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Microsoft's Clippy is Back in Office's 'Ribbon Hero'

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US

He's baaaaaaaaaaaaack!

You thought he was dead, didn't you?! Well he's not! (We're talking about Clippy here, by the way.)

Clippy was that pest with good intentions that Microsoft introduced in Office 97. While it was an interesting effort to make the office suite more accessible and usable to newcomers, it was an annoyance for those who are really trying to get work done free from distractions.

So, Clippy and the rest of the helper mascots are dead in the latest versions of Office – or are they? In a training tool game made by Microsoft, Clippy is back!

It's called Ribbon Hero 2: Clippy's Second Chance and you can download it here.

Clippy Ribbon Hero 2

Yes, we turned Office into a game! If you're going to spend time immersed in the inner workings of Office, by golly it should be fun. In Ribbon Hero 2, you’ll hop on board Clippy's stolen time machine and explore different time periods. With each time period, you get to explore a new game board with challenges you must complete to get to the next level. Each challenge takes you into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote to complete a task. Discover new Office features by actually using them, with a hint button to fall back on in case you get stuck. Race for a high score with colleagues, classmates and friends, or even put your score on your resume to show off your Office skills!

There are 29 Comments. B
Other Comments
  • 1 Ð
    lunchbox4k , May 3, 2011 12:03 PM
    Ridiculous.
  • 3 Ð
    pclee , May 3, 2011 12:17 PM
    Wow! I hadn't even realized those pests were gone. I guess I was too busy being productive at work. I use OpenOffice.org at home and will move to LibreOffice soon.
  • 1 Ð
    anonymous@guest , May 3, 2011 12:20 PM
    is this an april fools joke?
  • 1 Ð
    td854 , May 3, 2011 1:31 PM
    Oh god, when I think of clippy I can only remember "Windows: Really Good Edition" ... "Why do I have blood?"
  • 0 Ð
    jhansonxi , May 3, 2011 1:44 PM
    I don't use M$ Office anymore. When I did I liked the paper cat the best.
  • 1 Ð
    JOSHSKORN , May 3, 2011 2:04 PM
    Oh great. New MS Products:
    Microsoft WordVille
    Microsoft ExcelVille
    Microsoft AccessVille
    Microsoft PowerpointVille
    ...and so on...

    Facebook games, anyone?
  • 0 Ð
    dco , May 3, 2011 2:34 PM
    They had a racing game in-bedded one of the versions of Excel, 2000 i think. So much time spend racing instead of making spreadsheets.
    Good times.
  • 0 Ð
    soundefx , May 3, 2011 3:26 PM
    My head hurt just thinking about it.
  • 0 Ð
    randomizer , May 3, 2011 4:14 PM
    This company is a joke.
  • 0 Ð
    virtualban , May 3, 2011 4:22 PM
    joebuttsucksis this an april fools joke?

    May be a fools joke.
  • 3 Ð
    anonymous@guest , May 3, 2011 4:39 PM
    Comments are spammed by butthurt nerds who fail to realize that they could actually learn a thing or two from this Office add-on, albeit its childish looks.
  • 2 Ð
    virtualban , May 3, 2011 4:51 PM
    RadishfaceComments are spammed by butthurt nerds who fail to realize that they could actually learn a thing or two from this Office add-on, albeit its childish looks.

    How did you know about the kinky desires of those bashing the clippy? :D  :D 

    On a serious note, I personally, never had a problem with the clippy. It was very easy to turn off. The only people bothered by it were the ones not knowing how to turn it off, and these people are generally not considered nerds.

    To cheer a bit up, though:
    http://chzmemebase.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/memes-help-desk.jpg
  • 1 Ð
    hoofhearted , May 3, 2011 7:43 PM
    What was really annoying was that when you turned it off, it didn't just turn off instantly. It did a little closing sequence. Kind of gave me the feeling that the devs were just "rubbing it in"
  • 1 Ð
    Yuka , May 3, 2011 8:14 PM
    Just make it with the face of Osama bin Laden, that would be hilarious.

    Cheers!
  • 1 Ð
    damianrobertjones , May 3, 2011 8:17 PM
    pcleeWow! I hadn't even realized those pests were gone. I guess I was too busy being productive at work. I use OpenOffice.org at home and will move to LibreOffice soon.


    I'd rather use the FREE (with adverts) version of Office over EITHER of those name drops you used there.
  • 1 Ð
    nexus9113 , May 3, 2011 8:18 PM
    So they're finally bringing back the hidden games? I remember the portal to Hell was in one of the original versions of Excel, the Hall of Lost Souls I think it was called, had a roundabout way of getting to it, but it was just a glorified credits screen.
  • 2 Ð
    of the way , May 3, 2011 8:23 PM
    'put your score on your resume'

    ...I don't think that would go over well.
  • 2 Ð
    mosu , May 3, 2011 8:38 PM
    Me think it's a good idea...for kids
  • 1 Ð
    jednx01 , May 3, 2011 8:58 PM
    I remember finding clippy really entertaining and cool... when I was 10....
  • 1 Ð
    killerchickens , May 3, 2011 10:16 PM
    One of my friends was writing a fake suicide note and clippy offered his help.
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