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Why Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing that it had Tetris?

devblogs.microsoft.com

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Re: Why Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing that it had Tetris?

#31

Post by Ukv »

fragmede wrote: post #26
rsynnott wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sticker seems like an important aspect.

Which the article can state, but the headline needs to fit.

Why it was announced specifically on a sticker (rather than on the box like the other games) is the core of the question - the headline no longer really works without it. I'd go with one of:

> Why did Microsoft Entertainment Pack have a sticker announcing it had Tetris?

> Why did Microsoft Entertainment Pack announce that it had Tetris on a sticker?

> Why the Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing it had Tetris

But doesn't really matter that much.

Re: Why Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing that it had Tetris?

#32

Post by saghm »

torh wrote: post #18
smelendez wrote: post #2

The sticker part makes sense, but why did it say "now," which usually would imply it once didn't include Tetris? I guess "includes Tetris!" just sounded awkward on its own? Or maybe they made stickers for the contingency where they would ship some without Tetris, get the license, and ship some more with?

Maybe it's as simple as for the people making the boxes, it didn't contain Tetris from the start. And when they got the license, in their head, it now did have Tetris.

Most boxes don't contain anything from the start; you need to put the product in them before you sell them!

Re: Why Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing that it had Tetris?

#33

Post by fer »

amiga386 wrote: post #27
smelendez wrote: post #2

The sticker part makes sense, but why did it say "now," which usually would imply it once didn't include Tetris? I guess "includes Tetris!" just sounded awkward on its own? Or maybe they made stickers for the contingency where they would ship some without Tetris, get the license, and ship some more with?

Now with more Tetris! Sweet Jesus! https://youtu.be/HhI_f2WtUOs?t=227

Timeless classic, I knew what it was before clicking!

Re: Why Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing that it had Tetris?

#35

Post by torh »

saghm wrote: post #32
torh wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it's as simple as for the people making the boxes, it didn't contain Tetris from the start. And when they got the license, in their head, it now did have Tetris.

Most boxes don't contain anything from the start; you need to put the product in them before you sell them!

As the article stated; they made the boxes before they had secured the license. I.e. the boxes were made before the content was ready.

Re: Why Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing that it had Tetris?

#36

Post by expedition32 »

stkdump wrote: post #20

> Just like how World War I was initially called “The Great War”. If you had called it “World War I” from the outset, people would look at you funny, like “Do you know something I don’t?” This is why I didn't, at the time. Jokes aside, some people knew and so it was also called (though not very commonly) World War starting 1914 and First World War from 1918. Because of course it wouldn't be the last. World War 3 was…

My country was neutral so no we never called it the great war.

For the Netherlands it was just a footnote.

Re: Why Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing that it had Tetris?

#37

Post by saghm »

torh wrote: post #35
saghm wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most boxes don't contain anything from the start; you need to put the product in them before you sell them!

As the article stated; they made the boxes before they had secured the license. I.e. the boxes were made before the content was ready.

I understand. I was making a joke, but I guess it didn't land

Re: Why Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing that it had Tetris?

#38

Post by happytoexplain »

smelendez wrote: post #2

The sticker part makes sense, but why did it say "now," which usually would imply it once didn't include Tetris? I guess "includes Tetris!" just sounded awkward on its own? Or maybe they made stickers for the contingency where they would ship some without Tetris, get the license, and ship some more with?

Microsoft has always had plausible sounding but contextually nonsensical writing/UI.

E.g. In Outlook, it says (or used to?) "All done for the day!" when your inbox is empty. It's like they see how other UI/writing is done and copy it, but they don't think about it. Yes, other mailboxes say things like, "all done". Yes, "done for the day" is a common phrase. But no, it doesn't make sense in this context.

Same with the sticker. It's very common for a sticker-style design element on packaging to say "Now with...!". So they just did that without thinking.

They do the same thing with UI controls/patterns, but I can't think of an example off the top of my head right now. You'll see something in Windows and think, "ok, I see why you did that, because other software does that, but it doesn't make sense here."

Re: Why Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing that it had Tetris?

#39

Post by Hugsbox »

happytoexplain wrote: post #38
smelendez wrote: post #2

The sticker part makes sense, but why did it say "now," which usually would imply it once didn't include Tetris? I guess "includes Tetris!" just sounded awkward on its own? Or maybe they made stickers for the contingency where they would ship some without Tetris, get the license, and ship some more with?

Microsoft has always had plausible sounding but contextually nonsensical writing/UI. E.g. In Outlook, it says (or used to?) "All done for the day!" when your inbox is empty. It's like they see how other UI/writing is done and copy it, but they don't think about it. Yes, other mailboxes say things like, "all done". Yes, "done for the day" is a common phrase. But no, it doesn't make sense in this context. Same with the…

Microsoft is run by a collective of aliens who are pretty good at imitating humans, but fall just a bit short.

Re: Why Microsoft Entertainment Pack had a sticker announcing that it had Tetris?

#40

Post by Hugsbox »

saghm wrote: post #37
torh wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As the article stated; they made the boxes before they had secured the license. I.e. the boxes were made before the content was ready.

I understand. I was making a joke, but I guess it didn't land

It at least landed with me, I had a sensible chuckle :)
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