The Creator of the Klondike Solitaire Game, a Bored Intern in 1988
Solitaire has been around for decades (30 years or so, to be exact) and is the type of card game that resonates with anyone. It is a timeless game and a great way to test your patience without getting too serious.
What Was Solitaire Originally Used For?
The rumor is that Solitaire was initially created to teach the user particular mouse functions and how to use them effectively.
So, who is behind this epic game that has managed to keep several generations occupied? None other than Wes Cherry. He claims to have created the card game out of pure boredom. Little did he know that he would create a timeless game that could be played on a desktop during a time in history when this had not yet been done.
In 1988, when Solitaire was born, Wes Cherry was an intern and was responsible for coding the card game, while his colleague, Susan Kare, designed the cards’ look. Then, finally, the king of software himself, Bill Gates, gave the green light for this legendary game, and the first-ever solitaire game was ready to be debuted with Windows 3.0 in 1990. Apparently, the only complaint received after the game was released was that it was not easy enough to win. Unfortunately, however, the father of the card game has not received any compensation for his impeccable contribution to the making of Solitaire.
Fun Facts About Solitaire:
Most Played Video Game:
Solitaire is played by billions of people across the globe. It takes the ranking of one of the most played video games ever. That is an incredible outcome considering the game was conceived out of boredom.
Solitaire is pre-installed:
Solitaire is pre-installed on every Microsoft computer, which is a delight, given that one does not need to download the card game.
Solitaire Was Designed to Help People Become Accustomed to the Mouse:
As mentioned above, Solitaire was originally designed to help computer users become more familiar with using a mouse, as this had not yet been something of the norm. The card game was meant to prepare people for being able to click and drag but instead became too much fun to remain only this.
Solitaire Makes an Appearance on TV Shows:
So, this card game is extremely popular amongst ordinary people and became very popular in the TV Series “The Office.” Actors would open up Solitaire to cover their internet searches during scene takes.
National Solitaire Day:
Yes, that’s right. There is a National Solitaire Day that is celebrated annually. The official date for National Solitaire Day is 22 May. But, of course, this day was founded by Microsoft itself as a celebratory event.
Klondike Solitaire was created in 1988 by an intern, Wes Cherry, who was extremely bored. He initially designed the card game to help users learn how to use a mouse, but the game took off and debuted in 1990. There is now a National Solitaire Day on 22 May.