A 90’s Classic, Microsoft’s Solitaire Enters World Video Game HOF

The card game joins the likes of Halo, Pokemon, and Pac-Man.

Microsoft Solitaire has been inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.

Yes, that very same game that entertained many of us back in the 90s while we used our bulky PCs for whatever purpose. Interestingly enough, for those who are part of the new age, Solitaire was included in Windows for a big reason. According to The Verge, developers of the operating system felt that having a familiar game was the perfect way to introduce computing concepts like using a mouse, drag-and-drop, and etc.

And now, a simple conceptual game has made history.

Erin Ashley Simon on Twitter

@museumofplay’s @jpdysonplay talked to us about Microsoft Solitaire’s induction into the World Video Game Hall of Fame on @CheddarEsports yesterday. As well as Super Mario Kart and Mortal Kombat’s honorable inductions too. https://t.co/c9KdBYjUib

Like how most hall of fames work, each year a few inductees are selected based on a few criteria. They review whether the game is a widely known one, has it’s popularity persevered and how has it influenced society.  The judges consider all of these before making its class selection. And this year Solitaire has been picked.

It’s officially a part of the 2019 class alongside Mortal Kombat and Super Mario Kart, both early ’90s titles as well. This is a historic moment not only for the video games involved but Microsoft as well.

Studio Manager for Microsoft Casual Games Paul Jensen dropped a blog post saying, “We are humbly honored to have the opportunity to work on a game that has such broad appeal, is localized into 65 languages, and played in over 200 markets around the world, including Antarctica.”

Microsoft Solitaire Collection Gameplay

Gameplay for Microsoft Solitaire Collection

The World Video Game Hall of Fame is fairly new, it was created in 2015 and overseen by an educational institute called The Strong. It’s officially set up in The National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.

I’m interested in seeing what the next hall of fame class will be, decades from now don’t be surprised if you see Fortnite front and center.

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