Kyodai Mahjongg

I last posted here ten years ago, to celebrate Kyodai Mahjongg's tenth anniversary. I didn't know, at the time, that I would never release another version of the game. And yet...

It's hard to imagine that 20 years after its release, the website is still here, and I'm here to celebrate again.
I stopped development for a simple, good reason: burn-out. I'd spent a couple years working on useless details of KMJ instead of adding a story mode like every game does these days. (I had a really interesting story ready to use, too.)
Then I soon lost my PC and with it, my development environment, and it was too complicated to reinstall properly. I might be able to recompile the game one day, but I'm not placing any bets on it. I'd still like to put that story to words. Maybe I'll do a new KMJ from scratch. I don't know. And I'll get rid of that terrible Comic Sans MS font that hurts my eyes each time I point my eyes at the 'Hall of Fame'.

The fact is, Kyodai is still as wonderful as it was 20 years ago. It was the best of its kind (and probably still is), sold decently online and very well in retail (under the name 'Mahjongg Master'), it won Shareware Industry Awards two years in a row, was a precursor of the indie scene, inspired dozens of clones, and its soundtrack is just as timeless today as it was at the time. Miguel Samiez, once a simple neighbor who 'owed me one' for stealing a Final Fantasy CD before I tracked it down to him a year later (true story!), became a good friend and I became a fan. He wrote songs for me as his way to apologize, and it made him realize he wanted to be a musician. His later albums have all been fantastic. And finally, the KMJ community is still alive, I'm friends with many players on Facebook. They still play the game to this day. Even my mother-in-law has been playing it every day for years.

To thousands of people, Kyodai has to been them what Spider Solitaire is to me: the go-to game to launch for a quick minu...hour...evening when you want to clear your mind. I'm just happy I can be part of your lives.

I really have no reason to complain. After a few years of putting it aside, I started selling Kyodai again last year as a way for fans to support me (and my happy offspring), and I still sell a couple copies a week, so it's nice to know you all still care about it. For many years, I simply didn't realize. I missed out. Now I'll never forget.

Here's to another few decades of happy matching!

Well done, Nao :yeah: I am still playing the games and still enjoy them.  I'm sure you will agree 20 years has just flown buy.  But, I am sure it's made you a fortune and well deserved too.  I am sure you have given pleasure to hundreds. :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:

Agreed. The adaptability is excellent. I get a yen to make a new tile set every now and then and enjoy that as much as the game.

I saw Paul McCartney in Frankfurt in '89. that was the tour where he first put his Beatles music back in his act. The ticket was 40 DM and that included train fare to and from the show. That was the best money to value ratio I ever had.
The $20 I spent on Kyodai is the second best.

@jessam> Not a fortune, because I got ripped off by eGames for my retail contract (I was so happy to be in physical shops, I accepted a ridiculous flat fee from them), but I'm a man of little needs, so to me it *was* a fortune.

@Freddish> Thanks ^o^;

Congrats on the 20th birthday. :app: Maybe we'll see a new release in some years. :whistle:

Well, I'll never say never!

Plus it's the only thing I've been able to sell more than a few copies of in my life. :lol:

I happened to be browsing my software library, came across Kyodai Mahjongg, and figured I'd check in just to see what was up for nostalgia's sake.  This is still one of my favorite games of all time!  :yeah:

:)

I wanted to congratulate you on the longevity of your wonderful game. Hardly a day goes by when either myself or my wife plays Kyodai - it still captivates us and still frustrates me (in a good way).
Even though you haven't created an update, or a new version, you have been tremendously helpful. A few years ago I was having a problem with Kyodai when Microsoft produced an update/upgrade that had me in a tizzy. You quickly offered me a solution that has kept me playing on.

Many thanks

Happy 20th.

Thank you! ^_^

Try contacting GOG.com. Lots of indies and AAA's sell there

I love this game. I am always delighted when it continues to function on every new version of windows.

Kudos to you.  :yeah: :yeah:

Thank you :)

@clisair, GOG rocks (especially because they're a sister company of CD Projekt Red, the makers of my favorite AAA game), but they're very selective of the games they sell (even more so than Valve/Steam).
Also, I'm getting old and I don't feel like selling the qualities of my game to a company that gave up on its "Good Old Games" (i.e. retro) policy a couple years ago. I don't think I've ever seen an indie casual game over there, either. Or some kind of Shanghai clone in general.

 :heart: Happy Anniversary Nao.
KMJ is still my go-to game.

Wow! Good to hear from you, oldgreyhouse! It's been too long.

I would CRY  :snif: :ouch: :sob: if I could no longer have a download of Kyodai Mahjongg on my computer!! This game has helped to get me through some very unsettling times. I hope that you will find a way to continue making it available for all posterity. Thank you for all of your hard work in developing this game and for coming back to it to check in on it and on the many fans you have accumulated over the years.  :friends: May you have equal success in all that you do.  :app: :yeah:

BTW, I began playing in 2010 and purchased the game in 2011. I don't consider myself a newbie, but I have not played competitively with anyone else. I'm a solitaire lover.  ;)

Don't worry, it'll always be available to re-download... ;)
I've launched many websites since 1996, and all of them are still online today, even if they don't generate any revenue. It's important, to me.
Also, regarding multiplayer, I only implemented it as a service to several users who requested it. I personally only tested it a couple times with a girlfriend, nothing more. I always consider KMJ to be a game of relaxation, not a competition game. But to each their own, really! And it's fun to try at least once...

I purchased this game in 2000 (28/1/2000) -- and still love to play it several PCs later ......

Thanks :)

Hey Boss, if you don't mind my asking, does your profile picture resemble you at all any more? I'm not asking you to post a new one, I just know how different I look from when I first joined the Kyodai crowd.

You have made me think, Freddish.  I have studied me and realised I have not changed very much over the years.  My white sweater and dark blue shirt I still wear and still look good in them!!  :sob: :sob: :sob: :sob:

It's a shame. :sob: Maybe  it will come very alive again  :whistle:

I've always thought you were beautiful, Jessam. Don't ever change for me, baby. :patpat:

Thanks for all the fun over the years!

 :lol!:

Things are really looking bad for the Forum because of the recent problem that existed. Nobody seems to be interested anymore communicating. What a shame.  So many good people have given up and disappeared.  I suppose even my lack of participating has contributed even though I often have looked on site to what has been going on has not been enough. My criticism has been that the subject matter has not been of my interest during the last couple of years. It lost it's sparkle! In the early days I contributed a fair share of subjects which created some response.  Never mind, I still love the game(s). I play regularly and will continue to play regularly.  Thanks Nao, I find it very therapeutic, a time filler and when required it's there when I want it, and no doubt a part of my life.  :lol!: 

This site has been broken for two and a half months.

The last few pics on my Facebook page are from 2019, IIRC.
Basically I'm fatter than 10 years ago, but healthier than when I worked on KMJ. ;-)
I'm also losing weight regularly because of the increased physical activity due to Pokémon Go.  :lol: :eheh:

Good to know. My son said the same thing about Pokemon Go. He was surprised at the number of people out and about.

I'm 81 years old - my husband is 89 and we STILL play your Mahjong Game -- it's the best ever!

I want to say thanks for this game. I started playing when I was 11 or 12, and I am now in my 30s enjoying this game still. I spent countless hours on the game as a kid.

I know, right? I still love playing it and making new sets or downloading old ones.