Microsoft Mahjong

Last updated
Microsoft Mahjong
Mahjong 10.png
Microsoft Mahjong on Windows 10
Developer(s)
Publisher(s) Microsoft Studios [2]
Producer(s)
  • Paul Jensen
  • Derek Dutilly
  • Tristan Hall
  • Michael Bilodeau
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows 8
  • WW: October 26, 2012 (2012-10-26)
Windows 10
  • WW: October 14, 2016 (2016-10-14) [3]
Genre(s) Puzzle
Mode(s) Single-player

Microsoft Mahjong (formerly Mahjong Titans, Shanghai Solitaire and Taipei) is a computer game version of mahjong solitaire published by Microsoft. The version titled Mahjong Titans was developed by Oberon Games and included in Windows Vista [4] and Windows 7 (except Starter and Home Basic editions). It takes advantage of the new graphical user interface (GUI) of Windows Vista, and includes features such as tile set and background choices. (In Windows Vista builds 5219 up to 5259, the game was known as Shanghai Solitaire. [5] ) The game did not make it to Windows 8; however, a standalone version, developed by Arkadium [1] and published by Microsoft Studios, [2] can be downloaded from the Windows Store free of charge and played without download on the web. [6] [2]

Contents

An older version of the game was known as Taipei and was bundled in Microsoft Entertainment Pack 1 and Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack. [7] [8] That version included 32,767 possible configurations. [9]

A mobile version of the game was released on iOS and Android, known as Mahjong by Microsoft. [10]

Features

The player has a choice of six tile layouts: [11] Turtle, Dragon, Cat, Fortress, Crab, and Spider. Each is a stylized portrayal of the respective object or animal. The background image can be chosen from five different options and there are four tile sets, including traditional Mahjong tiles, variations with fuller coloring or larger print, and an alternative pastel tile set with an entirely different picture theme.

Games are not entirely random. There is always at least one pair within five tiles of the topmost five tiles in the turtle layout and often two pairs. The algorithm for tile organization positions tiles such that they can mostly be paired on the same level, or otherwise a matching tile is available in an accessible position one level down. It does not check to ensure that the matching tile is not positioned beneath its partner. Since every tile has 3 partners this is not enough, by itself, to prove the game is impossible to solve.

The newer version of Microsoft Mahjong adds new layouts, improved graphics and sound, online features such as a set of daily challenges that reward the user with "badges" when completed, and Xbox Live integration.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spider (solitaire)</span> Type of patience game

Spider is a type of patience game, and is one of the more popular two-deck solitaire games. The game originated in 1949, and its name comes from a spider's eight legs, referencing the eight foundation piles that must be filled in order to win.

<i>Full Tilt! Pinball</i> 1995 video game

Full Tilt! Pinball, known as Pinball 95 in Europe, is a pinball video game developed by Cinematronics and published by Maxis in 1995. It features pre-rendered 3D graphics and three tables: Space Cadet, Skulduggery, and Dragon's Keep. On each table, side display show the player score, ball number, player number, various other information, and a table-specific image. A sequel called Full Tilt! Pinball 2 was released in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows Vista</span> Seventh major release of Windows NT

oac

Microsoft Plus! is a discontinued commercial operating system enhancement product by Microsoft. The last edition is the Plus! SuperPack, which includes an assortment of screensavers, themes, and games, as well as multimedia applications. The Microsoft Plus! product was first announced on January 31, 1994, under the internal codename "Frosting". The first edition was an enhancement for Windows 95, Windows 95 Plus!

Xbox Games Store was a digital distribution platform previously used by Microsoft's Xbox 360 video game console and formerly by the Xbox One. The service allowed users to download or purchase video games, add-ons for existing games, game demos along with other miscellaneous content such as gamer pictures and Dashboard themes.

<i>Purble Place</i> 2007 video game

Purble Place is a suite of three educational computer games developed by Oberon Media that was included with all versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Games for Windows was a brand owned by Microsoft and introduced in 2006 to coincide with the release of the Windows Vista operating system. The brand itself represents a standardized technical certification program and online service for Windows games, bringing a measure of regulation to the PC game market in much the same way that console manufacturers regulate their platforms. The branding program was open to both first-party and third-party publishers.

<i>Chess Titans</i> 2006 video game

Chess Titans is a chess video game with 3D graphics developed by Oberon Games and included in Windows Vista and Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate. It is a fully 3D animated, photorealistic interactive chess game with ten difficulty levels when played against the computer. It can be played by two participants, or one player against the computer.

Windows Ultimate Extras were optional features offered by Microsoft to users of the Ultimate edition of Windows Vista and are accessible via Windows Update. Ultimate Extras replaced the market role of Microsoft Plus!, a product sold for prior consumer releases of Microsoft Windows. According to Microsoft's Barry Goffe, the company's goal with Ultimate Extras was to delight customers who purchased the Ultimate edition of Windows Vista, the most expensive retail edition of the operating system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Spider Solitaire</span> Solitaire game in Microsoft Windows

Spider Solitaire, also known as Microsoft Spider Solitaire, is a solitaire (NA)/patience (EU) card game that is included in Microsoft Windows. It is a version of Spider. As of 2005, it was the most played game on Windows PCs, surpassing the shorter and less challenging Klondike-based Windows Solitaire.

Windows Vista—a major release of the Microsoft Windows operating system—was available in six different product editions: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate. On September 5, 2006, Microsoft announced the USD pricing for editions available through retail channels; the operating system was later made available to retail on January 30, 2007. Microsoft also made Windows Vista available for purchase and download from Windows Marketplace; it is the first version of Windows to be distributed through a digital distribution platform. Editions sold at retail were available in both Full and Upgrade versions and later included Service Pack 1 (SP1).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Solitaire</span> Card game that is included in Microsoft Windows

Solitaire is a computer game included with Microsoft Windows, based on a card game of the same name, also known as Klondike. Its original version was programmed by Wes Cherry, and the cards were designed by Susan Kare.

<i>Microsoft Minesweeper</i> Series of video games published by Microsoft

Microsoft Minesweeper is a minesweeper-type video game created by Curt Johnson, originally for IBM's OS/2, that was ported to Microsoft Windows by Robert Donner, both Microsoft employees at the time. First released as part of the Microsoft Entertainment Pack 1 in 1990, it was first included in the standard install of Windows 3.1 in 1992, replacing Reversi from Windows 3.0. Microsoft Minesweeper was included without major changes in all subsequent Windows releases until Windows Vista, at which time an updated version by Oberon Media replaced it. In Windows 8 and later the game is not included with a fresh Windows install, but Microsoft Studios has published an updated version of it, developed by Arkadium, on Microsoft Store.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft FreeCell</span> Video game included in Microsoft Windows

FreeCell, also known as Microsoft FreeCell, is a computer game included in Microsoft Windows, based on a card game with the same name. It is one of the most widely used Windows programs, estimated to be ahead of Word and Microsoft Excel. It has been included with every release of the Windows operating system since 1995, which has greatly contributed to the original game's popularity.

<i>Microsoft Entertainment Pack</i> Series of computer game compilations

Microsoft Entertainment Pack, also known as Windows Entertainment Pack or simply WEP, is a collection of 16-bit casual computer games for Windows. There were four Entertainment Packs released between 1990 and 1992. These games were somewhat unusual for the time, in that they would not run under MS-DOS. In 1994, a compilation of the previous four Entertainment Packs were released called The Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack. A Game Boy Color version was released in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahjong solitaire</span> Single-player game played with mahjong tiles

Mahjong solitaire is a single-player matching game that uses a set of mahjong tiles rather than cards. It is more commonly played on a computer than as a physical tabletop game. It can be played using genuine tiles and a special wooden frame for set-up, although this has the tedium of set-up and the temptation to cheat.

<i>Microsoft Solitaire Collection</i> 2012 video game

Microsoft Solitaire Collection is a video game developed by Microsoft Casual Games and published by Xbox Game Studios for Microsoft Windows. It combines the Solitaire, FreeCell and Spider Solitaire titles that were included with previous versions of Windows. It also introduces Pyramid and TriPeaks to Windows for the first time, as well as new daily challenges and themes. Unlike the games included in Windows 7 and earlier versions, Microsoft Solitaire Collection is freemium adware with Xbox Live integration.

References

  1. 1 2 "Microsoft Mahjong". arkadium.com. Arkadium . Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Microsoft Mahjong". Windows Store . Microsoft . Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  3. ↑ Dutilly, Derek (October 14, 2016). "More Matching Madness with Microsoft Mahjong: New Themes, Challenges, Puzzles". Xbox Wire. Microsoft . Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "Mahjong Titans - Microsoft Windows Vista Game Mahjong Titans". Windows.about.com. About.com. 2013-06-24. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  5. ↑ Thurrott, Paul (2010-10-06). "Microsoft Windows Vista Build 5219 (Community Technical Preview 1) Review". Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Penton Media. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Microsoft Mahjong 🕹️ Play Microsoft Mahjong on CrazyGames". www.crazygames.com. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  7. ↑ "Best of Windows Entertainment Pack: Listing of Games". ftp.microsoft.com. Microsoft. 8 November 2001. Retrieved 29 July 2013.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ Trivette, Don (May 28, 1991). "Games from Artworx and Microsoft Prove that Windows can Be Fun". PCMag . 10 (10): 478. ISSN   0888-8507 . Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Description of Taipei in the Windows Entertainment Pack". ftp.microsoft.com. Microsoft. 30 July 2001. Retrieved 29 July 2013.[ dead link ]
  10. ↑ "Mahjong by Microsoft". YouTube . January 26, 2021.
  11. ↑ James Yu (July 24, 2006). "A Look at Windows Vista Installed Games, Page 3". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. p. 3. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.