{"id":84504,"date":"2020-10-08T09:40:25","date_gmt":"2020-10-08T06:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/30-years-of-minesweeper-sudoku-with-explosions\/"},"modified":"2020-10-08T09:40:25","modified_gmt":"2020-10-08T06:40:25","slug":"30-years-of-minesweeper-sudoku-with-explosions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/30-years-of-minesweeper-sudoku-with-explosions\/","title":{"rendered":"#30 Years of \u2018Minesweeper\u2019 (Sudoku with Explosions)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a40a9435f4d8\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a40a9435f4d8\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/30-years-of-minesweeper-sudoku-with-explosions\/#The_Secret_Strategic_Addictive_Gameplay\" >The Secret? Strategic, Addictive Gameplay<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/30-years-of-minesweeper-sudoku-with-explosions\/#The_Origins_of_Minesweeper\" >The Origins of Minesweeper<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/30-years-of-minesweeper-sudoku-with-explosions\/#Its_Deeper_Than_It_Looks\" >It\u2019s Deeper Than It Looks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/30-years-of-minesweeper-sudoku-with-explosions\/#Minesweeper_Trivia\" >Minesweeper Trivia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/30-years-of-minesweeper-sudoku-with-explosions\/#How_to_Play_Minesweeper_Today\" >How to Play Minesweeper Today<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#30 Years of \u2018Minesweeper\u2019 (Sudoku with Explosions)&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-694145 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/xminesweeper_hero_3.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.47DoXTt9lJ.jpg\" alt=\"&quot;Minesweeper&quot; in Windows 3.11.\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>On Oct. 8, 1990, Microsoft put a dent in global productivity when it released\u00a0<em>Minesweeper<\/em> as part of the\u00a0Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows<em>. <\/em>It was aimed at those who used Windows 3.0. For the last 30 years, <em>Minesweeper<\/em> has thrilled millions with its simple, but deep, strategic <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>play. Here\u2019s why people love it.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Secret_Strategic_Addictive_Gameplay\"><\/span>The Secret? Strategic, Addictive Gameplay<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em>Minesweeper<\/em> is a logic puzzle game set in a grid-based minefield. The goal is to clear (reveal) every square in the grid without accidentally clicking a mine\u2014and to do so as quickly as possible. As you reveal squares, clues <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ear in the form of numbers that represent the number of mines located in the eight adjacent squares around them.<\/p>\n<p>Along the way, you can mark where you think mines are located with a flag with just a right-click of your mouse. Be careful, though! If you click even a single mine by accident, the game is over.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you hit a mine, it\u2019s hard to give up once you grasp the basic numerical strategy of the game. <em>Minesweeper<\/em> makes you feel smart, but the thrill of danger is palpable. It\u2019s a bit like Sudoku with explosions. So, you try again and, if you succeed, you might want to shave some seconds off your score.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re now in <em>Minesweeper\u2019s<\/em> addictive grasp.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Origins_of_Minesweeper\"><\/span>The Origins of <em>Minesweeper<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Microsoft\u2019s <em>Minesweeper<\/em>\u00a0was originally called <em>Mine<\/em>, and was created by Microsoft employees, Robert Donner and Curt Johnson. Donner based his game on Johnson\u2019s earlier OS\/2 game, and both were originally only distributed among friends.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-694205 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/xminesweeper_bad_Game2.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.-b3wuMNoOU.png\" alt=\"The failed &quot;Minesweeper&quot; game on Windows 3.11.\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Shortly after the development of Windows 3.0, Microsoft product manager,\u00a0Bruce Ryan, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.news-star.com\/article\/ZZ\/20150817\/BUSINESS\/308179972\">decided to put together a package of games<\/a> that would encourage people with home PCs to purchase Windows. Ryan put out a call among Microsoft employees, and Robert Donner submitted <em>Mine<\/em>. After some minor changes to the graphics, the renamed\u00a0<em>Minesweeper<\/em> was born.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Windows 3.0 Is 30 Years Old: Here&#8217;s What Made It Special<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As we mentioned above, <em>Minesweeper<\/em>\u00a0debuted commercially in 1990 as part of the\u00a0Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows. At the time, Windows 3.0 was not quite 5 months old. The pack included six games (<em>Cruel, Golf, Minesweeper, Pagged, Taipei, Tetris, TicTactics<\/em>) and the screensaver\u00a0<em>IdleWild<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-694208 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/microsoft_entertainment_pack_box_cover.jpg\" alt=\"The Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows box, circa 1990.\" width=\"650\" height=\"452\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p><em>Minesweeper<\/em>\u00a0became the most popular in Microsoft\u2019s offices (and in a collection that included <em>Tetris<\/em>, that\u2019s quite an achievement). In 1994, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/archive\/lifestyle\/1994\/03\/09\/office-minefield\/3b74132a-5f0a-455f-a04e-6171d023149b\/\"><em>The Washington Post<\/em> reported<\/a> that Bill Gates was once so addicted to Minesweeper, he removed it from his computer, but then snuck into a colleague\u2019s office to play it.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-694144 size-full\" src=\"data:image\/png;base64,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\" alt=\"The Microsoft Entertainment Pack 1 &quot;[Games]&quot; menu in Windows 3.11.\"\/><\/p>\n<p>That popularity might be why Microsoft decided to include <em>Minesweeper<\/em> with <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Windows_3.1x\">Windows 3.1<\/a> when it shipped in 1992 (kicking out the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/tcrf.net\/Reversi_(Microsoft,_Windows,_1985)\">brutally difficult\u00a0<em>Reversi<\/em><\/a>, in the process).<\/p>\n<p>Once <em>Minesweeper<\/em> became a pack-in game for Windows, millions of people worldwide played it, and it\u00a0became a household name. And it got even bigger than that! Microsoft included <em>Minesweeper<\/em> with every version of Windows from 1992-2009 (Windows 3.1 through Windows 7). So, it\u2019s possible that hundreds of millions of people have played <em>Minesweeper<\/em> over the last three decades.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Its_Deeper_Than_It_Looks\"><\/span>It\u2019s Deeper Than It Looks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Anyone who\u2019s even casually fiddled with <em>Minesweeper<\/em> knows it\u2019s not as easy to get into as Solitaire. That\u2019s because, despite its simple appearance, it\u2019s a very deep strategy game\u2014so much so that people <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.minesweeper.info\/tournaments.html\">play it competitively in tournaments all over the world<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Almost anyone with a basic grasp of <em>Minesweeper<\/em> strategy can clear a difficult field, given enough time (and a little bit of luck). The main competitive challenge of <em>Minesweeper<\/em>\u00a0is clearing a difficult minefield in as little time as possible.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-694215 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/xminesweeper_windows_95.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.3lZaFoIaYm.png\" alt=\"&quot;Minesweeper&quot; in Expert mode on Windows 95.\" width=\"650\" height=\"482\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>In the quest for the ultimate <em>Minesweeper<\/em> score (a low time on a difficult minefield), hard-core players have <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.minesweeper.info\/wiki\/Strategy#Patterns\">identified sets of patterns<\/a> that, when memorized, can cut down your times significantly.<\/p>\n<p>Advanced players have also identified techniques, such as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.minesweeper.info\/wiki\/1.5_Click\">the 1.5 click<\/a>, that allow players to reveal mines more quickly. Some even completely forego the use of flags to save time while completing a field.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re just a casual <em>Minesweeper<\/em> fan, though, don\u2019t let those advanced techniques discourage you from playing the game at a leisurely pace\u2014you can still have fun by taking your time.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Minesweeper_Trivia\"><\/span><em>Minesweeper<\/em> Trivia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Below are a few fun facts and tips about this popular game:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>To <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.minesweeper.info\/cheats.php\">cheat in the Windows 3.x version<\/a>, type \u201cxyzzy,\u201d press Shift+Enter, and then press Enter again. A small dot will appear in the corner of the screen that turns black whenever you hover your mouse over a square with a mine.<\/li>\n<li>The Italian version of Windows 2000 included a version of <em>Minesweeper<\/em> called <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.minesweeper.info\/wiki\/Image:PratoFiorito2000Lost.jpg\"><em>Prato Fiorito<\/em><\/a> (\u201cField of Flowers\u201d). It featured flowers instead of mines due to pressure from an organization called <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theregister.com\/2001\/06\/21\/windows_minesweeper_is_an_offence\/\">The International Campaign to Ban Winmine<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The Windows Vista version of <em>Minesweeper<\/em> included the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20080119193217\/http:\/\/shellrevealed.com\/blogs\/shellblog\/archive\/2006\/09\/26\/The-UI-design-minefield-_2D00_-er_2E002E002E00_-flower-field_3F003F00_.aspx\">option to use flowers instead of mines<\/a> in some regions, with the game defaulting to flowers in others.<\/li>\n<li>According to the <em><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.guinnessworldrecords.com\/world-records\/fastest-completions-of-minesweeper\">Guinness Book of World Records<\/a><\/em>, the fastest combined time for completing all three difficulties in <em>Minesweeper<\/em> is 38.65 seconds, set by Kamil Mura\u0144ski of Poland in 2014.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Play_Minesweeper_Today\"><\/span>How to Play <em>Minesweeper<\/em> Today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-694209 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/xminesweeper_adventure_mode.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.zBmN9afKai.jpg\" alt=\"Adventure mode in &quot;Minesweeper&quot; for Windows 8 and Windows 10.\" width=\"650\" height=\"411\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Starting with Windows 8, <em>Minesweeper<\/em> (and Solitaire) became optional applications available in the Microsoft Store. The game is\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/p\/microsoft-minesweeper\/9wzdncrfhwcn?activetab=pivot:overviewtab\">still available on Windows 10<\/a>, but it\u2019s now\u00a0riddled with distracting in-game ads. However, it includes Xbox Live tie-in features and a notable \u201cAdventure\u201d variation, set in a <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">series<\/a> of caves with gold, monsters, and arrows.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>What Happened to Solitaire and Minesweeper in Windows 8 and 10?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you prefer to play a classic free version of <em>Minesweeper<\/em>, there are <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.minesweeper.info\/downloads\/MinesweeperX.html\">several available online<\/a>. One popular version among competitive players is\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.curtisbright.com\/msx\/\"><em>Minesweeper X<\/em><\/a>. It includes both the classic Windows 3.x look and new skins that change the appearance of the game. It can\u00a0also keep detailed statistics and export them into a spreadsheet if you\u2019re a serious player.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to try the original Windows 3.x version of <em>Minesweeper<\/em>, you can <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/win3_Mineswee\">run an emulated version directly in your browser<\/a>, thanks to the Internet Archive. We also host an ad-free web-based version of <em><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/minesweeperforfree.com\/\">Minesweeper\u00a0<\/a><\/em>(and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.solitaireforfree.com\/\">Solitaire<\/a>, too).<\/p>\n<p>Whichever version you play, you\u2019re sure to get hooked once you understand the basics. Happy Birthday, <em>Minesweeper<\/em>!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/693898\/30-years-of-minesweeper-sudoku-with-explosions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#30 Years of \u2018Minesweeper\u2019 (Sudoku with Explosions)&#8221; On Oct. 8, 1990, Microsoft put a dent in global productivity when it released\u00a0Minesweeper as part of the\u00a0Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows. It was aimed at those who used Windows 3.0. For the last 30 years, Minesweeper has thrilled millions with its simple, but deep, strategic gameplay. Here\u2019s&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":84505,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/thumbcache\/2\/200\/21c3378ea4c58d30217db952366b4cc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/minesweeper_hero_3.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84504"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84504\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}