File it under things I don't understand: Minesweeper

[silverflight8]

THIS GAME. It's simple, right? Click. Look at the number that's revealed, and understand that in the eight blocks around it, there are that number of mines. Flag all the mines, and then you win!

As a child this confused me (the eight squares especially) but I read the rules later and understood. I played a couple successful games, and then it always happens. Minesweeper doesn't make sense, because I apply their rules and an extra mine shows up. I attributed this to me missing something or misunderstanding the game, but I look at the screen caps later, months later (I know, I know) and in no way does Minesweeper follow its own rules.

Here, let me show you:


Up in the top right corner (where I've tripped the mine, and it's red), the number right below says "1". But clearly, in the eight-block surrounding space there's not one mine--there's two. And the "2" next to it shouldn't be two, but three--there are mines on the left and right diagonally, and one above. And again with the two "1" numbers next to the "2"--it's completely screwy!


At the scrawny blue arrow--again, with the misleading "1" and "2"! BAH.

I have no objections to losing (OK, well I do, but that's what games are about) but what I do object to is the game not playing by its own rules!

Comments

[azurelunatic]

The x-ed out ones are misflags, I believe, not actual mines.

[silverflight8]

Thanks! Yeah, I realize that now *eats humble pie*

[pipisafoat]

looks like it is following its own rules to me! (the red X means you flagged a square is not a mine.) far as i can tell, once you apply that rule to these screencaps, it all makes sense?

also i love minesweeper. it is the only thing i miss about being a mac user.

[silverflight8]

Ah, yeah, now I know! and feel foolish :)

Aww, it's too bad macs don't come with those games. Although on the other hand, omg solitaire is the most persistent time sink ever, maybe it's not good that I have it.

[pipisafoat]

i've got chess and some other very effective time-sinks, plus there's the internet. and anyway, i prefer solitaire with actual cards. it's easier to cheat. minesweeper is the only thing i occasionally miss, and there are often windows computers lurking around being bored on which i can play if i feel a pressing need.

[silverflight8]

I don't even own a pack of real cards. I've almost always played solitaire virtually, which is a reflection on modern life.

[fiddlingfrog.livejournal.com]

Okay, I just tried Minesweeper for the first time on Windows 7, and I see where the problem lies. The squares that show a mine with an X on them aren't actually mines - they're squares you had flagged as mines, but didn't actually contain a mine. I think on Windows XP they just showed as an X as in "Nope, got that wrong!" So that 2 in the upper example is correct; only the squares to the upper-left and upper-right contain mines - the square directly above it is where you thought a mine was, but it didn't actually have a mine.

So yeah, chalk this up to a bad UI design choice.

[silverflight8.livejournal.com]

OH that would make sense. Pfui. I should have looked closer.

[starriheavens.livejournal.com]

oh man minesweeper. ♥ I used to play that came so much. I will always be sad that I lost my best scores ever.

[silverflight8.livejournal.com]

Ah, no, what happened?

[starriheavens.livejournal.com]

I got a new computer. xD It's not really a very dramatic story, but I am always going to be sad because I will probably never be able to achieve a 23 second time for intermediate again in the rest of my life.

it was a very intense 23 seconds. xD

[silverflight8.livejournal.com]

Aww, darn. That sounds like a very exciting 29 seconds, I agree. At this stage I was just trying to finish a stupid game, never mind the clock! :P

[starriheavens.livejournal.com]

ahh, i lied, it was 29 seconds. xD Still a pretty-much luck-based time.

[silverflight8.livejournal.com]

No, that's an amazing time! I'm impressed :D

[cloudsinvenice]

I've never had the patience to get the hang of Minesweeper! Solitaire was my game, back in the days of my first PC. I used to start it while waiting for my internet to connect and then just play for ages...

[silverflight8.livejournal.com]

Oh my god solitaire. I usually avoid even thinking about the program because once I start, it's addicting--I just keep playing and playing.

*fistbump of solitarity* :P