Who remeber Clasic Windows Solitaire?
If you’ve ever owned a Windows PC, you’ve likely played Windows Solitaire before. For myself, Windows Solitaire was one of the things I would do day after day to pass the time, perhaps between classes at University, or waiting for something to heat up on the stove.
The game has probably been played by more people than any other game in existence, and that’s a pretty big feat! When I moved away from Microsoft towards and Apple interface, and even more recently into a Google interface, I definitely missed one thing about the Windows setup: Solitaire.
History of Windows Solitaire
The game was developed in 1989 for release in 1990 on Windows 3.0. Originally developed by an intern, Wes Cherry. The reason why Solitaire was included on the new Windows machines in 1990 was because Microsoft thought the new graphical interface that Windows used could be overwhelming for some users, and wanted to offer an escape from the new UI, allowing users to back away from ‘new technology’ and engage in something easier and more soothing.
The game served a secondary purpose however. With the new graphical interface, Microsoft developed the concept of click and drag, which is widely used by all computer users today. Solitaire allowed users to become familiar with the click and drag mechanic, as they moved cards around the playing surface. It was a brilliant way to showcase the feature that was revolutionizing the interface marketplace.
As Microsoft has unveiled new operating systems, the Solitaire game has changed and become more modern. But there is nothing like playing the original version, in all its glory.
Despite all the games Microsoft has included with it’s operating system, Solitaire always seemed to be the most popular. In fact, many businesses cited the game as a reason for lower productivity amongst workers, as people too often were caught playing the game, rather then performing their daily duties. Regardless of what other free games were offered with any given operating system – Pinball was also very popular – nothing seemed to stack up against the Solitaire experience, and for good reason.
We talk today about games that give you the ‘one more’ syndrome. For example, many people who have played Stardew Valley will often say they get caught up in the “one more day” thought process, and before they realize it they have spent hours of time they weren’t planning on spending, playing Stardew Valley. Solitaire had a similar hold on people’s attention. It was the “one more game” mentality that cause so many workplace problems, and likely more than a few messy homes.
Whether you’ve played it or not, the iconic look of the cards against a green back will be familiar to you. It might be one of the more recognizable games ever created. It was fantastic growing up in a time where that was what you played. It is also a statement about how far game development has come since then, especially when you compare this free preexistence next to other free experiences.
And now you can, thanks to Solitaire Online. Should you wish to play the original Solitare card game, be sure to click here and begin stacking those cards. You never know when you might get the bouncing cards on screen, indicating that you are the winner!