I have been targeted by ads for this game and I have relented, though I do not consider myself [necessarily] a “Senior”!
This is a variant on the ancient Chinese Mahjong game of which there are many. However, this seems to be new and it is designed to be played on Android (I take that to mean any SmartPhone including iPhone, but I could be wrong as the iPhone is [apparently] in a class of its own.
Anyway, the selling points is:
Vita Mahjong – Free Mahjong Solitaire & Brain Game for Seniors ! Relax, Train Your Brain, and Enjoy Classic Tile-Matching Fun!
But wait, I hear you say! You said you don’t have a SmartPhone and use a laptop, professing to be the last dinosaur.
'Tis true I say, I am the last dinosaur and I do indeed use a laptop and it is for that reason I can recommend this game because even though it has been designed for the Smart people, it can also be played on a laptop. All you need to do is download and install an Android emulator like BlueStacks. BlueStacks allows you to run Android apps, including Vita Mahjong, on your computer. Alternatively, you can use the Google Play Games beta for a native Windows experience.
Oh its on iphones too Manjib, Mahjong has been going for donkeys years. It comes included with MS Windows free games bundle along with Patients, Minesweep etc. It’s every where now with the different layouts. Sometimes its just a matter of knowing where to look on your device. But there’s plenty of free apps to be had. My mother-in-law got quite addicted to it
Are you running your computer in Linux?
It’s something I wanted to do but never got around to doing
I am thinking of getting a refurbished laptop and using it for things like this.
I would like to install Gimp and see what I can do with it - you mentioned it when we first met a few months or ago.
@EmeraldEyes - You are right and I think I may have played it on one of my older computers (or whisper it, on my work computer?).
The reason for Vita Mahjong is it claims to have been developed for “Seniors” and it is to help them from getting Alzheimers, Dementia etc.
I haven’t yet installed it and so I cannot comment on how good or otherwise it is, but it is being heavily plugged at least to me!!
I’ve had it installed for twenty or so years since the early days of Ubuntu.. On different machines of course. It can do all I need. It is very versatile.
Audacity for sound editing, Gimp for images, Flowblade for movie edits, Sigil for epub edits, Libre Office suite, plenty to go at producing professional results and easily accessible.
I’m writing this on an old laptop. I’ll be taking part in a Zoom meeting tomorrow and another online meeting on Friday built in audio/ video makes it easy. I manage my YouTube channel and blog from here too.
Toying with the idea of a small home server, but never seem to get the time to spend on it.
I toyed with Gimp and used Libre Office but that’s as far as I got with “boycotting” commercial software. I used Firefox as the browser etc. and it worked until recently when things started moving to Smartphones.
Enjoy your Zoom meeting tomorrow. I have some things on but one of these days I will pop by and say “Hello”.
Have a lovely evening - I know you’re only just starting your day
I have an old Mac Mini from 2008 which is my next project for installing Linux. In those days Mac Mini could be upgraded (RAM, CPU and SSD) so I plan on making a hybrid, super LinuxMint Mini Mac. Thinking of using it as a gaming PC via my Nintendo Switch, and use another old iMac I have as a display using Target Display Mode. I enjoy up cycling tech. I get obsessed by the problem solving aspect of it, and find the frustration and infuriation, oddly, satisfying. It helps with anxiety because my mind tends to become fixated on achieving a result and this distracts me from other more distressing problems that come my way. I know of Abalone but don’t think I have played it. I used to take my Mahjong set to theatre rehearsals and use it as a way to block out all the busy activity around me when I wasn’t needed. I’ve loved playing it ever since I was a young tween, it conjured up for me mysterious, robed figures, smoking pipes with long stems in dens with candle lanterns. Sometimes, I have a small flutter on the lottery online games and the only one I play is Mahjong.
Sorry, forgot to answer your question, aye, it is traditional Mahjong, you can build all the common stacks if you are playing Mahjong solitaire. I have never played it as a game with other people as no one has ever wanted to play it with me because they find the rules and tiles daunting. One day.
Thank you Manjib, I’ve just downloaded it and played 4 games already:grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: It’ll be another one handy to play between sets at the gym my mind never rests I did have it on the other phone I put through the wash…forgot to reload it on this one. I haven’t yet figured out what differences there are that might make stand out from any of the others out there, so think the Alzhimers/Dementia wording is just promotional hype. But it’s still good for the mind, keeps it exercised and that’s the important thing
Maybe we can get a championship going if others download/play the same version. Not sure if it is an option as I haven’t yet downloaded it and I’ll be doing it on the laptop anyway
I never realised how popular this game is - I thought I was the only one playing it (albeit many years ago).
Just to let you know I downloaded this version onto my phone after your post and have been playing it ever since when I’m out and about and having to wait. I’m currently playing it in car park while waiting on my daughter It’s a great measure for rest periods between sets at the gym Great for killing time in hospital/gp waiting rooms.
I was finding it a little too easy to begin with, but as I’ve climed the leader board they have gotten harder…Just not hard enough to knock me off the top for long Although that’s just a gimmic to you keep you playing, so I don’t take that seriously Besides, I haven’t got my reading glasses on half time
So thank you for the recommendation albeit nearly a year later
That’s nice Lorraine - I must admit I haven’t done that as I don’t use a smart phone.
I may have tried to download the Android simulator and then given up as I often get into knots when I try to do this sort of thing - running old laptops that can’t handle the requirements of modern software.
I may try again or just play the standard game that comes with laptops - I am sure there is one but I haven’t checked recently. My laptop is very low on disk space and it seems I need to delete stuff.
What I do like about it is it’s not just a straight forward mahjong. Because it’s designed for phones it’s is limited. So they break the monotony by changing how it’s played each time. Some have certain tiles turned face down, or a certain layer rotates clockwise with each tile you remove, or obstacles beneath tiles. It can certainly keeps your mind on its toes and makes you think and strategise
I think that was one of the selling points when I was hit with the click-bait advert for it. Also, it was saying it was designed for seniors and I took that to mean to help those at risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s as we get older.
Glad you’re having fun and reamining suitably challenged
my mind never rests 
I did have it on the other phone I put through the wash…forgot to reload it on this one. I haven’t yet figured out what differences there are that might make stand out from any of the others out there, so think the Alzhimers/Dementia wording is just promotional hype. But it’s still good for the mind, keeps it exercised and that’s the important thing 
It’s a great measure for rest periods between sets at the gym
Great for killing time in hospital/gp waiting rooms.
Although that’s just a gimmic to you keep you playing, so I don’t take that seriously 
Besides, I haven’t got my reading glasses on half time 