the cutting room mirror

Microsoft Solitaire Collection

Microsoft brings back the solitaire experience via this collection.

To do:

  • Figure out how to decompress the .ARCHIVE and some of ZIP files from the CDN; a QuickBMS script for ZIP archives (or this) allows you to.
  • Join the insider program to access the beta.
  • Unused text.

-- Copyright (c) 2019 Smoking Gun Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved

A simple copyright can be found in gui/gui_lib.lua.

Windows Version#

Debug Displays#

MSSolCol-4.9.1252.0_DebugDisplays.png

There are a few debug displays that can be activated. The codes below are written specifically for version 4.9.1252.0. Other releases most likely have these too, but will likely have different addresses.

FPS
14062F5D4 909090909090

Time Dilation
14062F6A2 9090

Window Size
14062F6E0 9090

System Memory Used
14062F752 9090

Mouse Coords
14062F7D1 909090909090

(Source: Edness)

Old Versions#

Unused Graphics#

An Xbox Live avatar, named steve.png. Could belong to one of the game's developers.

The letter X. Judging by the filename, it's likely used somewhere on the debug menu.

The Windows 10 version contains this graphic from a preview build. This was found in the Assets/GameEnd folder.

MSSolitaireCollection-CastleSiege.png MSSolitaireCollection-MicrosoftMajong.png

Also in the Windows 10 version are these unused icons for Microsoft Mahjong and Age of Empires: Castle Siege. These can be found in MSCasualGames.zip in the Arkadium.Win10.Upsell/Default folder.

Debug Menu#

This needs some investigation.
Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page.
Specifically: Can this be accessed?

Download Microsoft Solitaire Collection Debug Files

File: MicrosoftWindows8Games-DebugFiles.rar (9 KB) (info)

Like the other Microsoft games developed by Arkadium, in /Common/DebugModule/ there are five .xbf files containing data for a debug menu. There is a sixth debug file, AdModuleDebug.xbf, stored in /Arkadium.Advertisement/View/.

Regional Differences#

Icons

Italian

International

The icon for Microsoft Minesweeper is different for Italians. The text in Italian version still says Microsoft Minesweeper, though.

Also, the title of the game is aligned to the right in the International versions, but to the left in Italian version.

Japanese

International

Microsoft Sudoku is called Microsoft Number Puzzle in the Japanese version; "sudoku" is a trademark in Japan and is generally avoided.