Why..?

First, I believe Pico-8 needs more card games. But more importantly, pyramid solitaire has a special place for me. It was the first solitaire card game I ever learned, long before I learned Klondike, which my grandmother used to play. Back then, most card games were still played with physical cards!

In 1991, Microsoft released Entertainment Pack 2, which included a set of "office games," one of which was a game called "Tut's Tomb." In 1994, it was also included in the "Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack," and even in 2001, a version was released for the Gameboy Color. I actually have the Gameboy Color version, but my first introduction to PC gaming was through these entertainment packs in the early to mid-1990s.

I think I've said this before, but I'll say it again: I love card and dice games. Pyramid solitaire was one of the first times I encountered the intersection of card games and computers: more solitaire games to play, and I didn't even have to deal the cards myself? Fantastic!

King Tut's Tomb

My version for Pico-8 is not a direct clone of the Microsoft version (developed by Rick LaPlante, W. Nolder, and D. Schiele). It shares some similarities, like the option to draw one or three cards from the stockpile, and I've also included a timer. However, in my version, there are always two redeals (three deals overall) from the stockpile, and there is no option to select cool card backs. Additionally, I've omitted the scoring system and high scores because I don't think they really suit solitaire games. Just like in the "Tut's Tomb" game, my version is won when all the cards are removed from the pyramid. This makes the game easier and, to me, more fun.