''Microsoft Mahjong'' (formerly ''Mahjong Titans'', ''Shanghai Solitaire'' and ''Taipei'') is a PC game, computer game version of mahjong solitaire published by Microsoft. The version titled ''Mahjong Titans'' was developed by Oberon Games and included in Windows Vista 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''.) The game did not make it to Windows 8; however, a standalone version, developed by Arkadium
and published by Microsoft Studios,
can be downloaded from the Windows Store freeware, free of charge and played without download on the web.
An older version of the game was known as ''Taipei'' and was bundled in Microsoft Entertainment Pack#Microsoft Entertainment Pack 1, Microsoft Entertainment Pack 1 and Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack.
That version included 32,767 possible configurations.
Features
The player has a choice of six tile layouts
- Cat, Turtle, Crab, Dragon, Fortress and Spider, each 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'' has numerous further layouts, improved graphics and sound, Internet features such as a set of daily challenges that reward the user with "badges" when completed, and Xbox Live integration.
See also
* List of games included with Windows
References
External links
Oberon Games
{{Windows Components
2012 video games
Microsoft games
Video games developed in the United States
Windows games
Windows-only games
Windows Vista
Mahjong video games
Casual games
Single-player video games
Oberon Media games