Dave Plummer Archives

Winsage

September 11, 2025

Space Cadet 3D Pinball Had A Glitch That Ran It At An Absurdly High Frame Rate

In the mid-1990s, Full Tilt! Pinball featured Space Cadet 3D, a popular game that recently gained attention due to a bug revealed by former Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer. While porting Space Cadet from Windows 95 to Windows NT, Plummer created a new game engine that inadvertently allowed the game to run at up to 5,000 frames per second on modern machines, instead of the intended 60 to 90 frames per second. This issue was later resolved by another engineer, Raymond Chen, who added a frame rate limiter to cap the game at 100 frames per second. A version of Space Cadet 3D Pinball is currently available on the App Store.

Winsage

September 10, 2025

Windows 95 game could hit 5,000 FPS by accident

3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet is a nostalgic game for many gamers from the late 90s. The gaming landscape has evolved significantly, with the potential for future games to run at 5,000 frames per second. Dave Plummer has contributed to the evolution of Windows gaming through his work on the Media Center and Task Manager, enhancing user experience and system performance. The future of gaming promises unprecedented frame rates and resolutions, leading to richer and more engaging experiences.

Winsage

September 9, 2025

3D Pinball bug allowed game to run at 5,000 FPS — former Microsoft programmer didn’t add a rev limiter when porting game from Windows 95 to NT

3D Pinball: Space Cadet debuted in Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 and became a staple in the operating system until Windows XP. Dave Plummer, the programmer who ported the game to the NT version, revealed that he accidentally introduced a bug that caused the game to run at 5,000 frames per second. Plummer reflected on this incident as a memorable example of how minor oversights in programming can lead to unexpected outcomes.

Winsage

September 9, 2025

Microsoft veteran’s worst Windows bug was all about Pinball

Former Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer revealed that he shipped a bug in the Pinball game while porting it to Windows NT. The bug caused the game engine to render frames as fast as possible, initially manageable on older hardware but leading to excessive CPU usage on newer machines. Fellow engineer Raymond Chen identified the issue, noting the absence of a frame limiter, which resulted in frame rates exceeding 100 frames per second. By adding a frame rate limiter, Chen reduced CPU usage to approximately one percent. Plummer reflected on the seriousness of production bugs and the culture surrounding them at Microsoft.

Winsage

September 9, 2025

Former MS engineer Dave Plummer admits he accidentally coded Pinball to run ‘at like, 5,000 frames per second’ on Windows NT

Former Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer shared insights about the development of the Pinball game, known as Space Cadet 3D Pinball or Microsoft 3D Pinball, which was included in Windows NT 4.0. Plummer created a resource-intensive game engine while transitioning the game from Windows 95 to Windows NT, achieving a frame rate of 60-90 fps on a MIPS R4000 processor at 200 MHz. Another engineer, Chen, introduced a frame rate limiter that capped the game at 100 fps, allowing users to play Pinball while building software. Plummer referred to the oversight in the game's development as the worst bug he ever shipped, reflecting on the strict software quality standards of the time. Despite initial embarrassment, the legacy of the bug is fondly remembered by Plummer and his colleagues, especially in light of advancements in technology and multi-core processors.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Microsoft moved the goalposts before. Could it happen again?

Retired Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer has expressed concerns about the hardware requirements for Windows 11, questioning whether they are genuinely for security or a sales strategy. He noted that many PCs excluded from compatibility due to the lack of TPM 2.0 or modern CPUs are not necessarily old or underpowered. Plummer highlighted that Microsoft's history of discontinuing support for older operating systems, like Windows XP and 7, was typically based on security and compatibility challenges. He warned that future versions of Windows could impose even stricter hardware demands, potentially leaving many functional PCs unable to upgrade. Additionally, he pointed out the ambiguity behind Microsoft's refusal to allow users to opt out of security enhancements if they lack the necessary hardware, raising concerns about potential e-waste. Many users are hesitant to transition to Windows 11, and while hardware compatibility is a factor, it is part of a broader decision-making process. Microsoft’s shift towards a subscription model and the introduction of new hardware requirements suggest a significant evolution in Windows.

Winsage

April 29, 2025

Windows isn’t an OS, it’s a bad habit bordering on addiction

Microsoft's Windows operating system has approximately 1.5 billion users globally, but faces stagnation as many users find Windows 10 satisfactory and are reluctant to upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft is pushing Windows 11 aggressively, incorporating AI features and nudging users toward paid services, which raises concerns about user experience. The company is uncertain about its future direction, with Project Hudson Valley fading away and the potential for a subscription-based licensing model. In corporate environments, IT departments often prioritize compliance over user needs, leaving employees with limited choices. Some users are exploring alternatives like macOS or Linux, seeking better alignment with their values. Resources are available to help users transition gradually from Windows 10 to alternatives, and maintaining a dual-system approach can ease this process.

Winsage

April 23, 2025

When Microsoft made the Windows as a Service pivot

Former Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer discussed the company's shift from paid upgrades to a Windows as a Service model, highlighting the challenges faced after the success of Windows 7 and the disappointing reception of Windows 8. He noted that Microsoft made Windows 10 available as a free upgrade for users of Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, which allowed the company to gather valuable telemetry data while introducing users to subscription services. However, the telemetry raised privacy concerns among users, as it included advertising and upsell mechanisms. Plummer expressed a desire for a version of Windows Pro without telemetry and advertising, indicating he would pay for such a product. He also mentioned that the transition to a service model helped address piracy by offering free upgrades to users with non-genuine copies of Windows.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

10 Facts you probably didn’t know about Windows as Microsoft turns 50

- Windows was originally named "Interface Manager" before being changed to "Windows" prior to its launch in 1985. - Early versions of Windows (1.0, 2.0, and 3.x) operated on top of MS-DOS and required users to boot into MS-DOS before launching the graphical interface. - The Briefcase folder was an early tool for synchronizing files between computers, which became obsolete with the rise of cloud storage solutions. - Prior to Windows XP, user profiles were basic and lacked robust security; full user accounts were implemented with Windows NT. - Several applications from Windows 1.0, including Calculator, Paint, Notepad, Clock, and Control Panel, are still present in Windows 11 in modernized forms. - The "Format" dialog in File Explorer has used the same code for over 30 years, although updates for FAT32 support are being developed. - TrueType fonts were introduced in Windows 3.1 in 1992 through a licensing agreement with Apple, improving font rendering quality. - The "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" shortcut was created by IBM engineer David Bradley as a debugging tool and later adopted by Microsoft for secure attention sequences in Windows NT. - Windows 1.0 required a minimum of 256KB of RAM at its launch in 1985, while Windows 11 requires at least 4GB.

Winsage

March 27, 2025

Looking back at Windows Longhorn

Retired Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer discussed the Windows Longhorn project, which aimed to succeed Windows XP but faced significant challenges. Longhorn was envisioned to overhaul the user experience and introduce features like WinFS for content-based file searching. However, the simultaneous development of many new features led to a fragile and bloated codebase, making it difficult to use in daily operations. A 2002 memo from Bill Gates prioritizing security diverted resources from Longhorn, further complicating development. Ultimately, in August 2004, Microsoft scrapped the existing Longhorn codebase in favor of the Windows Server 2003 SP1 codebase, integrating select Longhorn features. The project resulted in Windows Vista, which retained some Longhorn features while discarding others. Plummer reflected on the mixed legacy of Longhorn, acknowledging its failures and the lessons learned that shaped Microsoft's future practices.