Microsoft Entertainment Pack

"Pegged" redirects here. For other uses, see Peg (disambiguation).

Microsoft Entertainment Pack
Cover art for Pack 1
Developer(s)Microsoft
Publisher(s)Microsoft
Designer(s)Robert Andrews
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Game Boy Color
Release1990 (Pack 1)
1991 (Pack 2)
1991 (Pack 3)
1992 (Pack 4)
1994 (The Best of)
May 30, 2001 (GBC)[1]
Genre(s)Various
Mode(s)Single-player

Microsoft Entertainment Pack, also known as Windows Entertainment Pack[2] or simply WEP, is a collection of 16-bit casual computer games for Windows. There were four Entertainment Packs released between 1990 and 1992. These games were somewhat unusual for the time, in that they would not run under MS-DOS. In 1994, a compilation of the previous four Entertainment Packs were released called The Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack. A Game Boy Color version was released in 2001.

Microsoft advertised Entertainment Packs for casual gaming on office computers. The boxes had slogans like "No more boring coffee breaks" and "Only a few minutes between meetings? Get in a quick game of Klotski". The marketing succeeded; Computer Gaming World in 1992 described the series as "the Gorillas of the Gaming Lite Jungle", with more than 500,000 copies sold.[3]

Minesweeper from pack 1 was later bundled with Windows 3.1, and FreeCell was included in Windows 95. WinChess and Taipei, both written by David Norris,[4] received remakes in Windows Vista, called Chess Titans and Mahjong Titans, respectively. Mahjong Titans was replaced with Microsoft Mahjong in Windows 8. Microsoft Solitaire Collection also includes versions of Tut's Tomb (as Pyramid) and TriPeaks.

List of games

Microsoft Entertainment Pack 1

Microsoft Entertainment Pack 2

Microsoft Entertainment Pack 3

Microsoft Entertainment Pack 4

The Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack

The Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack is a collection of 13 games from previous Entertainment Packs. A Game Boy Color version was released in June 2001 in North America and August 2001 in Europe.[6][7] It was developed by Saffire and published by Classified Games in North America and Cryo Interactive in Europe.

Development

Microsoft Entertainment Pack was designed by the company's “Entry Business” team, whose job was to make Windows more appealing to homes and small businesses. Ex-Microsoft product manager Bruce Ryan said the company did this because it "was concerned that the operating system’s high hardware requirements meant that people would only see it as a tool for large enterprises".[8] The project had "almost no budget", and no major video game publishers got involved because they doubted Windows' legitimacy as a gaming platform; therefore Ryan compiled a series of games that Windows employees had been working on in their spare time.[8] According to Microsoft FreeCell developer Jim Horne, the packs were not copy protected so customers could distribute copies to friends, to encourage using Windows for games. As payment, each author received ten shares of Microsoft stock.[9]

For much of the early 1990s, the Gamesampler, a subset of the Entertainment Pack small enough to fit on a single high-density disk, was shipped as a free eleventh disk added to a ten-pack of Verbatim blank 3.5" microfloppy diskettes. Games on the sampler included Jezzball, Rodent's Revenge, Tetris, and Skifree. A "Best of" disk of several of the games was also available at times as a mail-in premium from Kellogg's cereals.[10]

All games being 16-bit run on modern 32-bit versions of Windows but not on 64-bit Windows. Support for all versions of Microsoft Entertainment Pack ended on January 31, 2003.

In the copies of Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 source code which leaked in 2004, there are 32-bit versions of Cruel, Golf, Pegged, Reversi, Snake (Rattler Race), Taipei and TicTactics.[11] However, FreeCell and Minesweeper have had official 32-bit versions bundled even with early versions of Windows NT.[12][13] The original game developers of some of the games such as SkiFree,[14] TriPeaks,[15] and WordZap[16] now offer 32-bit versions. Third-party developers have also created 32-bit freeware clones of Klotski,[17][18] TetraVex,[19] Rodent's Revenge,[20] Tetris,[21] and Taipei.[22]

Reception

Digital Trends noted, "For many, the simple but enjoyable games found in the Entertainment Pack provided a first taste of early PC gaming and served as a gateway to more complex classics."[23] PC World described the pack as having "standout time-wasters".[24]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Included in Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack
  2. ^ a b c Bundled in some later versions of Windows

References

  1. ^ "EBgames.com - Game Boy Advance". June 4, 2001. Archived from the original on June 4, 2001. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Simon, Barry (April 14, 1992). "Windows: It's a Fun Place to Mouse Around". PC Mag. 11 (7): 477–478. ISSN 0888-8507. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  3. ^ "Welcome To Gaming Lite". Computer Gaming World. September 1992. p. 74. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  4. ^ "Chessprogramming - Ziggurat". Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  5. ^ Horne, Jim (September 12, 1991). "Life Genesis (Game of Life)". Microsoft Corp. Retrieved June 12, 2022 – via Internet Archive. The object of the Game of Life is to remove all the red cells from the grid. The computer will try to remove all the blue squares. You and the computer take turns adding and deleting cells.
  6. ^ "Microsoft: The Best of Entertainment Pack preview". IGN. Ziff Davis. June 9, 2000. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  7. ^ "Microsoft: The Best of Entertainment Pack – Release Details". GameFAQs. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Weinburger, Matt (August 18, 2015). "Bill Gates was so addicted to Minesweeper, he used to sneak into a colleague's office after work to play". Business Insider Australia.
  9. ^ Dear, Brian (2017). "27. Leaving the Nest". The Friendly Orange Glow. New York: Pantheon Books. pp. 502–503. ISBN 9781101871560.
  10. ^ Vincent, Brittany (April 6, 2018). "Remembering SkiFree, and the Yeti that still haunts our dreams". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  11. ^ "We Are Morons: a quick look at the Win2k source". Kuro5hin.org. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2012. Alt URL
  12. ^ Petreley, Nicholas; Durlester, Nancy; Wonnacott, Laura (September 6, 1993). "Windows NT Advanced Server comes with a net hide-and seek game". InfoWorld. 15 (36): 67. ISSN 0199-6649. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  13. ^ Norton, Peter; Kent, Peter (October 26, 1993). Peter Norton's Window's NT Tips and Tricks. Random House Electronic Publishing. p. 357. ISBN 978-0-679-79200-0. Retrieved June 19, 2022. In addition to Minesweeper and Solitaire - games with which you may be familiar from Windows 3.1 - NT also has FreeCell ( in the Games program group ).
  14. ^ Chris (February 10, 2010). "The most officialest SkiFree homepage". Ski.ihoc.net. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  15. ^ "TriPeaks Homepage". Rhogue.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  16. ^ "Classic WordZap". Wordzap.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  17. ^ "Klotski homepage". Phil.freehackers.org. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  18. ^ "GitHub page for Klotski". Phillippe Fremy. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "Tetravex Game in Delphi". Delphi.about.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  20. ^ "Rodent's Revenge 2000". August 22, 2007. Archived from the original on August 22, 2007. Retrieved January 6, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ "CrystalOffice Games". Crystaloffice.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  22. ^ "Taipei". github.com. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  23. ^ Jones, Brad (May 21, 2015). "Looking back on your favorite Windows time wasters with the guys who made them". Digital Trends.
  24. ^ Dingman, Hayden (April 20, 2015). "Classic puzzler Chip's Challenge and an unreleased sequel hitting Steam in May". PC World.

Read other articles:

Fredy Guarín

Fredy Guarín Guarín el 2011BiografiaNaixementFredy Alejandro Guarín Vásquez30 de juny de 1986 (1986-06-30) (37 anys)Puerto Boyacá (Colòmbia) Dades personalsAlçada1,87 mActivitatOcupaciófutbolista Activitat2002  –Nacionalitat esportivaColòmbia Esportfutbol Posició a l'equipMigcampistaClub actualMillonarios FCNúm. esportiu13Clubs juvenilsAnys Equip 2002–2004 EnvigadoClubs professionalsAnys Equip PJ (g)2002 Atlético Huila 5 (0)2003–2007 Envigado FC 38 (4)2005...

 

 

Daftar Menteri Perkebunan Indonesia

Menteri PerkebunanBekas jabatan politikFrans Seda, Menteri Perkebunan PertamaPejabat pertamaFrans SedaPejabat terakhirThojib HadiwidjajaPelantikPresiden IndonesiaJabatan dimulai3 Juni 1964Jabatan berakhir6 Juni 1968Jabatan penggantiMenteri Kehutanan Indonesia Berikut berisi daftar orang yang pernah menjabat sebagai Menteri Perkebunan Indonesia sejak dibentuknya sampai digabung dengan Menteri Kehutanan. No Menteri Kabinet Dari Sampai Keterangan 1 Frans Seda Kerja IV 3 Juni 1964 27 Agustus 1964...

 

 

دوغلاس آدمز

دوغلاس آدمز (بالإنجليزية: Douglas Adams)‏    معلومات شخصية اسم الولادة (بالإنجليزية: Douglas Noël Adams)‏[1]  الميلاد 11 مارس 1952[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]  كامبريدج[2][9][10]  الوفاة 11 مايو 2001 (49 سنة) [2][3][11][4][12][13][6]  س�...

List of people from Hayward, California

This is a list of people from Hayward, California. People from Hayward who are strongly associated with the city include founder William Dutton Hayward, and the Ukrainian patriot and Greek Orthodox priest Agapius Honcharenko, who created a farm whose location is now a historic landmark. High-profile people from Hayward include football coach Bill Walsh, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, wrestler and film star Dwayne Johnson, and Treasurer of the United States Rosa Gumataotao Rios. Charles Plum...

 

 

Assemblée des départements de France

Pour les articles homonymes, voir ADF. Assemblée des départements de France Cadre But Défense de l'intérêt des départements Zone d’influence France Fondation Fondation 11 septembre 1946 Fondateur Aimé Malécot, Loire, président fondateur Identité Siège Paris (Île-de-France) Président François Sauvadet[1] Vice-présidents Martine Vassal, Première Vice-Présidente - Bouches du Rhône Frédéric Bierry, Vice-Président, Président de la commission Solidarité, santé et travail ...

 

 

Herbert Heidenreich

Questa voce sull'argomento calciatori tedeschi è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedia. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Herbert Heidenreich Nazionalità  Germania Calcio Ruolo Centrocampista Termine carriera 1986 Carriera Squadre di club1 1973-1976 Bayreuth86 (15)1976-1977 Borussia M'gladbach25 (2)1977-1978 TeBe Berlino23 (4)1978-1984 Norimberga171 (26)1984-1985 Bayreuth? (?)1985-1986 VfB Coburg? ...

Unione Sportiva Pergocrema 1932 2008-2009

Questa voce sull'argomento stagioni delle società calcistiche italiane è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedia. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Voce principale: Unione Sportiva Pergolettese 1932. Unione Sportiva PergocremaStagione 2008-2009Sport calcio Squadra Pergocrema Allenatore Daniele Fortunato poi Oscar Piantoni Presidente Stefano Bergamelli Lega Pro Prima Divisione11º posto nel girone A. Maggiori presenzeCampiona...

 

 

Drenthe

Provincie Drenthe Provinsi Drenthe Bendera Lambang Map: Provinsi Drenthe di Belanda Ibu kota Assen Kota besar Assen Komisaris Raja Jetta Klijnsma (PvdA) Agama (2015) Protestan 28% Katolik 9% Muslim 1% ireligius 62% Luas • Darat • Air  2,633 km² (ke-7)48 km² Populasi (2023) • Total • Kepadatan 502,000 (ke-10)191/km² (ke-12) Inclusion 1796 Lagu kebangsaan Mijn Drenthe ISO NL-DR Situs Web Resmi www.drenthe.nl Peta Drenthe Drenthe (pengucapanⓘ...

 

 

Sharon Runner

American politician Sharon RunnerRunner in 2007Member of the California State SenateIn officeMarch 19, 2015 – July 14, 2016Preceded bySteve KnightSucceeded byScott WilkConstituency21st districtIn officeFebruary 18, 2011 – December 3, 2012Preceded byGeorge RunnerSucceeded byBill Monning (redistricted)Constituency17th districtMember of the California State Assemblyfrom the 36th districtIn officeDecember 2, 2002 – November 30, 2008Preceded byGeorge RunnerSucceede...

哈萨克斯坦总统

此条目序言章节没有充分总结全文内容要点。 (2019年3月21日)请考虑扩充序言，清晰概述条目所有重點。请在条目的讨论页讨论此问题。 哈萨克斯坦總統哈薩克總統旗現任Қасым-Жомарт Кемелұлы Тоқаев卡瑟姆若马尔特·托卡耶夫自2019年3月20日在任任期7年首任努尔苏丹·纳扎尔巴耶夫设立1990年4月24日（哈薩克蘇維埃社會主義共和國總統） 哈萨克斯坦 哈萨克斯坦政府...

 

 

Ma and Pa Kettle

Fictional characters Fictional character Ma and Pa KettleFirst appearanceThe Egg and I (book)The Egg and I (film)Created byBetty MacDonaldPortrayed byMarjorie Main (as Ma)Percy Kilbride (as Pa)In-universe informationFilmsMa and Pa KettleMa and Pa Kettle Go to TownMa and Pa Kettle Back on the FarmMa and Pa Kettle at the FairMa and Pa Kettle on VacationMa and Pa Kettle at HomeMa and Pa Kettle at WaikikiThe Kettles in the OzarksThe Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm Ma and Pa Kettle are comic film ...

 

 

Velenje

Disambiguazione – Se stai cercando il comune di Velenje, ente amministrativo in cui ricade la città omonima, vedi Velenje (comune). Velenjecittà(SL) Velenje Velenje – VedutaCastello di Velenje LocalizzazioneStato Slovenia Regione statisticaSavinjska ComuneVelenje (comune) TerritorioCoordinate46°21′45″N 15°06′52″E46°21′45″N, 15°06′52″E (Velenje) Altitudine400 e 391 m s.l.m. Superficie12,6 km² Abitanti32 959 (2018) Densità2 615,79 ab....

List of MPs elected in the 2015 United Kingdom general election

2015–2017 Parliament of the United Kingdom ←2010–2015 Parliament 2017–2019 Parliament→Palace of Westminster in 2016OverviewLegislative bodyParliament of the United KingdomTerm27 May 2015 – 3 May 2017Election2015 United Kingdom general electionGovernmentSecond Cameron ministry (until 13 July 2016)First May ministry (from 13 July 2016)House of CommonsMembers650SpeakerJohn BercowLeaderDavid Lidington— Chris Grayling – until 14 July 2016Prime MinisterTheresa May...

 

 

Sullivan Act

New York state lawSullivan ActNew York State LegislatureFull nameAN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the sale and carrying of dangerous weaponsSenate votedMay 10, 1911Signed into lawMay 25, 1911Sponsor(s)Sen. Timothy SullivanGovernorJohn Alden DixWebsitehdl.handle.netStatus: Partially struck down (New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen)Firearm legal topics of theUnited States Amendment II Assault weapon Assault weapons legislation Bipartisan Safer Communities A...

 

 

Michigan State Spartans baseball

Baseball team of Michigan State University Michigan State Spartans 2024 Michigan State Spartans baseball teamFounded1884 (1884)UniversityMichigan State UniversityHead coachJake Boss (16th season)ConferenceBig TenLocationEast Lansing, MichiganHome stadiumDrayton McLane Baseball Stadium at John H. Kobs Field (Capacity: 4,000)NicknameSpartansColorsGreen and white[1]   College World Series appearances1954NCAA Tournament appearances1954, 1971, 1978, 1979, 2012...

Hulchul (2019 film)

2019 Indian filmHulchulFilm posterDirected bySripathi KarriWritten bySripathi KarriProduced byGanesh KolluriStarringRudraksh UtkamDhanya BalakrishnaCinematographyRaj ThotaEdited byPrawin PudiMusic byBharath MadhusuhananProductioncompanySri Raghavendra Art CreationsRelease date 13 December 2019 (2019-12-13) Running time111 minutesCountryIndiaLanguageTelugu Hulchul is a 2019 Indian Telugu-language comedy thriller film starring newcomer Rudraksh Utkam and Dhanya Balakrishna. The ...

 

 

Attore

Disambiguazione – Se stai cercando altri significati, vedi Attore (disambigua). Questa voce o sezione sugli argomenti teatro e terminologia cinematografica non cita le fonti necessarie o quelle presenti sono insufficienti. Puoi migliorare questa voce aggiungendo citazioni da fonti attendibili secondo le linee guida sull'uso delle fonti. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Attori della Comédie-Française Un attore è chi rappresenta o interpreta una parte o un ruolo in u...

 

 

三方郡

「美方郡」とは異なります。 令制国一覧 > 北陸道 > 若狭国 > 三方郡 日本 > 中部地方 > 福井県 > 三方郡 福井県三方郡の位置（緑：美浜町 黄：明治期 薄黄：後に他郡に編入された区域） 三方郡（みかたぐん）は、福井県（若狭国）の郡。若東（じゃくとう）とも呼ばれる。 人口8,584人、面積152.38km²、人口密度56.3人/km²。（2024年...

Bicicletta da corsa

Questa voce o sezione sull'argomento ciclismo non cita le fonti necessarie o quelle presenti sono insufficienti. Puoi migliorare questa voce aggiungendo citazioni da fonti attendibili secondo le linee guida sull'uso delle fonti. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Una bicicletta da corsa moderna della Pinarello. La bicicletta da corsa è un tipo di bicicletta progettata per il ciclismo su strada, secondo le regole stabilite dall'Unione Ciclistica Internazionale (UCI[1&...

 

 

قالب:بطاقة منظمة

توثيق القالب[عرض] [عدّل] [تاريخ] [محو الاختزان] [استخدامات] هذا القالب يستعمل لوا: وحدة:بطاقة/قالب/منظمة استعمال وصف لصيغة هذا القالب ووسائطه بالتعديل النصي بالتعديل المرئي اضغط على الوصلة « تعديل » ثم ادرج هذه الصيغة : {{بطاقة منظمة | اسم = | اسم_رس�...