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Microsoft Solitaire Collection
''Microsoft Solitaire Collection'' is a video game developed by Microsoft Casual Games and published by Xbox Game Studios for Microsoft Windows. It combines the Solitaire, FreeCell and Spider Solitaire titles that were included with previous versions of Windows. It also introduces Pyramid and TriPeaks to Windows for the first time, as well as new daily challenges and themes (though 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 ''Microsoft Entertainment Pack''). Unlike the games included in Windows 7 and earlier versions, ''Microsoft Solitaire Collection'' is freemium adware 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 fami ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Microsoft Solitaire Collection Icon
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The early 1980s and home computers, rise of personal computers through software like Windows, and the company has since expanded to Internet services, cloud computing, video gaming and other fields. Microsoft is the List of the largest software companies, largest software maker, one of the Trillion-dollar company, most valuable public U.S. companies, and one of the List of most valuable brands, most valuable brands globally. Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800. It rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s, followed by Windows. During the 41 years from 1980 to 2021 Microsoft released 9 versions of MS-DOS with a median frequen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Adware
Adware, often called advertising-supported software by its developers, is software that generates revenue by automatically displaying Online advertising, online advertisements in the user interface or on a screen presented during the installation process. The software may generate two types of revenue: one is for the display of the advertisement and another on a "pay-per-click" basis, if the user clicks on the advertisement. Some advertisements also act as spyware,FTC Report (2005). collecting and reporting data about the user, to be sold or used for targeted advertising or Profiling (information science), user profiling. The software may implement advertisements in a variety of ways, including a static box display, a banner display, a full screen, a video, a pop-up ad or in some other form. All forms of advertising carry Criticism of advertising, health, ethical, privacy and security risks for users. The 2003 ''Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security'' and some other sources use th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Windows Shell
The Windows shell is the graphical user interface for the Microsoft Windows operating system. Its readily identifiable elements consist of the desktop, the taskbar, the Start menu, the task switcher and the AutoPlay feature. On some versions of Windows, it also includes Flip 3D and the charms. In Windows 10, the Windows Shell Experience Host interface drives visuals like the Start Menu, Action Center, Taskbar, and Task View/Timeline. However, the Windows shell also implements a shell namespace that enables computer programs running on Windows to access the computer's resources via the hierarchy of shell objects. "Desktop" is the top object of the hierarchy; below it there are a number of files and folders stored on the disk, as well as a number of special folders whose contents are either virtual or dynamically created. Recycle Bin (Windows), Recycle Bin, Features new to Windows 7#Libraries, Libraries, Control Panel (Windows), Control Panel, My Computer, This PC and My Network Pla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is a major release of the Windows NT operating system developed by Microsoft. It was the direct successor to Windows XP, released five years earlier, which was then the longest time span between successive releases of Microsoft Windows. It was Software release life cycle#Release to manufacturing (RTM), released to manufacturing on November 8, 2006, and over the following two months, it was released in stages to business customers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and retail channels. On January 30, 2007, it was released internationally and was made available for purchase and download from the Windows Marketplace; it is the first release of Windows to be made available through a digital distribution platform. Development of Windows Vista began in 2001 under the codename "Longhorn"; originally envisioned as a minor successor to Windows XP, it feature creep, gradually included numerous new features from the then-next major release of Windows codenamed "Blackc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
FreeCell
FreeCell is a solitaire card game played using the standard 52-card deck. It is fundamentally different from most solitaire games in that very few deals are unsolvable, and all cards are dealt face-up from the beginning of the game. Microsoft has included a FreeCell computer game with every release of the Windows operating system since 1995, which has greatly contributed to the game's popularity. Rules One standard 52-card deck is used. There are four open cells and four open foundations. Cards are dealt face-up into eight cascades, four of which comprise seven cards each and four of which comprise six cards each. The top card of each cascade begins a sequence. Tableaus must be built down by alternating colors. Foundations are built up by suit. The Foundations begin with Ace and are built up to King. Any cell card or top card of any cascade may be moved to build on a tableau, or moved to an empty cell, an empty cascade, or its foundation. The game is won after all ca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spider (solitaire)
Spider is a type of patience game, and is one of the more popular two-deck solitaire games. The game originated in 1949, and its name comes from a spider's eight legs, referencing the eight foundation piles that must be filled in order to win. Rules The main purpose of the game is to remove all cards from the table, assembling them in the tableau before removing them. Initially, 54 cards are dealt to the tableau in ten piles, face down except for the top cards. The tableau piles build down by rank, and in-suit sequences can be moved together. The 50 remaining cards can be dealt to the tableau ten at a time when none of the piles are empty. A typical Spider layout requires the use of two decks. The tableau consists of 10 stacks, with 6 cards in the first 4 stacks, with the 6th card face up, and 5 cards in the remaining 6 stacks, with the 5th card face up. Each time the stock is used, it deals out one card to each stack. Variants Given its popularity, numerous Spider variant ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Klondike (solitaire)
Klondike is a card game for one player and the best known and most popular version of the patience or solitaire family, as well as one of the most challenging in widespread play.Parlett (1979), pp. 94–95. It has spawned numerous variants including Batsford, Easthaven, King Albert, Thumb and Pouch, Somerset or Usk and Whitehead, as well as the American variants of the games, Agnes and Westcliff. The distinguishing feature of all variants is a triangular layout of the tableau, building in ascending sequence and packing in descending order.Coops (1939), p. 10. Name In the U.S. and Canada, it is so well known that the term "Solitaire", in the absence of qualifiers, typically refers to Klondike. Equally in the UK, it is often just known as "Patience". Elsewhere the game is known as American Patience. Historically, Klondike was also called Canfield in America, perhaps because it was a casino game at the Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, New York; this is the name by which it be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Next Level Games
Next Level Games, Inc. is a Canadian video game developer owned by Nintendo based in Vancouver. Founded in October 2002 by former members of EA Black Box who've worked on games such as ''Sega Soccer Slam'' and ''NHL Hitz (other), NHL Hitz'' titles. Next Level Games specializes in creating console video games. Their first project was ''NHL Hitz Pro'', which was published by Midway Games in 2003 and followed up from EA Black Box's prior entries in the ''NHL Hitz'' series. The company is best known for its work with Nintendo, the Super Mario Strikers, ''Mario Strikers'' games and Punch-Out!! (Wii), ''Punch-Out!!'' for the Wii, ''Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon'' and ''Metroid Prime: Federation Force'' for the Nintendo 3DS, and ''Luigi's Mansion 3'' for the Nintendo Switch. Among other awards, Next Level Games has been named one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers" and one of BC's Top Employers in 2008, 2009 and 2012. The company has been featured in ''Maclean's'' magazine and ''BC ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arkadium
Arkadium is a developer of casual web games, which are hosted on its own website, Arkadium.com, as well as across a network of digital publishers including USA Today and the The Washington Post, ''Washington Post''. The company is headquartered in New York City, with an additional office in Krasnodar, Russia. History Kenny Rosenblatt and Jessica Rovello founded Arkadium in 2001, inspired by a game of Ms. Pac-Man. Arkadium developed the Microsoft Solitaire Collection in 2011 as well as the modern iteration of Minesweeper (video game), Minesweeper. In 2014, after the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, Russian annexation of Crimea, the US put sanctions on companies operating there. Arkadium had a 100-person team in Crimea, which was reduced to 50 and relocated from that region. In January 2017, the company announced it signed 300 new publishers in 2016 and saw record growth, and in 2019 announced a partnership with Sportradar to make it easy to bet on sports trivia q ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Smoking Gun Interactive
Keywords Studios plc is an Irish video game industry services company based in Leopardstown. Founded in 1998 by Giorgio Guastalla and Teresa Luppino, the company initially provided localisation services for business software before transitioning to the video game industry. Andrew Day replaced Guastalla as the chief executive officer in 2009 and the company completed its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in 2013. Since then, Keywords Studios has acquired several other companies, including Certain Affinity, Blindlight, Climax Studios, Forgotten Empires, GameSim, Heavy Iron Studios, High Voltage Software, Smoking Gun Interactive, Tantalus Media, and Wicked Workshop. In October 2024, Keywords Studios was acquired by a group of investors led by EQT AB. History Giorgio Guastalla, an Italian-Irish businessman who had previously worked for Microsoft's Dublin office, founded Keywords Studios in 1998 with his wife, Teresa Luppino. The company was established ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Microsoft Studios
Xbox Game Studios (previously known as Microsoft Studios, Microsoft Game Studios, and Microsoft Games) is an American video game publisher based in Redmond, Washington. It was established in March 2000, spun out from an internal Games Group, for the development and publishing of video games for Microsoft Windows. It has since expanded to include games and other interactive entertainment for the namesake Xbox platforms, other desktop operating systems, Windows Mobile and other mobile platforms, web-based portals, and other game consoles. Xbox Game Studios, alongside ZeniMax Media and Activision Blizzard, are part of the Microsoft Gaming division led by Phil Spencer (business executive), Phil Spencer, who is chief executive officer of the division. History As Microsoft Games and Microsoft Game Studios (2000–2011) In the early 1990s, Microsoft published a few video games. It published subLOGIC's ''Microsoft Flight Simulator'' and several Microsoft Entertainment Pack compil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Microsoft Store
The Microsoft Store (formerly known as the Windows Store) is a digital distribution platform operated by Microsoft. It was created as an app store for Windows 8 as the primary means of distributing Universal Windows Platform apps. With Windows 10 1803, Microsoft merged its other distribution platforms ( Windows Marketplace, Windows Phone Store, Xbox Music, Xbox Video, Xbox Store, and a web storefront also known as "Microsoft Store") into Microsoft Store, making it a unified distribution point for apps, console games, and digital videos. Digital music was included until the end of 2017, and E-books were included until 2019. As with other similar platforms, such as the Google Play and Mac App Store, Microsoft Store is curated, and apps must be certified for compatibility and content. In addition to the user-facing Microsoft Store client, the store has a developer portal with which developers can interact. Microsoft takes 5–15% of the sale price for apps and 30 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
