Why are there so many Mah Jongg games?

[Marker0077]

I can understand a couple of Mah Jongg games, at the absolute most 10 to 15 different variations but there has to be at least 50 different versions on this game. Do oriental people spend their Friday & Saturday nights going to Mah Jongg town in the arcades over there? I figured you would have a few MJ games, maybe some varied table tops which can be used as skins & you can pick & choose your personal favorites but aside from that - that's it.

Can anyone shed some light on the "WTF are there so many MJ games" mystery?

[TimeBandit]

I can understand a couple of Mah Jongg games, at the absolute most 10 to 15 different variations but there has to be at least 50 different versions on this game. Do oriental people spend their Friday & Saturday nights going to Mah Jongg town in the arcades over there? I figured you would have a few MJ games, maybe some varied table tops which can be used as skins & you can pick & choose your personal favorites but aside from that - that's it.

Can anyone shed some light on the "WTF are there so many MJ games" mystery?

The word oriental is used to describe material things from Asia, while people from Asia are called Asians. Additionally, I do not think all Asians spend their friday and saturday nights playing these games. To be frank, I'm a bit disappointed with your brash comments.

Dispite your assumption, most Chinese and other Asians only play one type of Mahjong in their region. There are many varieities, I would imagine, because the game has existed for thousands of years and spread over a large area.

I'm sure if you look it up on wiki and do some research, you might find your answer.

[headkaze]

I don't think Marker means any offence when he says this, it's a valid point he's making - why so many MahJong games? I think the answer is simple; it's a very popular game over there. I think there is an option to filter them out, or just add "mahjong" to your filtering list and it won't show them.

[Marker0077]

The word oriental is used to describe material things from Asia, while people from Asia are called Asians. Additionally, I do not think all Asians spend their friday and saturday nights playing these games. To be frank, I'm a bit disappointed with your brash comments.

Actually I was under the impression that oriental was used to describe chinese/japanese/asian people, didn't know it was specifically asians only.

Secondly, the whole "friday night" thing was a joke. Don't take things so literal, lighten up.

Thirdly, even if chinese, japanese, & asians all play MJ, why is there over 50 versions of it on MAME? I've never seen MJ in an arcade & I watch alot of G4, I've never seen any MJ games being shown in Japanese or Chinise arcades on the channel & some of the shows are nothing but japanese/chinese games.

I'm just saying, why there are so many variations on this 1 game raises my curiosity. Just trying to see what all the hype is about & so far, I'm not. Again, 15 different veriations I could see - over 50?

I think there is an option to filter them out, or just add "mahjong" to your filtering list and it won't show them.

I don't have a problem with the games, I'm just making conversation. I'm just trying to see what the big deal is. Don't get me wrong, it's a cool game, I just don't think it's that cool.

[TimeBandit]

Just for your information the definition of "oriental" from the Merrian-Webster dictionary online.

Main Entry: Oriental

Function: noun

1 sometimes offensive : ASIAN; especially : one who is a native of east Asia or is of east Asian descent

2 : ORIENTAL RUG

3 : ORIENTAL SHORTHAIR

It is a known offensive word and has been for quite sometime now and something that needed to be corrected. Like I said, I'm a bit disappointed with the remark, not insulted nor am I calling anyone anything.

As for your question about the game, it's a game that spans cultures (all of Asia), people (billions) and time (thousands of years). People of certain areas had their own variety that they played. Additionally, there's a philosophy and belief behind the game, so I'm sure each varieity had been kept over the years. Anyway, this all can be found on the internet.

[night]

who hasent got Trivial Pursuit or Monopoly board games laying around i guess the differents are we dont wanna use money on those types of game in the arcade (unlike the asians) the MahJong are kinda simple games so not a big thing to release a new clone here and there and if it makes money well who wouldnt keep it going

And there are ALOT released for the Pc as well all those Hoyle packs ....

[Marker0077]

right but not in the arcades - that's the point. MAME is an arcade emulator.

[hansolo77]

Why are there so many Street Fighter games? Why are there so many Mario games? Why are there so many [insert game here]? Maybe because it's popular? Different variations on a game for different styles of play and differing "versions". For instance. The very first Street Fighter was more like a "Streets of Rage" game for the Sega Genesis. (Don't quote me on that, I'm just pretty sure that right) Now it's got X number of versions, variations, and styles of play. From puzzle games, to flat out tournament fighting, to crossovers with Marvels comics and the like. The same is true with Mario. More, different levels. More characters. New stories. If every thing was the same, it'd be really boring if all the did was improve graphics.

To put it another way. Why are there so many Solitaire card games? Its the same thing. MOST people associated Solitaire with the classic Klondike game. But there are TONS of versions and variations. Like Tri-Peaks, Freecell, and Spider. So with Mahjong, it's the same deal. You have Shanghai (match 2 tiles to clear them) and those more advanced (yet to learn) versions with 2 people playing a game of war (broadly spoken, as I said I've never learned it).

So there's my 2 cents.

[Adultery]

Perhaps Mahjong is like their version of playing cards / poker / video slots / etc... I have played many a card game in the bar - or even poker machines. I'm sure they play Mahjong in the bar and there have to be like 15000+ different poker machines in America.

Yeah.

[Marker0077]

alright, perhaps I'm not being clear enough. It's not that there are so many MJ games - it's that they're in MAME. I tried doing some research on the internet & could not find anything on there being MJ arcades, so why is there over 50 different versions of this game in an arcade emulator?

[sWampy]

Just for your information the definition of "oriental" from the Merrian-Webster dictionary online.

Main Entry: Oriental

Function: noun

1 sometimes offensive : ASIAN; especially : one who is a native of east Asia or is of east Asian descent

2 : ORIENTAL RUG

3 : ORIENTAL SHORTHAIR

It is a known offensive word and has been for quite sometime now and something that needed to be corrected. Like I said, I'm a bit disappointed with the remark, not insulted nor am I calling anyone anything.

As for your question about the game, it's a game that spans cultures (all of Asia), people (billions) and time (thousands of years). People of certain areas had their own variety that they played. Additionally, there's a philosophy and belief behind the game, so I'm sure each varieity had been kept over the years. Anyway, this all can be found on the internet.

This is so sad.

[Deadly]

I would like to answer this question.........

Why are there so many Mahjong games in Mame? MAME is a collection ...... it helps us old timers keep the nostalgia alive AND allows us the "extra benefit" of experiencing what the JAPANESE and EUROPEANS experienced when they were kids.

Do I like seeing flippin Mahjong? No....not at all BUT that's why Mame has a filter and Tom was kind enough to not only add a filter option BUT ALSO the delete key function. Mame is a collection ..... and personally I like to see people SHAT their drawers when they see 6140 some games show up LOL!

[hansolo77]

...I've never been able to see 6140 games..

[Ricci]

6140?? On a good day all I get is 5330...what gives??

[Marker0077]

After filtering out the (except better) clones I get around 2500.

I would like to answer this question.........

Why are there so many Mahjong games in Mame? MAME is a collection ...... it helps us old timers keep the nostalgia alive AND allows us the "extra benefit" of experiencing what the JAPANESE and EUROPEANS experienced when they were kids.

Let's try this again, I think this is going to be my last time to try & explain this...

MAME = Arcade emulator with over 50 Mah Jongg games

Mah Jongg = Not in arcades

Me = WTF?

[night]

After filtering out the (except better) clones I get around 2500.Let's try this again, I think this is going to be my last time to try & explain this...

MAME = Arcade emulator with over 50 Mah Jongg games

Mah Jongg = Not in arcades

Me = WTF?

not in the arcades in your place mby but im sure they are in asian countries still

and M.A.M.E. is trying to emulate all arcade games alot of the games you wont see in the arcades as well

either becouse of age or they dont bring in money...

[lingpanda]

http://www.klov.com/game_list.php?letter=M...;type=Videogame