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SINCE IT WAS first included with Windows 3.0 back in 1990, Solitaire has been an integral part of Microsoft’s software.
Many were introduced to it through Windows 95 and would have spent much of their time playing it as it was easy to understand. Its inclusion was even a way for people to learn the basic actions needed to use Windows without realising it (remember this was more than 25 years ago when PCs weren’t commonplace).
What you might not know is the game was designed by a then 25-year-old intern named Wes Cherry. He originally wrote it for Windows 2.1 back in 1988 before a program manager on the Windows team decided to include it with Windows 3.0.
Despite it being featured on every version of Windows (with the exception of 8), Cherry didn’t receive any royalties from it, a story that pops up regularly.
After a Reddit thread resurrected the piece of trivia, Cherry joined in after receiving a Facebook message about it – his cider production website went down after those on the thread started visiting it – and decided to tell the story again.
“I wrote it for Windows 2.1 in my own time while an intern at Microsoft during the summer of 1988,” explained Cherry. “I had played a similar solitaire game on the Mac instead of studying for finals at college and wanted a version for myself on Windows”.
At the time there was an internal “company within a company” called Bogus software. It was really just a server where bunch of guys having fun hacking Windows to learn about the API tossed their games.
A program manager on the Windows team saw it and decided to include it in Windows 3.0. It was made clear that they wouldn’t pay me other than supplying me with an IBM XT to fix some bugs during the school year – I was perfectly fine with it and I am to this day.
He did make a version of Pipe Dream which was included in one of the Windows Entertainment packs, and was paid ” a few thousand bucks in stock” for it.
Today, the only programming he does is for embedded controllers for brewing cider, although he is reminded about a joke he made that if everyone who played the game sent him one cent, he would be rich.
A few people have paid me “a penny” as a joke. I’d get them in the mail, or in person if someone introduced me as the author of Solitaire and the obligatory no royalties conversation came up. I think I’m up to about eight cents now.
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To those who complain, “Why do we still need Pride?:
Because places like this still exist and could be a death sentence for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community.
@Honorary Derry Girl: Were there protests about the death sentence for homosexuality in many Muslim majority countries at pride? I’m all for anyone living their lives however they want free of bigots, but the failure of pride to call this out is hypocrital. Maybe they do bring it up and I’m wrong, but I’ve never seen it.
@D74Life: That’s a very good point- I agree that should be done but while we’re at it, we could also include countries right within the EU. Pride is pretty much a large positive demonstration of sexual identity but it should also be a message to the world that we’re all equal without singling out a particular religion or country. Being part of the LGBTQIA+ community can be an executable offence in Christian countries like Uganda as well as Muslim countries like Iran.
@Honorary Derry Girl: Absolutely, and it’s great to see pride highlighting Hungry. They’re not alone in Eastern Europe or Russia of course either. My point was just it’s relatively easy to have a go at European mostly white countries. Doing so about Muslim countries is something that people shy away from for fear of being called racist. Even those these countries literally kill homosexuals. I’m not having a go at pride, it’s a difficult subject. But unless it’s addressed, the accusation of hypocrisy will always be there.
@Honorary Derry Girl: Rubbish. As an old git I have know about gays since I was in high school. They are just like everyone else, free to choose their sexual partner unless it is coercive. I was taught to embrace all humanity in its many forms. Labels are not conducive to understanding.
It says a lot about their sexual insecurities and their fragile beliefs when a cartoon kiss upsets them. There is no place on this planet for unfounded hatred of others that are simply living their lives.
If you have no problem with a man kissing a woman in a Disney movie (especially unconscious women like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty) but have a problem with two girls doing the same thing, you’re a homophobic bigot.
Disney has its many issues but fair play to them for this. Yes they are hypocritical but this is a start. Hopefully they will continue with this
@HarveyLemonade: Compare that with Warners cutting a spoken reference to a same sex relationship in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore for release in China.
Ban it over a single kiss? Wtf is wrong with these countries.
It’s Cancel Culture. PC gone mad. So woke.
I never see them take issue with a straight kiss in children’s cartoons. Same with radio discussions; never a topic taking issue with straight people.
@Dean: I think your getting confused. This is right wing conservative censorship. Religious fundamentalism.
Can we not just let Children……. BE CHILDREN….FFS
@Dónal Ó Keeffe: But then they might grow up as adults who aren’t available to be bartered off for a fee to their brothers or uncles.
@Dónal Ó Keeffe: Won’t someone please think of the children!
Dónal “Helen Lovejoy” Ó Keeffe
@Dónal Ó Keeffe: and how are they not being children? Are you suggesting there’s something wrong with the movie?
@Dónal Ó Keeffe: what are you talking about???
I wonder what the anti-woke crusaders make of this. Are they still supporting fReE sPeEcH or are they now aligning their views with conservative Islam, presumably under the guise of their usual “let kids be kids” shtick?
Disney need to keep the kiss in it as in this way at least it might be watched out of curiosity. Going by the reviews, it’s the only interesting thing in the film.
Too bad, how sad. No one is forcing theatres in Malaysia to show this film. People are free to watch or not watch if they want.
have your say