The Most Addictive Computer Game Ever Created

Mah Jongg - the 3000-year old Chinese obsession of sailors, warriors, scoundrels and kings. Brought to America in the 1920s, it lured innocent players to addiction and was banned in Philadelphia. Now the best of this game returns in Shanghai.

Stacked in the shape of a formidable dragon, the ancient tiles stand ready for battle. And you'll need dead-on strategy to win.

You'll play it. And replay it. But you'll never get over the driving urge to play it again. Because quitting is the hardest part.

Source:

From the Triton Software Catalog for Your IBM, 1988

ANNOUNCING A

FREE OFFER WITH A 3,000-YEAR GUARANTEE.

What a deal! Your first Shanghai game's on us! Just send for your free Shanghai demonstration disk which contains one tantalizing puzzle. It's guaranteed to whet your appetite for the billions of options on the complete disk.

What makes us so sure? History. Shanghai is derived from the ancient oriental game of Mah Jongg, which has captured players' imaginations for over 30 centuries.

Find out what a 3,000-year obsession is all about. Write for your free Shanghai Demo.

"...Activision said Shanghai *is addictive. They're right..."*

-Stuart Alsop

*P.C. Letter

"Just be warned: spend one night with Shanghai and you could be spoiled... ***** (Five Stars)"

-Tracie Forman Hines

Senior Editor, MacUser*

Source:

Advertisement in COMPUTE!, March 1987

Obsession awaits. The game of ivory tiles, played by seafarers, scoundrels, and emperors of the far east for centuries is brought to you in modern form for the Lynx - as Shanghai.

Ancient tiles are stacked randomly in mystical shapes awaiting your challenge. 144 tiles beckon your skill and strategy in matching pairs, eliminating them from the board, while revealing new tiles underneath.

Accept the challenge alone or with a friend in a cooperative or competitive two-player game against the Dragon, the Hawk, the Bear - any of seven different puzzle boards.

For 3000 years the dragon of tiles has challenged the Orient. Now it challenges you!

Source:

Back Cover - Lynx

Shanghai™

Steady your nerves and concentration. You're about to play Shanghai!
Shanghai is based on an ancient game that's over 25 centuries old.
Over the years since, it has been a favorite of pirates and smugglers, flappers and gangsters, of working men and the well-to-do. Now you can play it too, on the Sega System.
The game is simple ... the strategy complex. Remove 144 tiles from a pyramid; two matching tiles at a time. But be careful. Remove the wrong two tiles and you're left with no more matching pairs... game over! It's a game everyone can play and enjoy.

PLAYERS: 1 or 2
PERIPHERALS: Control Pad
MEGA TYPE: One-Mega

Source:

Back of Cartridge Case - Master System (US)

SHANGHAI™

Derived from the ancient Chinese game of Mah Jongg. The basics are deceptively simple. From 144 randomized picture-tiles of 7 different suits, you snap off matching pairs till you run out of tiles or moves. The catch: You can match tiles from only the dragon's head or tail. So you've got to know where your tiles are. How to play your way to them. And how to think two, five, even twenty moves ahead. Take on other players or play against the clock and slay a dragon that's beaten challengers for over 3000 years.

Source:

Back of Cassette Case - ZX Spectrum (UK)

Smoke hangs thick as smoldering intrigue in the steamy alley backroom in Shanghai. Tension grips as fortunes ride on the clicking ivory tiles of a game. The game? Mah Jongg—the 3000-year-old Chinese obsession of sailors, warriors, scoundrels, and kings.Brought to America in the 1920s, it lured innocent players to addiction and was banned in Philadelphia. Now the best — as Shanghai.

Stacked in the shape a formidable dragon, the ancient tiles stand ready for battle. And you'll need dead-on strategy to win.
The basics are deceptively simple. From 144 randomized picture-tiles of 7 different suits, you snap off matching pairs till you run out of tiles or moves.
The catch: You can match tiles from only the dragon's head or tail. So you've got to know where your tiles are. How to play your way to them. And how to think two, five, even twenty moves ahead.
Still not tough enough? Just raise the stakes. You can take on other players—or play against the clock.
And slay a dragon that's beaten challengers for over 3000 years.

(captions)

SEASONS
originated among low-caste river gamblers.

WINDS
also stood for players in the old 4-hand game.

DRAGONS
were introduced to keep sentries awake.

DOTS
go back to the original sailor's game.

FLOWERS
were added by a medieval princess.

BAMS (Bamboos)
appeared as spears in an early game.

CRACKS (Characters)
became the trophies in the 1600s.

Tiles (and Tales) of Mah Jongg

Source:

Back of Box - Apple IIgs/Atari ST/C64/DOS (US)