ASTRAWARE | palm os products

Mahjongg Information

Current released version: 2.0 - 1st September, 2002
Current release expires: never
Feedback to: Larry Dyde (larry@astraware.com)
Game Info: http://palm.astraware.com/mahjongg/
Recent update headlines: Support for High Resolution devices and Expansion Cards.

Copyright (c) 1999,2000,2001,2002 Astraware Ltd. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.

Introduction

Mahjongg is based on the traditional Chinese game, with an implementation of the solitaire game.

The player is shown a carefully stacked pattern of tiles, and has to pick pairs of tiles which match until none are left. Full instructions for playing this version of Mahjongg are available on the Astraware web site.

Astraware Mahjongg Solitaire Features:

- Stunning use of graphics throughout.
- Three levels of difficulty - including patterns guaranteed to be solvable.
- Full 8-bit color and greyscale support.
- Support for High Resolution displays.
- Selectable layouts, with three included in the basic game.
- Selectable backgrounds, with plain colors or images.
- Selectable tile sets with different patterns to choose from.
- Support for reading data packs from expansion cards.
- Multi-level undo.
- Hint and shuffle features for trickier games.
- Option to highlight tiles that are available for removing.
- Detection of unsolvable positions.
- Intelligent demo-play mode - which displays the current time.
- Two tile sizes for improved visibility and gameplay.
- Option to zoom in on individual tiles, or on the whole board.
- Draggable screen to allow boards bigger than the screen.
- Optional sound effects.
- Animations to enhance the gameplay.
- Tips for beginners when the game is first loaded. (Can be cancelled for experienced players)
- Shortcuts for most common operations.
- Expansion pack facility, so that the user can add more tile sets, backgrounds and layouts.
- Individual high scores for each layout and level of difficulty.
- Option to display game timer or real time clock.

How To Install

Use an extractor program such as WinZip on the PC or Stuffit Expander on the Mac to get at the Mahjongg files. Install the game by double-clicking either mahjongg.prc or if you have a device with a High Resolution display mahjongg-highres.prc.

Use the HotSync button as usual to install the game onto your handheld.

Now run Mahjongg and tap the screen to play the game!

If you've got any queries about Mahjongg or the registration process, first check out our frequently asked questions page on our website (you must be connected to the internet to access this). If this doesn't help, get in touch with us at support@astraware.com. If you've got any questions (or suggestions, we love those) about the game itself, please get in touch with us at the email address at the top of this page.

Playing Mahjongg

Install and run the game on your Palm.
Tap the screen to start a game !

The game will work out and build up a set of tiles in your selected layout.

To toggle between large and small tiles,press the scroll up or scroll down buttons on your Palm.

There are also several other selections available from the menu:

- Undo - This allows you to place back some of the tiles which you have removed. Up to 10 steps can be undone.
- Hint Move - This will show you two tiles on the current screen which could be taken to form a match.
- Moves Available - This will show you the number of moves that are currently available.
- Shuffle Tiles - This will randomly re-organize the remaining tiles, this also stops you from getting a high score which is shown by a 'S' appearing after the timer.
- Toggle Tile Size - Switch between using the large and small tiles.
- Pause Game - Stop the counter while you are not playing the game or restart when you want to resume, this can also be done by tapping the screen while the 'Paused' message is shown.
- Abandon Game - Leave the Current Game.
- Demo Play - This will play the remainder of the game automatically.
- Select Layout - There are several layouts included in the game and others are available in expansions packs, use this option to switch between them. If you are in a game when you change the layout you will have to start again.
- Select Background - There is a background included and others are available in expansions packs. You can also select a color (or shaded) background using this option.
- Select Tile Set - There is a beginner set and a traditional set included and others are available in expansions packs.
- Toggle Boss Mode - (Color Devices Only)Switch between the colour and greyscale graphics.
- Delete Expansion Pack - If you have any expansion packs installed you can use this option to remove them.
- High Scores - THis will take you to the High Scores screen from the title screen or demo play.
- Reset High Scores - Wipe the high score table for all levels of difficulty of the current layout.
- Show Playing Tip - Show one of the hints to help you play the game more effectively.
- Beam Demo - Beam a copy of the game to your friends for them to try.
- Game Difficulty - The Easy and Medium levels are guaranteed to be possible, but on Hard the layout is completely random!
- Game Settings - Change the basic game settings including:

> 1. Tile Depth - More Depth gives you an extra border around the tiles to help you to see what levels tiles are at.
> 2. Volume - The level of the game tones, Silent, Quiet or Loud. (Setting to quiet also reduces the number of sound effects that get played)
> 3. Timer - Show the game timer, a Clock, or neither.

- Palette Settings (Greyscale only) - this allows you to adjust the actual darkness of the light and dark grey colors. Combined with the contrast setting for your Palm device, a good display visible in your light conditions should be possible.
- Register - here you will find your HotSync ID, which you will need in order to register the game. There is also a space for you to enter your registration code once you receive it.
- 'About Mahjongg' - this will show you the version of Mahjongg that you have installed on your Palm.

Expansion Packs

If you like a little variety now and then (don't we all?) then we've constructed some expansion packs for you to download and install into your Palm. The Mahjongg game will automatically open them and give you the option of using any of the backgrounds, layouts, or tile sets which are useable on your machine.

The available expansion packs are listed for you at the Astraware Mahjongg Extras Page

We hope also to add the facility for you to create your own backgrounds from a bitmap image.

Hidden Features

The game itself should be intuitive and easy to play - and we wanted to keep the menus as simple as possible too. However - some people requested other little features that we wanted to include, even if we didn't want to force a novice user to use them!

- Tap on the 'tiles remaining' box at the top of the screen to get a hint.
- Tap on the 'Layout' or 'Level' on the high score panel to go straight into changing them.
- Graffiti Backspace will perform an undo.
- Tap on the Timer/Clock to pause.
- Use the Scroll Up / Scroll Down key to move between small and large tile sizes.
- Tap and hold a small tile to show a zoomed version - release and it will go back a second later.

Registering

If you downloaded the game straight from the internet, from Astraware's web pages, or from one of the popular Palm download sites, then your copy is in 'Demo' form. Demo means that you can play 10 games for free, and then decide whether to register it or not. After these games are up, the program will display a short message asking you to register or purchase a full version from a shop!

If you beam a demo to someone else, and they also like the game, then they can register it either by purchasing a copy from a local store, or by purchasing online.

Registering Online:

For those that like the speed and convenience of buying of the internet, when you register for the game, you'll get a key which will unlock the game and remain valid for future 2.x upgrades. Go to the web page at http://palm.astraware.com/mahjongg/
for more details.

You'll need to know your HotSync ID which you can find by running Mahjongg, and going into the menu, and selecting the 'register' option. Your HotSync ID (or username) will be filled in for you below.
When you register, Astraware will generate a key based on your ID, which will normally be sent out by email within 48 hours of you registering. When you receive your key, go to the same register option, and enter the key into the space provided.

Astraware Products

You can find out about Astraware and the product range we have for the Palm-powered platform by visiting our website at www.astraware.com/.
Here are our top products at time of writing:

Astraware Palm Packs
GameHouse Games Pack 1 | Get shuffling with Nisqually, blast those blocks with Collapse and test your word power with TextTwist!
GameHouse Games Pack 2 |
It's A Blast! Shooting Pack | Let out your tension with some target practice with Astraware's collection of great screen-tapping games!
Palm Games Pack 2001 | 4 games for under $25 - save over 25%
PopCap Games Pack | PopCap Games are sweeping the web, and now Astraware brings the top games to the Palm
Astraware Palm Games
Abysma | It's a race against time as you attempt to fill in the puzzle pieces before the descending bar of doom!
Alchemy | Turn lead into gold in Astraware's addictive PopCap puzzle game!
Astro Defence | Defend your city from the asteroid threat!
Atomica | Make Molecules in Dr. Atomica's Laboratory in Astraware's addictive PopCap puzzle game!
Bang! Bang! | Backyard blasting fun
Bejeweled | Bejeweled is a Palm version of the incredibly popular and addictive online game by PopCap
Big Money! | Coin collecting fun in another Pop Cap classic!
Biplane Ace | Dogfight against rival fighter pilots
Bounce Out | Brain bending ball matching action
Bzzz! for Palm | Fly-catching action for the Palm
Collapse! | Tap matching blocks in this simple but frantic GameHouse game.
Elixir | Collect valuable elixir from a stack of capsules without upsetting the balance in this ultra addictive game from Trixiam Studios.
Eye of Horus | Unleash your magical powers with this Astraware puzzle game.
Galaxy Ranger | Be a Galaxy Ranger, Save the Universe!
Gem Drop | Gem dropping, jewel matching fun
Glinx |
Mad Gab | ...It's not what you SAY, it's what you HEAR!
Mahjongg | Relax your mind with the most authentic Mahjongg solitaire game for Palm-powered handhelds
Mars Needs Cows | The challenging PopCap puzzle game of animal abduction!
Mummy Maze | Escape the maze and outsmart the mummy in this great PopCap game!
Nisqually | Make lines of blocks to clear the screen and complete the level
Noah's Ark | Save pairs of animals from the rising water in this great PopCap game!
Police Range | Police Range is a fast game of reactions, dexterity, accuracy and good judgment!
Round Up | Marble Moving Madness
Seven Seas | Ship Ahoy! Blast pirates with a broadside and navigate through dangerous waters, in this PopCap puzzle game
TacTic | A twist on the classic Tic-Tac-Toe game pits you against the brain
Text Twist | Juggle letters to make as many words as you can in a limited time!
Zap!2000 | Arcade gaming on the Palm has never looked so good!
Zap!2016 | The essential showcase for your 16-bit color Palm
Astraware Palm Applications
e.Guide | Your essential TV episode guide for Palm
Timetable | Know whats when with Timetable!
Timetable Plus | The essential tool for teachers and students, with assignment tracker
Timetable Pro | The essential tool for teachers and students

Release Revision History!

Release 2.0 : 1st September, 2002

- Support for High Resolution devices.
- Expansion Card support.
- Improved memory management.
- Faster graphics system
- Option to highlight tiles that are available for removing.
- Improved difficulty for the Hard level
- 'Please Wait' messages while the game is busy.

Release 1.2 : 1st May, 2001

- Faster Response
- Improved Shadows
- Shading on Layers of Tiles

Release 1.1 : 5th March, 2001

- Show a match for the selected tile.
- B to switch backgrounds.
- Undo deselects current tile.
- Bug fix to stop program locking while building the board.
- Boss Mode to let you play in greyscale on a color device.
- Clock format set by system preferences.
- Show the number of moves currently available.
- Updated Registration System
- Fixed bug causing preferences to be lost occasionally

Release 1.0 : 1st January, 2001

- First Public Release
- Beta Timeout removed

Feedback

If you've got suggestions about how to improve Astraware Mahjongg - or with reports of any problems you've had, then please contact us!

Mahjongg enquiries/feedback: mahjongg@astraware.com
Registration problems: registrations@astraware.com
General Astraware enquiries: feedback@astraware.com

Contributors

Game Design: Howard Tomlinson and Larry Dyde Programming: Larry Dyde Graphics: Stephen Thorley and David Oakley

Legal

Astraware Ltd takes no responsibility for any adverse effect that this software could cause to your machine or the data on it: backup important data before using Mahjongg. Mahjongg is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. Mahjongg is licensed, not sold.

You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble this software.
Astraware’s and its suppliers’ entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall be, at Astraware’s option, either (a) return of the price paid, if any, or (b) replacement of the product that does not meet the warranty and which is returned to Astraware with a copy of your receipt. This warranty is void if failure of the product has resulted from accident, abuse, or misapplication. Any replacement software product will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer. These remedies are not available without proof of purchase from an authorized source.

Written permission must be obtained before distribution of this game, either in demo form or full form, through any online or offline methods.

Copyright (c) 1999,2000,2001,2002 Astraware Ltd. All rights reserved..

Astraware and the planet logo are trademarks of Astraware Limited. All rights reserved.