Hearts for Windows 10 - part 2

There are many many different versions of Hearts provided by the Microsoft Store (which at least assures us that they are free from bundled shareware and home page hijackers that so much so-called freeware brings with it from the Internet (this isn't the 90s anymore, after all) and, had you bothered to look you might have found a version in the store that could offer you a challenge or two.

Did you try this one?

It's free,

My, my aren't we the great Aristotles and Platos of software development commentary. Just for the record I've used (and still have) every reiteration of Microsoft's OS's since Bill was a teenager. That alone, I think, entitles me to comment on what has been good and/or bad with their various versions.  I picked on games simply because the Windows 7 and prior hearts games were not that easy to beat. Even though one did get one's mind around the game strategies, it was still a bit of a challenge.  The new one is not.  With an 80% winning record and with 12% -17% of the games ending up in moons, it is not that much fun to play any more.  Also the developer of the game often ignores the very basic strategic rules of hearts. The result is that I've been looking for more and more options to challenge me, but at the same time to relax me at the end of the day, so that I can sleep better. 

Everyone has a reason for everything they do.

Yours is obviously different than mine, but neither of us is wrong. 

However, when a software developer takes away a positive portion of their software and replaces it with something inferior, then I will try to let them know.  (However with Microsoft, it's a waste of time, as they NEVER listen because they are the Masters of the Universe). 

Still, even though the almighty OS producer ignores us, others listen and they create better, cheaper, and more effective products; so my rants still and luckily do not get lost in the ether. 

Enjoy!

Nothing in the Operating System costs NOTHING.

As for Solitaire...that has been free since Windows 95 at least (and there may well have been a dos version before that for all I know) then, suddenly, I bought a computer with Windows 8.1 and my free solitaire game was GONE.

Nor has it returned in Windows 10.

No, I wasn't happy about it. It was the single most important program on the computer for learning how to operate a mouse. I learned with it (at age 50) my Dad learned with it (he was going on 80 at the time) and both of us liked playing Solitaire anyway.  I mean NOTHING helps you gain dexterity with "point, click, drag" like the original free solitaire game.

"Surely," I thought to myself. "Surely they will bring it back...I mean, hell...it's ESSENTIAL!"

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As it turned out...not so much. We've reached a time now where the current generation can work computers and the related devices iPhones, iPads, iPods, and whatever Microsoft makes that are similar to those (I can't remember and don't use any of them of any brand anyway). The point is that young people today can operate these things almost from the cradle so these "training programs" (simple games) aren't needed for introduction anymore. Which frees up space for other stuff.

And frees up tech time for programming other stuff into the O/S.

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Nobody's been robbed here. We can still download versions of these games without having to pay for them (and no one says we have to read all the ads). Sure they can be distracting at the first but one soon learns to ignore them and focus on the game. (It helps to play in full screen mode---at least, that helps me to blot them out).

And the game goes CRAZY when I win. Sometimes the cards just explode like Fireworks on the 4th of July. (For non-American readers who may be a bit hazy on the 4th of July I'll paraphrase John Oliver "That's the day when Americans remind the sky who runs stuff.") and sometimes they turn into butterflies and fly away.

And until Microsoft comes up with a better deal than ten bucks a year to remove the ads I'll continue to just ignore them).

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As for feeling appreciated as a consumer (who has been buying Microsoft Products since the previous Century)

I do.

Every time a new Operating System is introduced the first thing I do is set myself to learn how it and I can work together to accomplish what I want. And every new O/S has been a MAJOR improvement (with the possible exception of Windows 8...I never used that) even the much-maligned VISTA wasn't bad once you shut off all the nags and got all the "hanging chads" off your desktop. (For those that liked them they were there---I didn't so I removed all that).

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You're unhappy and you have every right to express your feelings about change.

But change always happens. Without it there is only stagnation and death.

Try embracing the new...you just MIGHT like it.

Well said!

I'm very, very happy that you like the new games from Microsoft and I do hope you keep enjoying them.  My reason for the original message was to express my own displeasure at the fact that Microsoft pulled one of the world's favorite free games only because they wanted to replace it with a "paid" game.  Yes, I consider annoying ads that keep flashing while one is trying to concentrate on playing a game (which incidentally one often does for relaxation), to be a PAID game. 

And yes, I do know that the game was enjoyed around the world as I travelled for over 20 years to 60 different countries and lived in over 30 of them, and yes I did watch my staff members, my customers, my associates, etc. playing this game over and over and over again. 

While, I'm sure that your defending Microsoft is very much appreciated by them, I have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars on their programs and services over the years, and I just feel let down when they do something like this just to make a few extra dollars.

Personally I'd be very surprised if they ever derived enough income from the ads on the Hearts game to pay for coffee for their developers. 

Sometimes it pays to leave well enough  alone and let the customers feel that they are appreciated, and that they are being rewarded with something that costs Microsoft - NOTHING.

Cheers.