There’s an old joke in computing circles that Microsoft’s MCSE qualification actually stands for Minesweeper Consultant, Solitaire expert. Those bundled Windows games are such ubiquitous time-wasters that they’re probably the most played video games in the history of the medium. Once again, it comes bundled with the latest Windows (having skipped out on Windows 8) – but this time, it’s getting right up people’s noses.
Why? Because it’s stuffed with ads that you have to pay to remove – like it’s some sort of mobile game. That’s precisely how it worked with Windows 8, by the way. It wasn’t bundled with the operating system- instead existing as a standalone freemium product that you could choose to download.
Now it is included in Microsoft’s latest (and by all accounts greatest) operating system, but it’s brought that rubbish freemium nonsense along for the ride. But get this; it’s not a single once-off fee or anything. Instead you can pay $1.50 to nix ads for a month, or $10 for a year. Solitaire, the most basic of Windows gaming experiences, ad-free for $10 a year. We’re no longer the consumers. We’re the product. The people advertising? they’re Windows’ customers now.
Says PC Gamer: “The ads in question aren’t small banners that appear at the bottom of the screen while you play. They run over the full Solitaire window, some for 15 seconds and some for 30 seconds.”
They do note that they don’t pop up too often, but they’re rather intrusive. Of course, the fact that for most of us Windows 10 is free makes grumbling about this a tad ungracious. The Microsoft Solitaire Collection is available right now within Windows 10. Hooray?
Last Updated: July 30, 2015
Ottokie
July 30, 2015 at 14:05
I actually had to check my calendar to make sure its not April 1st…are these people serious.
WitWolfy
July 30, 2015 at 14:06
HERE IS A CRAZY IDEA!!! Why not just download a free solitaire alternative? Heck, there has to be a 1000 of them!
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:07
Sod off with your common sense! Damn you!
WitWolfy
July 30, 2015 at 14:10
Spock be like…
http://i.qkme.me/3q3uwp.jpg
Hammersteyn
July 30, 2015 at 14:12
Spocks race should have nuked Earth, not give us warp drive capabilities
Pieter Kruger
July 30, 2015 at 14:14
They didn’t give us warp drive……
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:15
“here is a very rare moment. I agree with you!”
Pieter Kruger
July 30, 2015 at 14:15
Let it be the last……????
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:28
I agree! D’oh!
Hammersteyn
July 30, 2015 at 14:22
Shit you’re right, they appeared after we did the warp jump, excuse while I chastise myself with a cat o nine tails
Matthew Holliday
July 30, 2015 at 14:18
because no one actually wants to play solitaire, the only reason it got played, was because it was there.
no way in hell Id actually put it there.
Pariah
July 30, 2015 at 14:35
This.
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:35
Hey. My Mom loved the Solitaire…
Pariah
July 30, 2015 at 14:36
I didn’t know you called your penis “Solitaire”. That’s a bit weird though. O_o
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:38
Dude! My mother passed away last week…
Pariah
July 30, 2015 at 14:40
I’m so sorry. Was it embarrassment or shame?
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:41
Neither. It was laughter. She saw your itsy-bitsy-ever-so-tiny dick.
WitWolfy
July 30, 2015 at 15:14
You do not speak on behalf of all solitaire “gamers” how dare you!
Hammersteyn
July 30, 2015 at 14:08
http://i.memeful.com/media/post/oMJ28xM_700wa_0.gif
http://i.memeful.com/media/post/Xw7DDpM_700wa_0.gif
http://i.memeful.com/media/post/PM0QORL_700wa_0.gif
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:09
Just finished a 2000 word document on Write. Hit print. “Please wait while Windows calculate the cost to print. Please have your Credit Card and a jar of Vaseline ready.”
Hammersteyn
July 30, 2015 at 14:11
Upgrade for a month or a year. No upgrade for life option. Starting to see why Windows 10 is free. Wonder what else they got in store and by that I mean future plans as well as in their online store.
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:13
“Dear 6 year old child. Windows Paint has detected you would like to use a second color for your “art”. Please ask Daddy to bring his credit card and a jar of Vaseline. He’ll explain when you are older.”
Brady miaau
July 30, 2015 at 14:23
Or pay to save takes on a new meaning, not the economic kind
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 30, 2015 at 14:15
I knew it.
Hammersteyn
July 30, 2015 at 14:21
Nothing is free
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 30, 2015 at 14:22
Exactly.
Pariah
July 30, 2015 at 14:22
Everything is permitted.
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 30, 2015 at 14:22
There is no try
(am I doing this right?)
Pariah
July 30, 2015 at 14:23
DLC. DLC never changes.
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 30, 2015 at 14:26
You either die as software, or live long enough to see yourself become malware.
Pariah
July 30, 2015 at 14:32
You can have your theme in any colour, as long as it’s Microsoft.
Hammersteyn
July 30, 2015 at 14:26
War. War against ads never changes
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 30, 2015 at 14:27
So what do we do then? Rage Against the Machine?
Hammersteyn
July 30, 2015 at 14:28
Addblock for windows?
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:29
“Windows Detected you are trying to load a Non-Microsoft product. Please have your credit card and a jar of Vaseline ready.”
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 30, 2015 at 14:31
“To change font in Word, please have your credit card and a jar of Vaseline ready.”
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
July 30, 2015 at 14:15
Well hey there… And there I was thinking “Maybe I should upgrade to Windows 10 sometime, it’s free, so why not?” I just got my answer… This is a bit of an insult to their customers… Imagine if they charge you for the use of Direct X 12…
Matthew Holliday
July 30, 2015 at 14:16
guess im sticking with win7 then…
any OS that includes ads as default, is not an OS i want installed on my rig.
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 30, 2015 at 14:18
I’m also sticking with 7.
Besides that. If you’re updating on the first day, you’re going to have a bad time.
Jonah Cash
July 30, 2015 at 14:20
Yeah I will give it a few months before I upgrade!
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 30, 2015 at 14:21
I’ve already seen quite a few people on the internet saying their install got stuck somewhere.
Matthew Holliday
July 30, 2015 at 14:21
previously, ads were a sign of the worst of the worst malware etc.
nice of microsoft to include them in the basic package.
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 30, 2015 at 14:21
LOL
Hammersteyn
July 30, 2015 at 14:23
Soooooooo Win 10 is malware?
Matthew Holliday
July 30, 2015 at 14:41
hl3 confirmed
Matthew Holliday
July 31, 2015 at 10:46
aye, day 1 games are hit and miss, but if a game is broken, you can atleast still use your PC.
day 1 OS update… if thats broke, you’re done.
Uberutang
July 30, 2015 at 14:17
You can nuke ads with your host file…
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.txt
Jonah Cash
July 30, 2015 at 14:18
What is the get in the sea joke going around? Because this shit should get in the sea!!!
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:28
Be a member of the Master Race.
Bring your credit card and a jar of Vaseline
Ottokie
July 30, 2015 at 14:29
Don’t consoles pay a monthly fee and over prices games just to play online?
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:32
I am yet to see an add pop up whilst I am trying to play Mortal Kombat X single player.
“We interrupt your Fatality to bring you this message: PC Users are getting their wallets and arses banged by Microsoft. Please donate a jar of Vaseline to sooth their pain.”
Ottokie
July 30, 2015 at 14:34
http://cdn.niketalk.com/f/f8/200x200px-ZC-f8b2cf35_cat_disgusted.gif
Dutch Matrix
July 30, 2015 at 14:35
Truth can be disgusting and hurtful, right?
Pariah
July 30, 2015 at 14:35
Oh that was just his reaction to seeing you. Your comment was irrelevant. 😀
Pieter Kruger
July 30, 2015 at 15:19
“I am yet to see an add pop up whilst I am trying to play Mortal Kombat X single player” So is everyone else……
Hammersteyn
July 30, 2015 at 14:29
I bet the proper help file for Minesweeper is $5 for those that still don’t know how the game works
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 30, 2015 at 15:58
Pro-tip – $3 on Steam. 😀
http://store.steampowered.com/app/367000/
Hammersteyn
July 30, 2015 at 16:23
LOL
Captain JJ Fantasticus
July 30, 2015 at 14:30
I’d rather take a greased-up mouse than a controller.
Those edges.
Brady miaau
July 30, 2015 at 14:48
so…….. Is this a sign of future transactions to come?
Pay X to unlock free access to control panel. (extreme, extreme, game it not a must have)
Viking Of Science
July 30, 2015 at 15:13
Making Solitaire a subscription based hellgame… It’s the best God Damned Idea in years….
HvR
July 31, 2015 at 08:59
Got to feel for the Anti-virus guys it is getting hard to distinguish between malicious ad-ware and Windows features.