tech.tarts

OK I’ll admit it. I’m an addict. A full-fledged, can’t put it down, think about it when it isn’t with me, utter addict of the electronic game “Mahjong.”

I was first introduced to Mahjong on a Virgin America flight from SFO to Las Vegas on their super cool in-flight RED system that rests in the back of each passenger seat in front of you. (If you have a need to go somewhere Virgin America flies I suggest taking one of their flights to check it out. They’re a very Tartalicious airline.)

Mahjong was originally played beginning in the late 1800’s in China and was made up of a deck of stone, ivory or bone tiles with pairs of images and numbers carved into them. Players would take turns trying to match the pairs. Simple right? Today’s electronic version is pretty much the same except you play against yourself instead of other players. Dozens of game manufacturers make Mahjong that is available for downloading onto your iPod or Blackberry.

Now don’t fret, even though Mahjong is a “game” it falls into the “strategy and memorization” category of gaming, which means it’s actually good for you! So you can keep your tartalicious noodle sharp while having fun.

I downloaded Mahjong onto both my Blackberry and iPod Touch and much prefer it on the iPod. The scrolly-ball navigation on the Blackberry makes it hard to use and it takes away from the fun of the game.

Mahjong for iPod Touch/iPhones: If you own an iPod, by now I’m guessing you’ve figured out how to download applications. If you haven’t, click here to read our step-by-step instructions. Once you go into the App Store, type in the search box “Mahjong” and you’ll get tons of listings. Many of them offer a free version in addition to the paid version. Don’t bother with the free version, trust this TechTart and go straight to the paid one. Here is how to choose your Mahjong game:

A. Look for one with tiles that are clear, bright and easy to read.

B. Find one with a high number of user downloads and reviews. Generally this indicates the software developer has a large following and will continue to make updates and improvements to the game. This is good.

C. Look for a feature that allows you to increase the screen size/zoom in, since on a full board the tiles can be tiny and hard to read.

D. I looked for a game that had multiple playing options such as a self-timer so you can try and beat your best time, and one that had options for level of difficulty (Easy, Medium, Difficult challenges).

E. Other things I like are the option to have different deck configurations and game board layouts – and the ability to earn bonus boards or bonus levels to play.

G. If you enjoy listening to music while you play games, make sure the one you select has the option of listening to the game music or your own.

I ended up buying Aki Mahjong v. 1.0.4 by Ambrosia Software, Inc. It cost me $4.99. I love it, but have played a few other versions I like just as much.

HOW TO PLAY: Look for pairs. Seriously, that’s it. Might not sound that fun or challenging, but I assure you it is! To play you click on a tile, then click on its mate. Once you find a match the tiles disappear. Do this as quickly as you can since most of the games are timed. Sounds simple, but many of the tiles look very similar so it’s not quite as easy as you may think at first.

In the meantime, I’m sitting on a United Airlines flight right now, hoping my laptop battery dies on me soon so I can stop working and happily get back to my saved game of Mahjong in progress. Aki Mahjong for the iPod Touch is great and this Tart highly recommends it.

tt.t