Minesweeper on Win8

Published on September 13, 2012 By ZubaZ In Personal Computing

Article Link

Sometimes I need a little break . . .so I fire up Minesweeper.

It's fast and fun. I think my best time on the smallest board is 18 seconds.

So I put a fresh install of Win8 on a test machine, installed Fences and Start8 . . . and Minesweeper!

Wait .. there is no Minesweeper on the PC.

I have to go to the store and get the free copy.

Fine. Install.

Can't play from here . -sigh-

I get distracted after MS makes me go back to Metro and start looking at settings....trying to make Metro less painful to use.

The general settings are very phone like. There was even a section to view installed apps by size. (More important on a phone compared to a PC .. but whatever.)

I see this:

"What the heck?" I ask to myself. Why is Minesweeper so huge?

For comparison, check it out on Win7:

So I fire it up on Win8.

Loading . . . Splash-screen . . . Xbox config. . . .Metro app window:

Themes!

What?! Themes? Really?

And Leaderboards?

And a daily challenge?

Really? I need all that? I just want to find some mines.

So I change themes . . and I click the first tile . . .

Loading screen.

-sigh-

Finally get to play the game.

And I lose on my fourth click . . which is fine . . these things happen.

But I get to see some of why the file is so big: Animations . . and sounds.

At least now I know why the file size is so big.

Video here: http://screencast.com/t/dk6kiNjiBu

Comments

Ryat

on Sep 13, 2012

Sadly some game developers fail to realize that bigger and flashier is not always better. Yet another reason why I don't want to upgrade from Win7.

moshi

on Sep 13, 2012

you could use this Rainmeter skin: http://kaelri.deviantart.com/art/Rainsweeper-320214604

it has no graphics at all, so the filesize should be fine. Rainmeter works on Windows 8.

heft

on Sep 13, 2012

Not only bloated, but butt ugly IMO...

ZubaZ

on Sep 13, 2012

moshi

reply 2

you could use this Rainmeter skin: http://kaelri.deviantart.com/art/Rainsweeper-320214604

it has no graphics at all, so the filesize should be fine. Rainmeter works on Windows 8.

I could port the old MS version to Win8 with a bit of hack . . but that's not my point.

This is just another example of MS making something simple . . hard. For no benefit to the user.

The final thing that ticked me off?

I started Minesweeper through Start8's start panel . . but when I closed Minesweeper . . . I'm in friggin' metro again.

GFireflyE

on Sep 13, 2012

I know it's going to sound rude but, imo, it's your fault for getting win8.

Yes, I'm ancient and still run XP-32bit, but I don't have any of these types of problems and I haven't seen an acceptable OS release since.

I'm the customer. I'm not going to have microsoft dictate to me how my software is going to run. They offer a product. I accept or decline. That's business.

Other people are customers too. Other companies as well. Even software development companies. The choice is ultimately with the customer, because with the customer, it's just a paperweight.

If enough customers are willing to buy win8, then we'll all eventually have to accept the crap that comes with it. If enough don't buy win8, then Microsoft will release a product that is more appealing to what their customer base wants.

I for one, will not be a lemming.

heh...Win-Lemming. Best name for win-8 ever. heh.

ZubaZ

on Sep 13, 2012

GFireflyE

reply 6

I know it's going to sound rude but, imo, it's your fault for getting win8.

I am a Stardockian. Win8 is kinda part of the job, eh?

Ryat

on Sep 13, 2012

GFireflyE

reply 6

I haven't seen an acceptable OS release since.

Win7 was good but other than that yes.

Uvah

on Sep 13, 2012

Does it come with a self destruct button? lol

Wizard1956

on Sep 13, 2012

Zubaz

reply 6

Quoting GFireflyE, reply 6
I know it's going to sound rude but, imo, it's your fault for getting win8.

I am a Stardockian. Win8 is kinda part of the job, eh?

Then you should get Combat pay for having to fight your way though Win8.

ZubaZ

on Sep 13, 2012

Wizard1956

reply 9

Then you should get Combat pay for having to fight your way though Win8.

Win8 on the desktop is great. And there might be other features that I will find I love . . . but there are choices MS made that I don't understand or like.

DrJBHL

on Sep 13, 2012

Zubaz

reply 10

there are choices MS made that I don't understand or like.

Indeed...

2of3

on Sep 13, 2012

Reminds me of when Nokia changed snake to 3D.....ish.

It just ruined the game for me [e digicons]:'([/e]

Jafo

on Sep 13, 2012

I still use the old spider solitaire from XP on Win7.

If for any reason it won't run on 8 then that's that...I'll go buy a propeller hat...and become a nerd....

Wizard1956

on Sep 13, 2012

Jafo

reply 13

.I'll go buy a propeller hat...and become a nerd.

Don't forget your pocket protector, the mark of a true nerd.

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