Microsoft Solitaire

Solitaire, also known as Microsoft Solitaire is a computer game included with Microsoft Windows, based on a card game of the same name.

Released: 1989
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Board game Card game Solitaire
Developers: Wes Cherry
Publishers: Microsoft
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Country: United States
Time to beat: 1hmain story1hwith extras1hcompletionist

About

Solitaire is a computer game included with Microsoft Windows, based on a card game of the same name, also known as Klondike. Its original version was programmed by Wes Cherry, and the cards were designed by Susan Kare. It has been called the most prolific PC game of all time due to its inclusion in Windows.

Keywords

compilation
achievements
solitaire
freeware
pixel art
digital distribution
single-player only
developed by one person
playing cards
windows store
xbox live
windows pre-installed games

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Development

Microsoft has included the game as part of its Windows product line since Windows 3.0, starting from 1990. The game was developed during the summer of 1988 by the intern Wes Cherry. The card deck itself was designed by Macintosh pioneer Susan Kare. Cherry's version was to include a boss key that would have switched the game to a fake Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, but he was asked to remove this from the final release.

Microsoft intended Solitaire "to soothe people intimidated by the operating system," and at a time when 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.