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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 22, 2022 21:37:44 GMT -5
Containment thread for all my future ramblings about video games -- old and new -- dedicated to riichi mahjong, go, shogi, Shanghai, gomoku, hanafuda, and Reversi. Gonna be an exciting thread!!! Updates coming soon!!
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 29, 2022 14:20:38 GMT -5
Riichi MahjongThe Game Mahjong is an ancient Asian tile-based game traditionally played with four players, though two and three player variations exist. Similar to the Western card game rummy, the goal is to create melds (pairs, triplets, etc) by either drawing tiles or taking another player's discard. Several variants of mahjong exist and vary by region. Most mahjong video games are Japanese and thus adhere to the Japanese ruleset (riichi). Here we see several additional elements of play, most notably the addition of "yuka" -- specific conditions that determine winning hands and prevent "cheap" winning hands from being played. Mahjong adheres to a complex scoring system, that can thankfully be tallied automatically in the digital realm. The Video Games
Mahjong video games became widely commercially available in Japan beginning in 1983, with the first cluster being simple affairs. Nintendo's eponymous Mahjong was a smash hitting, pitting a single player against a computer opponent with adjustable difficulty. This was soon followed by 4 Nin uchi Mahjong, which allows one to play against three AI opponents. Other developers, such as Namco, Nichibutsu, and Capcom joined the Famicom mahjong craze, with Capcom developing their own mahjong controller with one key assigned to each tile. The Game Boy launched with a mahjong title itself, Yakuman by Intelligent Systems, which was followed by a very good Famicom sequel. Sega's output was a bit slower during the 8-bit era, with a few SG-1000 mahjong games and a lone entry on the Mark III. As the 8-bit era crossed into 16-bit, developers became more adventurous -- literally and figuratively, as we begin to see the emergence of mahjong adventure and JRPG games (think Dragon Quest but with mahjong battles as opposed to bashing slimes!). Another trend big in the fourth and fifth generations was that ecchi and "idol" mahjong, where gameplay is paired with images of cute young women, oftentimes in various stages of undress. These can largely be found on the PC Engine and Saturn. Mahjong games featuring the licenses of anime characters also became a thing, with games like Evangelion mahjong, among others. As the fifth gen progressed in Japan, many simplistic video games became "budget releases" priced significantly lower than 50-hour JRPGs and the like. Such was the fate of mahjong, which appears several times in D3's "Simple" line. Budget mahjong releases continued through the sixth generation, and today most video game mahjong adaptations are either digital or part of some larger board game compilation. Learning the GameMahjong takes many hours (and losses) to learn. Jumping right into a Famicom classic or one of those ecchi games, tempting as it is, is a recipe for disaster. They typically contain no tutorials: you will lose badly and understand nothing. Thankfully there's a wide range of resources available for learning: books, videos, etc. Buying a set of actual tiles is a wise idea too, for irl play. For those who wish to learn mahjong video games through video games: there are two modern titles I will recommend continually in this thread. They are Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics and THE Table Game (in that order). Both contain in-game tutorials. Happy tiling!~
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Post by Ex on Dec 29, 2022 14:57:07 GMT -5
bonesnapdeezThanks for the fun history lesson. (I did end up buying my niece and nephew a physical copy of Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics for Switch, following your recommendation.) Being the simple man that I am, the ecchi mahjong games look appealing. But I get the gist I'd prefer to play mahjong in real life (fat chance of that in the southeast USA). Last year I watched an anime called Akagi that was about a genius mahjong player operating in seedy underground Yakuza games. It was a high stakes drama. You may like that anime (or probably the manga in your case). But moreover there are some Akagi video games primarily about playing mahjong while following exciting story lines: Akagi: Touhaiden 3DO Akagi: Touhaiden PS1 Akagi: Yami ni Furitatta Tensai PS2 Touhai Densetsu - Akagi DS: Yami ni Maiorita Tensai DS Granted these remain Japanese only. But that may not be a problem for you.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 29, 2022 17:05:04 GMT -5
bonesnapdeez Thanks for the fun history lesson. (I did end up buying my niece and nephew a physical copy of Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics for Switch, following your recommendation.) Being the simple man that I am, the ecchi mahjong games look appealing. But I get the gist I'd prefer to play mahjong in real life (fat chance of that in the southeast USA). This is what mahjong in the US looks like: And those games looks pretty cool. Always nice to see 3DO representation!!
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 29, 2022 20:30:15 GMT -5
GoThe GameGo (or "igo"), known as the oldest board game still played today, originated in China and is popular across Asia (including Japan). The game is typically played on a 19×19 grid, though smaller ones are commonly used to simplify and streamline play. Two players, assigned black and white stones, alternate moves and must place their stones where lines intersect (as opposed to within squares as seen in checkers and so on). The goal is to win via point accumulation. This is done via acquisition of territory (blocking off areas of the board so the opponent cannot legally place a stone within) and capturing enemy stones by surrounding them completely. A couple of small additional rules are adhered to as well: one that prevents suicide moves and another that prevents infinite gameplay loops. While base rules are simple, strategy is incredibly complex and matches can be lengthy. The Video GamesGo video games got a later start than their mahjong counterparts, with the first go console titles appearing in the late 1980s. While go games are extremely numerous, they are almost uniformly serious, spartan experiences. As in, don't expect any "idol" go games or go RPGs. Instead look for those games that feature many options and pleasing aesthetics. Occasionally a game will feature the likeness of a professional player: For those who like to explore things chronically from the 80s, I recommend starting with Igo: Kyuu Roban Taikyoku and Hayauchi Super Igo. Learning the GameI really love this tutorial which lays everything out in a 10-ish minute read. THE Table Game also includes go + an accompanying tutorial.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 30, 2022 17:05:10 GMT -5
ShogiThe GameShogi is a game of Japanese origin often referred to as "Japanese chess" for the obvious reasons. Players compete on a grid comprised of nine rows and nine columns. The goal is to checkmate the other player, and pieces move in very specific ways based on classification. Outside of the familiar chess-like rules, shogi also allows pieces to be promoted once they reach a certain part of the board. Also, captured pieces can be brought back to the board, under the control of the player who did the capturing. Shogi's aesthetics can make it tricky to acclimate to, even for those who are familiar with chess. Pieces do not have instantly identifiable designs; instead they differ based on labels written in kanji. Also, the pieces and board holistically adhere to a rather monochromatic color scheme. The Video GamesShogi video games are like go video games in that they're pretty serious affairs, so interested parties should consider what video game generation they like best and proceed accordingly. I'm partial to the crunchier 8-bit games. Seta has an excellent line, beginning with Hon Shogi: Naitou Kudan Shogi Hiden -- the game features a fan translation that even "translates" the symbols on the pieces, making it very n00b friendly. Seta's follow-up, Morita Shogi, is also quite good and is actually the first Famicom game to feature a battery save. It also spawned a series that extends until the seventh generation. AI Shogi is another series worth getting into, for those who want mostly 5th-7th gen experiences. Games showcasing shogi professionals are also popular; see the games featuring Yoshiharu Habu for instance. As with mahjong and go, most modern shogi video game experiences are either digital downloads or segments of compilations. Learning the GameThis is one case where it's really simple to get the game irl for tactile learning. You can find a shogi set for less than $20. Once again I'll mention Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics and THE Table Game, as both feature shogi and an accompanying tutorial.... but there's more!! A special, simplified variant of shogi -- tailored towards children and beginners -- has existed for a little while now. Dubbed dobutsu shogi it features cutsey animal pieces and simplified gameplay. Some use this as a way to ease into the more complex game. Real-life boards of this do exist, but there's also a digital version available. --- Well that covers "the big three" -- mahjong, go, and shogi. Next I'll cover some games that are more simplistic, arguably more fun, but have fewer video game adaptations.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 30, 2022 18:31:25 GMT -5
ShanghaiThe GameJust as a solitaire game can be played with Western playing cards, there also exists a solitaire game that can be played with mahjong tiles. Though sometimes referred to literally as "mahjong solitaire" it's better known as Shanghai. One needn't know any complicated riichi mahjong rules to play Shanghai. The rules are quite simple. The player begins faced with a decorative arrangement of tiles. The goal is to remove all tiles by making matches. Tiles can only be matched if they are free to "slide out" horizontally and are not presently wedged under other tiles. Strategic play is a must as simply matching willy nilly can lead to an unwinnable situation. Note that unlike the other games I'm featuring in this thread, Shanghai is almost never played in the analog real life sense, due to the impracticality of setting up arrangements of actual mahjong tiles. This one exists almost strictly in the video game realm. The Video GamesFirst and foremost, Activision literally began a video game series called Shanghai in the mid-80s. It remains the premier series for mahjong solitaire, perhaps the only one you'll ever need. These games have remained popular in the West as well as Japan, where SunSoft has traditionally handled publishing duties. The first few games in the series are multi-plat messes, with releases on old computers and (unlocalized) versions on Japanese consoles. For those looking to start at square one I'd recommend the SMS version of the first game, which is still incredibly cheap and easy to find, and then working forward through the SNES and Genesis titles (and beyond!). These games were everywhere: the 3DO, the Saturn, the PC-FX... even the Neo Geo Pocket Color and WonderSwan. Oh, and the arcade! Including one that now resides as part of the Arcade Archives. Okay, that's cool..... but what about Shanghai games not made by Activision?? This is where things get weird. See, apparently Activision copyrighted the "Shanghai" name for their video game line. So what is the non-Activision stuff called? You would think these developers would simply use the term "mahjong solitaire" and while some did, most just released games under the "mahjong" moniker! To put it simply, virtually every Western "mahjong" video game -- especially modern ones found on digital storefronts -- is actually a variant of mahjong solitaire. This includes the game that is literally called Mahjong on Steam and the eShop, along with those ten million "casual" mahjong games, and so on. So, be aware of that. Learning the GameEasy peasy! You'll have the basics down in two minutes. If you really desire a formal tutorial I will once again refer to Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 30, 2022 19:36:36 GMT -5
GomokuThe GameThat's a go board... those are black and white go stones... but this isn't go, it's gomoku! This game is rather easy to understand. You know how tic-tac-toe is kinda crummy because most games end in a draw? Gomoku is basically a similar game where such nonsense never happens. Here players must place five of their stones in a row -- horizontally, vertically, or diagonally -- and there's plenty of extra space to play around with. The concept is simple but strategy is deep. One small wrinkle: many (most?) folks who play gomoku adhere to the renju variant, which is also what video games do. This doesn't mean too much: just that black is restricted from making a couple of very specific moves. This is done to counteract the inherent advantage that black gains by going first. The Video GamesAs this is such a simple game very few dedicated video game adaptations were developed. The most important one is Gomoku Narabe Renju for the Famicom. One of the very few Famicom games released during that launch year of '83 (and also one of the few Famicom carts to be released with two different labels) it pits two human players against each other or one human player against one of three AI settings. Surprisingly, a 1983 cartridge-based gomoku game was also released in the West in 1983, for those lucky enough to own a Tandy Color Computer. As it stands, the vast majority of gomoku video game adaptations were either obscure computer titles or part of larger compilations. This has been true since the mid-80s. Learning the GameI think I explained it pretty well! But, once again, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics also has a nice little tutorial.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 31, 2022 9:50:53 GMT -5
HanafudaThe GameHanafuda is a name given to small Japanese playing cards decorated with beautiful color images of plants, animals, and scenery. Nintendo was in the hanafuda business for many years before shifting to electronic video games in the 1970s. The game most traditionally played with hanafuda cards -- and the one most represented within the world of video games -- is called "koi-koi." The goal is to form yaku -- special card combinations that can be redeemed for points. This is done by matching cards within a hand, matching with a drawn card, or matching with cards already on the table. The Video GamesThe hanafuda video game scene is a fun, crazy mess like the mahjong game scene, just with far fewer games to choose from. One key additional difference is that there are very few 8-bit hanafuda video games. In fact, things didn't really take off until around 1994 or so with Super Famicom releases like Super Hanafuda and Hanafuda Ou. There are straightforward hanafuda games alongside more elaborate adventure games starring casts of anime-styled opponents. There are bishoujo games and idol games, and once again budget titles eventually became the norm. Again, almost all of these are dedicated to "koi-koi" though some may get into additional games (remember, "hanafuda" actually refers to the cards themselves). Learning the GameIt should be mentioned that Nintendo still makes hanafuda cards. I'd recommend getting a deck for irl gaming; they're very beautiful and a great conversation piece. Anyway, learning something like koi-koi isn't any more difficult than learning a Western card game. As far as video game tutorials go, I will once again mention that hanafuda is represented on both Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics and THE Table Game. There are also some decent budget hanafuda games on Steam if you want to learn the game with cutesy anime gals.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Dec 31, 2022 10:17:55 GMT -5
ReversiThe GameReversi (perhaps better known by the patented name Othello) is the only game of Western origin I'll cover in this thread. It's huge in Japan, which is where the modern rules were refined, and of course where most decent video game adaptations are produced. In Reversi two players face off with disks colored white and black on each side. One player is assigned white side up, the the other black. Disks are placed one at a time on a board, and are flipped once captured. Disks are captured when an opponent traps a piece/pieces by surrounding it/them on two sides, whether vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. One important rule is that a move can only be made if capturing is taking place, though passes may be made end-game if no legal moves are available. The score (and thus the lead) changes constantly throughout the game, with the win often not apparent until the final crucial moves. The Video GamesThere are many of these. We can even go back to the second gen and find 'em on the Atari 2600 and Odyssey 2. The HAL Labs developed NES game Othello (Fami/FDS in Japan) was a small hit, and a comparable release is found on the SG-1000. It should be noted that playing Reversi against a computer opponent can be very frustrating, especially in older games without robust difficulty selections. Having a second human player on hand is recommended. From the fourth gen forward video game adaptations of Reversi are almost strictly Japanese or (more recently) worldwide digital releases. Most of these games are very straightforward with few frills. If you want digitized Othello, well, that's what's available. Learning the GameI once again recommend getting a real life game board. It's a tough, fun, popular game. Great for kids and easy to travel with too. For additional video game tutorials I will once again (for the last time) mention Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics and THE Table Game. ------------ Such ends my "overview" posts which were hopefully of some use. The rest of the thread can be dedicated to discussion of specific video games.
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