include the Surf game.[18]

Microsoft Casual Games

Starting from 2012 onwards, with the release of Windows 8, updated versions of previously bundled games are now under the brand Microsoft Casual Games, in addition to several brand new games. With the exception of Solitaire Collection being included in Windows 10 and 11, these games are not included with Windows, and are instead available as ad-supported free downloads in Microsoft Store.[19]

Premium monthly and annual subscriptions are available, which removes advertisements and offers several gameplay benefits, a move that has been criticized by reviewers as a way to "nickel and dime" users, since previous versions of Solitaire and previously bundled games did not include any advertisements or paid subscriptions.[20] [21] There are five Windows games under the Microsoft Casual Games banner:[22]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PUZZLE on Windows 1.01, Windows 2.03 and Windows 3.00 – BetaArchive . www.betaarchive.com . 5 January 2022 . August 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220808223000/https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38080 . live .
  2. Web site: Farokhmanesh. Megan. A bored intern created the original Windows Solitaire. The Verge. Vox Media. April 13, 2017. January 12, 2021. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111233230/https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/13/15285780/windows-solitaire-original-bored-intern. live.
  3. Web site: Interview with Wes Cherry – B3TA.com 2008 . B3ta.com . August 22, 2014 . Wes . Cherry . February 22, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110222001202/http://b3ta.com/interview/solitaire/ . live .
  4. Web site: Wes Cherry on Reddit about Solitaire . 4 January 2016 . January 12, 2021 . July 11, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170711143949/https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/3zfadv/til_that_microsoft_solitaire_was_developed_by_a/cylwpua/ . live .
  5. Web site: Susan Kare personal website showing her design for Microsoft Solitaire . Kare.com . August 22, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080828192347/http://kare.com/portfolio/17_microsoft_solataire.html . August 28, 2008 . dead .
  6. News: Joel . Garreau . Joel Garreau . Office Minefield . . March 9, 1994 . January 12, 2021 . March 23, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210323171035/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/03/09/office-minefield/3b74132a-5f0a-455f-a04e-6171d023149b/ . live .
  7. Book: Dear, Brian . The Friendly Orange Glow . Pantheon Books . 2017 . 978-1-101-87156-0 . New York . 502–503 . 27. Leaving the Nest.
  8. Quarterly Business Report: Do Computers Really Save Money? . https://web.archive.org/web/20071107105842/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,989274-4,00.html . dead . November 7, 2007 . . . October 12, 1998 . Church . George J..
  9. News: Open Windows for Workgroups . Craig Stinson . June 15, 1993 . . 292 . January 20, 2017 . August 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210822074537/https://books.google.com/books?id=jMKfH6i9OcYC&q=PC%20Magazine&pg=PA292 . live .
  10. Web site: updated . Zac Bowden last . May 20, 2022 . Windows features we loved and miss from earlier OS versions . 2023-12-25 . Windows Central . en.
  11. Web site: Column from Tony "Tablesaw" Delgado about puzzle games . Gamesetwatch.com . 2007-02-26 . 2011-06-22 . 2018-10-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181011125507/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2007/02/column_beyond_tetris_minesweep.php . dead .
  12. Web site: The Minesweeper Controversy: How Flower Garden came into Windows Vista. Kaushik. 10 February 2010. en-US. 2019-09-28. January 30, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220130033825/https://www.instantfundas.com/2010/02/minesweeper-controversy-how-flower.html. live.
  13. Web site: Farewell to Microsoft Internet Games on Windows XP, Windows ME, and Windows 7. Microsoft Community. January 10, 2021. September 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220925085733/https://login.microsoftonline.com/common/oauth2/v2.0/authorize?client_id=a81d90ac-aa75-4cf8-b14c-58bf348528fe&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fanswers.microsoft.com&response_type=code%20id_token&scope=openid%20profile&state=OpenIdConnect.AuthenticationProperties%3DbFSoSfvaMQuHsHoTwkL0B4XT9WL4UkaigG_0CkVNoYREdb5eT1bUx1zs7jPFeog3tklOrYKHu0xDSi1HQdES_IPjqVXNrW_oCFrQqp5jTV2hNDIM5m1U3dNTTfechyIl62_KmOYOVxwc39cckvQ0QyENcFoC8xvQaPcTyCXLaZeAVE7aQzEzKBtQktZ6izRT6W0lmAnKFTI9Mcyt9cpyRsB9GIKEXST7s6LiCSK-QL_lJnVsAXTqX5F4QxRC6fGiQr0vssqK6aiFGpfmdlAlGKg5v5PNel_jzMcNjRzBmC-2-tIDmZhkueV0kFqD45bJeVXXeFyucSKPLkaod2OwPIYyTid4iomGfGUIlWTz5QI&response_mode=form_post&nonce=637996930531809696.OTY3ZmRhMTItZjNkOC00ODAyLWI1ZDYtZjk2MWRjY2Y2MjM5NmRhOThlYTAtMDI1Mi00ZGVjLWJkNzctNDliNzQ5NzZlNjRm&prompt=none&x-client-SKU=ID_NET472&x-client-ver=6.17.0.0&sso_reload=true. live.
  14. Web site: Webster. Andrew. 2015-05-14. Candy Crush will be automatically installed on Windows 10. 2021-10-31. The Verge. en. October 31, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211031123351/https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/14/8606925/candy-crush-saga-windows-10. live.
  15. Web site: Bott. Ed. Avoid Windows 10 crapware: How to get rid of Candy Crush and all the rest. 2021-10-31. ZDNet. en. October 31, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211031123351/https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-steer-clear-of-windows-10s-built-in-crapware/. live.
  16. Web site: Tuttle . Will . Available Now: Windows 11 is Built for Gaming . Xbox Wire . 13 December 2021 . 4 October 2021 . March 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220324224921/https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/10/04/windows-11-built-for-gaming/ . live .
  17. Web site: Minor . Jordan . With Windows 11, Microsoft Makes Every PC an Xbox . PCMag India . 13 December 2021 . en-in . 23 November 2021 . February 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220224084709/https://in.pcmag.com/migrated-65955-windows-10/146461/with-windows-11-microsoft-makes-every-pc-an-xbox . live .
  18. Web site: Warren . Tom . Microsoft is adding a secret SkiFree-like surfing game into its Edge browser . The Verge . 4 January 2023 . 26 February 2020 . June 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220602165728/https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/26/21154821/microsoft-edge-surf-game-easter-egg-secret-skifree-modes . live .
  19. Web site: Microsoft Casual Games FAQ. Microsoft. January 10, 2021. January 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210110142805/https://support.xbox.com/en-us/help/games-apps/game-titles/microsoft-casual-games-faq. live.
  20. Web site: If You Want Microsoft Solitaire Ad-Free It'll Cost You $10/Year . . . 29 July 2015 . Alissa . Walker . January 11, 2021 . December 16, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171216201244/https://gizmodo.com/if-you-want-microsoft-solitaire-ad-free-itll-cost-you-1720951270 . live .
  21. Web site: Hackman . Mark . Microsoft wants you to pay for Solitaire, again, in Windows 10 . 2022-12-06 . PCWorld . en . December 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221206085446/https://www.pcworld.com/article/422732/microsoft-wants-you-to-pay-for-solitaire-again-in-windows-10.html . live .
  22. Web site: Microsoft Casual Games . 2023-02-15 . microsoftcasualgames.com.

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