Difference between revisions of "Minesweeper (Microsoft)"

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[[Image:Minesweeper - WIN3 - Screenshot - Intermediate - Solved.png|thumb|256x256px|Solving ''Minesweeper''.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Minesweeper
 +
| Image           = Minesweeper - WIN3 - Screenshot - Intermediate - Solved.png
 +
| ImageDescription = Windows 3 - Screenshot - Solved.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Microsoft}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Microsoft}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1990
 +
| PublishedMonth  = ??
 +
| PublishedDay    = ??
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|Windows}}, {{Platform|Windows 3}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Passive puzzle video game|Passive puzzle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Puzzle video game|Puzzle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Single-screen video game|Single-screen}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|War}}
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
'''''Minesweeper''''' is a [[puzzle video game]] developed by [[Robert Donner]] and [[Curt Johnson]] and first published by [[Microsoft]] in their ''[[Microsoft Entertainment Pack For Windows]]'' for [[Windows 3]] in 1990. The game's formula is based on various similar grid-based logic puzzles that have been in existence since the 1960s, probably the most influential was ''[[Relentless Logic]]'', although Microsoft's ''Minesweeper'' appears to be the first of its kind to follow this specific style and layout, and is certainly the most well known.
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'''''Minesweeper''''' is a [[puzzle video game]] developed by [[Robert Donner]] and [[Curt Johnson]] and first published by [[Microsoft]] in their ''[[Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows]]'' for [[Windows 3]] in 1990. The game's formula is based on various similar grid-based logic puzzles that have been in existence since the 1960s, probably the most influential was ''[[Relentless Logic]]'', although Microsoft's ''Minesweeper'' appears to be the first of its kind to follow this specific style and layout, and is certainly the most well known.
  
 
''Minesweeper'' was later bundled in Windows 3.1 and every subsequent version of [[Windows]] thereafter. The game was mostly unchanged from its original version until [[Windows Vista]] where it saw a media overhaul increasing the quality of its graphics and sound and converting the bitmap graphics to vectors rendered as bitmaps.
 
''Minesweeper'' was later bundled in Windows 3.1 and every subsequent version of [[Windows]] thereafter. The game was mostly unchanged from its original version until [[Windows Vista]] where it saw a media overhaul increasing the quality of its graphics and sound and converting the bitmap graphics to vectors rendered as bitmaps.
  
 
==Personal==
 
==Personal==
 +
{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      = Yes. I own several versions of Windows, so I also own several versions of the game.
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes. All difficulty levels.
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished = 2000s.
 +
}}
 +
 
I first played ''Minesweeper'' on my family's Packard Bell 386SX in 1991. The PC was a showroom floor model and it came with demo software including the first ''Entertainment Pack''. I ignored the game for awhile because I kept triggering mines, not yet knowing what the numbers meant. When my curiosity was finally piqued, I read the help document and finally understood the game. I beat the beginner and intermediate difficulties fairly easily, but never had the patience to beat the expert level. I did have fun for a short while playing with the custom dialog and making a huge level with the minimum amount of mines (this actually helped me understand how the game worked). I have since figured out the logic behind the game better and can beat expert mode. However, that has caused me to lose interest in the game since the harder levels usually result in a handful of probability guesses.
 
I first played ''Minesweeper'' on my family's Packard Bell 386SX in 1991. The PC was a showroom floor model and it came with demo software including the first ''Entertainment Pack''. I ignored the game for awhile because I kept triggering mines, not yet knowing what the numbers meant. When my curiosity was finally piqued, I read the help document and finally understood the game. I beat the beginner and intermediate difficulties fairly easily, but never had the patience to beat the expert level. I did have fun for a short while playing with the custom dialog and making a huge level with the minimum amount of mines (this actually helped me understand how the game worked). I have since figured out the logic behind the game better and can beat expert mode. However, that has caused me to lose interest in the game since the harder levels usually result in a handful of probability guesses.
 
==Status==
 
I own several versions of Windows, so I also own several versions of the game. I have beaten all difficulty levels.
 
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
* '''Overall:''' 3/10
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{{Video Game Review|4|5|2|1|7|Windows}}
* '''Best Version:''' Windows XP
 
  
 
{{Spoilers}}
 
{{Spoilers}}
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Minesweeper - WIN3 - Screenshot - Intermediate - Solved.png|Intermediate solved.
 
Minesweeper - WIN3 - Screenshot - Intermediate - Solved.png|Intermediate solved.
 
Minesweeper - WIN3 - Screenshot - Expert - Failed.png|Expert failed.
 
Minesweeper - WIN3 - Screenshot - Expert - Failed.png|Expert failed.
Minesweeper - WIN3 - Screenshot - About.png|About dialog.
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Minesweeper - WIN3 - Screenshot - About.png|The original About dialog.
 
Minesweeper - WIN7 - Screenshot - Expert.png|Windows 7 - expert size.
 
Minesweeper - WIN7 - Screenshot - Expert.png|Windows 7 - expert size.
 
Minesweeper - WIN7 - Screenshot - Animation.png|Windows 7 - failed animation.
 
Minesweeper - WIN7 - Screenshot - Animation.png|Windows 7 - failed animation.
Line 54: Line 71:
  
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
{{#ev:youtube|R6C_TZHDXCw|256|inline|Strategy.|frame}}
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{{YouTube|R6C_TZHDXCw|Strategy.}}
{{#ev:youtube|cGUHehFGqBc|256|inline|Minesweeper AI.|frame}}
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{{YouTube|cGUHehFGqBc|Minesweeper AI.}}
{{#ev:youtube|LVwefVr6Jog|256|inline|Review - Random flaw.|frame}}
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{{YouTube|LVwefVr6Jog|Review - [[Pseudorandomness|Random]] flaw.}}
 +
 
 +
==Play Online==
 +
{{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/win3x-minesweeper.html|Windows 3}}
 +
 
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = There are no characters.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = There are no characters.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Fail
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = There are no characters.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no characters.
 +
}}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
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[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: 1990 Video Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Puzzle]]
 
[[Category: Windows Games]]
 
[[Category: Windows 3 Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Board Games]]
 
[[Category: Board Games]]
[[Category: Casual Games]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
 
[[Category: Single-Screen]]
 
 
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]

Latest revision as of 09:15, 15 March 2024

Minesweeper

Minesweeper - WIN3 - Screenshot - Intermediate - Solved.png

Windows 3 - Screenshot - Solved.

Developer Microsoft
Publisher Microsoft
Published 1990-??-??
Platforms Windows, Windows 3
Genres Passive puzzle, Puzzle, Single-screen
Themes War
Distribution Commercial

Minesweeper is a puzzle video game developed by Robert Donner and Curt Johnson and first published by Microsoft in their Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows for Windows 3 in 1990. The game's formula is based on various similar grid-based logic puzzles that have been in existence since the 1960s, probably the most influential was Relentless Logic, although Microsoft's Minesweeper appears to be the first of its kind to follow this specific style and layout, and is certainly the most well known.

Minesweeper was later bundled in Windows 3.1 and every subsequent version of Windows thereafter. The game was mostly unchanged from its original version until Windows Vista where it saw a media overhaul increasing the quality of its graphics and sound and converting the bitmap graphics to vectors rendered as bitmaps.

Personal

Own?Yes. I own several versions of Windows, so I also own several versions of the game.
Won?Yes. All difficulty levels.
Finished2000s.

I first played Minesweeper on my family's Packard Bell 386SX in 1991. The PC was a showroom floor model and it came with demo software including the first Entertainment Pack. I ignored the game for awhile because I kept triggering mines, not yet knowing what the numbers meant. When my curiosity was finally piqued, I read the help document and finally understood the game. I beat the beginner and intermediate difficulties fairly easily, but never had the patience to beat the expert level. I did have fun for a short while playing with the custom dialog and making a huge level with the minimum amount of mines (this actually helped me understand how the game worked). I have since figured out the logic behind the game better and can beat expert mode. However, that has caused me to lose interest in the game since the harder levels usually result in a handful of probability guesses.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
4 5 2 1 7

Best Version: Windows

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • It's a pretty competent logic puzzle game.
  • The smiley face, which looks spooked when you click and dies when you hit a mine, is a nice addition.
  • The Vista upgrade added a much needed graphical and audio boost the the game.

Bad

  • The initial release is lacking in media. There aren't any sounds or music, and only the most primitive animation.
  • No versions of the game try to eliminate the need for guessing. You will eventually encounter a setup where pure logic can't help you, and you will be forced to guess on a square. This is more common in expert difficulty.
  • Sadly, the Vista revamp eliminates the cute smiley face.

Ugly

  • Once you figure out how the game functions and beat all the difficulty levels, it quickly loses it appeal. Even if you've never played the game before, but have a logical mind, you can beat each difficulty level in a matter of minutes.

Media

Icon

Screenshots

Graphics

Videos

Strategy.
Minesweeper AI.
Review - Random flaw.

Play Online

Windows 3

Representation

Strong female character?FailThere are no characters.
Bechdel test?FailThere are no characters.
Strong person of color character?FailThere are no characters.
Queer character?FailThere are no characters.

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-TCRF.png