The Windows 10 free upgrade is finally here, and lurking in the shadows of the start menu is the triumphant return of Solitaire. But playing the iconic game is not for free—it’s for freemium.
- Where Did Microsoft Solitaire Gold
- Original Microsoft Solitaire Free Download
- Microsoft Solitaire Collection
Technically you don’t need to pay to play the Microsoft Solitaire Collection on Windows 10, but if you want an ad-free experience, it’ll cost you. Launch the app in Windows 10 and you’ll be prompted by a splash screen to upgrade to the Microsoft Solitaire Collection Premium Edition. Upgrading will remove the full-screen video advertisements, and grant you access to boosts in “TriPeaks” and “Pyramid” (two versions of the game in the Solitaire bundle) and some extra coins for completing “Daily Challenges.” But it’s essentially a subscription service, at $1.49 a month, or a discounted annual fee of $9.99.
Is Microsoft secretly verging on bankruptcy? Windows 10 charges you $10/year to make Solitaire ad-free. pic.twitter.com/sysYPfxYnz
Much to the dismay of devoted Solitaire enthusiasts, the desktop version of Solitaire, a game rooted in the nostalgia of a simpler time—when hovering over the start menu and navigating to “Programs > Accessories > Games” brought you endless hours of free, mind-numbing comfort in a fraught world—was removed from Windows 8.1. It was replaced by a modern version of the game available only from the Windows Store, ads included.
Now that the game is back in its default app glory, the way it had been with every iteration of the Windows operating system since the '90s, why is Microsoft making users pay to remove ads from a built-in application?
“The gaming industry is so closely linked with the online world and the tech industry, and these are all places where huge companies and individual creators alike are trying out new experiments in revenue every day,” said Playboy.com Gaming Editor Michael K. Rougeau. “Seeing someone shilling a product with informal sponsored posts in my Instagram feed kind of ruins Instagram for me, but for others it's no big deal. It's the same with games.”
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A Microsoft spokesperson provided Newsweek with the following statement:
“Microsoft Solitaire has been free to play for the past 25 years on Windows, and continues to be free to play on Windows 10. Users can access and play everything within the game for free, including new premium features like Daily Challenges and Star Club. The Microsoft Solitaire Collection game experience and Premium Upgrade features such as Double Coins for Daily Challenges, and removal of advertisements, is identical to the Windows 8 version that has been available for purchase for years.”
Fair enough, Microsoft. It does seem odd, though, to trade a slice of pizza per month to go ad free on a built-in Microsoft Windows service that is available with a free upgrade. But perhaps classic default computer games like Solitaire and Minesweeper just don’t hold that special place in our hearts anymore.
“As a kid I eagerly searched every computer I could get my hands on for the included games, unearthing gems like Ski Free, Full Tilt Pinball and Minesweeper, some of which have endured more than others,” Rougeau said. “But what kid today would do the same? They all have thousands of games at their fingertips every time they pick up an iPad, or whatever. I think the market for Solitaire and whatever other free games come with Windows these days is adults, and I'm not sure those adults care all that much one way or the other.”
Developer(s) | Arkadium, Microsoft Studios |
---|---|
Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
Replaces | Solitaire, FreeCell, Spider Solitaire |
Type | Video game |
Website | www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9wzdncrfhwd2 |
Microsoft Solitaire Collection is a video game included with Windows 10. It replaces Solitaire, FreeCell and Spider Solitaire included with the previous versions of Windows. It also adds Pyramid and TriPeaks to Windows for the first time and introduces new daily challenges and themes. (An older version of Pyramid was previously bundled in Microsoft Entertainment Pack 2 under the name 'Tut's Tomb', and an older version of TriPeaks was previously bundled in Microsoft Entertainment Pack 3; both made the cut for Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack.) Unlike the games included in Windows 7 and earlier versions, Microsoft Solitaire Collection is freemiumadware[1] with Xbox Live integration. The app's hub-based design was originally inspired by the design for Windows 8's Start screen in 2012. At the time, the developers considered the game a tool for helping users become more familiar with Windows 8.[2] Unlike its predecessors, Microsoft Solitaire Collection is updated from Windows Store and communicates with a Microsoft server in order to track achievements and offer daily challenges.
Overview[edit]
The software, designed by Microsoft Studios and developed by Arkadium, includes Klondike (classic Solitaire), Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, and TriPeaks game modes, as well as daily challenges. The default theme is similar to the default theme for card games in Windows Vista and 7, but the other themes are different. It is also possible for users to create their own custom themes. Other new features include in-game music, cloud syncing, and Xbox Live integration. The hidden debug menu from classic card apps is no longer present,[3] and the drop-down menus have been replaced with a universal hamburger menu and in-game hint and undo buttons at the bottom of the screen. (The Windows 8 version used the hidden Charms bar instead of the visible hamburger menu.)
When a player wins a game, the game will randomly select a card animation based on animations from previous versions of Windows card games. The app has a dedicated page for statistics on Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, TriPeaks, Daily Challenge, and Star Club.
Microsoft Solitaire Collection was first made available for download in Windows 8. Despite solitaire games previously being included in Windows for free since 1990,[4] they were not included in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 and were uninstalled during upgrades from previous systems.[5] Instead, Microsoft produced the advertising-supported[1]Microsoft Solitaire Collection that users could download through the Windows Store. As a Windows Runtime app, it ran in fullscreen or in Windows 8's snapped mode, so it was designed to run in a variety of horizontal sizes but always stretch vertically across the entire screen.
The Windows 10 version was introduced to Windows 10 beta testers preinstalled with the system in build 10061, in time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Microsoft Solitaire. Some customization features were not included until after the initial public release of Windows 10. The developers noted the delay was due to major code changes that happened during the development of Windows 10. The Windows 10 version was designed to scale dynamically both vertically and horizontally. The main page's layout was rearranged to use vertical scrolling rather than horizontal scrolling.[2]
Since the original 'Microsoft Solitaire' was Klondike solitaire but did not use the Klondike branding, some users were unaware it was Klondike. The Microsoft Casual Games team reportedly received frequent feedback to 'Bring back the game mode from Windows 7' even though they already did. To address user confusion and help users find this game, the developers replaced the large polar bear on the Klondike tile with a Klondike deck and the words 'Classic Solitaire'.[6]
Microsoft Solitaire Collection was made available for iOS and Android in August 2016 to beta testers in the Microsoft Casual Games Inner Circle.[7][8] It was made publicly available on these platforms on November 23, 2016. Most iOS solitaire apps are integrated with Apple's Game Center, but this one is exclusively integrated into Microsoft's ecosystem. Since these versions integrate directly with the cloud service, it is not necessary to have the Xbox app installed on an iOS or Android device in order to sync data and achievements.[9][8]
On the same day, a news bulletin launched from the app into a web browser announced that the Events feature would be publicly available in December 2016.[10]
Advertisement controversy[edit]
The 5 basic game modes contain ads, displayed at the end of each game, and there are new features added in Windows 8 (Daily Challenges and Star Club) where users will see interstitial video ads roughly every 15 minutes, but only between games. Users can optionally pay $1.49/month or $10/year to get the Premium Edition of the game, which removes all advertisements, gives double coins for completing Daily Challenges, and gives some bonuses in the basic TriPeaks and Pyramid game modes.[11] Users who downloaded the iOS or Android app between November 23 and December 31, 2016 were given a month of Premium on that iOS or Android device.[9]
Gizmodo characterized the change as a way to 'nickel and dime' users, writing that 'something which used to come on your PC for free is now corrupted by ad buys.'[12]PC Gamer wrote: 'The ads in question aren't small banners that appear at the bottom of the screen while you play. They run over the full Solitaire window, some for 15 seconds and some for 30 seconds, and while they don't seem to pop up very often .. they can't be aborted.'[13]The Telegraph wrote that users are in 'disbelief' that they would have to pay to play a game without being 'interrupted by a slew of adverts.'[14]Rock, Paper, Shotgun said that the changes are a 'particularly heartbreaking sign of the times' and that some users would find it 'profoundly sinister' that 'a large corporation is gathering and storing vast amounts of data on your computing habits, and not simply what you do in a browser.'[15]
There are also in-app links to play or download other Microsoft-branded games, including Microsoft Mahjong and Microsoft Minesweeper.[16]
References[edit]
- ^ abKingsley-Hughes, Adrian (28 July 2015). 'Want to remove the ads from Solitaire in Windows 10? That'll be $1.49 a month'. ZDNet. CBS Interactive.
- ^ ab'Evolving Solitaire - Microsoft Casual Games'. 3 December 2015.
- ^'Enable Hidden Secret 'Debug' Menu in Microsoft 'Solitaire' Game in Windows Vista and 7 - AskVG'.
- ^Callaham, John (31 July 2015). 'Here's what Microsoft says about Windows 10's version of Solitaire and its ad-supported model'. Windows Central. Mobile Nations.
- ^Kamen, Matt (30 July 2015). 'Windows 10 makes you pay to remove ads from Solitaire'. Wired UK. Condé Nast.
- ^'Classic or Klondike? - Microsoft Casual Games'. 16 November 2015.
- ^'Microsoft Solitaire Collection coming to iOS and Android devices - On MSFT'. 24 August 2016.
- ^ ab'Microsoft Solitaire Collection is coming to Android and iOS - MSPoweruser'. 23 August 2016.
- ^ abJensen, Paul; Manager, Studio; Games, Microsoft Casual. 'World's Most Popular Solitaire Game Now Available on iOS and Android'.
- ^'News'.
- ^Luckerson, Victor (29 July 2015). 'Windows 10 Solitaire Costs $9.99 a Year'. Time. Time Inc.
- ^Walker, Alissa (29 July 2015). 'If You Want Microsoft Solitaire Ad-Free It'll Cost You $10/Year'. Gizmodo. Gawker Media.
- ^Chalk, Andy (29 July 2015). 'Windows 10 Solitaire requires a subscription to remove ads'. PC Gamer. Future plc.
- ^Ward, Victoria (31 July 2015). 'Windows 10: Now you have to pay to play Solitaire'. telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph Media Group.
- ^Meer, Alec (30 July 2015). 'Windows 10 Is Spying On You: Here's How To Stop It'. Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Rock Paper Shotgun Ltd.
- ^'Microsoft Solitaire Collection – Games on Microsoft Store'.
External links[edit]
Where Did Microsoft Solitaire Gold
- Microsoft Solitaire Collection on Windows Store
- Microsoft Solitaire Collection on MSN Games
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Microsoft_Solitaire_Collection&oldid=892799389'
The classic desktop versions of Solitaire and Minesweeper are gone in Windows 8 and 10. Instead, you’ll find shiny new versions with advertisements, Xbox integration, and optional subscription fees. But you can still play Solitaire and Minesweeper without ads, and without paying a cent.
How to Launch Solitaire on Windows 10
Solitaire is installed by default on Windows 10. You can just open the Start menu and launch the “Microsoft Solitaire Collection” application to open it.
If the Microsoft Solitaire Collection isn’t installed—perhaps you’ve uninstalled it in the past—you can get it from the Windows Store.
How to Get Minesweeper on Windows 10
Microsoft Minesweeper isn’t installed by default on Windows 10, but it’s available for free. To install Minesweeper, launch the “Store” application and search for “Minesweeper”. Click the “Microsoft Minesweeper” tile and click “Install” to install it.
You can also click here to go straight to Microsoft Minesweeper on the Windows Store.
Once it’s installed, you can launch Microsoft Minesweeper from your Start menu.
On Windows 8, neither Solitaire nor Minesweeper are installed by default. You’ll need to open the Store and search for Solitaire and Minesweeper to install the Microsoft Solitaire Collection and Microsoft Minesweeper applications.
How Solitaire and Minesweeper Are Different on Windows 8 and 10
Whether you like the new games depends what you’re looking for. The good news is that they’re more shiny and polished than the old Solitaire and Minesweeper games.
The Microsoft Solitaire Collection includes quite a few different games—Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, and TriPeaks. Klondike is the classic, default solitaire experience you’re probably familiar with from previous versions of Windows.
You can choose “solvable decks” of different difficulty levels—decks guaranteed to be solvable so you don’t get stuck and have to restart—or use a traditional, randomly shuffled deck.
The Microsoft Solitaire Collection offers daily challenges you can compete in to earn badges. You’ll be given a specific game and deck and asked to perform a specific task. You’ll also find events, which are a series of challenges. You can choose different themes to customize your deck and gameplay area.
Original Microsoft Solitaire Free Download
In Microsoft Minesweeper, you can choose a traditional board of an easy, medium, expert, or custom size. This game also offers daily challenges made up of pre-made boards of various difficulties. Challenges may ask you to mark the location of 10 mines with flags, for example, or detonate a specific number of mines within a certain number of moves.
Microsoft Minesweeper also has an “Adventure” mode where you try to reach the exit of a dungeon while avoiding traps and monsters and collecting gold. You have to find and avoid traps by using numbers on the floor. That part works just like traditional minesweeper.
RELATED:The Best Xbox Features in Windows 10 (Even If You Don’t Own an Xbox)
These games are integrated with MIcrosoft’s Xbox Live, so you’ll earn Xbox achievements by playing Solitiare and Minesweeper, too.
If you like the new Solitaire and Minesweeper games, check out Microsoft Mahjong. It’s a similar game, complete with daily challenges and a variety of puzzles and themes to choose from. Like Minesweeper, it’s available as a free download in the Windows Store.
RELATED:How to Disable All of Windows 10’s Built-in Advertising
For all the pretty features these games offer, they have built-in advertising and require separate yearly subscription fees to play without ads. Currently, the Microsoft Solitaire collection costs $15 per year, Microsoft Minesweeper costs $10 per year, and Microsoft Mahjong costs $10 per year. These are separate fees. So, to play all three games without ads, you’ll need to pay $35 per year.
Solitaire has actually gotten more expensive over time, too. When Windows 10 launched, Microsoft was only charging $10 per year for ad-free Solitaire.
Worst of all, we’ve seen 30-second video advertisements in these applications. That’s a deal-breaker for time-wasting games you may want to play in short bursts.
You don’t need to pay, however—if you don’t mind looking at the ads, you can play all you want for free by playing different versions of Solitaire and Minesweeper.
How to Play Solitaire and Minesweeper Without Ads
RELATED:You Don’t Have to Pay $20 a Year for Solitaire and Minesweeper on Windows 10
Microsoft Solitaire Collection
There are some great ad-free alternatives to Microsoft’s new Solitaire and Minesweeper games. You don’t have to pay anything extra or look ad ads if you just want the basics.
We’ve put up completely free Solitaire and Minesweeper games on URLs that anybody can access in a desktop browser. And there are no ads.
Google now offers an ad-free solitaire game, too. Just search for “solitaire” on Google and you’ll see a Solitaire game you can play right on Google’s search results page.